Deal Breakers: a No Prepisode
Mon Feb 02 2026
A 7-part Series starts today on the NO FOLLOWERS Podcast. The topic: Business Relationships.
In our world, partnerships aren’t transactions. They’re the backbone of everything we build. For decades, our community and network have held a 100% retention rate; not because of contracts, but because of trust, clarity and shared work in the trenches.
Deal Breakers: A NO Prepisode
If you want to understand why this matters and why our partners stay for decades; these episodes from the First Strike Incubator break it down from every angle.
0:34 A NO Prepisode.
0:56 What are deal breakers for you?
1:23 I think you are using the term "partner" incorrectly. It is more of a collaboration.
1:43 We have to separate customer from partner as they are different levels of deal break.
2:11 Our joint customer was not appreciative off all the bending over backwards we did.
2:30 They should have seen beyond the dollar amount. We created more value for them than that.
2:50 Most clients don't care about the work. They only care about results.
3:12 I like my customers to feel like they should have paid more.
4:16 For me deal breakers are dishonesty, the lying and the b.s.
4:50 First level for me is honesty and doing what you say you will do.
4:59 Second level is do you understand the depth of work you are asking for.
5:38 A customer had $25,000 to build a motorcycle but wanted an $80,000 build.
6:09 Even though they only had $25,000, they see an $80,000 bike in their mind.
6:32 At that moment we have a fundamentally different valuation.
6:53 Isn't your job to educate the customer about the proper value?
7:19 There are things you can pick up on in my experience.
7:50 I've heard you say, if I have to convince you of the value then you will never get it.
8:25 Most people up front don't understand the value of the work involved.
8:56 It's not them saying I don't have the budget, I'm fine with that.
9:29 I will work with that person all day because they understand what it takes.
9:39 Have honest communications and real relationships.
9:54 A deal breaker for me is if my expert opinion on time and budget is ignored.
10:35 If someone already makes the exact thing you need, buy it from them.
10:42 Listen to me. It is never cheaper to make it custom.
11:21 A Ferrari 488 is $300,000. If you want me to custom build you one, it would be $1,200,000.
11:37 Ferrari already has all the infrastructure, knowledge and experience to build it.
12:21 This is based on the past 10 years of doing this and having conversations with many people.
12:30 The customer that had $25K and wanted an $80K bike build was never going to be happy.
13:18 Despite things going wrong, we delivered. They didn't understand the process.
13:35 They are not buying the process. They are buying the finished good.
13:55 Have the right conversations up front to set expectations correctly.
14:22 Customers don't know what goes into making an iPhone.
14:30 Fox makes the iPhone for Apple.
15:07 Every client complains at some point. Fox only exists because of Apple.
15:15 A more tangible example would be with problems with our new car.
16:03 They paid you for a service, they don't care how you get there. They just want it done.
16:52 Is that really a deal breaker or are you going to figure it out and renegotiate?
16:56 In my experience if you come in with a fundamental misunderstanding, that's a deal breaker.
17:31 I would love comments on this to see where people draw the line.
17:41 A perfect / imperfect example.
18:22 You didn't listen to those red flags.
19:10 No matter how good your idea or product is, this doesn't work if you are not coachable.
More
A 7-part Series starts today on the NO FOLLOWERS Podcast. The topic: Business Relationships. In our world, partnerships aren’t transactions. They’re the backbone of everything we build. For decades, our community and network have held a 100% retention rate; not because of contracts, but because of trust, clarity and shared work in the trenches. Deal Breakers: A NO Prepisode If you want to understand why this matters and why our partners stay for decades; these episodes from the First Strike Incubator break it down from every angle. 0:34 A NO Prepisode. 0:56 What are deal breakers for you? 1:23 I think you are using the term "partner" incorrectly. It is more of a collaboration. 1:43 We have to separate customer from partner as they are different levels of deal break. 2:11 Our joint customer was not appreciative off all the bending over backwards we did. 2:30 They should have seen beyond the dollar amount. We created more value for them than that. 2:50 Most clients don't care about the work. They only care about results. 3:12 I like my customers to feel like they should have paid more. 4:16 For me deal breakers are dishonesty, the lying and the b.s. 4:50 First level for me is honesty and doing what you say you will do. 4:59 Second level is do you understand the depth of work you are asking for. 5:38 A customer had $25,000 to build a motorcycle but wanted an $80,000 build. 6:09 Even though they only had $25,000, they see an $80,000 bike in their mind. 6:32 At that moment we have a fundamentally different valuation. 6:53 Isn't your job to educate the customer about the proper value? 7:19 There are things you can pick up on in my experience. 7:50 I've heard you say, if I have to convince you of the value then you will never get it. 8:25 Most people up front don't understand the value of the work involved. 8:56 It's not them saying I don't have the budget, I'm fine with that. 9:29 I will work with that person all day because they understand what it takes. 9:39 Have honest communications and real relationships. 9:54 A deal breaker for me is if my expert opinion on time and budget is ignored. 10:35 If someone already makes the exact thing you need, buy it from them. 10:42 Listen to me. It is never cheaper to make it custom. 11:21 A Ferrari 488 is $300,000. If you want me to custom build you one, it would be $1,200,000. 11:37 Ferrari already has all the infrastructure, knowledge and experience to build it. 12:21 This is based on the past 10 years of doing this and having conversations with many people. 12:30 The customer that had $25K and wanted an $80K bike build was never going to be happy. 13:18 Despite things going wrong, we delivered. They didn't understand the process. 13:35 They are not buying the process. They are buying the finished good. 13:55 Have the right conversations up front to set expectations correctly. 14:22 Customers don't know what goes into making an iPhone. 14:30 Fox makes the iPhone for Apple. 15:07 Every client complains at some point. Fox only exists because of Apple. 15:15 A more tangible example would be with problems with our new car. 16:03 They paid you for a service, they don't care how you get there. They just want it done. 16:52 Is that really a deal breaker or are you going to figure it out and renegotiate? 16:56 In my experience if you come in with a fundamental misunderstanding, that's a deal breaker. 17:31 I would love comments on this to see where people draw the line. 17:41 A perfect / imperfect example. 18:22 You didn't listen to those red flags. 19:10 No matter how good your idea or product is, this doesn't work if you are not coachable.