As we start the new year off I wanted to revisit one my most popular concepts from last year that I think will help reinforce the pillar of my partnership philosophy.
This will help you build an epic partner program for your business in 2026.
We also have a lot of new people here so I figured it would be great to revisit.
Building a business is a lot like building a mega yacht. ⛵
It takes massive engineering, tons of raw materials, and a specialized crew.
It is a journey well worth the effort because once that yacht is finished, it is the ultimate symbol of freedom, leverage, and profit.
But there is a problem.
Mega yachts don't just appear.
They take three to five years to construct on average and a shit ton of work.
Most people spend those years stuck in the “shipyard” and those who do set sail sadly end up sinking at sea.
While you are grinding away building in the ship yard, your dream customers are already out at sea. They are already partying on yachts that are exactly where you want to be.
You can keep shore fishing, casting lines of SEO, Paid Ads, and cold calls from the coast, hoping a fish swims by your shipyard while you build your dream yacht.
This is slow, lonely, and frankly exhausting.
Or, you can leverage the Yacht Hopping strategy while you build. Here you get the best of both worlds.
Yacht Hopping is the art of strategically and ethically gaining access to other yachts (partners) who aren’t competitors but have direct access to your dream ideal customers.
This shift moves you from 1:1 to 1:Many selling.
You simply leverage the audience from others yachts while you build yours.
I often compare it to having a fast pass at Disney world. You no longer need to wait in the long lines to enjoy the ride.
Think of it this way.
It takes the same energy to sell to one customer as it does to sell to one partner.
Yet that one partner can introduce you to their entire guest list.
This is what I call the “leveraged trust transfer”.
When the Captain of a yacht introduces you to their guests, you inherit their hard earned trust instantly.
I know you’re probably thinking “Why haven’t I been doing this already?”
At beehiiv for example, this became our pillar growth strategy and still drives 15%+ of ARR to this day.
We didn't just build a better platform. We boarded the yachts of the most trusted voices in the creator economy. Which drove massive growth for partners and rewarded them handsomely along the way.
No matter the size of your business your customers are gathered right now on someone else’s yacht.
Partner programs have been quietly driving growth for decades. They just don’t get the love and respect they deserve.
Here are 3 ways you can start boarding your dream partners yachts in 2026:
1. Identify the Marina (The R.A.R.E. Score)
Stop building a "Hope and Pray" list. You need a Dream 100 Partner Hitlist. Look for non competitive businesses that already have your dream customers on board.
Rank every potential partner with my R.A.R.E. framework:
Reach: How big is their audience?
Alignment: Are their guests actually your dream customers?
Relationship: Do you have a connection, even a tiny one?
Ease: How easy are they to contact?
Focus only on the high scores. These are your best fit Whale Partners to reach out to first.
2. Bring the Champagne
You don't get invited aboard a mega yacht by asking for a favor. You walk on as a co-captain with a plan to make the party better. This is your Golden Handshake. It is an offer so good they feel stupid saying no.
Use the Value Compass formula to find what brings the most value:
Money: Offer a generous, recurring commission.
Status: Create co-branded content that makes them look like an expert.
Problem Solving: Build an exclusive tool or template for their audience.
Ease: Provide all the swipe copy so they do zero work.
The entire goal is to bring massive value that ideally checks all the boxes above. When done right you will find it very easy to get on any yacht you desire.
3. Climb the Ladder
Trust isn't built. It's borrowed. But you have to know how & when to ask for access.
1: Engage with their content genuinely.
2: Share their work with your own insight.
3: Send a No-Strings gift. Give them a tool you built specifically for them.
4: Propose a low risk partnership.
Start small and scale up your asks over time with patience.
Why this is your obligation?
If you grow your business slowly, you are being selfish.
You are hoarding a solution that people desperately need.
If you take anything into the new year take this. Get mad at yourself for growing so slow. If you truly believe in what you do and the value you provide to the world you should be doing everything you can to grow it.
By not leveraging partnerships, you are making your dream customers wait.
They are on that yacht right now, waiting for you.
Yacht Hopping allows you to reach them today, while your own mega yacht gets built.
Stop building sandcastles on the shore. Start boarding yachts and enjoy the party.
Keep stacking 🧱
TG
ps. want to learn the art of yacht hopping and install my frameworks into your business to fuel partnerships in 2026? Reply with “P90” and I can share more details.