Lazy Leverage Military Leadership Meets Small Business Operations: Why Former Operators Make Perfect GMs | Lazy Leverage #78
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Oct 30, 2025 Christian Ruf, a former special operations helicopter pilot turned executive recruiter, shares his unique perspective on the hiring dynamics of lower-middle-market businesses. He highlights the need for battle-tested leaders who thrive in chaos, especially from the military. Christian discusses two hiring tiers: premium operators with MBAs and tactical GMs, emphasizing the high impact of the latter. He also shares his personal journey of hands-on labor to better understand small businesses, demonstrating the value veterans bring beyond industry experience.
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From Black Helicopters To Power Washing
- Christian Ruf left special operations, worked as a COO in urgent care, then bought a concierge home maintenance business and did labor for a year.
- He power-washed patios and did handyman work to learn the business from the ground up.
Dual Talent Needs Of Labor Businesses
- Labor-intensive small businesses need both affordable global talent and strong in-person leadership.
- Sagan supplies remote labor while Christian recruits battle-tested leaders to run operations.
Use The 50% Recruiting Discount
- Sagan members get 50% off Christian's executive recruiting fees compared to market rates.
- Use the membership benefit to lower hiring costs for senior operational roles.