Livestream Show Notes
Welcome to the inaugural Elite NP Group Livestream, where Andrew Hong (Tobe Agency Community Manager) sits down with Justin Allan, Founder of EliteNP, to tackle one of the most critical topics for growing practices: Staffing.
This wasn't your typical HR discussion. Justin and Andrew cut through the noise, sharing candid insights, tough lessons learned, and actionable strategies for building a high-performing team that supports your practice's growth and liberates you from the day-to-day grind. Here are some of the key takeaways and discussion points from the livestream:
When NOT to Hire: Avoiding the Desperation Trap (02:50)
- The Desperation Mistake (03:01): Hiring when you're "pulling your hair out" leads to bad decisions. Justin shares his personal anecdote of hiring an NP out of desperation who was a complete "disaster" and "cost him money" due to cultural misalignment (e.g., not following his practice's philosophy on testosterone treatment, not even cussing!).
- Trust Your Gut (08:54): Both Justin and Andrew emphasize the critical importance of listening to your intuition during interviews. Desperation often overrides this vital instinct, leading to costly mistakes like hiring someone who might even steal from you.
- Financial Readiness (05:13): Don't hire too early if you're not financially stable. You'll end up cutting costs elsewhere, picking up side jobs, or paying someone to "sit around and do nothing" while you build revenue. It's the "chicken before the egg" dilemma – ensure your cash flow and pipeline are robust first.
The True Costs of a Bad Hire (10:20)
- Beyond Financial Waste (10:59): A bad hire is a complete waste of money and can lead to direct financial loss (e.g., losing business or theft).
- Massive Time Sink (11:15): The time investment in training, onboarding, and then cleaning up the mess when someone leaves is enormous.
- Impact on Practice Well-being & Morale (11:43): Andrew highlights the psychological toll on the practice owner and existing staff when there's a "revolving door" of hires. It undermines morale, requires constant re-explanation of systems, and forces the owner to pick up the slack, potentially impacting patient experience.
Where to Find the Right Talent (13:53)
- Indeed.com & Facebook Marketplace (14:26): Justin's surprising top sources for finding new employees.
- Leverage Your Network FIRST (14:51): Both agree this is the most effective approach. Hire people you already know, have worked with, or who come highly recommended from trusted sources. This ensures cultural fit and reliability. Justin shares a success story about hiring his NP neighbor.
- The "Utility Hitter" Concept (18:51): Andrew introduces the idea of hiring "full-stack" individuals who are generalists, reliable, and organized, capable of handling multiple roles (e.g., copy, Canva, ads, video). These "utility hitters" are hard to find but extremely valuable, especially for small businesses looking to scale with their core team.
AI in Staffing: The Efficiency Game-Changer (21:23)
- 10x Efficiency (21:30): Justin emphasizes that what 3 MAs used to do, one MA can now do with AI. It's "stupid not to" use AI for efficiency.
- AI as an Enabler, Not a Job Taker (22:09): Andrew explains that AI empowers individuals, turning non-data analysts into data analysts, for example. It enhances existing skills.
- The Key Interview Question (22:36): Both recommend asking candidates how they use AI in their daily lives and how it makes them better or faster. This reveals their forward-thinking mindset.
Staffing Rural Practices & Virtual Assistants (24:06)
- Challenges in Rural Areas (24:47): Finding quality people locally can be difficult.
- The Dangers of Offshore VAs (25:02): Justin warns that hiring virtual assistants from certain regions (e.g., Philippines, India) can "literally destroy your practice" due to communication barriers, patient frustration (recounting his Capital One experience), and resulting bad reviews.
- Prioritize Patient-Facing Quality (26:44): Don't save $10-$15/hour if it means sacrificing patient experience. It's "foolish" when a bad review can cost much more.
- US-Based Virtual Solutions (27:56): Andrew suggests exploring US-based virtual receptionists or assistants for customer-facing roles, potentially using remote setups with monitors and cameras, and advertising nationally on platforms like Indeed for work-from-home positions.
- Burnout from Time Differences (29:58): Offshore VAs working US hours often burn out quickly due to the 12-hour time difference and impact on their family lives, leading to high turnover.
The "Fire Fast" Philosophy (31:30)
- Decisive Action: Both Andrew and Justin advocate for firing fast. If a new hire isn't making an impact after a short onboarding period, or if there's a serious patient safety or liability issue, they're out immediately.
- "Rule with an Iron Fist" (33:16): Don't be "too nice." A "bad apple" (the bottom 20% of your employees) can drag down the entire team. Let them go quickly.
Hiring Coaches & Mentors (34:56)
- When to Hire a Coach (35:27):
- Startup Phase: To get the business up and running.
- Problem-Solving Phase: For short-term "consulting" to fix specific issues.
- Scaling Phase: To break plateaus and get to the "next level" (e.g., $500K to $1M+).
- What to Look For (36:47):
- Proven Track Record: Can they "walk the talk"? Have they built successful businesses themselves? Look at their history and content.
- "More of an Asshole vs. Super Nice" (40:20): Don't hire a coach who "sucks your ass" or is "super nice." You need someone who will tell you what you're "sucking at" and push you out of your comfort zone, like a "soup Nazi" personal trainer (41:11).
- Be Ready to Do the Work (38:46): Hiring a coach doesn't mean instant results. They identify your weaknesses and guide you, but you must be willing to do the uncomfortable work.
- Fire Fast (37:51): If a coach isn't providing value within a couple of weeks, let them go. Don't waste money by holding on for months.
Livestream Recording
- You can get full access to this and previous livestream recordings through the Tobe Healthcare & Wellness page.
- Upon completing the form, you'll get full access to the media library.
Livestream Invitation
Join Co-Founder of Tobe Agency, Andrew Hong, with guest Justin Allan of The Elite Nurse Practitioner for an exciting livestream tailored towards growing practice owners. Is staffing a point of interest and a challenge for you?
This discussion aims to demystify the hiring process, highlight common pitfalls, and equip listens with a strategic framework for talent acquisition. This includes hiring staff in-house, virtually offshore, and agencies/freelancers.
- Join us in The Elite Nurse Practitioner Facebook Group on Tuesday, June 10th 2025!
- Not a member of the Facebook Group? Join here!
