What if your hiring process is the problem—not the people?

In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, bestselling author and leadership expert Nathan Jamail joins Phil to unpack the brutal truths about hiring, culture, and what real leadership looks like.

Nathan pulls no punches. He argues that resumes are often worthless, culture beats strategy every time, and your worst employee is your fault if you’re still paying them. Through vivid metaphors, stories from the trenches, and a coaching-first mindset, Nathan outlines what it takes to build high-performing, accountable teams.

From janitor to sales leader to executive coach, Nathan shares how he went broke twice chasing his purpose—and why it was worth every second. This is a must-listen for anyone managing people, building teams, or ready to ditch the safe path for something meaningful.

0:00 Intro

1:33 Nathan's story: From janitor to sales leader

5:46 Hire the person, not the paper

9:36 Why the product doesn’t matter

13:27 Culture over strategy

16:47 How to actually build culture

23:21 Coaching vs. managing

28:07 Why practice trumps talent

35:41 What it really takes to grow

40:31 Entrepreneurship and going broke

44:51 Support systems and validation

46:12 Final thoughts: Purpose, impact, and belief

Resources Mentioned:

📚 The Leadership Playbook by Nathan Jamail📚 Serve Up, Coach Down by Nathan Jamail📚 The Sales Leaders Playbook by Nathan Jamail🌐 Website: https://nathanjamail.com