🚀 The No-Nonsense Short Guide for Smart Deals & Strong Partnerships
The Real Deal on Deal-Making: Field Notes from the Trenches with Brandi Graves...
So Brandi and I have gotten SO much awesome feedback from The Insider Guide to Revenue Sharing Mastery (2 years In the Making)...
That I felt kinda selfish keeping the entire video behind a paywall…
So, I’ve shared about 10 minutes of the full video below along with show notes and take aways for ya.
We dive into:
How to spot a doomed deal in the first 10 minutes, without ever mentioning money
The childhood experience that creates deal-making superpowers (and it's not what you think)
Why some of the most profitable deals often get killed fastest (and what that reveals about success)
The single word successful deal-makers listen for that signals impending chaos
Why high revenue can be the biggest red flag in a potential partnership
The counter-intuitive reason seasoned deal-makers are more likely to walk away from "good" opportunities
The surprising similarity between dating and deal-making that predicts long-term success
The real reason deal-makers stick with bad deals (hint: it's not about the money)
Why trying to save a "sinking ship" is one of the most expensive mistakes in book
The psychological shift that lets you spot toxic deals before they cost you even if you’re brand new to deal making.
The peaceful mindset that actually makes you more money (by walking away more often)
Why referred deals last longer (and what that reveals about human nature)
The surprising reason why "pretty stuff" coming out of people's mouths can be your biggest warning sign (a Quote by Travis Sago)
How to tell if someone's focus is in the wrong place without them saying a word
The mobile home business lesson that transforms how you view every deal
Normally this is where I slap a big ol’ paywall up but not today…
However, if you’d like to listen in on the entire hour long conversation…
…AND get access to tools, training, case studies, and breakdowns of multi-six figure partner deals...
Click on the link below and become a paid subscriber of The Meaningful Man.
The Insider Guide to Revenue Sharing Mastery (2 years In the Making)...
In the meantime, here we go…
🚀 The No-Nonsense Short Guide for Smart Deals & Strong Partnerships
Highlights and Take Aways + Action plan
1. Trust Your Gut—It’s Probably Right 🤯
You ever get off a call and immediately think, "Nope. This is a mess."? That’s your intuition doing you a solid. The way a deal starts is usually how it’ll end. If the first convo feels like herding cats 🐱🐱🐱, expect more cats. If they’re indecisive, chaotic, or can’t answer basic questions? It’s not going to get better.
💡 Takeaway:
🚦 Red flags mean stop. If the deal feels like a headache from the jump, don’t lie to yourself—walk away. Fast. 🏃♂️💨
2. Revenue ≠ A Good Business 💸🚫
Just because they’re making some money doesn’t mean they’re actually making profit. High revenue but no profit? Massive expenses eating up all the cash? That’s a sinking ship 🚢💨, not an opportunity. Some businesses survive on sheer momentum, but that doesn’t mean they’re well-run.
💡 Takeaway:
🔎 Look beyond the top-line numbers. Ask the hard questions: What’s their actual cash flow? What are your charge backs & refund rates? You don’t want to jump onto a train 🚆 that’s barely staying on the tracks.
3. Kill Bad Deals Fast (Before They Kill Your Sanity) 🔪🧠
You know what’s expensive? Bad deals. They cost you time ⏳, energy ⚡, and, worst of all, peace of mind 🧘. A deal that’s full of friction and drama before the ink is even dry will only get worse. The faster you cut bad deals, the faster you can focus on great ones.
💡 Takeaway:
🚀 Be ruthless with your time. If something feels off, it is off. Better to shut it down early than suffer through months of stress.
4. Know When You’re Being Sold to 🎭
Everyone has an agenda. While you’re thinking about long-term value, the other side is likely focused on their own needs—whether that’s getting you on board, securing a quick win, or offloading their problems onto you. Pay attention to what’s not being said.
💡 Takeaway:
👀 Listen past the pitch. Are they genuinely interested in a win-win 🤝, or just looking for a bailout? Observe their behavior, not just their words.
5. The “Referral Trap” – Don’t Stay in a Bad Deal Out of Obligation 🎭😬
Ever notice how you’ll kill your own deals in a heartbeat, but when someone refers a deal to you, you hesitate? That’s the guilt trap. If a deal sucks, it doesn’t matter who brought it to you—it still sucks. Respect your standards.
💡 Takeaway:
🙌 You owe people gratitude, not your time. If a referred deal isn’t a fit, say no quickly and clearly.
6. Think Long-Term, Not Just Quick Cash 💡📈
A deal that makes a quick buck 💵 but burns bridges 🌉🔥 isn’t worth it. Partnerships should be like great relationships—built on trust, value, and long-term wins. If the foundation isn’t solid, the whole thing crumbles eventually.
💡 Takeaway:
🎯 Optimize for sustainable, low-drama, high-value partnerships. The best deals don’t just make money—they make life easier.
⚡ Final Word: Your Time Is the Real Asset ⏳💎
The biggest mistake in deal-making? Thinking the money is the most important thing. It’s not. Your energy, reputation, and mental peace are worth way more.
That way when you come across the right deal?
100% of you is actually available for it! (just like an intimate relationship)
👉 Stay picky. Cut fast. Go all in on the right ones. That’s how you build a killer portfolio of partnerships without the chaos. 🎯🔥
⚡ Your Action Plan
✅ Watch how they start – that's how they'll finish 🎬🔚
🚨 Look for chaotic patterns early – messy now = messy later 🤯
👀 Trust your gut when something feels off – it's rarely wrong 🤨
🏃♂️ Be ready to walk away (for real) – no second-guessing 🚪💨
🎯 Focus on long-term fit over ONLY short-term gains – play the long game 🏆
💡 Remember: The best deal you'll ever make might be the one you don’t do. Yeah, that sounds like fortune cookie wisdom 🥠, but I’ve got the battle scars to prove it’s true. 💪
Now go kill some bad deals so you can find the good ones. ✌️💥
PS: If you’re thinking "but what if I need the money?" – that’s exactly when you need these standards the most. Trust me on this one. 🔥💰
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The Insider Guide to Revenue Sharing Mastery (2 years In the Making)...