390 Selling Isn't the Job. Vetting Is.
Modern Craftsman
Modern Craftsman
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 25 January 2026
⏱️ 69 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Most jobs don't go sideways because the build is hard, they go sideways because you said yes before you had real alignment. Nick and Tyler lay out the questions, red flags, and money reality checks that help you protect your time and only take projects that fit your program.
Show Notes:
00:00 Stop filling the void
04:20 Highlighters, systems, and getting focused
06:47 Why "bad clients" are usually on you
12:24 Revenue forecast or you're guessing
20:28 Reset your baseline and set a minimum
25:00 Numbers vs vibes, both matter
31:07 Selling vs vetting, stop pitching so early
41:02 Red flags: trust, micromanage, urgency
48:40 Budget talk and "just an estimate" traps
57:40 If you ask one thing, ask this
1:04:20 Staying in your process when it gets tight
1:08:48 Wrap and newsletter plug
Video Version:
https://youtu.be/AjqjsXBXRj0
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Understand why you have that gap and why you need to offset that and what potentially could be changed internally within your business is so much more important than just saying we're going to take this job to fill this void. |
| 0:14.6 | Welcome to the Monocross and podcast. |
| 0:17.6 | We are on a role with hyper-specific topics about how we can help you guys build |
| 0:23.3 | better businesses. Today, Tyler put together, I'm going to just call it the right questions |
| 0:30.0 | because that's what we're ultimately going to be talking about vetting clients that |
| 0:36.2 | actually align with your business. I don't have |
| 0:39.6 | enough time in this podcast to share all of the mistakes I've made or all of the difficult clients, |
| 0:45.6 | but I can assure you that if you've ever had a difficult client, you will relate to this conversation. |
| 0:52.4 | And unfortunately, the cliff notes is that it is your fault. But the good thing |
| 0:59.1 | is, is you can fix it and actually get to a point where you're working with clients that you |
| 1:04.4 | actually enjoy, which means that they respect and almost most importantly trust your process. |
| 1:12.4 | Yeah, and to be honest, it may be simpler than you think. |
| 1:17.0 | And it might just require a little less talking on your behalf. |
| 1:22.4 | So take a listen to this and let us know what you think. |
| 1:27.1 | Before we get into it guys, shout out to our sponsor, Harnish Workwear. |
| 1:31.1 | We have been in these hoodies every episode, Tyler. |
| 1:35.5 | Are you where, is it the same hoodie that you have on that I have on? |
| 1:40.0 | Yeah. |
| 1:41.0 | Mine's a modern craftsman, but it's the same like, it's, I mostly, I mean, it's 25 degrees out right now, and I'm going out with a t-shirt, |
| 1:50.1 | this hoodie, and a vest. |
| 1:51.9 | It's so heavy. |
| 1:53.4 | Yeah. |
... |
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