The Quiet Crisis of High-Achieving Professionals

There’s a specific kind of restlessness that doesn’t show up on a medical chart but gnaws at the back of your mind: the sense that you were built for something more. You’ve followed the rules, collected the degrees, earned the promotions—and yet, something is still missing.

You don’t hate your job. You hate not having control.

For a surprising number of post-MBA professionals, the term "burnout" doesn’t quite capture the full picture. It’s not that they’re overworked, per se. It’s that they’re under-aligned. They’re stuck in roles that ask them to play small, in companies where their impact feels diluted, and in cultures where creativity and ownership are reserved for someone else.

So, what if you’re not burned out? What if you’re just meant to be the boss?

At SMBash you will be surrounded by a diverse group of business-minded people who have also asked themselves this question. Some might be years into their entrepreneurial journey and others might still be grinding away at their nine-to-five but with a plan to escape.

This isn’t to say that ETA is easy – quite the opposite. But, once you buy your first business, it is yours! Yours to troubleshoot and yours to grow!

The Corporate Ceiling You Didn’t Expect

You were told that success looked like a six-figure salary, corner office, or working at a big-name firm. And maybe, for a time, that was enough.

But for one reason or another some questions have started creeping in:

• Why am I doing this?

• Is this really what I want long-term?

• What am I building that’s mine?

It’s not uncommon to feel this tension just a few years into your post-MBA or mid-career life. What often gets labeled as dissatisfaction or lack of focus is, in many cases, a signal that you’re ready for ownership. Trust yourself enough to listen to that voice!

“Business ownership” does not have to be defined by the loudest voices, founding a flashy startup, or reinventing an industry. In fact, for many professionals, the ideal path is one you’ve probably never considered in depth: Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).

ETA: The Fastest Route to the Life You Actually Want

ETA is a method of buying a small to medium-sized business—one that already has revenue, customers, and a proven model—and stepping in as the new owner-operator. Keep reading to find out how attending SMBash, a {gasp} business conference, fits into this equation.

Buying an already established business is a way to skip the chaos of starting from scratch while gaining the autonomy, income potential, and leadership you crave. For many, it's a perfect bridge between a corporate background and entrepreneurial aspirations.

At SMBash, we introduce attendees to:

• Searchers just starting out

• Operators running acquired companies

• Lenders, brokers, and advisors

• A community of peers choosing ownership over waiting

And lucky for our attendees, the SMBash experience isn’t hypothetical. Attendees leave with tools, connections, and—perhaps most importantly—the mindset shift that lets them see themselves as owners.

“This is one of the premier locations for entrepreneurs who want to become the C-level and grow through acquisitions... This is a really electric event, very exciting.”

— Ryan Kroge, First Internet Bank, sponsor, business owner

Real People, Real Moves

“I was nervous about coming... but I was inspired. I made connections with vendors, operators, equity investors. We shared models. This is fantastic. For any searchers wondering, 'Should I spend the money?' Yes! It was 100% worth it.”

— Anonymous, First-Time Attendee, searcher (still stuck at his 9-5, but just for now)

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How does SMBash change lives?

Attendees stop waiting for permission to create the life they dream of.

Attendees get to listen and learn from people just a few steps ahead of them.

By the end of the conference, we hope our attendees have started thinking like owners.

And it all starts when you take the leap to attend SMBash.

The Power of the Room

You can read case studies, watch YouTube interviews, and scroll ETA Reddit forums all day. But nothing replaces the clarity that comes from being in a room full of like-minded people learning, working hard, and moving towards self-actualization.

SMBash isn’t just a conference. It’s a decision catalyst.

You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes stories that don’t make it into glossy LinkedIn posts. You’ll meet people who understand your ambition, your hesitation, your spreadsheet tabs.

"My favorite panel today was Brent Beshore. He challenged a lot of assumptions we have as people going through this process. It was inspirational... Telling me I’m on the right path by doing things differently and living authentically. I loved that."

— Athena Simpson, Owner of AcquiMatch, multi-year SMBash attendee

"I love SMBash for two reasons. One – it's by far the most real conference I’ve been to for small business buying. The people here talk about the downsides. Not just the wins."

— Chris Williams, Owner of System Six, SMBash sponsor

What You’ll Experience at SMBash

The list below is just a snap shop of things awaiting you at SMBash. This business conference was created to serve both the folks already immersed in and the folks new to the ETA and SMB spaces. Use the contact form if you have more suggestions for content!

• Workshops on search models, deal structuring, and operations led by business owners who have years’ worth of experience and knowledge

• Tracks for both first-time buyers (aka searchers) and seasoned operators

• Q&A time with real-world owners, operators, and service providers

• Access to lenders, brokers, attorneys, book-keepers, and more!

• Meaningful conversations that go beyond surface-level networking

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What you’ll walk away with:

It's tough to label the contagious environment that exists at SMBash. Surrounded by hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners helps you accept that you too are capable of becoming the boss. While daunting, it is not a path you have to pursue without help. By the end of the 3-days we spend together we hope that you will have:

• A clear path forward (even if you’re just exploring)

• Practical insights into how deals really work

• A powerful community of like-minded professionals

This Is the Year You Bet on Yourself

You don’t need another lateral move. You don’t need another title. You need ownership.

You’ve already built the skillset. You just need the next step.

Let SMBash be that step.

At SMBash, we keep the experience simple by design—because simplicity is powerful when you’re just starting out. Our format is intentionally straightforward so that newcomers to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) can take their first step without overwhelm.

But don’t let that simplicity fool you. Many attendees return year after year—not just to revisit the fundamentals, but because they know that mastery is built on the basics. Operators, lenders, and service providers come back to deepen their knowledge and reconnect with a community that values real conversations.

And that’s one of SMBash’s greatest strengths: the knowledge in the room isn’t limited to the stage. Our attendees openly share real numbers, ask candid questions, and troubleshoot actual scenarios together. The environment we’ve nurtured is one of radical honesty and generosity—a space where people learn from each other without pretense or ego.

If you’re ready to:

• Take control of your future

• Explore small business acquisition

• Build something that’s yours

Then get your ticket to SMBash 2026.

Because the question isn’t "Should I do this?"

It’s "How long will I wait before I do?"

Our team is more than happy to answer all of your questions. Click here to get in touch with us!