The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex - How Cheap Talent is Holding Back Your Growth

Episode Date: May 17, 2026

Cheap talent is not saving you money. It is costing you your time, your standards, and your scale. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down one of the biggest mistakes small business owners make—hiring the cheapest person instead of investing in elite operators. Because let’s be real… If you have to constantly fix their mistakes… Explain every detail… And micromanage every task… You did not save money. You bought yourself another job. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why bargain talent usually creates more work for the founder How incompetence becomes the most expensive tax in your business Why A-players pay for themselves through speed and execution How premium operators raise the standard of your entire company Because real scale does not happen with discount execution. It happens when you hire people who can take ownership. People who solve problems. People who raise the bar. People who free you from the weeds. Most founders stay small because they keep trying to save money on the very people who are supposed to help them grow. But elite CEOs understand this: Premium talent is not an expense. It is leverage. And when you invest in the right operators… Your business moves faster, your culture gets stronger, and your freedom expands. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQ LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome to the level up podcast. I'm your host, Paul Alex. I went from being a cop to an eight-figure entrepreneur that helps average people like you and me make money every single day. I created this podcast to help you get motivated and to crush your goals. Let's win together. Remember, I have your six. Get ready to level up right now. What's up, everyone?

Welcome back to the level of podcast. I'm Paul Alex. And today we are tackling a financial mistake that keeps small businesses permanently small, the cost of cheap talent. Because let's be real, if you are constantly looking for the absolute cheapest person to do the job, you are going to pay for it twice. Let's break down how investing in premium operators actually saves you money. First, understand that bargain employees require constant management. Too many founders think they are saving money by paying below market value for an assistant or a media buyer. They are not. If you have to spend three hours a day

fixing their mistakes and explaining basic concepts, your own hourly rate is taking the hit. Whether you are running an agency or deploying physical assets, incompetence is the highest tax you can pay. If you refuse to pay for quality, you kill your own time. Second, S-tier employees pay for themselves immediately. People do not build massive companies by surrounding themselves with beginners. They build them by hiring absolute savages who can take a project and run with it. So, instead of looking at a high salary as a massive expense, look at it as an investment in your own freedom. Make their elite competence the engine that drives your expansion. Lastly, premium talent elevates the entire culture.

When you bring someone onto the team who operates at a genius level, the rest of your staff naturally steps up to match their pace. High standards, flawless execution, and zero micromanagement create a world-class environment, When you pay for the best, the best results, follow. Bottom line, you cannot build a billion dollar vision with a discount team. Spend the money, hire the experts, and get out of their way. Because when you do, you will scale faster than ever. Thanks for tuning into the Level Up podcast.

I'm Paul Alex reminding you, cheap talent is incredibly expensive. Hire the best, protect your time, and as always, keep leveling up. Thanks for listening up to the Level Up podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to do you to do. share with a family, friend, and everyone you know who's ready to level up. Leave a five-star review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you tune in. It really helps spreading the word, and don't forget to check out official paul-Alex.com for more episodes and resources to kickstart your journey.

Let's level up together.