Alicia and George unpack why authenticity wins over appearances, how bail actually works (because Alicia had no idea), the tradeoffs of buying a company versus building one, and the right way to ask for a warm intro without being annoying.
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity scales trust. Performative branding cracks under pressure.
- Starting up = freedom and speed, but cash is tight. Buying = instant revenue, but you inherit baggage.
- Culture resets are hardest after acquisitions. Identify and remove the bottom 10 quickly.
- PE is not magic. The advantage is great people plus capital and accountability.
- Warm intros: bring value, be brief, and make it easy to forward.
Warm Intro Playbook (quick)
- Email the connector, not text or LinkedIn
- One sentence on why the match benefits the target
- Include a 2–3 sentence blurb the connector can forward
- One polite follow-up if no response, then drop it
Notable Quotes
- “If you’re authentic to who you are, selling gets easier because people trust you.” — George
- “Asking to meet Peter Thiel without bringing value is like asking to drive someone’s Ferrari just because you feel like it.” — Alicia
Action Steps
- Audit one area you might be performing for optics and simplify it
- If acquiring, map the first 90 days: people decisions, process changes, customer comms
- Draft a forwardable intro blurb you can reuse for future requests
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reality TV Experience
02:35 Fraud in Reality TV and Authenticity
05:23 The Importance of Authenticity in Business
08:16 Fashion, Social Media, and Consumer Behavior
11:10 Understanding Bail and Legal Processes
14:03 Buying vs. Starting a Company
17:10 Challenges in Company Acquisition and Management
19:52 The Evolution of Private Equity
21:46 The Role of Board Members in Company Success
22:39 Hiring A Players vs. B and C Players
24:38 The Value of Buying Established Companies
26:37 Leveraging Existing Assets for Growth
28:56 Networking and Warm Introductions
34:10 Best Practices for Asking for Introductions
Follow George and Alicia!
https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother
https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/
www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother
https://www.aliciamckenzie.com/
https://liftlikeamother.com
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