As you go along in life, you'll notice that people are very different. Some are curious, some are timid; some love stability, some crave adventure; some want fairness, some want to get ahead by any means possible.

I've broken this into five types of people you want in your organization, and two you want to avoid. People will show sparks of each type, of course, but usually one type is dominant. It is important to learn how to recognize them and put them into a place where they can prosper. Of course, it also helps you to know your leanings, so you can get to a position you will prosper in as well.

I'm going to use the paradigm of the US expansion into the now American West in the 19th and early 20th centuries, just to show off how old and white and out of touch I am...

The Five Types

The five types are: Explorer, Pioneer, Settler, Sheriff, and Herald. Each of them answers a different question you need to be asking yourself about your company

Explorer: Is it possible?

Explorers are the rarest and most valuable. I've known 7 or so in my 40-year career. (I probably missed recognizing some early, so that number could jump up if I reflect more.) The good news is, you can survive without one, since their reach is widespread. You can piggyback off of their groundbreaking work once the concept is out in the open.

Explorers ask the question: Is it possible? Is there something out there? Can we get there?

For this, think of the legend of Daniel Boone. Boone was famous for disappearing into the wilderness, seeking mythical places like "Kentucky". Or, recall Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, climbing Everest. Or better, their precursors who tried and died doing those things, so history doesn't celebrate them.

In a software company, this person is always loading the latest beta of something on their machine, or spending the weekend trying a new language. They come up with a prototype of a feature or new product. But, it's incomplete, rough around the edges - they've satisfied the itch, so now they are off to scratch something else.

Give them a lab, a few minions, and the freedom to fail, and they'll give you back loads of new products and ideas.

Pioneer: Is it Feasible?

Pioneers follow closely behind the explorer. They ask the question: Is it feasible? Can we make a business out of it?

For this, think of Lewis and Clark, who went from Saint Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, blazing trails as they went. They were hoping to find a way to connect the Midwest and Pacific, and slowly succeeded. It took them 2 1/2 years to go out and back. We can round trip it by flying for 7 1/2 hours or driving for 60 hours.

Another great example would be Amelia Earhart - who set multiple flying records for both speed and distance, ever pushing the boundaries.

In your company, these people build the beta versions of the software. They stick at it longer than the Explorers, because they want to prove it can make money, but they are always pushing it forward. Maintaining what you've got is for our next group.

Settler: Is it Sustainable?

There are a slew of different personalities and job descriptions among those who move out and build a community. You've got a Mayor - a leader to bring people together, to give vision and direction, and handle small disputes.

All these people are asking: Can this be sustained? Can we repeat this and be successful?

You have Farmers, out on the edges, tilling the soil, raising crops (Little House on the Prairie)

Then there are Townfolk: the Banker, the Blacksmith, the Grocer, the Handyman - all doing specialized work that the community cannot thrive without. You've seen them in dozens of westerns - the fabric of the community that makes it a community.

These are the bulk of the staff - the PMs, developers, testers, ops, docs, HR. These you can employ at various levels and numbers, as the town grows.

There are two special types of townfolk who deserve their own callouts, though.

Sheriff: Is it Secure?

Sadly, these days you need a Marshall Matt Dillon, someone to ride the perimeter, keep the bad guys away, and keep the townfolk from shooting themselves, or their neighbor, in the foot.

Sheriff’s ask: Is it secure? The Sheriff makes sure townfolk aren't/can't doing things to harm themselves or their neighbors.

Heralds: is it Sellable?

Lastly, but not least, you need a Johnny Appleseed. He roamed the countryside planting apples trees and handing out appleseeds so people would be able to make pies in the summer make hard apple cider because water gave you dysentery.

You need someone to go outside and spread the word about your fancy new thing.

Heralds ask: Can we sell it? Will people buy it?

They are evangelizing your product, finding new customers, finding new markets, finding out if the world is ready for what you’ve got.

Two People to run out of Town on a Rail

Sadly, there are two types of people you need to keep away or remove if someone turns into them

Old Coot: Is it My Way?

The Old Coot does things a certain way, because it's always been done that way, without necessarily understanding why. Change is a thing of suspicion, not of hope or growth, and must be resisted at all costs.

A great story about this is the woman who is very proud of cooking the pot roast exactly like her grandmother - who, obviously, makes the best pot roast in the county.

"See grandma! I even cut an inch off each end of the roast just like you do!"

"Oh, child.... I only do that so the roast will fit in my oven...."

One of the hardest things you might have to do is usher the old coot out of town. If their attitude is dragging people down and they are actively resisting, they might be a little too far out on the frontier. A move back East might be better for all involved.

Desperados: Is it Breakable?

Sadly, we live in an era when people go out of their way to break things. Hopefully, your Sheriff is on duty and checking for sabotage. - hackers trying to bust in and steal your credibility, bank account, or customers.

You also need to be wary inside the company. Look out for people who don’t want you to succeed, who hope by slowing you down to speed up their career.

In Conclusion

That's my take on the type of people to gather and to shun when growing your organization or team. I'm sure you have better examples than mine. Hit the comment section and let me know what to bounce and who to emulate.