#259 Ivestor's dilemma

In this episode, I talk about what happens when a business owner
reaches a point where the business no longer needs them. BizzBee
Solutions is running smoothly, and I’m not as excited about it as I
once was. With some extra money in hand, I considered investing in
the stock exchange, but the returns didn’t seem worth it. Starting
a new business also feels like too much work at this stage, so I
explored different options. I’ve been thinking about becoming a
business angel—investing in an existing business or joining a
passionate team and providing both capital and expertise. This
approach allows me to add value without being the main driving
force behind the business. I share my thought process and invite
listeners to reflect on what they would do in my situation: invest
in stocks, start a new business, or support others as a business
angel. transcript: Hello, everybody, and welcome again! Greetings
from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. I just climbed some seriously
tough stairs, and while I’m catching my breath, I’ve got something
on my mind that I’ve been thinking about for a while—so now seems
like the perfect time to record a podcast. As business owners, we
sometimes get tired of our businesses. After a while, we make
money, we grow, and then we reach a point where the company no
longer needs us to function. That’s where I am now. BizzBee
Solutions is doing well on its own, and I don’t feel that same
excitement anymore. So I thought, what’s next? I need something new
to ignite my passion, and now I have some extra money to invest.
Initially, I considered putting my money into the stock
exchange—something low-effort that would generate passive income.
But when I did the math, a 5-6% return didn’t seem all that
attractive. It felt like I’d need to invest a massive amount just
to see a decent return. And let’s be honest, as an entrepreneur,
the stock exchange feels a bit too hands-off for me. Then I thought
about starting a new company, but I quickly remembered all the
sleepless nights and the hustle that comes with launching a
business from scratch. At 38, starting over feels like a lot of
work. I’m looking for something that requires less of my time and
effort. So I began exploring other options—like buying an existing
business through platforms like Flippa or Acquire. But again, I’d
need to hire someone to maintain it or get into the technical weeds
myself, which is not ideal since I’m not a developer. This brought
me to the idea of becoming a business angel. Instead of acquiring a
business outright, I could invest in one or become a partial owner.
That way, I’d get the team as well, and I wouldn’t have to learn
everything from scratch. I could add value where it’s needed, but
the business could keep growing without me being involved in every
detail. That sounds much more appealing. The idea is to find people
who are passionate about what they’re doing and join them in their
venture. Whether it’s a restaurant, a golf club, or any other
business, I could provide the capital and the expertise, and they
would run the business. It’s a win-win. As entrepreneurs, we often
want to be the driving force, but at this stage in my life, I’m
more interested in supporting others while leveraging my
experience. I think this is a great approach for business owners
who are looking for their next challenge. Instead of starting from
scratch, consider finding a passionate team and supporting them
with your expertise and capital. What would you do if you were in
my shoes? Would you invest in stocks, start a new business, or
explore the business angel route?