How to Navigate Acquisition During Uncertainty

When “Recession-Proof” Isn’t Just a Buzzword 

Picture this: It's 2008. The Great Recession is in full swing. Foreclosures are sweeping the nation. And where am I? Opening a fitness club in one of the hardest-hit cities in California's Central Valley, where unemployment is hovering around 18%.

Most "experts" would have called me insane. But here's what those experts missed: 20,000 people. One small fitness club. Zero competition on half the town.

While everyone else was frozen with fear, unable to secure financing, I saw opportunity. That club didn't just survive the recession—it thrived. And because financing was so hard to come by for everyone else, I was able to expand to other markets while the competition stayed on the sidelines.

The lesson? What happens on the inside of a business during economic downturns is often a completely different story than what the media would have you believe. There are always winners and losers—and the difference often comes down to agility, not timing.

From the Book: Embracing the Challenge

If you've been sitting on the sidelines during economic uncertainty, you're missing prime opportunities to acquire businesses at reasonable valuations.

In my book "Grit It Done," I provide the complete framework for successfully navigating business acquisitions in any economic climate, including:

• How to identify businesses that thrive during downturns

• Step-by-step strategies for securing financing when others can't

• Real examples of acquisitions I've made during "bad times" that generated outsized returns

• A risk assessment framework that works in any economic environment

Unlike the financial news, which changes daily, these principles remain constant. Stop delaying your American Dream because of temporary headlines.

Own Your Future: Take My ETA Course At Weatherhead

Ready to become a business owner without the startup risk? I'm teaching Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition for Executives at Case Western this June 12–14, 2025.

In this intensive three-day course, I'll share the exact frameworks that helped me achieve a 10x return on my last business acquisition. You'll learn how to find the right opportunity, structure financing that protects your downside, and position your business for maximum value at exit.

This program is intentionally small to ensure you get personalized feedback from actual investors and operators on your specific opportunities.

Course Details:

• Dates: June 12–14, 2025 (Thursday-Saturday)

• Times: 8:30AM to 4:30PM Eastern

• Location: Case Western Reserve University

• Fee: $2,900 (discounts available for ETA Promise Partners and ETA Alumni)

• Format: In-person, hands-on instruction

Stop dreaming about business ownership and start taking calculated steps to make it happen. The American Dream isn't about building from scratch—it's about being smart enough to buy what's already working.

Chopsticks, Forks, And Timeless Business

If I could buy any business tomorrow, you know what I'd choose? A chopstick or fork manufacturer.

Why? Because utensils have been around for thousands of years, and they're not getting "disrupted" anytime soon. These simple products have passed the test of time—and will continue to do so.

The businesses that weather economic storms best are often the unglamorous ones providing essential services or products that remain in demand regardless of what's happening in the broader economy. Main Street businesses with recurring revenue and consistent customer demand embody the American Dream, no matter what the latest economic forecasts claim.

Teaching Moment: Risk Management Isn’t Just Financial

A common mistake I see prospective business owners make is concentrating solely on the purchase price while ignoring liquidity planning.

Here's my non-negotiable rule: Always have access to more money than you think you'll need. This isn't optional; it's essential.

In my early career, this meant:

• Establishing high (well into six figures) personal and business credit card limits

• Maintaining substantial liquid reserves

• Having a trusted "corner person"—family member, mentor, or friend who could provide emergency capital if things went sideways

Over-leveraging is the silent killer of otherwise good acquisitions. During market volatility, it's not necessarily the business model that fails—it's the owner's inability to navigate temporary cash flow disruptions.

Remember: In business ownership, like mountaineering, there's no bad weather—just bad gear. Be prepared.

Grit It Done In Real Life: Tuning Out The Noise

This may surprise you, but I don't read or follow the news.

This isn't ignorance; it's strategy. The news cycle is designed to create fear, outrage, and confusion. Media stories are crafted to make you believe the world is ending—until the next crisis arrives six months later.

Every half-year, there's a new "emergency" that's supposedly going to destroy business as we know it. Today, it's tariffs. Six months ago, it was something else. Six months from now, there will be a new threat dominating media coverage.

Successful EBOs understand the difference between signals and noise. They prioritize what they can control and adapt to what they can't. They recognize that business acquisitions will still be viable 25 years from now, regardless of the latest economic panic.

So ask yourself: Are you making decisions based on temporary alarms or fundamental principles? The difference will define your success.

Your Challenge

There's never a perfect time to buy a business. There's also never a terrible time.

This week, I challenge you to do one concrete thing to prepare yourself for business acquisition regardless of economic headlines:

1. List three businesses that provide essential services and would likely thrive in any economy

2. Call your bank and inquire about increasing your credit limits as a safety net

3. Reach out to one mentor or potential "corner person" who could advise or support you financially if needed

The opportunity to own your destiny through business acquisition isn't going anywhere. The question is: are you prepared to seize it?