The "No As**oles Policy"

Hey there entrepreneurs,

Welcome to the Better Business Brief, where I share takeaways from:

• running a business I’m building to sell for millions
• my consulting with business owners building to sell for millions
• tips and tricks you can use to do the same

My business partner and I recently met with a new prospect that we really enjoy talking to. This is a guy who after a few decades working in an industry, went off on his own and bought a small business in that industry and has built it up bigger over the last 7 years. In analyzing his business and how we planned to partner together, something came up that I hadn’t thought of in a while. He told us about how he grew his team by avoiding people he didn’t like working with. Pretty simple. It reminded me of a policy I already knew about...

So today, in less than 5 minutes, I’ll give you:

?? Why This No As**oles Policy Matters

?? How to Enforce It in Your Own Business

?? The Impact on Growth and Well-Being

Growing up, I watched my dad, a custom men’s clothing salesman, travel across the state selling his suits. He ran his own business doing this for over 20 years before he passed, and was the type of guy that was a cult of personality. I was always fascinated that many of his hundreds of clients were also his great friends.

His rule for himself was simple but effective: he had a "No As**oles Policy" when it came to his clients. If someone showed they were disrespectful, constantly demanding, or treated him or his staff poorly, he’d simply cut ties. He’d turn down a sale if it meant preserving his sanity and keeping things running smoothly. He wasn’t perfect about this, but over 20 years, that policy kept him happy, sane, and, unsurprisingly, in business with clients who respected him back.

This approach is one I’ve adopted in my own work. It’s about finding clients and partners who add to your business, not drain it. And it’s not just good for your stress levels; it’s good business sense for a few reasons…

Here are 3 of the things I’ve learned from both getting these lessons from my father growing up, and having experienced a number of a**holes in business myself and having learned to better recognize and avoid them early on:

1. Trust Your Gut Early On.

Your intuition is a powerful filter. If someone makes you question their motives or you sense they’ll be difficult, listen to that feeling. Every minute you spend with the wrong client takes time away from the right ones. Trusting your gut lets you keep focused on people who add value and respect your time, but most importantly, who treat you the way you should expect to be treated. Simple ways to recognize these people: they take way more than they give, they often have massively inflated views of themselves, and they’re often all talk, no action.

2. Live By Clear Boundaries and Standards.

Lay the groundwork from the start, letting everyone know with your actions that respect is non-negotiable—clients, partners, even team members. When boundaries are clear, misunderstandings are fewer. And if someone steps over the line, it’s easier to make a clean break without unnecessary drama.

3. Let This Policy Empower You to Walk Away.

Here’s the freedom this policy brings: you’re not trapped in any relationship that doesn’t serve you. High-maintenance clients don’t add value to your business, they drain its energy. By walking away, you open the door for clients who are a better fit, making your business both more profitable and enjoyable.

The toughest thing here is that there will be times where you feel like you need to take on a client or partner for some reason, and you’ll want to make an “exception.” I urge you to stick to his policy as much as you can, letting it guide you. It'll help you build a business you enjoy running and WANT to show up to every day.

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Happy value-building to all of you!

See you next time for Better Business Brief,

-Brody