My business partner and I went into a meeting with a potential partner for a new project. We had been preparing for about three weeks. In our previous conversation, profit sharing, tasks, and roles seemed clear. Nothing was signed, but there was an understanding.
This is where you need to be careful. We went deeper into numbers.
At one point, I asked a simple question:
“Why do you want a 10% management fee in this contract?”
He explained they would manage the online platform, tutors, students, and reporting.
I said, “Okay. Then let’s make it 7%. Ten is too high.”
That’s when the mood shifted. And this is something you should always watch for in negotiations – the moment numbers change, people change.
In the middle of the discussion, he said,
“What if we turn your offer upside down and give you what you’re offering us?”
I said, “No problem. We can take it.”
Then I added, “But if we do that, the management fee has to be cut too.”
He asked, “Why cut it to 3.5%?”
I said, “Because if you split tasks, roles, and responsibility, you split everything.”
This is a rule you should remember – if something is shared, the upside and downside must be shared too.
Then he said,
“Why don’t you take 3.5% and manage it yourself?” It was f*cking bold and aggressive question. I could literally see and feel his frustration.
If my partner hadn’t been sitting next to me, I probably would have said yes.
But I paused. Not every challenge needs an emotional response. Sometimes, holding your position is the win.
Later, we discussed the budget. We said 1,300,000.
He said if we didn’t deliver, they’d cut almost 15% from the top.
Again, unfair.
This is another lesson. Penalties without shared risk are red flags.
At that point, we chose not to push. We ended the meeting calmly and said we’d consider taking the project fully ourselves, or else possibly on a 50–50 structure.
I know that sometimes walking away is a skill. You don’t always need to close. Sometimes, you need clarity.
Here’s the bigger lesson you should take from this.
People don’t always hold on to promises. Moods change. Circumstances change. What sounds fair today can shift tomorrow. That’s why you never fully depend on people or situations. You prepare. You protect yourself. You stay calm.
And above all, you rely on God which I always do and immediately see the bigger bigture.
You do your part. You stay honest. You negotiate fairly. And then you let go of the outcome.
Remember, If something isn’t good for you, it won’t stick. If it is meant for you, it will find a way.
Tomorrow, we’ll make the final decision about the project. But the lesson is already clear.
When you split a project, split everything.
When terms feel unfair, don’t rush.
And when in doubt, trust your values more than pressure.
Best,
Nuri
