Why CEOs Need a '10' for Their M&A Strategy

Stephen Schwarzman, co-founder of Blackstone, once described the difference between talent levels in a way that should make every CEO pause and reflect:

"If you're a 10, God bless you, you'll be wildly successful. If you attract 10s, they always make it rain, if you need rain. They just have an ability to sense problems, design solutions, do new things that take your business to a whole new level. That's what a 10 does. A 9 is great at executing, can come up with good strategies, but not great strategies. A firm full of 9s, that's a winning firm. 8s, they just sort of do stuff that you tell them. And 7s and below, I'm not sure what they are. It may work in other industries but won't work in our industry."

For CEOs pursuing $1M-$50M acquisitions, this distinction isn't just theoretical - it's the difference between transformational growth and just another a deal.

What Happens When You Get a "10" for M&A

You Stop Leaving Money on the Table

Most CEOs accept the first decent deal that crosses their desk. A 10 doesn't settle for decent. They map the entire market, identify multiple targets, and create competitive tension that drives better valuations and terms. They see opportunities others miss and spot risks others overlook. The result? You're not just buying a business - you're buying the right business at the right price.

Speed Becomes Your Competitive Advantage

While your competitors are still figuring out their acquisition criteria, you've already moved to preliminary discussions with pre-qualified targets. In today's competitive M&A environment, this speed often means the difference between winning premium assets and watching them go to someone else. A 10 turns your acquisition strategy from reactive to proactive.

You Avoid Expensive Mistakes

A 10 doesn't just run financial models - they understand the business dynamics that make deals succeed or fail post-acquisition. They identify integration challenges, cultural mismatches, and hidden liabilities before they become six-figure problems. One avoided bad deal easily justifies years of advisory investment.

Your Board Becomes Your Biggest Supporter

Instead of facing skeptical questions about your acquisition proposals, you present investment cases so compelling that your board becomes enthusiastic about your growth strategy. A 10 translates your vision into the financial language that resonates with directors and investors, turning potential obstacles into advocates.

You Scale Beyond Your Own Limitations

You're brilliant at running your business, but M&A is a specialised skill set. A 10 becomes your strategic extension - turning your growth vision into executable acquisition strategies without requiring you to become an M&A expert yourself. They handle the complexity so you can focus on what you do best: leading your organisation.

The Economics Are Compelling

The ROI of working with a 10 is often 10x or more. Great M&A advice doesn't just help you buy better - it helps you buy faster, cheaper, and with more conviction. When you consider the potential value creation from the right acquisition versus the cost of getting it wrong, the choice becomes obvious.

Most importantly, a 10 operates at the level of strategic thinking you need, not just tactical execution. They don't just tell you what to do - they figure out what needs to be done, often before you realise it yourself.

The Bottom Line

In the $1M-$50M acquisition market, the difference between good advice and exceptional advice can mean millions in value creation or destruction. CEOs who recognise this don't just grow their businesses - they transform them.

The question isn't whether you can afford to work with a 10. It's whether you can afford not to.

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About Zenify Investments

Zenify Investments is a boutique buy-side M&A advisory firm specialising in the $1M–$50M SME acquisition market. Based in Sydney, we advise CEOs, boards, investors, and growth-focused owners who use acquisitions not just to grow - but to build businesses that are stronger, more defensible, and more valuable over time. Our work spans the full M&A lifecycle - from target sourcing and market intelligence to valuation, risk assessment, and deal completion.

With Zenify, you get Speed in Execution, Clarity in Risk, and Conviction in Value. Reach out to discuss how we can support your next acquisition - and help you buy like the future depends on it.

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