The goal always for the First Strike Incubator Team is to build smarter.

This episode on ITEM vs. PRODUCT MANUFACTURING is the difference that decides whether you scale or stall.

This is what we experience with many of our new clients and inventors:

Most think they are “building a product” but really they are just making an item.

An item is a one-off output with no system, no repeatability and no path to real margin. This episode breaks down the gap between the two, why it matters and how to shift from crafting things to manufacturing value.

If you are stuck in custom‑everything mode or wondering why growth feels impossible, this one is worth the watch.

NO FOLLOWERS Podcast Video Episode 49: ITEM vs. PRODUCT MANUFACTURING

Follow, Subscribe and Get Involved with the teams that have over 200 startups directly launched, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized, 70 exited plus mentorship of over 5900 others; on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel and on LinkedIn.

Tackling the real decisions that affect your business and/or product design to build.

The First Strike Incubator Team discuss the critical questions to dig into before you buy, make, lease...

NO FOLLOWERS Podcast VIDEO Episode 22: MAKE vs. BUY.

Follow, Subscribe and Get Involved with the teams that have over 200 startups directly launched, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized, 70 exited plus mentorship of over 5900 others; on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel and here on LinkedIn,

Research Part 2

Research as an operating system. It is shocking how many people spend money building products, starting companies, launching new campaigns with no research, no testing, no validating. One of the many reasons we exist to guide and direct from experience and best practices; not ego and hype.
Follow, Subscribe and Get Involved with the teams that have over 200 startups directly launched, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized, 70 exited plus mentorship of over 5900 others.

Bourbon or Scotch?1:55 T's conspiracy theory 1.2:35 How do you approach research?3:00 Not scholarly research. Granola Moms. 3:47 There is a big difference between scholarly research and secondhand research.4:24 Research should be objective.5:02 You are creating a methodology to remove your bias from the equation.5:37 Instagram story about high fructose corn syrup in baby food.6:24 Research isn't going online a getting other people's opinions.7:01 The scientific method.7:07 A hypothesis is something you are postulating at the beginning and must be tested.8:18 Red Solo Cups.9:05 T's real-life example of research with his Type 57X Bike.11:00 I have a 3-step process: Micro, Macro, and Comparative.11:28 It's like trying to learn a sport and all the rules and lingo.11:35 T's conspiracy theory 2.12:02 Look at the macro level of whatever industry you are getting into.12:11 Move on to the micro research.12:15 Compare how other businesses in your sector work and how they buy and sell.13:03 There are methodologies for describing industries. There are NAICS codes.13:40 Business isn't for everyone.14:20 What should be the first goal with research?14:43 What is your research question? Red Solo Cups. 15:09 Use secondhand research to start.15:35 An example of scholarly research.16:05 Looking up articles online is very different from qualified research.16:22 Wikipedia, Buzz Feed, etc. are just starting points but unfortunately many people stop there.16:40 Know the specific question you are trying to answer first.18:48 I was rude before, but I am okay with that.19:13 Most people don't even know their market.19:49 "You can't fix stupid; you can only numb it with a 2 by 4".

Key Takeaway from the First Strike Incubator Team Conversation: If your business language is filled with “I”, you’re operating on ego, not evidence. Real builders shift from I → They → Proof. The moment you stop centering yourself and start centering the customer, your business becomes testable, scalable and real. With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5900 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YT Channel and on LinkedIn.

Perfect doesn’t scale. Execution does. The First Strike Incubator Team tackles a reminder every operator needs: waiting for perfect is just another form of procrastination dressed up as "exacting standards.”

You should know your product market fit.2:24 Do not go to market without knowing who the customer is.3:10 Your definition of perfect might have nothing to do with what your customer wants.3:26 Set clear design goals. 3:48 More features do not mean more market share.3:52 Find the features your customer will pay you for.3:58 Set your design goals. Get your product in the hands of your target market.4:41 Our job is to help you focus on what you need.5:13 Are you focusing on the right market?5:46 We are trying to get to the Alpha that will move the needle the most.6:40 An audience of one.7:00 Are they your true target market?7:30 Have pay to play testing for your product.8:43 It's an expensive miss. 9:58 You get a lot of feedback with paid testing. The feedback is gold.10:41 Apple is the perfect example.11:20 Go after the market you are validated in.11:57 Business is not static.12:49 Clear design goals, proof of concept and paid testing with feedback.13:27 Practical things you can do on your own to test your product.14:32 Write down your design goals.16:08 Do your research. Who are your competitors?16:53 It's OK to know what you don't do.17:25 Know who you are creating the product for. It is easier to rank your priorities. 18:18 We saw a lot of theory.18:40 We learn more from failures.19:36 Hard product design has many factors.20:02 The theory is one thing but then you have to apply it.20:37 When we speak, we are talking from real experience.20:57 This can be applied to general business practices. 21:15 We have walked in both the blue-collar and white-collar world.21:46 You can patch mistakes with software. Hard goods require more hands-on work. 22:13 Tesla can't send a patch to fix their gas pedals.

Devil's Advokate

The First Strike Incubator Team and the whole In Focus Brands' Portfolio are big believers in making sure every member has a voice and that all have the platform to pose questions to make sure all bases are covered. The Devils Advocate Model isn’t about being difficult. It’s about being responsible. It’s how you build resilient strategies, stronger teams and companies that don’t stall or break the moment reality shows up and markets, clients or conditions change. With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5700 others; you should tune in, follow or subscribe.

We recommend that every team assigns someone as the devil's advocate.1:33 It's better to answer hard questions now in a pre-emptive way.1:53 In a manufacturing sense, iron out the details now so it is not expensive later.2:25 It stops the nemesis of business which is "group think".3:25 Agreement is not always helpful. Sometimes pushback is needed.4:32 It holds everyone accountable. We are not just winging it. 5:19 I ask people to go one step further with follow up questions.6:07 When the idea is your baby you need outside perspectives and pushback.7:05 Use devil's advocate to inform your designs, marketing and sales procedures.7:26 It gets people comfortable with asking questions.8:10 It forces you to look at real actionable data.8:54 When your team is on the same page you can lose the "prove it" mentality.9:15 Theranos.10:12 You need the fundamentals of the why and the how and to listen to the market.11:42 We are all representative of the marketplace.12:01 Assign a devil's advocate. Their job is to try and destroy everything you say.12:37 Qualified people are generally okay with explaining things.13:22 You have to be okay with pushback and where it takes you.13:35 Someone on your team should be responsible for pushback.

Short, direct, and necessary for anyone building anything real.
MINDSET decides the business long before the market does.
This episode breaks down a truth most founders avoid:
You don’t rise to your goals; you fall to the level of your habits, your systems and your mindset.
Mindset isn’t motivation. It’s not hype. It’s not “believe and achieve.”
It’s the operating system behind every decision you make:
*How you handle pressure
*How you filter advice
*How you respond to failure
*How you execute when no one’s watching
Spend a few minutes getting perspective and insight from the market; not theories.

1:17 We are talking about Mindset today.1:43 I believe in "Devil's Advocate" as a model.1:59 Imposter Syndrome vs. Dunning-Kruger.3:22 These days I meet a lot more people who are Dunning-Kruger adjacent.4:08 Making a billion in tech doesn't mean you know how to make a hard good. 4:49 Analysis Paralysis.5:37 A lot of imposter syndrome comes from comparing yourself to your peers and mentors.7:28 We are all affected by social media.8:05 The Stoics and Memento Mori.9:59 Every day is on the job training.11:01 Everyone I know who has been in business for a long time is unshakeable.11:35 Not everything is the end of the world.12:24 Happiness is a choice.12:30 Character is shown when everything goes wrong.13:09 Experience does gird you against a lot of the doubts.13:40 We are human. We fail more than we succeed.14:20 Don't see every failure as the end of the world.15:19 It has taken me years to change the way I view setbacks.15:33 You have to be realistic and dictate your own mindset.

A very controversial discussion that is from our actual experiences.
DO YOU REALLY NEED A WEBSITE?
Or Are You Just Following the Crowd? Learn how to make that decision from your markets & clients.
With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel and here on LinkedIn.

What is your goal for the website?1:39 A website is like a living document. It takes work to maintain.1:58 Your website should be driving users to something.2:44 Why are we talking about this? It is a common topic with new incubator members.3:13 What if your actual company name domain is already taken? 4:11 Fabbro Industries web strategy.5:26 EDA Funding.6:24 If you can't put up relevant, cogent information about what you're doing, why have a website?6:35 What is your message and target market?7:29 Triggers, calls to action, SEO and the resources you have.8:07 Sometimes having a website does you a disservice.8:20 Know what channels your customers buy from.8:50 Don't just automatically assume you need a website.9:23 I know my market, so I took down my websites and doubled down on social media.10:20 You have to be an expert about your own company. 10:43 I don't sell on Etsy because I feel it would dilute my particular brand.12:16 Do your research for your particular product and market.12:31 Our products sell better in person because they are heirloom quality.13:43 Use proper intel to know your market.13:56 You must do your research specific to your own products and goals.14:34 Theories and books are great, but they are not 100% applicable to each specific case.15:03 One of our members came in with all the buzzwords but didn't know how to apply them.15:27 The Chinese restaurant we use doesn't have a website.15:43 Try it, test it, listen to the market and be willing to change.16:02 Know your business model and what your customers value and how to provide that value.16:23 Have the right resources at the right time to execute your web strategy.16:56 What is the journey you are taking your customers on?17:23 Observe your market first to see where you fit.17:53 It can pay off 10-fold to have your strategy properly mapped out.18:40 Founders and inventors can get frustrated by a lack of quick progress.19:07 Don't buy the hype, buy the journey, and other useful cliches.19:34 Listen to the market research and filter the information.

"FREE" is NOT always GOOD.

The Hidden Cost of “Free” — And Why It’s Killing Your Business
Free tools, free advice, free labor — they all cost really.
This episode exposes the real cost of “free” and why serious operators invest instead of bargain‑hunt and why offering free is a loser game.
With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel You need to understand your cost structure.2:05 Other incubators are not really free. Someone is paying and it's usually from tax dollars.3:16 If the product is developed for free, you have no idea of future costs.3:55 Where is the shared risk?4:45 Most people who reach out expect everything to be free.5:06 Nothing is ever really "free".5:50 Our knowledge and work have value.6:30 It's not a business model to expect everything for free.7:10 Our job is to help you take your product idea to market.7:53 Our culture of team is about always pushing each other to be better.8:15 I'm always happy to kick ideas around with people.8:41 You should pay for the skills and values people bring to the table.9:18 Business Relationships vs. Business Transactions.9:53 We want people who are fully committed to the process.10:33 You should not want the "free" model as a business owner.10:44 The value of your business at idea stage is zero.11:32 Building out a team is a different discussion.12:00 Your product will take years to bring to market and that is a long runway.12:50 I don't give up equity to cover expenses. Eventually you would run out of equity.13:35 At idea stage you only have an unvalidated product idea.14:25 Building a core team.15:07 We are a commercial shop and taking equity only is not a viable option.15:25 There are no guarantees. We frequently jump into the risk pool.15:44 Don't come here if you want free.16:01 Do your research on actual costs involved and have a proper budget to move forward.16:29 I can tell you every dollar I put into my business.16:40 How can you give equity when you don't have a proper valuation?17:57 Eggs and Fun Dip.