**Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa: Episode Summary
Title: Why I Joined Acquisition.com
Host: Sharran Srivatsaa
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Introduction
In this pivotal episode of Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa, Sharran delves deep into a significant career move: his decision to join Acquisition.com as a partner alongside his longtime friends, Alex and Layla Hormozi. Far from a personal announcement, Sharran aims to provide listeners with a comprehensive framework for making substantial life and business decisions by sharing his meticulous thought process.
Background and Context
Sharran Srivatsaa, renowned for propelling Teles Properties to $3.4 billion in sales and later acquiring Douglas Elliman, brings a wealth of experience in building and scaling businesses. As President of Real (TSX: REAX) and Nasdaq: REAX), Chairman of Highland Prime and ARC Multifamily Group, and a former Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse banker, Sharran is a formidable figure in the business world. His podcast, Business School, offers listeners insights into strategic business growth, elegant brand building, and harmonizing business profits with a fulfilling personal life.
The Decision to Join Acquisition.com
In this episode, Sharran addresses the buzz surrounding his recent partnership with Alex and Layla Hormozi at Acquisition.com. He emphasizes that the episode is designed to benefit the listeners by illustrating his decision-making framework, which can be applied to their own significant choices.
Key Announcement:
"[00:00] ... I was joining my best friend, Alex and Layla Hormozi as their partner@acquisite.com to build and grow the next kind of frontier of building businesses and private equity investing the world has never seen."
10 Foundational Reasons for Joining Acquisition.com
Sharran outlines ten core principles that guided his decision to partner with Acquisition.com. Each reason is meticulously explained, providing actionable insights for listeners.
1. The Company You Keep
"[04:15] ... who you do life with as you go along may be the most important decision that you ever make."
Sharran emphasizes the critical importance of surrounding oneself with the right people. In his 40s, he recognizes that the individuals you collaborate with significantly influence personal and professional growth.
2. Effort Over Luck
"[07:30] I wanted to be around people who believe in effort the way most people believe in luck."
Acknowledging his own limitations in talent and intelligence, Sharran seeks to work with those who value relentless effort. He admires individuals who maintain discipline and a steadfast commitment without relying on external validation.
3. Playing the Infinite Game
"[12:45] What if the goal isn't to win fast? Think about that. What if the goal isn't to win fast?"
Sharran contrasts finite, short-term goals with an infinite mindset focused on enduring success and legacy. This perspective shift encourages sustainable growth over transient achievements.
4. Alignment of Core Values
"[16:20] Competitive greatness, sincere candor, unimpeachable character."
For Sharran, shared core values are non-negotiable. He aligns himself with Acquisition.com because their values resonate deeply with his own, ensuring cohesion and mutual respect within the partnership.
5. Commitment to Partnership
"[18:50] Are your partners obsessed with your goals or just their own?"
Sharran values partners who are genuinely invested in his aspirations. He underscores the importance of having allies who prioritize collective goals over personal agendas.
6. Growth Through the Right People
"[21:10] The better you get, the better you realize you can become."
Surrounding oneself with driven and high-caliber individuals fosters continuous personal and professional development. Sharran credits his association with Alex and Layla for pushing him to new heights.
7. Culture and Talent Density
"[22:40] When the right culture shows up, the right people show up."
Drawing parallels with his experience at Goldman Sachs, Sharran highlights the unparalleled talent density at Acquisition.com. He believes that fostering an environment of excellence attracts and retains top-tier performers.
8. Wielding New Assets: Distribution, Creativity, Capital
"[23:55] The brand, your brand, is a compound interest engine for trust."
Sharran identifies three critical assets for future success: distribution (attention), creativity (originality), and capital (both human and financial). Mastery of these elements, he argues, is essential for building unstoppable companies.
9. Operationalizing Generosity
"[24:30] We make a life by what we give."
Generosity, for Sharran, transcends philanthropy. It involves strategically contributing value and fostering a culture of abundance, which in turn cultivates trust and long-term relationships.
10. Collective Success: "We is Greater Than Me"
"[25:10] We is greater than me when it comes to building a billion-dollar business."
Sharran champions the power of teamwork. He believes that monumental achievements are impossible alone and that collective effort amplifies success and personal fulfillment.
Meaningful Success Formula
Sharran introduces a simple yet profound formula for success:
"Meaningful success equals doing hard things for a long period of time."
"[15:10] Meaningful success is doing hard things times a long period of time."
This equation underscores the importance of perseverance and sustained effort in achieving lasting success.
Operationalizing Generosity
Generosity is not merely a virtue but a strategic business model for Sharran. He defines it as:
"Operationalizing generosity is building a system where generosity is the foundation for everything."
"[24:30] Generosity is about being smart and strategic and culture-oriented..."
By fostering a generous culture, businesses can create significant goodwill, leading to trust and sustained success.
Team and Culture Comparison with Goldman Sachs
Reflecting on his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Sharran is astounded by the talent density at Acquisition.com:
"[22:40] ... Talent density @acquisition.com rivals what I experienced at Goldman Sachs."
"[22:50] ... when the right culture shows up, the right people show up."
This comparison serves to highlight the exceptional caliber of individuals at Acquisition.com and the powerful culture they cultivate.
Final Reflections and Takeaways
Sharran concludes by reiterating the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and maintaining a clear, principled decision-making framework. He encourages listeners to adopt a similar approach in their own lives, emphasizing that thoughtful preparation reflects the depth of one's commitment.
Final Thought:
"[25:00] People only see the decisions you make. They rarely understand the choices you had."
This poignant statement encapsulates the essence of the episode, urging listeners to recognize the complexity behind seemingly straightforward decisions.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
On Effort vs. Luck:
"[07:30] ... I wanted to be around people who believe in effort the way most people believe in luck."
-
On Playing the Infinite Game:
"[12:45] What if the goal isn't to win fast? Think about that."
-
On Core Values:
"[16:20] Competitive greatness, sincere candor, unimpeachable character."
-
On Generosity:
"[24:30] We make a life by what we give."
-
On Collective Success:
"[25:10] We is greater than me when it comes to building a billion-dollar business."
-
Final Reflection:
"[25:00] People only see the decisions you make. They rarely understand the choices you had."
Conclusion
Sharran Srivatsaa's candid exploration of his partnership with Acquisition.com offers invaluable lessons on strategic decision-making. By sharing his ten foundational reasons and personal reflections, he provides listeners with a robust framework to navigate their own significant life and business choices. Emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people, maintaining unwavering core values, and fostering a culture of generosity and collective success, Sharran underscores the principles that drive meaningful and sustained achievement.
For a more in-depth analysis of his decision-making process, Sharran directs listeners to his Substack publication, where he elaborates further on building the next billion-dollar venture.
