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A Chance Conversation Led Me To Buy The Business. Let Me Tell You What I Did Wrong

11 Apr 2022

Show notes

Apr 11, 2022

On this episode of ScaleUp Radio, we hear from Simon O Gorman, the owner of Adapt IT.

 

Adapt IT have been running since 2001, but Simon only took over the business in 2021, after family circumstances put him in touch with the owner, Martin, which led to a conversation about the business being for sale.

 

In fact, one of the aspects of the conversation is talking to Simon about the process of acquiring Adept IT, which only happened during 2021. It’s a fascinating look at what goes into an acquisition, and some of the challenges that Simon faced.

 

There’s also quite a bit else that we covered in our conversation, including:

 

 - Ensuring that every client feels unique to your business. They should feel that they aren’t treated like ‘just another client’

 - Why acquiring a business is not something that you should just decide to do - do your homework, and make sure you have a good network of people around you who have experience, especially lawyers!

 - How you go about pushing your team in their work - without pushing them too far, or not far enough!

 

This is a great conversation, and it was good to hear Simon be so open and honest about acquiring Adept IT, and talk about some of the things that didn’t quite go to plan, as well as the things that went well.

 

It won’t matter how long you’ve been a business owner, which industry you’re in or where you are on your scale up journey - you’ll definitely find some value in this episode. 

 

 

 

Simon can be found here:

 

linkedin.com/in/simon-o-gorman-cissp-ba37252

 

https://adapt-it.co.uk/

 

https://twitter.com/AdaptITOnline

 

 

 

 

The Five Dysfunctions Of The Team by PM Lencioni - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-a-leadership-fable/pm-lencioni/9780787960759

 

Working Smarter by Graham Roberts-Phelps - https://www.waterstones.com/book/working-smarter/graham-roberts-phelps/9781854181473

 

Text Help Read & Write - https://apps.texthelp.com/

 

Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.

 

You can get in touch with Kevin here:

kevin@biz-smart.co.uk

 

Liked this conversation? Bring the same thinking to your business.

ScaleUp Radio is hosted by Kevin Brent — founder of Smart90, author of the Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System (ESUS), and the same Kevin who works directly with founders inside the G90 Summit.

The Summit is a structured half-day — quarterly, virtual via Zoom — where founders and their teams get clear on the three to five things that must happen in the next 90 days, and leave with a plan committed to making them happen.

Reserve Your Place at the G90 Summit →

Next session: 26th June 2026 · £97 for a standalone seat · smart90.co.uk/summit