Today's guest left a successful career on Wall Street to buy a business.

Brian Anderson had been at it 25 years, and when the hedge fund where he worked as a portfolio manager shuttered due to a succession issue, he decided it was time for a change.

So in his mid-40s, Brian pivoted, and he bought a small manufacturing business in Vermont.

It went well in the early years, then went badly when Covid hit, and finally stabilized.

At that point, Brian sold the business to his COO.

Listen for that segment to learn how you might exit your business if you don't have a PE or strategic buyer knocking on the door.

As always, the story is a big part of today's episode, but Brian also came to our interview having thought deeply about his lessons, and what this ETA path really means to him.

In the show notes you'll find a link to a 10-page document where Brian lays out the story, the numbers, the deal terms, but also — my favorite part — the takeaways, some of them philosophical.

An excerpt:

"This experience has given me something incredibly meaningful — a pursuit that gives me purpose, direction, and fulfillment. This is difficult for others, even me to an extent, to believe because so much of this experience hasn’t been done with perfection or ease. But in the world of entrepreneurial acquisitions, I have found something that aligns beautifully with my values, strengths, and passions."

He continues:

"Thus, entrepreneurial acquisition isn’t just a business model for me — it’s a canvas for my values."

Highly encourage you click that link in the notes to read Brian's words, especially the last 2 pages where he reflects on whether he's happy with his choice of this path.

Meantime, please enjoy this interview with him. Here he is, Brian Anderson, former owner of Deco Manufacturing.