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⚠️ Disclaimer
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Certain examples are anonymized and modified for educational purposes only. SMB Law Group is a strategic partner of Uncommon Elite and may benefit financially from referrals.
🧠 Lead Story: The Operator Myth (and the Reality Behind It)
We’ve seen it again and again:
Buyers obsess over price, structure, diligence, financing — but forget to ask the most important question:
“Who’s actually going to run this business after I close?”
A few years ago, a client bought a towing company.
The seller had already stepped back, and there was a long-tenured operations lead running the show. Everyone — the seller, the staff, the buyer — agreed: this guy was the backbone of the business.
He even had the company’s logo tattooed on his body.
He was that committed.
Three months after closing… they had a falling out. Tattoo and all, he walked away.
But here’s the part most people don’t expect: The business was fine.
Why?
Because the buyer had stepped in early. They weren’t just owning the business — they were ready to operate it. Systems were already in motion. Communication was clear. Leadership gaps got filled — fast.
It wasn’t easy. But it didn’t collapse.
That experience changed how we think about post-close ownership.
📸 The Josh Schultz Gut Check
Ask yourself this:
If you bought a company like this… could you lead it?
This is Josh Schultz on Day 1 after his team acquired a foundry.
No suit. No pretense. Just a dude who stepped into operations immediately — and earned the trust of the team.
Now imagine: You’re in front of 30 foundry workers. The old owner is gone. They’re all looking at you.
Can you lead?
If that makes you sweat, good. This is the question too few buyers ask themselves before closing.
And not every business requires you to step into steel-toed boots. But every business needs an operator.
Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s someone you hire. Maybe it’s a partner or GM.
But it can’t be nobody.
🪞 Check Yourself: Are You Ready to Operate?
This isn’t about ego. It’s about fit.
Before you close, take inventory:
Have you ever led a team outside your comfort zone?
Can you give direction with confidence and follow-through?
Are you ready to handle vendor negotiations, HR decisions, and team drama — all in the same week?
Can you earn the respect of people who’ve been there longer than you?
Do you know how to communicate clearly when people are scared?
I’m a lawyer. I could probably buy and operate a professional services firm, maybe an accounting shop. But a foundry? A manufacturing company? Not a chance.
And that’s okay. It’s not about capability. It’s about alignment.
Some of you are built to lead industrial teams. Some of you would thrive in e-comm, SaaS, or healthcare.
But don’t confuse ownership with readiness. Know the difference before it costs you the company.
📈 Acquisition Insight: Don’t Wing the Ops Role
If you’re not going to operate yourself, then post-close planning should start with one question:
“Who’s my Day 1 operator?”
Because hope is not a handoff strategy.
And that’s why we’re sharing this:
🔍 Operator Spotlight: Uncommon Elite
All your leadership problems solved in one hire.
Uncommon Elite places former special operators into hands-on leadership roles in real-world businesses — think GMs, COOs, and operators for founder-led, blue-collar, or PE-backed companies.
They’re founded by a former 160th SOAR pilot (translation: elite helicopter command), and their placements are:
✅ Accountable ✅ Autonomous ✅ Mission-oriented ✅ Proven in pressure ✅ Ready to step into chaos and lead
They’re not MBA tourists. They’re trained to execute when things get real — and lead when others stall.
If you’re looking for an operator who can stabilize your business and earn the team’s trust immediately — this is where we’d start.
The Business Buying Masterclass is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
