Hello folks and thanks for taking a look.
I realize you might be tempted to make this a very quick look so I’ll just cut to the chase.
I’m here to share real stories and inside information and then let you get on with your day.
But first, I want to give you a bit of background about myself and why I am starting this newsletter.
Each email will start with three bullets to set the scene:
📓 The Overview
Business: Four Pillars Investors
Challenge: Breaking into the private equity industry
Learning: A non-traditional path leads to a non-traditional PE firm
📓 The Story
I’ve failed a lot in my life.
In high school and even before, I was quiet. I used to think people were popular because they were talkative.
Which was the complete opposite of who I was. Which is not a bad thing. But when you sprinkle some insecurity into that…
That’s a dangerous mixture right there.
I didn’t set out to overcome my insecurities because it didn’t even cross my mind that I could change it.
Eventually, I did and it wasn’t a single moment that was the catalyst but more a series of events that shifted my mindset.
That shift in mindset helped me to develop greater confidence in every aspect of my life. But it also gave me perspective on life itself.
Things happen, you adjust, and you stay confident that you can face anything head-on, even rejection and failure.
This mentality is what helped me break into PE.
🛣️The Path
For a long time, I had my eyes set on the corner office and the gold watch. I thought the best path for me to take would be to work my way up the corporate ladder.
But later on, I was exposed to middle-market private equity and M&A. Almost immediately, I knew that’s exactly what I wanted to do.
Less bureaucracy and an ability to directly impact the business seemed like a better fit for me.
Now the usual path to a job in PE is:
1. Go to a top-tier undergrad
2. Work on Wall Street/Top 3 consultancy
3. Get an MBA 4. Move to PE
4. Move to PE
My path was very different. Earlier in my career, PE wasn’t even on my radar.
My goal was to be a Fortune 500 CEO. I was a dreamer.
Here was my plan:
1. Get a degree
2. Go into consulting for manufacturing companies to get operational experience
3. Get an MBA
4. Work in a Fortune 500 company
5. Rise through the ranks, get the gold watch and retire
By now I’m sure you can tell that I didn’t make it very far down that path.
After learning about PE and deciding that was going to be my future, I pivoted quickly to find jobs in these fields.
It didn’t go too well.
Eventually, I landed an analyst role at a small investment bank. I kept trying to knock down the door to the world of PE but it wasn’t happening.
Then it hit me. The only way I was going to get to where I wanted was if I stopped trying to follow the playbook of others..
If I couldn’t earn a seat at the table I would have to build my own.
Luckily, I found a business partner who felt the same and that led to the birth of Four Pillars Investors…
A relationship-focused private equity firm run by former business owners, breaking the traditional PE mold.
Relationships aren’t built by creating complex financial models or making decisions from the proverbial ivory tower. Having run businesses ourselves, we understand the challenges, adversities, and failures that business owners face.
We’ve been in the trenches, we know the level of work it requires to get a business running and then to grow it.
And let’s be honest. Wouldn’t you rather work with someone who has walked a similar path?
Four Pillars is built on a human-first approach. Not necessarily a traditional methodology but nothing about my journey has been ‘traditional’ so why start now?
📖 Lessons
1. Don’t give up
2. If you can’t earn a seat at the table build your own
3. The traditional path is just one way to get to your destination
Why This Newsletter?
I know the world of private equity can be daunting and it gets a bad rep for the right reasons.
But that’s why I started this newsletter.
I want to make it more approachable, especially for business owners who might or might not realize they need to understand how to navigate the world of PE and get to know its players.
Here is what you can expect:
1. Help in navigating the PE landscape
2. Success stories of businesses that found the right PE partner
3. Cautionary tales about the downsides of PE deals
4. Tips for business owners considering PE options
5. Clarification of PE jargon and processes
📅 Next Week:
Tune into next week's newsletter to uncover the critical factors that signal when it's time to sell your business. Don't miss this owner's guide to timing your exit.
Keep building,
Nick
P.S.
If you want to hear more from ‘The Most Boring Guy In Private Equity’ make sure to follow me on LinkedIn and YouTube. I dive into the world of Private Equity sharing my thoughts on the industry as a whole and giving you insights on how small businesses can improve their business or even prepare it to be sold to a PE company.
Make sure to follow me so you don’t miss out!
LinkedIn: Nick Mclean
Link to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NickFourPillars
