A consumer product company came to us with ambitions so big they made moon landings look modest. Their goal? A jaw-dropping 35x revenue increase in just two years. We love bold goals—heck, we encourage them! But as we peeled back the layers of their business, it became clear that their vision was based more on wishful thinking than on a solid foundation.
Red Flags: The “We Should Have Seen This Coming” Moments
We pride ourselves on partnering with visionary businesses, but every now and then, we encounter a situation that makes us take a hard look at our values. This was one of those times.
1. The Math That Wasn’t Mathing
They wanted to grow 35x in two years. Sounds exciting, right? Except for one tiny detail: they had zero sales. Nada. Zilch. That’s like saying you want to run a marathon tomorrow when you’ve never jogged a day in your life. Without an existing sales pipeline or any proof of product-market fit, there was no real foundation for this growth plan.
2. The “We Have No Budget, But We Expect Miracles” Strategy
Marketing isn’t magic, and it certainly isn’t free. Yet, despite their colossal revenue aspirations, they weren’t willing to allocate the necessary resources. A successful marketing strategy requires investment—in time, in expertise, and yes, in money. You can’t scale if you won’t spend (or at the very least, listen to the experts you’ve hired).
3. The “Fun” Surprise: A Toxic Work Culture
And then, there was the real dealbreaker.
From the start, we noticed that respect was not a high priority in this company’s culture. They spoke rudely to our team, openly belittled their own employees, and meetings often turned into chaotic yelling matches. It was like watching a corporate version of a reality TV show—except we weren’t getting paid to deal with the drama.
One of our core values is that we treat people with dignity and respect. If a company can’t even extend basic decency to their team, their vendors, or their partners, then we’re simply not the right fit. This wasn’t just a red flag—it was a full-blown fire alarm. And we weren’t about to stick around for the inevitable explosion.
Lessons Learned: Why We Politely (But Firmly) Walked Away
1. Big Goals Are Great—But They Need a Foundation
If you want to scale, you need something to scale from. No sales? No infrastructure? No problem—if you’re willing to do the groundwork first. But expecting a 35x growth spurt without a proven model? That’s just setting everyone up for failure.
2. Respect Matters—A Lot
If a client treats us poorly, it’s usually a sign that they treat others the same way. That’s not a culture we support, and it’s certainly not a recipe for long-term success. Toxicity spreads, and we refuse to be part of that cycle.
3. We Know When to Say “No”
We could have stuck around, nodded along, and taken their money. But that’s not how we operate. Walking away was the best decision we made—because no amount of revenue is worth compromising our values.
Final Thought: Know When to Run (or Sprint) in the Other Direction
At VBM Strategy, we partner with businesses that are ready to grow in a way that makes sense—strategically, ethically, and sustainably. We’re here for the long haul, helping businesses align their vision with actionable, data-driven marketing strategies.
But if your meetings feel like an episode of “Corporate Survivor,” you don’t have the basics in place, and you think treating people badly is just part of doing business…well, we’ll politely excuse ourselves from the chaos.
If you’re serious about real, sustainable growth, though? Let’s talk.
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