EPISODE 288
BEST OF: How to Hire a Loyal, Long-Term Team
with Fred Meyers
We’re running one of our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
Ever wish there was a cheat sheet on exactly what to look for in your employees? Fred Meyers has cracked the code on how to hire, develop, and retain great team members.
As the founder of Queensboro, Fred is an early pioneer and 40-year veteran of the custom logo apparel business, selling directly to small and medium-sized businesses.
As technology evolved, from 800 numbers and fax machines to personal computers, the internet, and mobile devices, Fred navigated each marketing shift. From small print ads and direct mail to catalogs and digital campaigns, he adapted using custom-built software, often developed on tight budgets.
The 4P System
A few years after recovering from the 2008 recession, Fred had a realization that to build a truly great company, he needed a great team. From that moment on, building and developing his team has been the highest priority. He realized that great employees had four characteristics in common: what he calls the 4P’s.
The first P is for productivity: the person can do their job, and they have the basic skills. The second is that they’re positive and bring good energy to the group. They’re easy to communicate with. The key to communication is trust. It’s not just about what they say, but their actions too.
The next P is for principled, which is how they engage with others. Do they treat other people the way they want to be treated? The final P is for proactive: they’re always seeking to improve and take responsibility for whatever comes across their path. They have a growth mindset and love learning.
Recruiting based on the 4P’s has led to a compassionate, non-traditional group of people on Fred’s team. Instead of looking at where someone went to college or what credentials they have, they hire based on what kind of person they are.
Building a Brand People Believe In
Long before company culture became a business buzzword, Fred was thinking differently about branding. His original insight was simple: people wanted products that represented their own identity, not someone else’s.
That same customer-first mindset still guides Queensboro today. From their no-returns-necessary guarantee to their focus on long-term relationships, Fred shares why earning trust always creates more value than chasing transactions.
He also reflects on preparing the company for its next chapter, building a championship team, and creating a business that can thrive long after he steps away.
Enjoy this episode with Fred Meyers…
Soundbytes
8:15–8:40
“I’ve always seen the way people have their favorite articles of clothing, the favorite garments, you know, and they the way they feel about these, these pieces of clothing, are far greater than what they should based on the fact that it’s some cotton, it’s a couple of buttons, maybe a little bit of color. But there’s some magic that goes on there, and I saw potential for that magic.”
18:15–18:44
“Why aren’t we doing better? Why aren’t we doing better? And I’m on lap 50, and I think I was 50 at the time when it happened, and just thinking about that too, and I hit the wall with my hand, not my head, and I said, ‘Ah, we’re not doing better because we’re not better. We’re actually performing to our level of ability.’”
Quotes
“I try to model the way I lead and be a boss based on the environment that I would want to work in.”
“You’re doing as good as you should be doing, so how do you do better?”
“We’re not looking as much for credentials or where you went to college, but what’s in your heart?”
Links mentioned in this episode:
Connect with our Guest Host
Connect with Fred Meyers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-meyers-12250b3/
Website: https://www.queensboro.com
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