The Value of Expertise / by Alexander Lyadov

The rehab specialist pushes me harder than I would ever push myself. Most likely, I would swing between extremes — either pampering myself too much or trying to set foolish records, risking re-injury.

I remember how the rehab specialist surprised me last time: "How many days have passed since your knee surgery? A week? That’s bad. You should have come to see me the very next day."

It might seem like I know my body, I feel its needs, and I can react to pain. But the rehab specialist observes from the outside, not 24/7, but just for those few minutes while I perform his test.

It’s all about recognizing patterns.

I tear and repair my meniscus and ligaments a few times in life, but to the expert’s eye, thousands of such injuries weave together into a distinct pattern. An experienced specialist can size you up with one look:

  • A psychoanalyst diagnoses with the first words from the client.

  • A massage therapist can tell the drama of your life from the tension in your back.

  • After the first grip, a wrestler reads their opponent like a book.

That’s why entrepreneurs shouldn’t sell their business on their own, especially to a private equity firm or a strategic buyer. It’s better to hire an M&A boutique. Otherwise, there’s an imbalance: the founder may have bought and sold one or two companies, while for the fund, it’s just another day at the office.

Let’s say you face a strange or unknown problem in business. If time is on your side and the stakes are low, you can take it slow and teach yourself. But if there’s a risk of losing the business or missing a market opportunity, find an expert who deals with that kind of 'unknown' every day.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander


About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

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