As you work through this guide (and as you watch related VAULT videos in Karen"s Curated Corner), notice what founders, CEOs, and investors reveal about:

•  How clearly they understand their own strengths (skill × enjoyment) and where those strengths actually move the needle.

•  Whether the businesses and industries they choose truly need those strengths—or would mostly want a caretaker CEO.

•  What genuine searcher–industry fit looks like in practice: language, prior exposure, credibility with sellers, banks, and investors.

•  How they think about augmenting a seller’s legacy rather than “burning it all down.”

•  For funded search: how they define “diamonds in the rough,” think about competition, and preserve levers for the next buyer.

•  For self‑funded search: how they discuss geo/size/industry, handle SBA risk, and choose a day‑to‑day life that actually fits them.

For a more detailed Checklist with reflection exercises, please click this link.