In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Driskel, a former NFL quarterback who has successfully transitioned into the world of business acquisition. Jeff shares his journey from the gridiron to founding Four Pillars Group, a company dedicated to acquiring and operating small businesses.
He delves into the nuances of his transition, highlighting the differences between professional sports and entrepreneurship, and the self-education process that fueled his passion for small business investing. Jeff also provides insights into the structure of his deals, including the use of SBA loans and the self-funded search model, while discussing the challenges athletes face when moving into the business realm. This episode is full of valuable lessons on leveraging soft skills, structuring successful business deals, and planning for sustainable growth.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Jeff Driscoll joins the podcast
5:35 Starting Four Pillars Group while playing NFL
11:47 Challenges of acquiring first small business
15:50 Analyzing culture when buying a company
20:49 Capital structure for small business acquisitions
34:46 Using SBA loans to fund acquisitions
41:09 Breakdown of ownership structure in deals
47:41 Balancing investor returns and business growth
54:09 Outro: Wrapping up and contact information
