From Tech Sales to Forklift Repair

March 17, 2025
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oday's guest was vacationing in Hawaii when he received an ominous request from his office.

They were asking him to "hop on a quick call."

He knew what it meant; he'd been on the other side of those calls before.

And just like that, a 10-year career at SAP came to an abrupt end for Shaugn Lindley, victim to the layoffs sweeping tech.

Well, after some soul searching and reflection, Shaugn decides on buying a business for his next chapter.

And today he owns forklift repair business R&R Lift:

  • Decades of history
  • Great margins
  • B2B essential service
  • Combination of recurring and repair revenue
  • More demand than he can handle
  • And last but certainly not least, a glorious 1990s vintage website

You can hear my enthusiasm for this business.

R&R Lift's old website
Drool-worthy 90’s website

Two key features of Shaugn's story to call out.

First, how he initially lost the business to a competing buyer. Happily that deal died, and it came back to Shaugn. We discuss the importance of hanging around the hoop.

Shaugn Lindley in front of forklift at R&R Lift
Shaugn at R&R Lift

Second, how Shaugn leaned on an experienced business buyer (and former Acquiring Minds guest) for counsel & coaching through his search.

Now, of course many searchers ask for help, but Shaugn formalized the engagement and volunteered to pay his coach for the time. The model worked well; we unpack it.

Here is is Shaugn Lindley, owner of R&R Lift.

Read MoreStories

From Tech Sales to Forklift Repair

Recently laid off and a baby on the way, Shaugn Lindley pivoted into SMB ownership by buying a business with $550k SDE.

Key Takeaways

Introduction

Listen to the introduction from the host

oday's guest was vacationing in Hawaii when he received an ominous request from his office.

They were asking him to "hop on a quick call."

He knew what it meant; he'd been on the other side of those calls before.

And just like that, a 10-year career at SAP came to an abrupt end for Shaugn Lindley, victim to the layoffs sweeping tech.

Well, after some soul searching and reflection, Shaugn decides on buying a business for his next chapter.

And today he owns forklift repair business R&R Lift:

  • Decades of history
  • Great margins
  • B2B essential service
  • Combination of recurring and repair revenue
  • More demand than he can handle
  • And last but certainly not least, a glorious 1990s vintage website

You can hear my enthusiasm for this business.

R&R Lift's old website
Drool-worthy 90’s website

Two key features of Shaugn's story to call out.

First, how he initially lost the business to a competing buyer. Happily that deal died, and it came back to Shaugn. We discuss the importance of hanging around the hoop.

Shaugn Lindley in front of forklift at R&R Lift
Shaugn at R&R Lift

Second, how Shaugn leaned on an experienced business buyer (and former Acquiring Minds guest) for counsel & coaching through his search.

Now, of course many searchers ask for help, but Shaugn formalized the engagement and volunteered to pay his coach for the time. The model worked well; we unpack it.

Here is is Shaugn Lindley, owner of R&R Lift.

About

Shaugn Lindley

Shaugn Lindley
Olivia Rhye
Product Designer

Show Notes

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