One year post-acquisition, life has completely changed. Owning a business is a challenging and rewarding lifestyle, far different from my W2 / corporate. Here are some key takeaways from my first year in business ownership:

• Life has completely changed – I don’t have a job, I have a lifestyle. There’s no going back to W2.
  
• Work-life balance doesn’t exist – This is the hardest lifestyle I’ve ever experienced, but also the most rewarding. Spouse / family has to be on board and fully committed
  
• Deep understanding of operations – I’ve learned the ins and outs of working in the business while trying to scale it. "Hire an operator" not applicable unless you know what operations entails.
  
  - Focus on operations and culture – Bringing both to a high level has been essential before thinking about selling or growing further.
  
• Scaling is hard – Doubling revenue has been a significant challenge, but we’re making progress and on track to hit the goal
  
• Hiring the right people is crucial – Putting the right people in the right roles has been key to our success.
  
• The importance of business partners – Having the right partners is both difficult and beneficial; strong partnerships are invaluable.
  - Power of masterminds and networking – Connecting with peers has been a game changer. The support and insights have been essential in navigating business ownership.
  
• Shared our story on two podcasts – Grateful for the opportunity to reflect and connect. Check out the episodes below: Acquiring Minds - redactedredacted
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  SMB Deal Hunter - redactedredacted
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  Long term commitment – The energy and feedback from the community have been incredible. I’m excited to continue the journey and would love to connect with operators, owners, or investors in the space!