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- Growth vs. Scalable Growth: What Actually Drives Value
Growth vs. Scalable Growth: What Actually Drives Value
Plus: 5 Things That Complicate Deals
Derek Avdul
May 05, 2026
Quick M&A Insights, Infographics, & Interesting Info Every Week!
Welcome to the M&A Mindset!
This Week:
This week we’re looking at two different characteristics of deals - the growth of a business and the complexity of deals.
First is the fact that the importance of scalable growth for a company is crucial for its success. Long term as a business and certainly when trying to get a deal done.
Next, five aspects of deals that add complexity to the situation. The key to remember is that is doesn’t matter if the factor is real or perceived.
Plus, as always: curated articles, practical learning resources, M&A merch, and something to lighten things up at the end.
Let’s dive in.
– Derek
Table of Contents
INTERESTING INFOGRAPHIC
Each week, I feature a visually engaging infographic that distills a key M&A subject area into an easy-to-digest format. These quick reference guides aim to deliver clarity, insight, and practical understanding at a glance.
Growth vs. Scalable Growth: What Actually Drives Value
M&A TOPIC BRIEFING
In this section, I provide a clear, concise overview of a specific topic, trend, or concept within the realm of M&A. The goal is to educate, inform, and spark discussions on relevant subjects, helping you deepen your knowledge and better navigate the complexities of M&A more confidently.
5 Things That Complicate Deals
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
5 Reasons Small Businesses Should Consider M&A - Small businesses can use M&A to accelerate growth by gaining new markets and customers, reducing costs through scale, expanding products/services, acquiring talent and expertise, and creating a clear exit or liquidity path for owners.
Strategic Growth: The Pros & Cons of M&A - Acquisitions can deliver rapid growth, market access, and new capabilities, but they also come with risks like integration complexity, cultural mismatch, and overestimating a team’s ability to manage a larger, more complex organization.
The Challenges of Tech Integration in M&A - Technology integration is often where M&A value is either realized or lost, yet it’s harder than expected because of complex, incompatible systems, poor early planning, and integration being treated as an afterthought rather than core strategy.
Why Customer Experience is the Hidden Risk in M&A - Customer experience is often overlooked during M&A, but service disruptions, inconsistent messaging, and internal strain during integration can quickly erode trust.
Why Employee Engagement is Key to Retention After M&A - Strong employee engagement is critical in M&A because uncertainty, cultural shifts, and poor communication can drive talent loss.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
SPREADSHEET TIPS & TRICKS
Master Financial Modeling from Elite Practitioners
6 jam-packed courses with countless cases and 30+ exercises to help you learn financial modeling. Each course is designed to guide you step-by-step in your journey to develop elite modeling skills. Click Here!
GOOD READS THIS WEEK
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FROM THE BENCHMARK BLOG
My firm, Benchmark International, a global, award-winning sell-side M&A company, has a ton of great resources that help anyone considering selling or buying a business get more educated on all aspects of the process. Below is just one helpful article. Check out Benchmark International for many more useful articles, news, and resources.
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Trade Associations in the M&A Industry
FRIENDS OF THE M&A MINDSET
From time to time, we’ll highlight newsletters and podcasts we genuinely read, listen to, and respect across M&A, PE, and the broader deal ecosystem.
No paid placements. No mass promotions. Just thoughtful, high-quality content that complements the M&A Mindset.
Here’s a few newsletters that I’ve signed up for and found interesting. Thought you might enjoy checking them out.
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Have something to suggest that we should know about? Reach out.
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LIGHTEN UP!
In the fast-paced world of M&A, we can sometimes take things (and ourselves) a bit too seriously, so it’s good to remember to enjoy a lighter moment now and then.
The Most Economically Generative Two Minutes in Sports
M&A MERCH
Here’s a find for us finance folks to grab some M&A-inspired swag. Stuff for those of us that speak fluent EBITDA. If you find others that have great deal-themed gear, send them this way so we can let everyone know. Enjoy!
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Stay Curious,
Derek Avdul
New to the M&A Mindset? This weekly newsletter cuts through the noise with concise insights, infographics, and resources on middle-market M&A—trusted by 5,500+ deal professionals, business owners, and investors. Whether you're planning a transaction, building your expertise, or just fascinated by deals, you'll find something valuable here every week.
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