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From the pulpit to recruiting to HR, Brett Hower has spent his career where it matters most—with people. In this episode, Brett joins host Brandon Stanchock to unpack the thread running through pastoral ministry, executive search, and organizational development: you can build the best environment in the world, but individual choice still drives outcomes. We dig into gratitude vs. entitlement, how to spot and keep high-production, low-maintenance people, and the listening skills leaders need when “fixing” isn’t the answer.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why Brett left ministry, pivoted through executive recruiting, and landed in HR—plus the 10th-grade speech class (and tough teacher) that unlocked his communication superpower.
• The core lesson from all three careers: you can’t make people do what they should—choice beats circumstances every time.
• How one leap to a small West Virginia church triggered a life “domino run” (new town, new friends, engagement, step-dad life).
• Practical empathy: when to ask “Are you okay?” and just listen—no solutions required.
• The hiring and culture signal Brett watches first: gratitude (and why entitlement is the beginning of the end).
• “Solve more stress than you create” and other rules for high-production, low-maintenance teammates (hat tip: Coach Franklin).
• Culture fit ≠ cloning the founder—align on mission and values, allow diverse methods.
• The most freeing leadership advice Brett ever got: “No one is thinking about you as much as you think they are.”

If you’re building a team—or trying to become the teammate others fight to keep—this episode will sharpen your BS-free people strategy.

📣 Guest Links — Connect with Brett Hower

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettahower/
• Sixmo Companies: design & development services
• Front Street Consultants: fractional/part-time HR for small businesses
  (Links in the show notes.)

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