Dive summary:

• Veteran home builder and author Fernando Pages Ruiz says that having to meet payrolls is the only part of running a company for two decades that he does not miss, but dealing with tight finances taught him to see what non-monetary rewards and incentives his workers valued.
• Some workers are all about money and just about money, or think they are, but there are other rewards they will like when they get them, including flexible scheduling to meet family needs, chances to develop new skills and willingness to help them grow toward being their own bosses someday, even if they will be competitors.
• When the recession made times hard, employees who had been helped, encouraged and taught responded with loyalty and extra effort.

From the article:

I have heard other employers complain about training future competitors. But this was also my little secret when I worked for a boss, so why would I resent it my employees? ...