Actual Associates (At all times) Pay Full Value | by Jano le Roux | The Startup | Sep, 2025

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I used to present “good friend reductions” to everybody I knew.

Huge mistake.

It practically killed my enterprise. And it undoubtedly killed some friendships.

Right here’s what I discovered about friendship, enterprise, and why the individuals who really care about you’ll by no means ask you to work for much less.

The good friend low cost entice

Once I began my advertising and marketing consulting enterprise, I believed being beneficiant would construct loyalty.

Faculty buddies bought 20% off.

Highschool buddies bought 30% off.

Household bought the “value value” — no matter that meant.

I felt good about myself. I used to be serving to folks I cared about whereas constructing my enterprise.

Then I checked out my checking account.

I used to be busy. Actually busy.

And fully broke.

The wake-up name

About 5 years in the past accountant requested me a easy query:

“How a lot did you make per hour final month?”

I did the maths.