If you must compromise, do so on the brilliance not culture

“Why I Never Hire Brilliant Men” says the unconventional title of the article a friend shared.

That sounds wrong, with all the talk of hiring only A players to build an A team. I found the article (written almost a 100 years ago) quite interesting though, simply because it went against conventional wisdom and offered an analysis to support the view. But it looks like the author completely missed the concept of a “Cultural Fit”

It looks like the author was looking at hardworking A-players to build a steady slow growing business. I would call them brilliant men too, men who have control over themselves and have figured out how to provide consistent low risk returns with good processes, hardwork and dedication. The author was however, not ready to handle the kind of brilliant men with bigger risk appetites who liked to shoot for the moon. Or the kind of men brilliant only in creating an illusion of brilliance. They would obviously contradict the culture he was looking to build.

Perhaps the maxim should be “Always hire brilliant men who fit with your values and culture. If you must compromise, do so on the brilliance”