A.J. Wasserstein, a Yale management lecturer and private investor, dives into life after a business exit. He shares insights on redefining identity and finding new meaning post-sale, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection. A.J. discusses strategies for building effective teams to optimize transaction success and highlights traits of ideal clients for investment bankers. Ultimately, he encourages prioritizing deep relationships, philanthropy, and personal growth to achieve lasting happiness beyond financial accomplishments.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
How An Unsolicited Knock Catalyzed A Sale
AJ raised institutional capital and later sold ArchivesOne after a market test catalyzed by an unsolicited offer.
An investment bank ran an auction that produced compelling bids leading to a sale he felt hard to pass up.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Friendships With Competitors Paid Off
AJ cultivated relationships with industry competitors and visited them annually to learn.
That multi-year relationship meant a buyer had effectively been diligencing them for 15 years and closed quickly.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Be The Investment Bank's Best Client
Be the easiest, most responsive client your investment bank can have and lean into their guidance.
Pay fair banking fees so bankers stay motivated to fight for every incremental dollar on your deal.
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"The movie and story in Entrepreneur Land always end with the exit, but there's an epilogue. Life goes on and finding your epilogue and figuring out how you create a new structure, meaning, and identity is what it's all about." - A.J. Wasserstein A. J. Wasserstein is the Eugene F. Williams, Jr. Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management. Additionally, A.J. is a private investor with a long-term orientation, interested in lower middle-market businesses and philanthropic organizations, where he can be positively impactful by using his experiences, time, and capital. Mr. Wasserstein was the President of OneSource Water, the third-largest bottleless water service business in the U.S. OneSource Water was sold to Water Logic, a U.K. based strategic acquirer, in 2016. Previously, A.J. was the founder and CEO of ArchivesOne, the third largest records management company in the U.S. ArchivesOne was sold to Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM) after 17 years of operation. The U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized A. J. as the Small Business Person of the Year in Connecticut. A. J. wrote a book on young adulthood that was a gift to his three children. The book’s title is What Matters Most: A Young Adult’s Roadmap to Life. The Sell My Business Podcast is brought to you by Deep Wealth. The Deep Wealth Experience has you learn the 9-steps of preparation in 90-days. At the end of the 90-days, you have a blueprint to optimize the value of your business. You also enjoy the certainty that you capture the maximum value. SHOW NOTES
How A.J. Started in business
The opportunity institutional capital provided for A.J. to grow his business
How saying "no" to an unsolicited offer opens up a new opportunity for A.J.
Why an unsolicited offer is not the best offer
How the right investment banker makes the difference for your liquidity event
The brilliance of A.J.'s strategy of reaching out to competitors on a regular basis to talk and learn
Why the right size of investment bank makes all the difference for a liquidity event
Why you must figure out how to be the best client ever for your investment banker
A.J.'s advice on dealing with fees for investment bankers and how to create a win-win
The power of an M&A lawyer who is a problem solver and not a deal inhibitor
Why every bus
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