In the SMB search world, You are a small fish in a big pond.

But that’s the thing, it’s just a big pond, it’s not the Great Lakes, it’s not the Ocean. The micro private equity industry isn’t a huge sector yet finding a business to buy isn’t for the faint of heart. You have to be resilient, confident in your abilities, and most importantly willing to do what most people will not. Most people are not going to call business brokers that make them feel small. Most people are not going to invest their savings in anything other than a 401k. Most people are not going to take a risk no matter how good the gains are. But the truth is, you still are small right now and the pond is large. There are fish of all sizes, but to grow you have to search harder for your food than the big fish, you have to be consistent and put in the time. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable to see the gains.

List your potential, list your qualities, and be confident in those. Before you’ve bought a business, people will doubt you, don’t fall into the trap of proceeding to doubt yourself. The self-search is lonely and you have to find a way to be your biggest cheerleader. You have to wash away the doubt, the negative comments, the feelings that you aren’t a big enough fish in this pond to ever close a deal.

Be consistent. Keep your target in sight. And keep swimming. Watch yourself grow from a small fish to a big fish, and that pond won’t feel so big afterall.