Business Unusual Podcast

Hosni Mubaraq

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BUSINESS
UPDATED DAILY

The #1 podcast on Sub-Sahara B2B SaaS mbhosni.substack.com

21H AGO

Beyond the FREE Tier

Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:10 – The obsession with growth charts 03:25 – Why signups do not equal sustainability 06:00 – The illusion of traction in early stage startups 08:45 – When metrics distract from revenue reality 11:20 – The emotional attachment to vanity metrics 14:05 – Shifting from attention to commitment 17:30 – Building for sustainability instead of applause 20:10 – Redefining what real progress looks like 22:45 – Final reflections and closing thoughts Key Takeaways Growth without revenue is noise Vanity metrics can delay hard but necessary decisions Free users are not the same as committed customers Sustainable businesses are built on value exchange, not applause Clarity around real metrics protects long term viability Enjoyed the episode? If this conversation helped you rethink growth, traction, or sustainability, consider leaving a review from wherever you are listening. Your time and attention are the most valuable currency you have, and we do not take it for granted. It helps more operators find the show and keeps these conversations going. This has been Business Unusual Podcast by Hosni. See you next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

20 min
FEB 19

The Dangerous Mirage of Lifetime Value

Show Notes Are you building for the shiny start or the enduring middle? In 2026, hype fades fast. What remains is discipline. This episode tackles the uncomfortable truth about pricing. It is not about ideology. It is about survival and trust. Avoiding hard pricing decisions protects the story in the short term. Over time, it erodes margin and weakens positioning. If you do not face the numbers, they will face you. Every book is exciting at the start. Few survive the middle. Businesses are no different. This week, ask yourself: are you optimizing for applause or endurance? Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Why pricing conversations feel heavier in 2026 03:40 - Ideology versus survival and the new business reality 06:05 - The hidden cost of vibes based pricing 08:50 - Margin erosion and the slow bleed most founders ignore 11:30 - Trust as the real pricing strategy 14:15 - When your CFO becomes the voice of reality 17:40 - Emotional pricing versus disciplined pricing 20:25 - Making hard decisions before they are made for you 23:10 - Protecting both margin and reputation 25:00 - Final reflections and closing thoughts Key Takeaways Pricing in 2026 is about survival, not philosophy Optimizing for the shiny start can sabotage the enduring middle Avoiding hard pricing decisions compounds risk over time Letting vibes drive pricing quietly kills margin Trust is built through clarity, consistency, and courage If you do not pressure test your numbers, someone else will Enjoyed the episode? If this conversation helped you think differently about pricing, margin, or trust, leave a review from wherever you are listening. It helps more operators find the show and keeps these conversations going. This has been Business Unusual Podcast by Hosni. See you next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

14 min
FEB 12

The Hidden Cost of Value Based Pricing

Show Notes In this episode, we tackle one of the hardest conversations in business: pricing. In 2026, pricing is not about ideology. It is about survival and trust. The market does not reward vibes. It rewards clarity, discipline, and decisions grounded in reality. We explore why avoiding tough pricing conversations can quietly erode your margins, your positioning, and your long-term viability. If you do not answer the hard questions yourself, your CFO eventually will. This is a candid conversation about protecting your business, your sanity, and the trust you build with customers. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:18 – Why pricing conversations feel heavier in 2026 03:40 – Ideology versus survival and the new business reality 06:05 – The hidden cost of vibes based pricing 08:50 – Margin erosion and the slow bleed most founders ignore 11:30 – Trust as the real pricing strategy 14:15 – When your CFO becomes the voice of reality 17:40 – Emotional pricing versus disciplined pricing 20:25 – Making hard decisions before they are made for you 23:10 – Protecting both margin and reputation 25:00 – Final reflections and closing thoughts Key Takeaways Pricing in 2026 is about survival, not philosophy Avoiding hard pricing decisions compounds risk Letting vibes drive pricing quietly kills margin Trust is built through clarity and consistency If you do not pressure test your numbers, someone else will Enjoyed the episode? If this conversation helped you think differently about pricing, margin, or trust, consider leaving a review from wherever you are listening. It helps more operators find the show and keeps these conversations going. This has been Business Unusual Podcast by Hosni.See you next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

17 min
FEB 5

Sell the Mess, not the Math

Show Notes In this episode, we explore the difference between fantasy and partnership, and why the stories we want to believe often feel safer than the truth. We unpack why the mind craves certainty while the gut demands honesty, and how clarity can feel comforting even when it is misleading. The conversation looks at what happens when we choose neat explanations over real presence in our relationships, work, and decisions. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction00:45 Fantasy vs partnership02:10 Why certainty feels safe04:05 When clarity hides avoidance06:20 Listening to the gut08:30 Why fantasy is easier than honesty10:55 The cost of real partnership13:10 Cutting through the jargon15:00 Certainty vs connection17:20 Final reflections18:45 Closing thoughts Key Takeaways Certainty is comforting but not always truthfulFantasy simplifies while partnership requires presenceYour gut often recognizes truth before your mind accepts itHonesty creates connection, not control Enjoyed the episode? If you found something useful in this conversation, consider leaving a review from wherever you are listening. It helps more people find the show and keeps these conversations going. This has been Business Unusual Podcast by Hosni.See you next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

12 min
JAN 29

The Price of Trust

Show Notes In this episode, we unpack the real meaning behind one of the most common phrases in business: “too expensive.”Spoiler: it’s rarely about money. We explore how pricing objections often signal unspoken risks, misaligned timing, or uncertainty around value and how learning to hear what’s not being said can change how you sell, lead, and make decisions at work. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:12 – Why “too expensive” is the easiest objection to give 03:45 – When price is a proxy for risk, not budget 06:20 – The mistake most sellers make when they hear pricing pushback 09:10 – Trust gaps vs real budget constraints 12:40 – Internal politics and why buyers rarely say the real reason 15:55 – Reframing objections as discovery moments 18:30 – What strong operators do differently in stalled deals 21:10 – When it actually is about price 23:40 – Lessons you can take back to your work and career 25:10 – Final reflections and closing thoughts Key Takeaways * “Too expensive” is often a signal, not a verdict * Most objections are about uncertainty, not cost * Learning to slow down beats pushing harder * Trust closes deals long before pricing does Enjoyed the episode? If you found something useful in this conversation, consider leaving a review from wherever you’re listening. It helps more people find the show and keeps these conversations going. This has been Business Unusual Podcast by Hosni. See you next week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

14 min
JAN 20

Calming the Chaos

Show Notes 02:30 – Start Where You Are 07:15 – Find the Friction 12:40 – Practical Steps to Reduce Chaos 18:50 – Real Talk About Adoption 22:30 – Looking Ahead Key Takeaways: * Start where you are, not where the tools promise you’ll be. * Identify friction in your daily workflows first. * Integrate with intention to support your team, not overwhelm them. * Measure adoption and real impact, not just features. Do us a favor: If you found this episode helpful, leave a review from wherever you’re listening. It helps us reach more people who are trying to calm the chaos in their SaaS businesses. Follow BU Podcast on Instagram: @bu_podcast_ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

14 min
JAN 13

SaaS Revenue Architecture Code

Most founders don’t fail because they lack ideas.They fail because they scale what isn’t proven. In this episode, we cut through the noise and land on a single, uncomfortable question every B2B SaaS leader must ask: What is actually working right now in your business, and can you prove a six-month CAC payback with hard, verifiable data? If you can’t answer that clearly, growth isn’t growth, it’s guesswork. Key Takeaways * Evidence beats optimism. * Six-month CAC payback is the line in the sand. * “Working” must be provable, not anecdotal. * If the answer is no, the work is clear. Time Stamps * [02:15] - Evidence beats optimism * [04:30] - Six-month CAC payback * [07:10] - What “working” really means * [09:00] - If the answer is no * [11:15] - The hard truth The Hard Truth Scaling before proving unit economics doesn’t make you bold.It makes you fragile. This episode is a reminder that real progress in SaaS comes from discipline, data, and brutal honesty, not hype. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

15 min
JAN 8

BiteSize: Insight Sell

Episode Highlights 00:00 – Building From an Informed Position 01:10 – Laser-Focusing on Real Pain Points 02:25 – Why Customers Buy at Launch 03:40 – Pricing Isn’t a Guess 04:55 – Let the Market Inform Your Price 05:45 – Final Thoughts Key Takeaways * Build products from insight, not intuition * Focus narrowly on solving real pain points * Customers should feel understood at launch * Pricing should be informed by real user feedback Follow on Instagram: @bu_podcast_ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mbhosni.substack.com

7 min

The #1 podcast on Sub-Sahara B2B SaaS mbhosni.substack.com

Creator

Hosni Mubaraq
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

22
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Hosni Mubaraq
Show Website

Business Unusual Podcast