The good, the bad and the ugly - What’s your lessons learned?

I’m wrapping up an ETA cohort and currently evaluating active deals. While I’ve heard plenty about the upsides of M&A, I’d love to tap into the collective wisdom of this community. What do you wish you had known before your first acquisition? Were there moments of “shoulda, woulda, coulda” that shaped how you approach deals today? Any regrets, unexpected challenges, or blind spots you’d caution others about? Acquiring a business can be a life-changing decision that requires significant personal and financial investment. Your lessons learned could help the rest of us make better-informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Please share your experiences—both the wins and the hard lessons.