The Gordian Knot Mentality For Business Acquisition

You can learn a lot from history.  Even though there have been huge changes in technology, people have remained mostly the same throughout the ages.  Parents still want the best for their children and commerce creates resources for those who know how to play the game.  There is a legend about Alexander the Great that still has a principle that can help us with business today.

As the story goes, there was an unbelievably complex knot tied to an oxcart in the city of Gordium.  It was decreed that whoever could untie the knot would go on to rule Asia.  Alexander was challenged to untie the knot in 333 BC.  He examined it briefly but instead of trying to untie it, Alexander drew his sword and cleaved it in two.

One of the morals of the story is that there are creative solutions to seemingly impossible problems.  Alexander really wanted to rule Asia so he created a brute force option. If you want something bad enough you will find a way.

How To Brute Force Business Acquisition

One of the best things about working for yourself can also be its worst.  Namely, having complete control over your time.  It is very easy to find yourself doom scrolling on social media and then telling yourself that a nap sounds like a great idea because, hey, no boss.  

When you have a job, it is the threat of losing a paycheck and the ability to feed your family that helps keep these moments from happening.  When you work for yourself there is not an immediate consequence for taking a break.  Nothing happens that day necessarily, but do it enough times and there will be issues.  The key to preventing this is to create that same feeling of leverage over yourself by figuring out what is important to you.  Then, when you feel like not being productive think about those things.  

Some people call this your why.  I call it the 4 Fs.

I am not saying that you have to value the same things.  It is important that you take the time to figure out what really drives you.  If you can do that, then you are on the path to transforming yourself from someone with an employee mindset to an entrepreneur.

Cut The Knot And Cross The Bridge

I talk about the “Freedom Equation” a lot.  It revolves around you working for your own time focusing on cash flow for your needs.  In order to do this, you have to stop linking how much you work to how much you make.  Saying “I make X number of dollars per hour” is an employee mindset, even if you make $1,000 (or more) an hour.  

Even if you solve the leverage problem I just talked about, you want to make sure you are doing the “right” work and not just working hard.  You have to cross the bridge from employee to entrepreneur and it all begins with your mindset.  I did a quick video where I run through my thoughts on how to do that here:

Once you start mastering an entrepreneurial mindset, you start to think differently and notice possibilities you didn’t see before.  Just like Alexander and the Gordian knot, you seize opportunities your way, instead of asking for them.  That is one of the best ways you can think about business acquisitions.  You find a business that is a great fit for you and your goals, then you make it happen.  

Unlike like normal 9 to 5s, there is a lot of space for creativity in acquisition if you enjoy thinking outside the box.  There are also set frameworks you can use if you like the certainty of a proven process.  Either way, there is an entrepreneurial approach out there for everyone.  If you want help finding yours, book a time to chat with me here:  Calendar

Take some time to figure out your “why” and if you haven’t crossed over to the entrepreneurial mindset yet get to work.  I can tell you from the other side that it is absolutely worth it.

Have a great rest of your week! 

Ben, I Want to learn more…

If you feel that you are constantly working "in" the business instead of "on" the business and feel that your goal of financial freedom has led you to a prison of your own design.

You are not alone, I used to be there as well.

I have 6 companies and counting and work less than 20 hours a week on them - COMBINED.

It is not rocket science and I can help you do the same for your business.

Choose a time on my Calendar and we will get to it.

Onward,

Ben

PS - Coaching compresses timeframes. If you want help on finding the perfect deal for you, book a time on my calendar here to explore becoming an Acquisition Ace: Calendar

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