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When starting a company, one of the most critical—and often underestimated—decisions is who you hire first. Sam Altman, a prominent voice in the startup world, has seen firsthand how bad early hires can doom a company. On the flip side, getting this right can set a strong foundation for long-term success. Airbnb’s rigorous approach to hiring during its early days offers a powerful example.
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The Weight of Your First Hires
According to Altman, startups often fail to recover from bad early hires. These individuals significantly influence the company’s culture, direction, and standards. If the first few employees aren’t aligned with the company’s vision or lack the necessary dedication, it can lead to missteps that ripple through the organization.
Airbnb understood this better than most. In its first year, the company hired only two people—but not because of a lack of effort. Co-founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk spent months ensuring their hires were a perfect fit. This level of scrutiny wasn’t about slowing down; it was about building a culture that could endure.
Defining Cultural Values Before Hiring
Before Airbnb brought on its first employee, the founders sat down to define the company’s cultural values. These weren’t just buzzwords—they were principles that would guide every decision and interaction.
One standout value was that every employee needed to “bleed Airbnb.” This wasn’t just about passion; it was about unwavering belief in the mission of connecting people through unique travel experiences. If a potential hire didn’t embody this level of commitment, they weren’t hired—no matter how skilled they were.
The One-Year-to-Live Question
Chesky’s dedication to finding the right people was legendary—and sometimes extreme. During early interviews, he asked candidates whether they would take the job if they knew they only had one year to live. The goal? To find individuals who were genuinely committed to Airbnb’s mission, not just looking for a paycheck.
Although Chesky eventually toned down this question to a hypothetical ten-year timeline, the essence remained: Airbnb sought people whose personal values aligned deeply with the company’s purpose.
The Results of Rigorous Hiring
Airbnb’s early emphasis on hiring for cultural fit paid off. The company not only survived its early challenges but thrived, becoming one of the most successful startups of all time. Today, it operates in more than 190 countries and is valued at billions of dollars.
Their hiring philosophy created a resilient culture, one where employees felt deeply connected to their work and to each other. This foundation helped them weather crises, including the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when global travel came to a near standstill.
How to Apply Airbnb’s Lessons
Building your dream team? Here are some takeaways from Airbnb’s journey:
Define Your Values Early: Before hiring, decide what your company stands for. Write down the principles you want every employee to uphold, and use them as a benchmark during interviews. Example: If your value is innovation, hire people who have shown they can think outside the box—even if it’s in unrelated fields.
Hire Slowly and Intentionally: Don’t rush to fill roles. Take the time to find candidates who align with your mission and values. Example: Patagonia prioritizes environmental activists in its hiring process to ensure employees resonate with its mission.
Test for Passion and Commitment: Find creative ways to assess whether a candidate is truly passionate about your vision. It could be through unconventional questions, like Chesky’s, or by evaluating their past efforts to pursue similar goals.
Cultural Fit Over Skills: While skills are essential, they can often be taught. Shared values and dedication, however, are harder to instill.
Final Thoughts: Culture Is Your Lifeline
Sam Altman and Airbnb’s story remind us that a company’s culture is only as strong as the people who build it. When you hire, you’re not just filling a position—you’re shaping the soul of your organization.
So, take a page from Airbnb’s playbook: hire for passion, align on values, and never compromise on finding the right fit. Your first hires aren’t just employees—they’re co-creators of your dream.
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