Most entrepreneurs are taught that the path to success starts with a blank page, a new idea, a startup, a grind from zero. But what if the real opportunity is in what’s already built? 

Walker Deibel, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game,” has spent over a decade proving that acquiring existing businesses is one of the most powerful and overlooked paths to entrepreneurial wealth. He has bought roughly 10 companies outright, been inside over 100 deals, and helped hundreds of entrepreneurs acquire more than a billion dollars in small businesses. And his message is simple: you don’t have to build from scratch to build something great.

In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Walker Deibel to explore the acquisition entrepreneur mindset, why high margins matter more than almost anything else, and where the biggest opportunities in private markets exist right now.

In this episode, Darius and Walker will discuss:

• (00:00) Introduction and Excitement for the Episode
• (02:53) The Power of Alignment and Purpose
• (05:46) The Journey of Writing and Publishing a Book
• (08:38) The Entrepreneurial Journey: Successes and Failures
• (11:33) Walker Deibel’s Background and Business Philosophy
• (14:21) The Importance of Acquisitions in Entrepreneurship
• (17:16) The Intersection of Old and New Economies
• (20:21) Investing in Boring Businesses for Stability
• (23:48) Identifying High-Potential Companies
• (29:11) The Importance of Margins in Business
• (37:31) Investing in Businesses vs. Running Them
• (46:25) Overcoming Barriers to Greatness

Meet Walker:

Walker Deibel is a serial acquisition entrepreneur, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author, Emmy-nominated film producer, and award-winning M&A advisor. He is the creator of Acquisition Lab, the elite business buying accelerator, and founder of Build Wealth, an alternative investment firm offering private market opportunities he personally invests in. His bestselling book, Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game, was recognized by Forbes as one of the top 7 books all entrepreneurs must read and is now used in university programs across the country. Walker has participated in over 100 private transactions, acquired seven companies over ten years, and his writing has been featured in Inc, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review.

Meet Darius: 

Darius is your host of The Greatness Machine. Darius is a mad scientist, high-growth CEO, serial entrepreneur, author, conscious capitalist, speaker, and entertainer. Darius is on a quest to create 1,000,000 Core Value Driven Organization by 2030. He is calling this “The Core Value Revolution.” Darius is an alumni of the Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Program at MIT and Stagen Integral Leadership Program. Darius’s accolades include being ranked #9 Top Rated CEO in America on Glassdoor, has won numerous Stevie Awards, and has founded and grown organizations that have been ranked #40 in the Inc. 500 and were ranked #3 Best Places to Work By the San Francisco Business Time. He is all about the P’s: Passion, Pizza, Puzzles, and, especially, Pink Unicorns. His book, The Core Value Equation, is an Amazon #1 Best Seller and is available at www.thecorevalueequation.com.

The Greatness Machine shares lessons on how to framework your drive for results, create limitless space, and win the war on talent.

My team and I are on a mission to help YOU create a cultural revolution. I want to teach you how to build a core value driven organization. 

#GreatnessMachine

therealdarius.com

Make Greatness Happen!

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Facebook: @therealdariusm 

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Twitter: @kingdarius

LinkedIn: @dariusmirshahzadeh

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Don’t let your Core Values become a company artifact!  Learn how to make Core Values the language of your organization.  Pre-order my book The Core Value Equation found at the link below 

The Core Value Equation

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