If I Could Do It All Over Again… I’d Buy the Business First
I’ve been in the entrepreneurial space full-time for over a decade—and if we’re counting side hustles, freelance gigs, and part-time grinds, I’ve got close to 20 years in the game.
But if I could do it all over again—with what I know now—
I wouldn’t start a business. I’d buy one.
I’m not the “If I knew then what I know now” type.
I’m the “I didn’t know then, but I know now” type.
And I want you to know it now, too.
Most of us—especially those from underrepresented or underserved communities—think the only way to own a business is to build one from the ground up.
• So we bootstrap.
• We wear all the hats.
• We hustle, grind, and exhaust ourselves trying to go from Employee to Entrepreneur with no roadmap.
And we’re proud of it… but it’s not always the smartest path.
Robert Kiyosaki broke it down in his Cashflow Quadrant model:
• E – Employee
• S – Self-employed (or Superstar)
• B – Business owner
• I – Investor
Most people try to go from E to S—from working a job to running their own gig.
But building a true B (Business Owner) level operation—with systems, staff, and scalability? That’s where most people get stuck.
If I had the blueprint back then, I wouldn’t have tried to hustle my way from E to S.
I would’ve skipped straight from E to I.
Here’s the shift:
When you buy a business—whether it’s a whole company or just a share of one—you’re stepping into a partnership with systems already in place.
• HR? Already in place.
• Payroll? Already managed.
• Leadership? Already structured.
You’re not building from scratch—you’re buying into momentum.
That could look like:
• Purchasing a franchise
• Buying shares in a publicly traded company
• Acquiring a small local business that just needs a fresh vision
And here’s the strategy:
Use the income from that business to fund the rest of your vision.
Don’t start with the business you’re passionate about—start with the business that builds your power. Then let that power fund your purpose.
Where, Why, What: Reverse Engineering the Move
Where Are You Now?
• Are you stuck in the Self-Employed hustle, trying to scale something with limited capacity?
• Are you spinning your wheels trying to build from scratch without capital or systems?
Why Does This Matter?
• Because buying into a business positions you faster than building one alone.
• Because ownership without infrastructure is just another job with your name on the door.
• Because if you want freedom, you need cashflow—not just creativity.
What Should You Do Now?
• Consider acquiring a small business or investing in shares of a solid company.
• Sit down with a financial advisor and talk about market entry through investing.
• Let your money do the heavy lifting before you put all your sweat into building something from scratch.
Leveraging Business for Freedom
1. Safety & Security: Buying into a working system can give you predictable income and stability.
2. Esteem Needs: Ownership—real ownership—builds confidence and long-term credibility.
3. Self-Actualization: Using business income to fund your vision allows you to build with intention, not desperation.
Here’s your challenge:
1. Research local or online business marketplaces. What’s out there that you could acquire or invest in?
2. Schedule a session with a financial advisor to explore stock market entry points.
3. Flip the script: Instead of asking, “What business can I build?” ask, “What business can I buy?”
Ownership isn’t always about building—it’s about positioning.
Start with power. Then build your passion.
Key Takeaway
“Don’t just build the business—buy the leverage. Let your money do the work, then fund your vision with the results. That’s how the game is played at the next level.”
“Two Books, One Mission: Your Guide to Clarity and Purpose”
Ready to take the next step in redefining your goals and gaining clarity? Discover the tools and insights you need with my books:
📖Where Why What: Unlock the Secret to Clarify Your Goals – Learn how to clarify your vision, take intentional action, and achieve your dreams.
📖 The Where Factor: From Adoption to Entrepreneurship – A powerful book aligning past, present, and future for success.
– Don’t wait—Start your journey today:
www.TheChrisChaney.com 
Leave a comment