The Deal of a Lifetime

January 28th, 2009 . by Rob Swanson

Do you ever find yourself consumed, totally excited about the next big deal, the huge opportunity that you just happened to find yourself in the middle of? Maybe right now you’re working long, hard hours, squeezing every last spare minute of your time toward that one deal that will change your life and your family’s life forever.

Let me spare you and your family some trouble (I’m not being a downer – read on because there is a very positive and profitable ending to this story). The longer you are around business, particularly as an entrepreneur, you, like I, will realize that ‘Deals of a Lifetime’ come just about every three months.

Honestly, years ago, I used to find myself consumed by the next great opportunity, that one deal that only I knew about. Guess what? I was wrong.

Here’s what I found. I realized, that the longer I was in business, the more I kept myself out there in the business world, the more Deals of a Lifetime just kept appearing. What I’ve come to learn is that deals of a lifetime come, go and come again. And, almost more importantly, what appears on the surface (at least through rose colored glasses) to be a deal of a lifetime, well, it usually isn’t.

Now, that being said, let me share with you the huge positive realization that this has brought. While I’m not a believer in chasing after Deals of a Lifetime, I am a believer in being mindful and watching for certain huge opportunities that only come once or maybe twice in your lifetime. Do you see the difference?

Run your business, strategize your investments and watch for opportunities. Don’t blindly and with great emotion chase the next great deal of a lifetime, but rather, put it through a filter test. Determine its merits and evaluate substance, a viable exit strategy and realistic profitability. Evaluate the character of the people involved and choose your partners, alliances and ‘deals’ wisely.

Your family, your health and your wallet will thank you! I know mine have.