Comment by coffeemug

I think if you plot track record vs. productivity you'll end up with a (largely) normally distributed curve. If you plot track record vs. cost, you'll get a curve that rises exponentially. Eventually, talented people get paid exorbitant salaries based entirely on their previous accomplishments, and these are exactly the types of people you don't want to hire (because their cost isn't justified by their productivity). It's logical, then, to form a world-class team of first employees largely composed of diamonds in the rough, or 'potentially world class' as you put it.