S02 E09 We're Not the Cheapest and Never Will Be (Here's the Strategy) |Wilson Simons

Wilson Simons built a manufacturing company serving SpaceX, Airbus & Boeing — and he did it by refusing to compete on price. Here's the strategy behind it. What does it actually take to win contracts with the biggest aerospace brands in the world — without being the cheapest option in the room?

Wilson Simons, President of Specialized Manufacturing, breaks down the leadership philosophy and business strategy behind one of the fastest-growing aerospace component manufacturers in the country. This year alone? They're tracking 50% over last year's numbers.

In this episode, Wilson gets brutally honest about:
→ Why he posts their quarterly performance metrics publicly on LinkedIn — even the bad ones
→ How refusing to discount is becoming a competitive advantage
→ The accountability culture that earned clients like SpaceX, Airbus, Boeing & Lockheed Martin
→ Why 80-90% of his hires are entry-level — and how he builds them into A-players
→ What leadership stress actually feels like that nobody tells you before you take the top seat.

Wilson's core belief: "We are not the cheapest — but there's a reason. We hold ourselves to high standards and we create the best work possible." That's not a tagline. It's a filter for every customer, every hire, and every decision.

If you're a business owner, CEO, or executive figuring out how to grow without racing to the bottom on price — this one is for you.

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📲 Connect with Wilson Simons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilson-simons-492024125
🌐 Specialized Manufacturing: https://www.specializedmfg.com

Hashags:
#CEOInterview #PricingStrategy #ManufacturingBusiness #Leadership #BusinessLeadershipPodcast #Manufacturing #AerospaceManufacturing #LeadershipPodcast #SmallBusinessIdeas #BusinessIdeas #CEO

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Untold is the podcast hosted by Jon Spiesman where we uncover the best-kept business secrets of Utah.

Each week, we sit down with local entrepreneurs and business owners to explore their unique journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're building your own business or just love a good underdog story, you'll find hidden gems of advice and inspiration in every episode.

We hope you enjoyed this episode of Untold.
Jon and the Untold podcast team

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