My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
“birds fly fish swim and deals fall through”
What It Means
Deal failure is as natural and expected as birds flying or fish swimming - it's what deals do
Why It Matters
Prevents emotional devastation when deals collapse and maintains perspective throughout the process
When It's True
Throughout any M&A process, from initial interest through signed agreements
When It's Risky
When it leads to not putting in full effort because 'deals fall through anyway'
How to Apply
Set expectations with co-founders and advisors
Always maintain backup options
Don't celebrate until money hits the bank
Example Scenario
“After a term sheet signing, technical due diligence reveals integration challenges and the deal falls apart, but the founder had maintained relationships with two other potential buyers.”