Failed search

searcher profile

August 10, 2022

by a searcher from INSEAD in London, UK

Is a failed search actually good for experience / network or is there a significant opportunity cost both financially and in terms of experience? It is a concern at a point in my career post MBA that a failed search would bring some experience but ultimately have the potential to be a wasted couple of years.

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commentor profile
Reply by an investor
from Stanford University in Dallas, TX, USA
There are couple of podcasts that share stories of searchers who ended up not acquiring. I'd look up the "Acquiring Minds" and "In the Trenches" podcasts which have a couple of episodes on this topic. And to answer your question, while of course not acquiring is not the ideal outcome, many people who search tend to be incredibly capable individuals and they end up doing well regardless. Searchers who don't acquire end up doing a wide variety of things, some that come to mind immediately include: joining the c-suite at another organization, joining an investment firm, working on a startup, returning to their previous job.
commentor profile
Reply by a professional
from University of Idaho in Boise, ID, USA
I would think that becoming over invested, from an emotional standpoint, in an acquisition could be dangerous. The internal pressure of not wanting to 'fail' could lead to some serious mistakes. In that regard, if a deal isn't right, it isn't right. Is walking away from that without an acquisition a failure or a success?
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