BAIL Yourself Out

Synergy the Power of Partnership

• Kandice Whitaker • Season 3 • Episode 4

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The speakers discussed the importance of trust, communication, strategic planning, and emotional intelligence in building and maintaining successful business partnerships. They emphasized the need for shared vision, mutual respect, and effective conflict resolution. The speakers also highlighted the challenges of getting into and out of partnerships and the importance of prioritizing long-term strategy. By prioritizing these principles, partners can foster mutually beneficial relationships that lead to growth and success.

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Welcome to the bail yourself out Appy Hour Podcast, where each week we'll help you navigate the corporate jungle. Here's your host, Kandice. Whitaker is happy hour. Welcome to bail yourself out Happy Hour pod friends. Here we focus on personal growth, career growth, and entrepreneurship. Our crew is dedicated to providing you with the insights necessary to turn your dreams into reality and get your money up. In each episode, we'll explore strategies rooted in the bail method of resilience, guiding you to conquer challenges and thrive in everything you do. I'm your host, Kandice Whitaker. And at the age of 21, I was a determined young mother who wanted to ensure my best possible light and defied the odds. So I took steps towards achieving the life I desire. I got my master's degree, then I was a sought after consultant, which led me to starting my own company, I have a passion for guiding people into the life they envision through resilience using the bail yourself out approach. So I'm happy you're here. Kick off your shoes and relax your feet. Fill up your favorite drink because the bail yourself out Happy Hour podcast is about to start. You're listening to Kansas with a cake. And together we'll learn how to bail yourself out, be believed that you can a accept change is a natural part of any process. I inventory your strengths and the strengths available to you and your network. Now learn from your experience and the experience of others. Hey, y'all, Hey, welcome to the bail yourself out Happy Hour podcast today, friends, I am in the lounge with two of my friends. And I am so excited about today's podcast because we're going to talk about partnerships in business. And, you know, probably career relationships too. Today, my two friends in the lounge are April bridges, who's not only one of my friends, but she's also one of my business partners. But then, also, I am so so so excited to have Kristen Webb from the greater you leadership. And we're going to chop it up and have a great conversation. Welcome to the lounge. Ladies. Thank you, thank you. Good to be here was super happy to have you. We're gonna jump right in. So a couple of months ago, y'all. Forbes did this article about seven advantages for having a partnership, right. And so this is for me, I think something important that I've had to learn as an entrepreneur, because one of the good things about being an entrepreneur, at least for me, is that I was able to make a lot of the decisions and able to move in the right direction. But at the same time, I recognize that I don't know everything, right? Nobody knows everything. So partnerships can be advantageous, especially if you have a business for a lot of reasons, right? So it can help you maybe have a knowledge set that you don't have, right. But it can also do other things like your partner can do things. So do a little bit of time share, of course, varied expertise, but more importantly support. Right. So and this is a different kind of support, because it's the support of an informed person who knows what's happening from day to day, even if you are entrepreneur with a spouse, right? There's only so much your spouse is going to know about what you're doing day to day, unless they're actually working with you. One of the other advantages that Forbes decided in this article was a varied cash flow, and sharing expenses and all that kind of stuff. But the biggest thing, I think, and this is where I've really leveraged partnerships and my business, increase the availability to pursue opportunities, right. So one of the ways that you make money is putting yourself out there by proposals or pitching and stuff like that. Having somebody else who could actually speak on your behalf and speak knowledgeably about what you're doing and where you're going. That's invaluable. Right. However, Cobham before my friends here, I've had other business relationships, and some of them weren't great. And that's something you also need to consider as well. And so the Forbes article goes into that quite a bit. I can talk about my experiences in that regard. But I will just say this one thing, before I turn it over to the ladies, getting into a partnership is very easy. Getting out of a partnership is very hard. It is like a divorce. Actually, it's harder than a divorce. So, you know, all those vetting strategies that you use when you're dating and marrying, as somebody I'm not good at that. So you might get better at that because you need to use this in your entrepreneurial career as well. Especially if you're picking somebody to be A partner partnership covers a whole lot. And I don't think we're going to get a chance to talk about all the nuances in this episode. But I will say that the biggest type of partnerships that I see in my life is a partner meaning like a partner in your business, right. And so we do everything related to the business together, but you could also partner with people on projects. And I probably do that more than I have in my complete business. So you know, for this one thing that I'm doing, I need to highlight Kristin real quick, because I need her expertise and leadership, or I need to holler at April, because I need her expertise in product management. So there are two types of partnerships in entrepreneurship. That's the partner in your business. And I think most people just think about that. And then there's partnering on projects, which that could be like low key cheat code for real. So can you share an example either one er, where a strategic partnership significantly boosted growth in your business? I'll jump in, I think the one thing I will say this, the majority of my partnerships have been project based. But one of the key ones that I do recall, the way it boosted is because we were able to leverage our resources as well as our visibility. And so I would say maybe their particular partner had more visibility than I had or had a larger network. And so I was able to then tap into that particular network. And I actually saw business come from it right, maybe at a faster rate than I've seen in other projects. So I will say in that particular partnership, being able to connect with her because they had more restore visibility, definitely helped to boost my business and get additional customers and just increase awareness and visibility around what I did. So that was probably one example that I can go with right now top. You know what, though, that's high key cheat code right there to visibility partnership transcends entrepreneurship, right? Because essentially, when you're in your career, and we start talking about people who are advocates for you, right, who speak well of you, when you're not in the room, that's basically a visibility partnership. Mm hmm. And I personally have had people with whom I've never had any sort of business transactional relationship yet. But they've been a visibility partner. And I liked the way you said that. That's good. Well, thank you. I didn't know that was good. That was good. Yeah, that was good luck. And why are we talking, I was good. I love the way you compare dating, to finding a business partner, I literally am over here making a T chart and see if I can make these connections going forward. That's my elbow, because part of the thing is compatibility. And we don't really talk about that. Because when you're in a business transaction, chick is rail. If you don't naturally get along, or you don't naturally, like each other, have an affinity somewhat for each other. Think about how you used to talk to the folks at work in the boardroom, or would want to talk to the folks that work in a ballroom when they will come at you questioning you. Right? Sometimes the questions were valid, but if you didn't like the person, it was like, Absolutely, yes, that compatibility is huge, because most of my partnerships have been most company based, right. And, you know, there's disagreement there things that, you know, may go wrong, and you have to be able to have those conversations, and have those conversations and still continue with the partnership. Because if you don't like that person, just like in dating, you know, you hit that hump, you're like it's over, I'm gone, I don't care what we did in the past, we're done. With a tee at the end, we ain't doing nothing in the future. Really talking, we thought we were friends a coup. That's done too. And you know, when you get into these partnerships, you need to make sure that you can do business well, but you can do life well together, right? And you can also feed into each other because even though you're in that part of the business together, you may see opportunities for that other person that doesn't involve you, and you're able to let them know so they can expand their business and they can do the same for you. And that's where that relationship comes in. So one of the things that I've learned with my business partnership, is, you know, it's gross. Like I've learned so many things like I'm in product management, but with product management, there's different business fields. And I know that I have the ability to learn different areas of business, but having the opportunity to dig down into the vast amount have, you know, areas of applications and getting that knowledge that I can take somewhere else, and build another client in a different project. And that is what's beneficial to me. But then I also feed that into the partnership in which I'm in that that has been where my growth has come. And that's what I've taken from. So I've been in FinTech businesses, I have been in health informatics, and all those things, I'm growing, and I'm able to learn more, or how to grow different areas of my business where I can go into another spot and help other companies. That is the beneficial part for me. I love that. I love that. So I've actually been taking notes of did you guys were talking? I was taking notes. As you guys we're talking. Because my next question you kind of answered and what you were saying my next question were, what were the key factors that made this partnership successful? So here's what I heard from you guys. It sounded like in order for a partnership to be successful. The elements need to be friendship, knowledge, expertise, open mindedness, exposure to opportunity, or exposure to information, reciprocity, and generosity, somebody who was willing to share. Alright, did I miss any? Nope. Sounds great. To me. That's all I mean, it's all together in the same Boolean parts. That is what creates the best partnership. mutual trust. Yeah, yeah. That gets built into all of that, right? I mean, when you get friendship, you get the trust, right? You have the relationship, when you have the alignment. All of that is supported because trust exists first, or exist in some level, even if it has to be built off of right. But there's an initial level of trust that is mutual that is created from that. So I think definitely another growth opportunity. Learn how to trust people living there on it out there. Yeah, right. Yeah. And just like in a relationship, if you get somebody that I don't trust nobody, you back away slowly and encourage them to get some therapy. Yes, and Amen. All right. Yes, yes, and amen. And the offense, right, so you can't be easily offended. So that's open to all of that, again, the friendship, the trust, but you have to know the way and not be so easily offended, because there's a lot of times in a partnership aren't in any business at all. So think about when we were working at companies, and you said something, and they hit someone a different way, it goes back to the therapy, you need to go ahead and deal with that area. But because of that offense, now you ended a whole relationship. So you need to be able to come forth, because you know, you need to deal with it and therapy, or talking to someone to get through it. But in the meantime, at least the opening up and trust the person enough to say, Hey, Christian, I have this issue when you say it, because now we can talk about discuss it move forward and CO blossom in our partnership, rather than I'm going to hold this against you, and now have an issue, it's going to blow up. And now this whole business deal that we've had or could have grown, is now over because I couldn't even talk to you about something that you said. So that's a whole nother issue right there that can destroy any type of relationship. Being easily offended frustrates me, because I see it as one of two things. In my experience. Sometimes the person is insecure. But more often than not, it's not insecurity. i It's a little bit more insidious than that. Being easily offended is passive aggressive control. Because you're trying to control the situation. I liked it hurts my feelings. It's the truth. And what we're saying to me was self awareness. They don't have it. You don't have it. When you're easily offended. You are aware of why you're offended. You manage that and you move past it and you learn how not to be offended by that again, right to me, it's that hyphenated word. Yeah. Which goes into everything you're saying? Yep. Right, you can't self manage. So you want things to be your way. So basically, it's a temper tantrum. I have to stop myself from getting mad when people are easily offended because I feel myself like okay, now you ain't gonna do this. That's my toxic trait. I get bad I start getting mad. I'm like, Oh, you play it? Oh, you play and play it. But, you know, I think you shouldn't be in business. And I say this as a human. I say this as somebody that you know, has to talk myself through moments sometimes, right? Just in all honesty. I think you shouldn't be in business. If you are easily, you know, offended or even if you don't know how to, you know, just respect the process and respect what's happening right. I think if you are abused, and then you take it personally, you probably you might wanna go work for some bad, you might want to go work for somebody, you might have a car intrapreneurship because your feelings almost have no place in business. Not that empathy isn't supposed to be there, like those things are important. But if your emotions are creating conflict, creating, blockage, creating, you know, disconnect in communication and truth and all those things, then we want to maybe evaluate, you know, are you in your rice banks, and you might think you just need to turn up on it right, then maybe done, you need to drop out just maybe some areas to focus in on. But I love where Kristin took it saying that basically, if you're a person who is easily offended, your feelings about being offended, that really doesn't have any place in business. And you know, it is actually to your detriment. It definitely is. And I mean, a lot of people would be reluctant to deal with you write, firstly, see those areas of your life where you're offended easily, but to how you deal with it. So you know, you think that you're only dealing with it internally, but everyone on outside, see that with, see how you're dealing with it, and they don't want to work with you. I don't want to work with someone who's easily offended. I know how my mouse could be, or how I'm thinking. You're easily offended, then my jokes where I think our jokes, you know, they're no longer jokes. I feel like I can't be me, why can I work? Why should I work with someone where I can't be fully me. That's my point. And that is why passive aggressive control. But that's why we get along because I tell inappropriate jokes, too. But that's only if I like you. And I'm very comfortable with you. Right. But like, I think I experience the opposite of that sometimes, because I was raised by dignified black folks. And you know, it's one of those things if you know, you know, I was kind of raised to not show a lot of emotion. And especially in a professional setting, when I don't know, people, you know, is different if I know you and I'm comfortable. But if I don't know you, I'm not going to show a lot of emotion. And so to folks, that translates to I don't care. And it's not that I don't care. It's just that you got corporate cannabis right now. Yeah, at the end of the day, it goes back to what Kristin was saying, it goes back to self awareness. So just like I am aware that my default is stoic, right, people who are easily offended or you know, a little tender, you need to be aware of that and work on yourself accordingly. So, anyway, this is a great place to take a break. We'll be back, y'all get the bolt off the bail yourself out Happy Hour lounge community by signing up for our community newsletter. And when you sign up, you get a free download of your choice. And you'll be entered to win limited areas, our podcast feature now monthly drone, sign up today. About pod.com. We'll see you there. So tell me, are you enjoying the show? gone ahead and rate us five stars and leave a comment. Now back to the show. Right? Yeah, we are back in the bail yourself out Happy Hour lounge. I'm chillin. With my friends Kristen and April, we are talking about partnerships in business. And also careers, however goes. So let me ask you ladies, in no particular order, what are the most critical elements to consider when choosing a business partner? I know we talked about it a little bit, but let's make a list for the people so we can make it plain. And how do these important elements affect the long term success of the partnership? Hmm, I mean, it's the first word that jumps out to me. Okay, yeah, forgive me. I'm an umbrella girl. I will give you the top word. And I feel like everything else filters up to right, I've given you the lungs, bro. So I feel like alignment is that covers relationship alignment, covers finances, alignment, covers vision, values, perspectives, legalities formations, like, I feel like it covers so much if you are not in alignment. That, to me is the most critical element and everything has to be aligned. Everything has to be aligned in order for it to be as effective long term right vision having a shared vision. If I had to break it down, having a shared vision is important. complementary skills, right? Don't go into a partnership where your skills aren't going to match and complement one another. Some stop. I feel like I'm kind of taking over here. Your five actually, I was going to ask you a follow up question to that because I love alignment. It is an umbrella statement with all these things that roll up under it. But I've learned that some things that might be obvious to us are not obvious to others, especially people who are listening right. To our folks in the listening audience. What would they look for in terms of trying to find a partner that has alignment? Like what kind of questions would you ask? What are your goals for the next three to five years? What are your goals in next 12 months? Where do you envision us being together? I've even in partnerships, where do you see me fitting into this picture? Right? If someone comes and says, Hey, let's work on this project together, let's do a teaming agreement. Or let's see if we can subcontract together, you know, question is, okay, where do you see me in this project? Because while I may see myself somewhere, you know, in a certain capacity, I need to know that we're aligned. In where you see me, you may not see certain skills in me that you recognize. So I need to know Oh, you see that skill in me? Oh, yeah, I can pull it to the table. What's your history? What are your thoughts on teamwork? Right? How do you feel about teamwork? How do you feel about maybe being team lead? Like those are I feel like some of the questions that help you arrive it, you know, where some of their focus is, and and what are some of their direction is slow. But I think it really does start with a good conversation. I love that. All right, April. So what what are the critical elements to consider when choosing a partner? And how do they affect long term success for you? Okay, so alignment, she had me like, I was like, that was one big word that had everything in there, right. But one of the things that kept coming to me when she said it was BM mutual benefits, right. So basically, we can benefit each other. So even if we talking about a partnership, on a project or partnership in a business, but it's mutually beneficial. And so that is one of the things that I definitely want to look at. So we can pull each other in as we move forward. And we can continue with this partnership, and, you know, 510 years, 20 years down the road, and definitely vision. So, again, all these things do fall under alignment. But you know, I can have my vision of a particular project or a partnership, and then another person can have a whole nother vision. So one of the things that I love, I love long term partnership, it may not be long term for a particular project. But that means that because we have this partnership, that once that particular project is over, then two years from now, something comes up and I can go right back to you and say, Hey, this other thing came up. But if I'm connected with a person who says, Oh, we're just together for this particular project, and then doofus I'm never going to talk to you again. I don't think that's somebody I want to work with. Because I enjoy connection. I enjoy friendship, I enjoyed those things, because I like doing life with people, right? And if I can't do life with you, then you're not the right partner for me, even in business, because you're not in that connection. And my feeling is, I feel that you can undercut me at any point, right? You can, at some point, you know, maybe betrayed me not saying that you would. But you're don't feel like you have any skin in the game in your vision with me. So therefore, you know, if something else comes up, or you feel that somebody can benefit you more than you'll be like, Oh, well, we just want to cut it right here. And I'm gonna move forward. So that is huge for me. There was so much in there. I love that you talked about being invested in the partnership. But that kind of goes back to the dating analogy to like, are you really going to spend your time with somebody who they who's really not that invested in you? Try one nice day. That's what I heard she don't want one. Right, right. Yeah. Let's go to dinner the next day. Let me meet your mom at some point, the kids? Um, what's your name again? Yeah, I think the thing that both of you said without saying it outright, that I think is worth calling out is that the elements that were critical to a partnership success is relative. Just like everything in business, you get to make your own rules here, right. So what's important to Kristen, be important to April may be important to me. But what is important to you? Definitely, you get to make that call. There are two things that I was thinking about, that are critical to me, is number one versatility. And this came out for me, Kristin, when you were talking about partnerships, because in that umbrella statement, right of alignment, you need to be versatile to work with me, because I'm a creative. And so if you came to me and said, Well, what do you see my role being like on this project? Because I am the way I am. There's a good probability of me saying to you Well, here, Kristen, here's what we need to get done. I'm open to a conversation about your skill set. And I generally approach things that way. Because I found that when you ask people how they'd like to align in the project, you'll learn things about people either way, right? So you'll learn they can do more than you thought. That's one possibility or Have you also learned that, oh, they don't feel comfortable with what you thought they could do. But the flip side of that is I've also found that some people in those conversations, they don't feel comfortable advocating for themselves. And so that kind of tells me you're not a good fit. You can't tell me what the hell you do. You talk me out project, as April will say, they don't exactly portray you. But I remember having a conversation with a person about a consulting partnership agreement. So it was a project based partnership agreement. And so how do you see this working? Who's gonna do what you know, it was kind of one of those things I came open ended to see what would happen. And then I got hit with this. Well, what is my profit share of this? Are we talking about them before we even know the scope? And who? who's doing what? Because we don't even know what percentage it could we don't know who's bringing what to the table. We haven't even created the strategy. We can talk about price, that's fine. You know what your rate is? That's fine. I don't know that. Hey, Kristen. When I asked, What's your rate? They say I want a part of the whole pie. Forget about the rate. So can I get a part of this whole pie? That's a rate probably right. And I believe that when you go into a partnership with somebody who has money at their main focus is a bad partnership, because money is always going to come first for that person. No, no, we're in business for money. First of all, we all know that we did it the table because we tried to make some money. While we did this, right, well, that's why we're going into a partnership, because we're going to make money but then you're talking about with mine. Before we start talking about what we're going to do in this partnership. We have a whole nother issue. That's a whole nother discussion right there. Because we're going to have a problem every time when he comes up. You're right, April. Let me ask you this, though. When you said this, it took me right back to that dating analogy, is talking about money in the first conversation equivalent to talking about sex on the first day. Oh, and let me say, talking about too early in the first day, man, are you talking about it too early on the first day? That's all you have for? I think everything and this is just life in general. Everything has its place. Right has its perfect time. And you have to know when to interject when it makes sense, right? When you get into other things built back, Regulus any conversation anything. So there was a time and season for every purpose under heaven. Come on Jesus. But like, I think it's the same thing. It goes without saying in the relationship, you know that that's what you're there for at some point? Probably unless you're asexual. Right. Okay. But like to bring it up early shows that that's your focus. And that's all you really care about. Same thing with money. Like, obviously, we are in business to make money does nobody Volunteers of America, I think there's an inherent difference to understanding that money is the outcome, and being money focused. And it sounds like that's what you guys are saying as well. That I get that right now. I would even say if you are a person that is money focused, I'm not even gonna take shots. All right, I'll take my gun and put it back in the back of my house. But I think it's important that money people get together, right? That's who you need to go. Do your partnerships lead, right. Like if your drive is how we're getting these coins? And that's all I really focus on, then. Yeah, go find that partner. I'm just not the partner for you. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. That falls under alignment. Yeah, alignment being mutually beneficial in that partnership. He's thinking about the same thing. That's my hustle, you don't have so we have planned to God, we'd like to get that money. So then when you think about that, he's the person that's trying to get that money with you right? In that focus, and it's just about the money, where my focus would be, okay, this is something we're going to continue to build on. Yes, there's money in there. But then there's the relationship as well. I can't I can't be with somebody who's about, okay, it's the money game. And it's okay. It's okay. For me, not judging the money thing. I really am not. But from a strategic level, let's take a step back and think about it right. When you are money focused. It's hard to strategize, because there are always opportunities to make money or to spend money, right. I'm a coach, but I also have a coach. I've recently had a conversation with my coach who has been encouraging me to do more pitching, related to speaking or whatever. And I'm like, you know, I'm not against it. I think it is something good that should be added to my portfolio, but I was able to say, You know what, let's put a strategic plan behind that. How are we going to do it? I'm not just going to jump out and just start pitching thinks, right? Because I want to be strategic about what I'm saying, To whom I'm saying it to, what is my plan behind speaking, right? My perception of people who are money focused, is in that scenario, it would be a little bit easier to get distracted. Why? Because they would look at it as, oh, well, I can make money if I speak. And that's true, I can make money if I speak. But to me all money is not good money. You know, we all know, people from the hood that are money focused, this is what it looks like, they have a barbershop business, and they sell DVDs, and hats, and you got plenty of ways to make money, but it's all money focused, and they don't do anything particularly good. You're gonna get you a dusty bottle of Muslim oil. Yeah, you can make money on that. But it's not quality. I mean, that's just my opinion. And if somebody has a money focus, who is doing it different? And doing it? Well, let me know, you know, prove me wrong on this. But you know, it also looks like people who have podcasts and invite people to events, and all they doing is selling them for the next one. Yeah. If you feel betrayed, at least I do. When I gave my master classes last week, that was the opening statement, right? I know what that feels like, this is not going to be there, here are my promises, I promise you will leave with strategy, right? Maybe at a high level, but you're not gonna I didn't sell you the entire time, we talked about the content in which you actually showed up for. But anyway, that's, that's that was, literally. So what I'm hearing is, and this is true, that you know, we're not money focused, you're looking at the long game, you're looking at ways down the road. That's, that's just a strategic part of it. Because when your money focus is short, so what I was thinking about when you're saying this was, you know, as it relates to trading, so one of the companies that I've worked with on Krypton is it deals with with trading. So there's different things. But when people are thinking of the short game, they think of like, okay, then money focus, day trading. Day trading, of course, is a skill set. But people don't realize the whole skill set up and don't realize that people have learned this where you for years, but when you're looking at, oh, I can make X amount of dollars 1000s of dollars in a day, when the long game, you know, all those people who do day trade, and they started out with long term trading, I'm going to put money in and I'm going to watch it grow. And I'm going to learn how to put in the right things and see the how the money moves, right. And that's what I think of when it comes to business. Like you learn the long game, you can feel that the strategy, and so that way, you know, to use the long game, to be in the short part of it, where okay, I can flip money faster, because I learned with the strategies that I've gained, while I was in the particular partnership says, Learn this knowledge. And I'm now beneficial not only to myself, it's partnership and all of that, but then I'm beneficial to everything around so my money is growing faster, because I took the time to learn the strategy. And it played the long game. So therefore my money is seeing the game from short game later, Money shouldn't be your focus at first. Like you shouldn't go into a partnership with the money focus, you know, the long game with that partnership. So that way can be beneficial to you later. And you all can, you know, flip the money faster as you learn each other better. I love that. So basically, you want to use your partnership almost as a learning experience. It's a learning tool, I'm gonna be wrong. And lately it's happening anyway. Right? Like, as you're saying it's happening. I've experienced it, but I never consciously say, oh, I need to make sure I'm upskilling as I'm also becoming a part of the partnership. So I love it. This is a great place to take a break. We'll be back. We'll be having more bike sales. Please, please continue to rock with friends, sister, cousin, colleague, auntie and is split. bail yourself out and don't think you have something to be bailed out of after you listen, you will realize that you do. Now back to the show. Pay your way back in the bail yourself out Happy Hour lounge. We talked about a whole lot of things related to partnerships and business. And I'm gonna go back to this Forbes article for just a second because here are some of the things that they listed as disadvantages of a partnership. So again, the partnership can be business based your whole business as a partner or it could be project based you just work in with somebody or some people on a project Killer project. So number one is personality conflicts, I think we probably have all experienced those personality conflicts will happen as long as you're dealing with people. You're both on the hook for liabilities. Yeah, I mean, that's a bigger problem if you're not making any money, lack of autonomy? Oh, no, I think that's relative as a problem. I don't need to make all the decisions. But that's just me. I kind of like the input and expertise of other people selling can be a challenge. So you know, I think this probably is a bullet under personality conflicts. Because if y'all get along and can make decisions together, selling shouldn't be that big of a challenge, and sharing the profits. Also a challenge. I don't know. I mean, there are ways around that I think you can have an agreement upfront, if you have an agreement upfront, then what the hell is the disagreement about? Like, I'm literally confused, you know? Because just like when we play a space, hello, like, we didn't do nothing without no contract, but that's just how I do business. This is like spades. Okay, no rules in the middle. Okay. If you just say we count bags, then when that first card hit, we're counting bags, if you know, you know. All right. So yeah. In regards to partnerships, how have you navigated conflicts or challenges to ensure a mutual beneficial relationship? I think I'm going to answer this one first, myself, because April and I are partners, we have a business together. But also we have partnered on projects together as well. I think the one thing that has been important for us and partnerships, at least from my perspective, is we communicate very well. We don't always agree on everything. And that's okay. We can definitely disagree and say, Okay, I don't see it that way. I don't agree with what you said, here's why. And we can chop it up. And I never, and I don't know if I've ever told you this April, but I never am concerned about how you're going to react when I say okay, I don't agree with that. And there's a lot of people who I kind of go around it, because I am concerned. But that's a good thing. I feel like it saves time. Like now, I think that's right. That's my opinion. But that's how you should be in any type of partnerships, right? You should be in a place where you feel comfortable with saying those things. And I know it's there, sometimes that your communicate to me and say, okay, you know, like you're trying to soften the blow. But I'm like, Oh, well, you know, because I enjoy the communication. So to piggyback a bit on what you're saying, I've been in partnerships that I felt that my voice has been small only because in the partnership, I had a small part. And I have said things that I know, were the way things should run or the way that the direction we should go. But when the disagreement comes, I don't like going back and forth. Like you know, some people like to yell. I don't do that. Some people like to be really strong in their stance. I'm so the mind but then I am the queen. Okay. When I say okay, it's all right. I'm done. You do whatever you want to do. I am a strong advocate of the Okay, ministry. So there have been times that April. Okay. But then it comes around that whatever I said was true, or we should have done it that way. Then everyone, of course, forget that. I said, and I don't stand up and be like, I told you because I don't like the whole I told you so. And I do. And that's why I'm a Jerk. Jerk. Okay. I have no issue with being a jerk, though. I don't say I'm supposed to so but that has been a conflict. I'm petty as hell, I would have been like, well, if you were to just did like I said in the meeting, and you guys over talked to me that we wouldn't be here right now. Oh, yeah. I'm 10 toes down. Patti? You know that about me April, though? I do. And I try not to be petty. And that's one of the things I've been thinking in my head. I told you so but I don't say it and I tried to skirt around it. And it'll be more saved me. I did. I tried. But the problem is that it sometimes it works well, and we get, you know, around that curve. But then there's other times where it doesn't work as well, because they're looking at it as basically you should have spoken about it even if I don't say I told you so they see that it was probably on my side. Right. And so to me, that's something that I have been working on it within myself, like I that goes back into the types of partners that I look for that I feel that you know, you should always have a voice on both sides. So you know, you mentioned before that that communication is very important. And you know that for when you have those issues, you know how to work through it, you can work through it. Alright, Kristen was say you um, Gonna go textbook a little bit. I know you said I'm gonna textbook let me say what a textbook I'm pulling it from. I'm pulling it from the textbook of Christian. Okay, this is my own textbook, I got four core values. And when I think about conflict, and especially in partnerships, these four I think helped me each time to navigate through conflicts that arise through partnerships, self awareness, I tap into myself first, what's happening? Why is this happening? How am I part of it? What am I contributing? Is it really me? Or is it the other partner, right? You consider that the accountability because that's what you know, that kind of pulls out with the self awareness, effective communication, you're talking about communication, and then servant leadership. And I know that one's like real left field, but in conflict, if we can make sure that we are making that we're servicing each other in the partnership. And that is not just about me, even in the conflict, that we're trying to get back to whatever that shared goal that shared vision was. And if we can't get there, that's fine. Right? Once I go through those four steps, and I made the servant leadership, and we still not able to service each other, it may be time to find a clause in the contract that allows us to, you know, go our separate ways. But those four things to me if I process I mean, I can think about the conflicts I've had in partnership where I did one look at myself first, then I did the accountability of not only the other person, but myself, and making sure that I communicate because then I'm able to communicate, Hey, I didn't like the way this happened. Or I wish this would have been the case, or can we take this approach instead? And then I'm able to also consider the servant leadership, because it's not just about me winning in that moment, right? Why my point may be very important, how do we get to a win win for the both of us because that's what conflict should look like. It shouldn't be one person losing, if we can make that the outcome, right. That's usually what we should be striving for. And maybe not assume that. But that's what I am usually striving for when I do run myself with the company and I perfectly in it. I'm just telling you what I try to process when I do run into conflict, specifically in partnerships, specifically in partnerships. Yeah. I love what you just said. And I think what was key there is a couple of things. You talked about self awareness, but then also thinking about kind of what the other person said. And I think that part is important. The self awareness is important, but also thinking about what the other person said. And what I'd like to add to that is, what I do is I think about, well, could they have met what they said in a different way? Other than how I took it, right? So I try to do that. Okay, and so where was I? Yeah, right now, sometimes, I'll arrive that one no other way to say that you said what you said, Now, I gotta cut you out. Now, I'm just joking, but not that it makes you want to April. But no, but at the end of the day, for real, the focus should always be the business, the focus should always be the project, right? That is what should be winning. Not them, not you is the project winning is the business winning. And you know, April is seeing this. And because we've worked together a lot, if I feel passionate about something, that same little girl who in high school was telling the teachers, okay, you got a dog, a cat child at home, you can yell at go and do that, but you're not going to yell at me. I'm not saying person. But you know what another thing is, is Chris just said this, and he hit just hit me in the chest. And this is accountability. Like I always tell people, I'm accountable for everything that I do. So if I'm talking to someone, and I did something wrong, but like now, I did, blah, blah, blah. And I shouldn't have done that I could have done this better. But what I realized is that a lot of people aren't accountable, like I am. And that is huge when you are going through any type of issue with anyone. So when we talk about, you know, business partnerships right now. So if you're a business partner, should have done something better, should have done something differently, right? That accountability means a lot in keeping that relationship. So in the case of you know, you and I can just there have been times that you and I may have disagreed on something, and then one of us realized the other person. Oh, okay, that's what you're talking about. So then we'll come back. Oh, yeah. You know, I thought this, or I thought this was but yeah, I see what you're talking about. Now. My bad, right? Let's move in that direction. And that's what it means. It's not you stand to your fans because you fought the good fight for whatever you believe. And you're gonna stand 10 toes down on what you know now is wrong. It is being accountable for all of those other decisions that may have not gone the right direction. But now you're like, Okay, well, I did that. So let's move forward. Let's move forward with this new way. And it means you know, that's saving the business. That's Like you said, putting the business first, I love that you said that. And you know, it's funny that you brought that up, in particular, because I was thinking about this. Just recently, I think part of that, for us is, or at least I can say, for me, I've gotten to learn you and know you a little bit better. So I know that when you speak, you say the most important thing first. And over time, and it might not even be in the same day, you'll give context about everything that you said, I know that about you. So I don't respond as quickly as I used to, because I will respond, but then I didn't have all the information. I know what's going to come out over time, because that's how you talk. You know, that's just part of how I think right? So when I spend a lot of time with person, regardless of who they are, I pay attention to how they are. So that for me, you just being you is not going to annoy me. Because I just know, this is how APR is she's going to say the most important part up front. And you might not even have a definition. But what she's talking about like for MVP, it took me months, because you were talking about that for a long time. I don't know what it is. I would just be spitting out letters. I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Just highlighted me when you need me to do something. But the other thing that I was thinking, conversely, is for people who are working jobs, right? All of these things happen. conflict with people, you're going to work with folks who are not accountable, right, folks, not knowing how to communicate. But I think the main difference is that our ability to be able to resolve conflict and work through these things, our money is directly related to that our bread is directly related to that, and work, maybe not so much. And you know, I know, we've also experienced bosses who had low emotional intelligence, I know that I have, you know, the folks who not only wouldn't be accountable, but folks who would take credit for your work. So I don't think there is a better or worse in terms of working or being an entrepreneur is just a different set of issues. You know, Biggie already told us more money, more problems, more money, then you have to have a smaller circle. You know, that's your problem. Yo, did you not see blanket, as Michael Jackson's light skinned son that that always had to blink it over his head is suing grandma for pieces that state? What? Catherine alone? I know. He don't have a house to live. I don't know, because I'm overeating when we get done. You gotta leave grandma destitute. Right? So any last advice on partnerships for our friends listening? Yes, like my was work smarter, not harder. I like that. I think partnerships help you do that they help you work smarter, not harder to get towards whatever your specific business goals are. And they should be a part of your strategy in some way or another when it makes sense, with contractual terms are supported. And that's my last note for today. Yes, ma'am. That's right. Because if it's not written down, it doesn't exist. It makes it harder to when it's time to end the relationship. Now I gotta take you to court to go over things that we didn't document so all they can be spelled out in front. So yeah, absolutely. Mind could be a footnote to what you said I'm going to add creativity. How do you get to working smarter not harder? Yes. And I love creativity to be as as I'm gonna shut up so I love that. Yeah. And that was added a strategic alignment. Yes. I love it. Thank you so much for joining us today April bridges Christian Web. Y'all tell folks how they can get to you on socials on social and being Christian all the platforms Christian web, LinkedIn, Instagram, the all the good stuff. Tick tock, I love it. April bridges on LinkedIn, and Facebook. All right, y'all as always, thank you for listening. I love you when I mean it these days. Wasn't that a great interview? Hold up before you grab your hat and head out. Make sure you make your way to facebook and join the bail yourself out pod Facebook group. That's where you'll find your virtual co workers, luxuriating and chatting. Thank you so much for listening. And if you enjoy the show, please leave a review. That's how we keep the lights on. If you're on social media, follow your girl Candace was in Kay Whitaker. And you know what, I'd love to hear from you. With that. I love you. And I mean it because there are people who hate in the world for no reason. I choose to love for no reason. I believe that the great man Luther King Jr said hate is too great a burden to bear so I choose to love He shall

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