By Gabe Salinas | Founder of Window Ninjas | Mentor to Millions
There’s an old saying I’ve always liked: “If you want loyalty, hire a dog.” And as the proud owner of Dante, my four-legged, tail-wagging sidekick—I can tell you, it’s true. That dog doesn’t flinch. He’s up at 4AM when I’m up. He follows me through the house like I’m carrying bacon in my pockets. He’s loyal. Relentlessly loyal.
But when it comes to building a business?
When it comes to building a brand that operates across multiple states, survives storms (literal and financial), handles thousands of customers, and keeps growing year after year?
You need more than loyalty. You need grit.
Loyalty Is Sweet. Grit Pays the Bills.
Loyalty is great. It’s what gets people in the door and makes them stick around. But if you’re building something real—a company, a culture, a legacy, then you better find people who’ve got fire in their belly and grit in their soul.
I didn’t build Window Ninjas on smooth pavement. I built it in the trenches—scrubbing windows, battling bad hires, fixing the mess after storms knocked out service routes, and fighting every day for progress. Loyalty alone won’t carry you through those days. But grit? “Grit’s what shows up early, stays late, takes responsibility, and doesn’t flinch when the going gets heavy.”
What I’ve Learned After 30 Years in the Trenches
Here’s the truth most leaders don’t want to say out loud: people are not born loyal to your company.
You have to earn that. You have to lead in a way that commands it. Not with perks, but with purpose.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. You don’t find grit—you build it.
Grit isn’t genetic. It’s forged. I’ve watched average performers become absolute warriors through repetition, mentorship, and expectations. I’ve also watched “superstars” flame out because they never learned how to handle hard days.
If you create a culture where pressure is expected, communication is clear, and every win matters—your team will rise to the challenge. And the ones who don’t? You move on. Fast.
2. Systems protect the vision.
You can have the best team in the world, but without systems, you’re just running a lemonade stand with employees.
Scripts. Processes. Clear KPIs. Daily huddles. Weekly meetings. I’m not into “winging it.” I run my companies with structure and clarity because it lets people thrive. Structure doesn’t kill creativity—it gives your team the confidence to perform without guessing.
3. Great leadership means teaching AND expecting.
I love to teach. I mentor because I believe in people’s potential and I also expect execution. If you’ve ever been on my team, you know I’ll pour into you, but I’m also not going to let you coast. This is not a daycare. This is a mission.
We sell. We serve. We grow.
We don’t whine. We don’t make excuses. We get better.
Culture Is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
You can’t “buy” culture. You can’t slap it on a wall and call it done. You have to live it out loud every single day. Your people will mirror your behavior, not your words.
If you’re inconsistent, they’ll be inconsistent.
If you’re on fire, they’ll feel the heat.
I’ve seen it firsthand. When I show up at 7AM fired up, with goals written, ready to pour into the team, the whole squad levels up. When I push them to track sales better, route smarter, close harder—they start pushing themselves. That’s not luck. That’s leadership.
Loyalty Is the Outcome, Not the Input
Back to the dog thing for a second. Dante’s loyal because I feed him, walk him, train him, and love him. You think that same logic doesn’t apply to your people?
Feed your team purpose.
Walk them through hard days.
Train them to win.
Reward the hell out of greatness.
That’s how loyalty is built. It’s the result of consistent leadership and a clear vision—not a hiring trait.
Final Thoughts: You Want Loyalty? Earn It.
If you just want people who show up and smile, go hire a dog.
But if you want to build a company that dominates its market, if you want to create a culture that outperforms, outlasts, and outruns your competition?
Then hire for grit. Train for greatness. And lead like everything depends on you—because it does.
I’m Gabe Salinas. I’ve built gritty teams from the ground up. I didn’t inherit this—I earned it. I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve rebuilt. I’ve doubled down. And I’m here to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs who want to do more than “get by.”
Do you want loyalty? Be the kind of leader worth following.
Then back it up with action, every damn day.
