Ownership is harder than you think

investor profile

September 11, 2025

by an investor from University of Virginia in Tampa, FL, USA

In the latest episode of The Intentional Owner, Sam Rosati and Kaustubh Deo dive into the realities of small business ownership. We start lightheartedly (including a bizarre voicemail Kaustubh received), but quickly shift into the real conversations: The nonstop burden of decision-making and people management Lifestyle changes and work-life balance after leaving corporate careers Misconceptions about “time freedom” in entrepreneurship Why sales isn’t just about customers, but also about teams and stakeholders The trade-offs between buying larger, structured businesses vs. smaller, scrappier ones Between the two of us, we’ve been through dozens of SMB acquisitions, and this episode is a candid look at what ownership really feels like. Links to Spotify, Apple, and YouTube here: redacted@TheIntentionalOwner-c3 https://open.spotify.com/show/0H5n91PR3c9RqyNAbh1AH9 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intentional-owner/id1797346741
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Reply by a professional
from University of Akron in Charlotte, NC, USA
I think there is this theory of EtA and then there is actually owning and operating a business. EtA sounds great in theory. The whole process is based on numbers, assumptions and formulas. But, in the end, real world business is based on people. And, this makes it very tough for many people. You're not acquiring a machine or robot. You are acquiring a living organization full of people doing stuff. That is night and day compared to what it seems many people see when it comes to EtA. You have to have vision and leadership to be able to get the most out of a diverse group of individuals while battling all the external challenges. The acquisition process is super easy in comparison.
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Reply by a searcher
from United States Naval Academy in Jacksonville Beach, FL, USA
Well said. It's important to understand the updsides of course, but also take away the difficulties and challenges of ownership.
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