SMBash 2026 Wrap Up + Key Takeaways

SMBash 2026 is a wrap, and I am still processing it. A few moments I keep coming back to: @redacted‌ opened Friday with a keynote that did not pull any punches. The reality of search in 2026 and beyond is different than the deck the community has been carrying around for the last few years, and Jacob said the quiet parts out loud. Everyone in that room needed to hear it. @redacted‌ and I got to sit down and walk through what it actually looked like to acquire a professional services business and 3x it. The good, the ugly, the parts you only really learn by living through them. Sharing that stage with him was one of my favorite moments of the week. Jacob Becker's profile was the kind of story that reminds you why we do this. Watching that room react to his rise was something I wont forget. And @redacted‌'s deal review session was just plain fun. A real-ish deal, real numbers, a room full of searchers and operators leaning in. That is SMBash at its best. So many other great speakers, stories, conversations, and moments - too many to name. None of this happens without the people who showed up. To every attendee, speaker, and sponsor, thank you. You are the event. To my team and the production crew behind the scenes, I am lucky to be in your company. 2027 planning is officially underway. We are not slowing down. Onward and Upward!