Acquiring Minds

Brian Lee Shields, entrepreneur and property management business buyer, shares insights on improving net promoter score, creating a culture of completion rate measurement, transitioning to a remote-first business, and the decision to sell the business. He also discusses the importance of energy, talent, and trust in property management, as well as his experience with burnout and recovery.

Darryl Lindie shares his journey of buying a business after being inspired in the Navy, finding a suitable business in Rhode Island, dealing with a rocky transition, and the realities of small business ownership. The chapter explores the role of virtual professionals in business operations. Discussions on two books about overlooked CEOs and an inspiring lawyer turned entrepreneur. The speaker discusses their decision to choose self-funding and their search for a business to acquire in Rhode Island. The importance of improving work culture is also emphasized.

Matt Barnes shares his journey of buying a linen laundry business, emphasizing the importance of conviction in decision-making. He discusses the strategy of door-to-door outreach, getting emotionally invested in deals, and the realities of being an owner-operator. The podcast also explores the growth opportunities in the laundry industry and the philosophy of building a services business with the intention of selling it.

Panel discussion on buying small businesses, covering topics such as different acquisition stories, transition challenges, financing options, the transition from white collar to blue collar environments, the type of individuals who buy businesses, moving from first to multiple acquisitions, inorganic versus organic growth, investor search deals, scariest moments, due diligence, the impact of macro M&A market softness on search activity, thoughts on roll-ups, and the importance of due diligence in acquiring small businesses.

Guest Gretchen Roberts, with no accounting experience, acquired a 16-person accounting firm. Topics include overcoming mental blocks, proprietary search, managing a remote team, and what makes her accounting firm stand out.

Host reflects on 200 episodes, shares takeaways from interviews with acquisition entrepreneurs, discusses podcast's inception, teases plans for 2024 and future investments, explores the rewards of buying a business, and talks about struggles and growth of the podcast.

Mark Olivito shares his experience of buying a construction business that defied conventional wisdom. He discusses the challenges of small business ownership and the importance of long-term holding. He also explores the unique risks and opportunities involved in acquiring a project-based business, and the shift in roles within the business. The podcast covers topics such as managing people, marketing strategies, financial growth, and overcoming challenges in small business ownership.

Topics in the podcast include: spending $150K and 18 months on a dead deal, the emotional toll of a failed deal, freelancing to fund the search, choosing a conventional loan over an SBA loan, tech debt as a liability, the benefits of having long-term employees.

Mike Okhravi, former tech professional turned entrepreneur, discusses his experience buying a towing business and a flooring business within a short time period. He shares his philosophy on taking risks and moving fast, signs of a motivated seller, surprises after acquiring the businesses, and the challenges of operating two businesses at once. Mike also talks about getting back up after business failures and his love for the towing business.

Kent Weaver, a veteran searcher & investor, shares his insights on the ups and downs of search. He discusses the differences between self-funded and traditional search, the power of choosing a quality industry to buy a business in, the importance of high-quality revenue and strong unit economics, and the qualities of a good search CEO. He also shares stories of search failures, emphasizes the need to dream bigger when buying a business, and talks about the long-term career benefits of doing a search.