What I Wish I Knew Before Year 1

I've owned a few of my own businesses over the last 14 years, and now coached dozens more. Here's some things I learned the hard way: Your skillset got you the deal, but that same skillset won't get you to your ideal exit. Search fund operators come from impressive backgrounds - consulting, banking, PE. Smart, analytical, driven. You can model anything, build any financial projection, present to any board. The businesses you're acquiring were built by founders who made gut decisions, led through relationships, and created culture (even if accidentally). They had an intuitive sense of "how we do things here." That gap is foundational. After my own painful learning curve, I spent years figuring out how to bridge this gap. Here's the most simple and profound thing that actually works. In fact, it sounds so simple you'll probably roll your eyes and might even stop reading, but here it is: ANCHOR VALUES TO OPERATING PRINCIPLES. Not as a wall poster exercise. As an operating system. Here's what that looks like practically: 1. Values → Principles → Behaviors Values: The deepest essence of who the business is and aspires to be (Integrity, Craftsmanship, Accountability) Principles: How values translate to action ("We do what we say we'll do, even when it costs us") Behaviors: Specific actions that demonstrate principles (Value Stories in weekly meetings) 2. Integrate into every system: Hiring: Screen for values fit, not just skills Meetings: Start with Value Stories (who lived/violated values this week) Decision-making: "Which choice aligns with our values?" becomes the tiebreaker Accountability: People self-police when they know what matters 3. Use technology to make it real: Weekly team meetings with values check-in Quarterly planning that starts with values review Annual planning that reassesses if we're living what we say Right now, in my concrete finishing business, we are living this and are on our way from 2 people to a team that runs itself in under 2 years. With dozens of other operators, same pattern: Decisions get faster Teams self-manage Culture issues surface early Owner stops being the bottleneck Many operators implement one of the traditional operating systems after closing. Good systems. Proven track record. The problem for search fund operators: Traditional implementations take###-###-#### months and cost $50K-$100K+. You just closed your deal. Your investors expect growth. Your team is waiting to see if you're the real deal or another buyer passing through. You don't have 2 years or $100K to pay in consulting fees. You can't afford to implement systems and processes that ignore the values disconnect between you and the business you just bought. I'm a certified BOS-UP coach. BOS-UP is a business operating system platform that I've customized around values-first implementation, and powered by Ninety.io technology. Why this works for search fund operators: Speed: 90 days vs###-###-#### months 3 full-day sessions (Foundation, Vision, Goals) Implemented while you operate Your team runs it without ongoing consulting Cost: 50-80% less than traditional business operating system implementations Clear scope, one engagement Technology does the heavy lifting You own the system when we're done Values-first approach Traditional systems give you processes first, culture second We start with your values as operating instructions The processes serve the values Built for acquired businesses You're stepping into an existing culture We help you honor what worked while building what's needed Integration over replacement After 90 days: Your leadership team runs effective meetings without you Your values are operationalized You have real-time visibility into what matters You're truly working ON the business, not IN it For Searchfunders: If you're 3-24 months post-close and still the bottleneck on every decision - let's talk. Free 1-hour Fit Meeting: We diagnose if values alignment is what's missing and whether this approach fits your situation. I remember stepping into that chair knowing I was smart enough but not sure if I was ready. You are ready. You just need the right foundation. And you don't need to spend 2 years and $100K to get it. Joe Bennett Watchfire Endeavors BOS-UP Certified Coach redacted