Acquiring The Future

Acquisition Entrepreneurship: Why Smart Entrepreneurs Know When to Build, Buy, and Let Go - (From Hustle to Legacy)

Let me break it down: acquisition entrepreneurship isn’t just about buying and selling businesses. This is about passing the torch and building something greater. Too many folks think the endgame is just owning a business; in reality, ownership is just the first chapter. The real magic happens when you hand off what you built and watch someone else grow it even further.

Capitalism? Yeah, it has flaws, but let’s be clear—it’s still one of the best ways to create opportunities and build wealth if you know how to play it right. Now, opportunities don’t exactly fall in your lap. You must be sharp, recognize the moment, and make your move—like knowing when it’s time to move on from what you built and let someone else take it to the next level.

That’s exactly what I did with West Food Brands. Built the brand from scratch and?turned it into a smooth operation with gluten-free sweet potato donuts, healthy ingredients, and gluten-free cookie mixes. Then along came Deana Karim, who saw the vision, and I knew it was time to pass the baton. Look, it wasn’t about walking away—it was about trusting the right person to carry the brand forward and grow it in ways I couldn’t.

And let me tell you something: diversity isn’t some charity case—it’s a business advantage. If you think having the same voices around the table is how you win, you’re already behind. The stats don’t lie companies with diverse leadership outperform their peers by 36%. Do you want to be stagnant, or do?you want to win? Because I only know how to play for wins. Diversity brings fresh ideas, new energy, and adaptability.

See, this isn’t just about my journey—it’s about creating spaces for more African American and minority entrepreneurs to come up. Acquisitions aren’t just exits; they’re pathways to empowerment. I don’t want just a seat at the table—I want to build new tables. I want to show the next generation that they can build, sell, pivot, and grow in ways that weren’t possible before.

So yeah, next time someone tells you acquisitions are just about buying and selling, tell them this: It’s not about holding on—it’s about knowing when to let go, pass the torch, and build a legacy.

Acquisition Entrepreneurship—Empowering Minority Business Owners

Let’s keep it real starting a business from scratch is tough. Why struggle to build every brick yourself when you can buy a whole business and skip the rookie mistakes? That’s what acquisition entrepreneurship is all about. And for minority entrepreneurs, it’s not just a fast track to success—it’s a tool to shift the wealth gap. Less than 50% of businesses in America are minority-owned, and I’m here to change that. Every time we buy a business, we’re flipping the script.

Think about it: acquisitions give you a head start—established customers, an operating system in place, and momentum already rolling. That’s the?free game right there. Why spend years grinding just to build a customer base when you can buy one that already exists? That’s why Siete Foods and Ghost Drink have won they didn’t just build brands, they scaled methodically by making smart moves in marketing.

West Food Brands wasn’t around long before Deana Karim came. Good Dee’s was already killing it in retail and on Amazon. So, I handed her the torch, and now she’s taking it to places I never imagined.

Here’s the thing, though—you don’t always see the value in what you’ve built until somebody else does. When Deana showed up, it hit me: people are watching, and they respect what you’re building, even when you don’t realize it. That’s why I say every business has value no matter how small or large the sales are.

And for all the people wondering if acquisition entrepreneurship is worth It yes, it is. It’s one of the smartest ways to beat the game. It’s not just about selling a business for a payout—it’s about ensuring the next person grows what you started. That’s how you build a legacy and open the door for others to step in.

Resilience and Letting Go—Knowing When to Pivot and Move Forward

Let’s talk about something a lot of entrepreneurs don’t like to admit—knowing when to let go. It’s hard, right? You build something with your bare hands, pour your time, energy, and dreams into it, and then one day, you realize: it’s time to move on. That’s where a lot of folks get stuck—they hold on too long, scared to pivot, scared to see what’s next.

But here’s the truth: holding on just because you built it isn’t success—it’s fear. The real winners know when it’s time to pass the torch and open the door for the next chapter. That’s exactly what I did with West Food Brands. When Deana Karim came into the picture, I knew it was time. She had the vision, the systems, and the reach to grow what I started. It wasn’t me giving up—it was me moving forward.

Look, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t some emotion in that decision. You put your heart into something, and it’s hard to believe that someone else could take it further. But that’s exactly what needs to happen if you want real growth. Deana has over 100k followers, a booming operation, and the ability to take West Food Brands to new heights. If I held on out of pride or fear, I’d just be standing in the way of the business’s next chapter.

Here’s the practical side: letting go creates room for new opportunities. You can’t catch the next wave if you’re holding on to the one that’s already passed. Entrepreneurship is about pivoting, adapting, and knowing when to move forward. If you’re too attached to what you’ve built, you’re closing the door on your future.

And listen, this isn’t quitting—it’s evolving. I learned that every business has value, even if you don’t see it at first. When someone like Deana comes along and says, “This has huge potential,” that was my cue to trust the process and let it grow.

“Success isn’t just about holding on—sometimes it’s about knowing when to let go and move on to bigger things.” When you learn how to pivot and pass the torch, you create space for new ventures, new growth, and new legacies.

Diversity as an Essential Ingredient for Business Success

Let’s be honest diversity isn’t just a feel-good initiative; it’s the secret weapon. The businesses winning in today’s market? They’ve got different voices and groups of people working at their companies, bringing fresh ideas and new energy.

Diversity keeps things moving, adapting, and growing. It’s like your favorite playlist—you wouldn’t just load it with one genre, right? The numbers back it up, too—companies with diverse leadership are 36% more likely to outperform their peers. That’s not a coincidence. Different backgrounds mean different solutions—and that’s where innovation lives.

That’s why I’ve been all-in on supporting female entrepreneurs like Deana Karim. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes business sense. Women and minority leaders bring fresh perspectives that shake things up and push businesses further. Deana’s already running a tight ship with Good Dee’s, and I knew adding West Food Brands to her lineup would only make things better. This is what happens when you mix things up—you create a?synergy that wouldn’t exist if everyone looked and thought the same.

And let’s be real diversity isn’t just a quota you meet for PR points. It’s how you survive in an unpredictable world. The more voices you have, the more angles you see, and that’s how you stay ahead.

“Diversity isn’t just about quotas—it’s about building stronger, more resilient communities.” When we open doors for more people—women, minorities, and everyone in between—we don’t just grow businesses, we grow entire communities. And that’s real power. This isn’t just about making sure everyone has a seat—it’s about building a bigger table, so there’s room for everybody to eat.

Capitalism and Wealth Creation—A Path to Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

Now, I know capitalism catches a lot of heat, but let’s keep it real—if you know the rules, you can win the game. For minority entrepreneurs like me, capitalism isn’t just about survival—it’s about creating freedom. Owning something, flipping it, building it again—that’s power. And the best part? In capitalism, you can fail, dust yourself off, and start all over again. That kind of bounce-back ability that’s a luxury, not everyone gets in other places or countries.

But let’s be honest capitalism hits differently when you don’t have the same access to financial resources. Most minority entrepreneurs aren’t starting with millions in seed money. We’re out here bootstrapping and hustling from the ground up, while others are building their empires with trust funds or large VC companies. That’s the game. We have to make a dollar do the work of ten—and still compete. But that’s where the magic happens—when you know how to stretch what little you’ve got and turn it into gold.

It’s about recognizing opportunity early and seizing it, like the Chicago Bears—bought for $100 and now worth billions. That’s what I’m talking about—finding value where others don’t, flipping it, and building wealth that lasts. That’s how we close the racial wealth gap—one acquisition, one business, one smart investment at a time.

But wealth isn’t just about stacking cash—it’s about learning how to keep it, grow it, and use it to uplift your people. That’s why I’m committed to financial literacy. Economic empowerment starts with education—you can’t build a legacy if you don’t understand how the system works.

“Capitalism works best when everyone gets a fair shot—it’s up to us to make sure no one is left out.” We’re not just here to take what’s given—we’re here to create our own tables, build our systems, and make sure the door stays open for the next generation.

Supporting the Next Generation of Minority Entrepreneurs

Listen, nobody makes it alone. Every success story you’ve ever heard there’s a whole team of people, a community, and some real ones cheering behind the scenes. That’s why building in public has always been my move. I let folks see the grind, the setbacks, and the wins—not because I need applause, but because it shows the next generation that this path is real to building a business.

Support isn’t just about likes, comments, and pats on the back. It’s about showing up where it counts—with dollars, recommendations, and real investment. Do you want to make a difference? Start by buying from minority-owned businesses. Don’t just talk about support—put your money where your mouth is.

And it doesn’t stop at buying. Spread the word, recommend these businesses, especially women-owned companies, and connect them with people who can help them grow. If you’ve got the means? Invest. Whether it’s money, mentorship, or even just a valuable connection, support comes in all forms. Long-term relationships, not just quick transactions—that’s what builds businesses that last.

That’s exactly the mission behind West Family Ventures. I’m not just looking for a seat at someone else’s table. I’m out here building new tables—and pulling up as many chairs as I can. The goal isn’t just for me to win—it’s for everyone in my community to thrive.

When we lift each other, we all rise. Every business launched, every partnership formed, every dollar reinvested—it all adds up. This is how we shift the game and build something lasting for the next generation. The next generation is watching. Let’s make sure we leave them a blueprint they can run with—and a table big enough for all of us to eat.

Conclusion: The Legacy We Build Together

Every brand we start, every business we buy, and every torch we pass on. That’s how we build a legacy that lasts. This game is bigger than one entrepreneur or one company. It’s about creating opportunities for others, lifting as we climb, and making sure the next generation has the tools and space to do even more than we did. We don’t just want seats at the table—we’re building whole new tables.

But let’s be clear: none of this happens without action. If we want a future where diverse entrepreneurs thrive, businesses reflect the world we live in, and communities grow together, then we need to show up, buy, invest, and advocate with intention. The future we want won’t build itself—we’ve got to build it together.

“Entrepreneurship isn’t just about making money—it’s about building a legacy that lifts others and creates lasting change.” And that’s exactly what I’m here to do. Dream big, pass the torch, and leave behind something that matters. Because when we build together, we rise together.