{"podcast":{"title":"Big Swings Only","slug":"negotiate-anything-5844366","podcast_index_feed_id":5844366,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/LI9239874689","website_url":"http://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/17f9602a-ee8c-11ec-92bf-d711c1f4acfb/image/6855b3ea37e51bfd9caf2a499d1f3ad1.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"American Negotiation Institute","episode_count":1861,"summary":"Playing it safe is easy. It’s comfortable. And it will never take you to the next level.If you’ve got what it takes to hit the ball out of the park, the only thing holding you back is whether you’re brave enough to take a big swing.Big Swings Only is for people who were meant for more — the ones done playing by rules that were never built for them.Hosted by Kwame Christian, each week brings you the real stories of people who fought their fear, went after the life they actually wanted, and became who they had to become to get it.The psychology behind the swing. The strategy behind the risk. The nerve it takes to go all in.You were built for more, and this show was built for you. Subscribe now. About the Host: Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A. Kwame Christian the founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute. He's known for his viral TEDx Talk, “Finding Confidence in Conflict,” and is a bestselling author of two books: • How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race (2022) • Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life (2020) Tune in to Transform Your Life: Join millions of listeners who have already unlocked the power of negotiation. Subscrib…","last_synced_at":"2026-09-10T16:17:40.778620+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366"},"episode":{"title":"Embrace the Pain: What It Really Takes to Build a Billion-Dollar Business - Alex Jekowsky","slug":"embrace-the-pain-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-billion-dollar-business-alex-jekowsky","published_at":"2026-05-14T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366/embrace-the-pain-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-billion-dollar-business-alex-jekowsky","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/s.gum.fm/s-68b9f3f0d5d94d8302cbc0c0/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP6638910101.mp3?updated=1778707649","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/s.gum.fm/s-68b9f3f0d5d94d8302cbc0c0/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP6638910101.mp3?updated=1778707649","summary":"Most entrepreneurs talk about deals. Alex Jekowsky of CENTS has negotiated over $220 million worth of them. In this episode on negotiation, acquisitions, fundraising, and entrepreneurship, Alex breaks down the real psychology behind high-stakes dealmaking — from navigating multimillion-dollar acquisitions to building trust with investors, overcoming rejection, and turning painful setbacks into transformational opportunities. But this conversation goes far beyond tactics. Alex shares the emotional realities of entrepreneurship: the pressure, the uncertainty, the loneliness, and the resilience required to keep building when the odds are against you. From renegotiating a failed acquisition deal on the back of a coffee shop receipt to raising the largest venture round in laundry technology history, this episode is packed with battle-tested lessons on leadership, authenticity, reputation, and growth. You’ll learn:• Why the best negotiators focus on alignment, not manipulation• The hidden danger of “selling” instead of “showing”• How great founders structure deals people actually want to win• Why pain tolerance may be the ultimate entrepreneurial advantage• The mindset shifts that helped Alex scale Sense into an industry-defining company Whether you’re raising capital, buying a business, leading a team, or negotiating your next opportunity, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who’s lived every side of the table. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world dealmaking at the highest level. Connect with Alex Jekowsky: 🌐 Trycents - for laundromat owners and anyone interested in the garment care and repair industry 💼 Connect on LinkedIn - Alexander Jekowsky","meta_description":"Most entrepreneurs talk about deals. Alex Jekowsky of CENTS has negotiated over $220 million worth of them. In this episode on negotiation, acquisitions,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3826,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/negotiate-anything-5844366/episodes/embrace-the-pain-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-billion-dollar-business-alex-jekowsky/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/negotiate-anything-5844366/embrace-the-pain-what-it-really-takes-to-build-a-billion-dollar-business-alex-jekowsky.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}