READ ON PHILHSC.COM | READ TIME: 3 MINUTES | 7 MAY, 2025

Welcome to Partnership Wednesday #93 featuring a lesson, a thought, an answer, and a prompt to sharpen your partnership skills and help you confidently close 6-figure deals.

A LESSON TO BUILD ON

After quarrelling with the McDonald brothers, Ray Kroc bought the McDonald’s business, including the name and the now famous golden arches logo, in 1961 for $2.7 million. Six years earlier, Kroc shook hands with Coca-Cola. It wasn’t just a beverage choice, Kroc was locking in a growth partner. That handshake launched a 65-year exclusive partnership that scaled both companies into global icons. Coke piggybacked on McDonald’s global expansion. McDonald’s relied on Coke’s local bottlers to set up shop. Promotions like the Value Meals became cultural staples.

Leadership Lesson: Real partnerships are built on commitment. The most enduring alliances are those where both sides build each other’s business. Your future depends on your choice of partner. Choose wisely.

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AN ANSWER TO HELP YOU MOVE FASTER

How do I navigate a partnership in the messy middle (before we have real traction to show)? I was asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:
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The truth is most deals stall right after they’re signed.
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The halo fades. Reality hits. No one knows who’s driving what.
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If you're in the messy middle of a new partnership, these 5 moves will get you on track.
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1. Anchor to the first win.
• Revisit the result that validates the partnership
• Focus everyone on landing that win, even if it’s smaller than planned
⤷ Clarity beats ambition at this stage
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2. Tighten the loop.
• Ditch the monthly updates
• Move to fortnightly check-ins
⤷ Most momentum problems are usually communication problems.
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3. Make progress visible.
People lose energy when they can’t see traction.
Use a shared doc or dashboard to track:
→ What’s done
→ What’s blocked
→ What’s next
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4. Ask: “Where are we under-committed?”
• Misalignment hides in the gaps.
• Check if both sides are truly invested, with time, people, and decision-making power.
⤷ If not, rebalance now.
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5. Reconnect on intent.
• Ask: Why did we start this?
• Shared intent is the heartbeat of every high-trust partnership.
⤷ If it’s missing, no playbook will save you.

Have other questions? Hit reply to ask.

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THIS WEEK'S MOMENT (Insight for your commute)

What if the smartest move your company could make… is backing something you don’t control? In a world where most partnerships are built around contracts and control, this episode unpacks IBM's billion-dollar bet on Linux, an open-source movement that no one owned.

In this 7-minute episode:

• Discover how to reframe what a "partner" is—and why the next big opportunity might not be another company.
• Learn why aligning with a trend or movement can generate more value than owning the product itself.
• See how investing boldly in innovation (not ownership) can unlock massive brand credibility and long-term returns.

Get every episode of the Partnership Playbook on your next commute or workout. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube!

KNOW PEOPLE WHO FEEL STUCK?

Share this issue via text, social media, or email by copying and pasting this link:

​https://philhsc.com/partnership/7-may-2025​

See you next Wednesday,

Phil Hayes-St Clair, Business Partnerships Expert & Coach

​Find me on LinkedIn or Book a 1:1 Call​

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