10 Lessons from 25 Years

What does 25 years in human resources and recruiting teach you? For HumCap founder Tad McIntosh, the answer keeps coming back to people.

A lot has changed since 2001, from where companies find talent to the tools they use to hire it. But great companies are still built the same way: on trust, strong relationships, and taking care of people.

Here are 10 lessons from 25 years of service and HR entrepreneurship.

1. Your why and your values keep you steady

Takeaway: When the market shifts, your purpose shouldn’t.

HumCap started with one belief: a business succeeds based on how well it attracts and keeps its best people. That belief still drives our purpose, Delivering Excellence to Clients and Communities.

Our four core values, Be Better Every Day, Deliver Results, Persevere With Grit, and Win as a Team, aren’t words on a wall. When a decision is unclear, we hold it up to those four. The right answer usually shows up fast.

2. You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great

Takeaway: Progress beats perfection.

Zig Ziglar said it best. Our first office was Tad’s garage with a portable heater. It wasn’t great, but it was a start.

Nothing we’ve built since came easy. Every big hire, new service, and hard conversation took grit. Fear and doubt grow when you wait. They shrink when you get to work.

 

3. Leadership is learned by serving

Takeaway: Put the people you serve first, even when it costs you.

Tad learned leadership at West Point and in the Army, and more than 20% of the HumCap team has served in the military. The lesson carries over to business: leaders eat last, take responsibility, and set the example.

The same goes for clients. Sometimes the best advice is “you don’t need us for that.” Not every company needs a full HR department, which is why we offer fractional HR that fits a company’s stage of growth. Doing what’s right for the client builds trust that lasts. Some HumCap clients have worked with us for more than 20 years.

4. People and teams matter most

Takeaway: Take care of people, and surround yourself with ones who fill your gaps.

Every business problem is a people problem at some level. Gallup found that managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement (Gallup). The people you hire and promote shape everything else.

No one is great at everything. Our best seasons came from pairing people with different strengths, and from mentors who were strong where we were weak.

5. Know who you are, and protect your yes

Takeaway: Authenticity attracts the right people. Clarity keeps you focused on them.

There are a lot of HR and recruiting firms in Texas. We’ve never tried to be the biggest. We’ve tried to be ourselves: veteran-founded, people-first, and rooted in community. That’s brought us clients who share our values and team members who grow with us.

Knowing who you are also makes it easier to choose. Make your yeses “heck yes” and your nos “heck no.” Saying no to the wrong fit frees you up for the right one.

6. Taking care of your community is good business

Takeaway: Measure success by two bottom lines: a strong business and a strong community.

At HumCap, we call it our double bottom line. Profit keeps our doors open and our team growing, but it’s only half the scorecard. The other half is the good we do in North Texas.

Giving back is part of our mission: Delivering Excellence to Clients and Communities. It’s a part of who we are. The people we hire, the clients we serve, and the neighbors we live next to are all part of the same community. Strong communities build strong businesses.

7. Tools change, but relationships last

Takeaway: Invest in people before you need them.

In 25 years, we’ve gone from fax machines and newspaper ads to digital media and AI. The tools help. But great hires still come from trust, honest conversations, and knowing what a client truly needs.

Much of HumCap’s growth has come from referrals, partners, and friends in the North Texas business community. Don’t only call when you need something. Check in, share an idea, or send a note when you see a win. The world is smaller than you think. The candidate you help today may be the client who calls in five years.

8. Keep learning, and plan to bounce back

Takeaway: Curiosity keeps you current. Resilience keeps you going.

HR and recruiting look nothing like they did in 2001. Staying curious is how we keep our advice current, and it sticks best as a habit: read a little every day, block time for training, and listen to podcasts on your commute.

You’ll also face setbacks. HumCap has weathered the dot-com bust, the 2008 recession, a pandemic, and big shifts in the labor market. We didn’t avoid hard times. We got through them by sticking to our values, leaning on our team, and persevering with grit.

9. Take care of yourself and the people you love

Takeaway: Success means little if you burn out getting there.

The leaders who last make time for rest, exercise, faith, and family. Watch your inputs, too. What you read, watch, and listen to, and who you spend time with, shapes what you put out.

HumCap started in the family garage, and Tad’s family has seen the wins and the hard days up close. Keep high standards, but don’t take yourself too seriously. The best teams hold the line on what matters, while still being able to laugh about the rest.

10. Gratitude keeps you grounded

Takeaway: Nobody builds anything great alone.

Every one of these lessons came from someone: a client who trusted us, a team member who went the extra mile, or a partner who opened a door. Saying thank you, often and specifically, keeps us humble and focused on who we serve.

Looking back, moving forward

Twenty-five years ago, HumCap was three desks in a garage. Today, we’re a Texas human resources and recruiting partner helping companies hire well, grow their teams, and take care of their people. Our purpose hasn’t changed, and our values will keep guiding us for the next 25 years.

Thank you to our clients, candidates, team members, and community partners. You’re the reason we’re here.

Need help with recruiting, HR consulting, or fractional HR? Contact HumCap today.