Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine

“The Innovator’s Trap: Building Genius. Selling Confusion” on Mike and Blaine

Mike Milan & Blaine Bertsch Season 5 Episode 217

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Ever build something truly game-changing… only to watch your audience go glassy-eyed the moment you demo it? In this episode, Mike and Blaine break down The Innovator’s Trap—that painful gap between building something brilliant and actually getting people to understand (and buy) it. 

We dig into why powerful features confuse prospects, how founders accidentally over-explain themselves into oblivion, and the psychology behind why customers don’t “get it” even when the value is obvious to you. 

From AI tools to cash flow platforms to startup war stories, we explore the real reasons innovation lands with a thud instead of a round of applause—and how to communicate your product in a way that actually creates demand. If you’ve ever delivered a demo, watched enthusiasm evaporate, and thought “Oh no… I’ve made a mistake,” this episode will feel uncomfortably relatable.

#innovation #founders #startups #productmarketing #salesstrategy

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Featured Beer: @ResidentCulture


Mike: Neighbour Pat’s “Brown Mild”


Blaine: Resident Culture “Turnstyle” IPA


Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: 


• Rachel Barnett from Gentle Frog: youtube.com/@GentleFrog 

• Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting: 3ssmartconsulting.com

• Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy in Houston Texas!

• Neighbor Pat

• Devin


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