“You’re A Hungry Son Of A B****. I Can Work With That.”— Robert F. Smith
Pedigree opens doors — hunger keeps the lights on.
Hunger, paired with clear judgment and decisive action under pressure, is what separates resilient leaders from polished placeholders.
We apply the same filters at Eagle Talon:
1. Hunger Under Fire
When a product flops or the stock drops 25% — do they rally the team, or start plotting their exit?
2. Ninety-Day Rebound
After a hit, do they fix the engine — or finesse the optics?
3. Knowing When They’re Tapped Out
Some CEOs are $0–$20M builders. Others are $50–$200M scalers. Knowing when someone’s outgrown the role is risk management in disguise.
4. Money vs. Mission
Smith’s test: The leader who cashes out, calls Mom, and coasts? They’re done. Hunger either sharpens after success — or fades. We watch what happens after the win.
We’ve met plenty of polished performers — flawless interviews, slick decks, no scar tissue.
But when the second punch lands, polish cracks fast.
Capital only compounds if the operator does.
That’s why our diligence stack focuses on what actually matters:
💸 How they’re paid — Does the comp plan reward performance or just time served?
⚡️ How they’ve handled past crises — Did they take charge, or disappear behind process?
🔥 Whether the fire’s still lit — Are they still grinding five years after the win?
If the answers don’t hold up, we move on.
Alignment wins. Optics fade.
▶️ Link to the podcast → takes you straight to Smith’s insight — but the full conversation is well worth your next commute.