You’re Either At The Table - Or You’re On The Menu

Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old former schoolteacher from Melbourne, volunteered to fight in Ukraine against Russia.

Brave? No doubt.

But here’s the truth:

He had no formal combat training. No military background.

And within nine months on the frontlines, he was captured by Russian forces.

In a video that surfaced later, he appeared disoriented, injured, and with a broken arm.

Now labelled a mercenary, he’s no longer protected under international humanitarian law.

And despite the Australian government’s efforts - they can’t get him out.

No one knows what will happen to him.

But one thing is clear:

He walked into something far more dangerous than he understood.

And now, he’s paying the price.

Buying a business isn’t war.

But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s safe.

This isn’t like buying property.

It’s not “check a few numbers, shake hands, sign the contract - done.”

You’re stepping into unfamiliar terrain, where the real threats don’t yell at you.

They hide.

In the numbers.

In the people.

In the contracts, systems, and assumptions that seem fine - until you own them.

Too many walk in with good intentions, but no deal sense.

No strategy.

No one watching their blind spots.

And when things go wrong - it’s them who pays the price.

“Wonder why fund managers can’t beat the S&P 500? Because they’re sheep. Sheep get slaughtered.” - Gordon Gekko, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

That’s not just a movie line.

That’s how the industry talks when no one’s listening.

If you’re not experienced?

If you don’t know the power dynamics, the tactics, the trapdoors?

You’re not at the table.

You’re on the menu.

Final Word

Buying a business is one of the most powerful wealth moves you can make.

But only if you do it right.

Get it wrong -

And you’ll spend the next five years fixing something that should’ve been your next chapter.

You don’t need to be the fastest.

You don’t need to be the biggest.

But you do need to be smart -

And you need someone next to you who’s been through the battlefield before.

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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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