In this episode of The Intentional Owner, hosts Kaustubh Deo and Sam Rosati dive into what it truly takes to succeed as a small business owner. They break down the mindset, attributes, and leadership qualities that make the difference between thriving in SMB ownership and struggling under its demands.

Kaustubh shares lessons from running Blooma Tree Services, including the reality of transitioning from finance and private equity to operating a blue-collar business. He and Sam discuss the challenges of managing people, the importance of financial understanding, and the surprising role of vendor relationships in long-term success.

Other key takeaways include:

• How to prioritize tasks when you’re wearing multiple hats
• Why revenue generation is the biggest challenge for new SMB owners
• The difference between high IQ and high EQ leadership in small business
• How to leverage vendors and suppliers as true business partners

If you’re considering entrepreneurship through acquisition or already in the trenches of SMB ownership, this episode is packed with real-world insights and hard-earned lessons.

Links:

Kaustubh on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaustubh-deo/

Sam on X - https://x.com/Sam_Rosati

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:18) - Weekly recap

(00:10:04) - How it feels right before you sign your first deal

(00:14:22) - How to know if you’re ready to take over a business

(00:20:20) - Getting your arms around the numbers

(00:29:07) - What Sam looks for in a Searcher

(00:35:32) - Managing perfectionism in Search

(00:39:18) - Attributes in people that ensure you won’t be successful in Search

(00:43:50) - Prioritization philosophies

(00:56:48) - Tactical Tip - Building vendor/supplier relationships