

Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa
Sharran Srivatsaa
Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is the no-fluff, tactical podcast for founders, operators, and underdogs who want to grow with clarity, intention, and results. Hosted by entrepreneur, investor, and operator Sharran Srivatsaa—President and Managing Partner at Acquisition.com—this show cuts through the noise to deliver real-world strategies from someone who's built and exited five companies across multiple industries.
Sharran has helped scale two billion-dollar businesses, served as President of Real (NASDAQ: REAX), and led the 10x growth and sale of Teles Properties to Douglas Elliman (NYSE: DOUG). He brings lessons from Wall Street to Main Street, sharing what actually works—because he’s lived through what doesn’t.
Every episode offers simple, actionable playbooks for those who want to build extraordinary companies without the chaos. Whether you're a scrappy operator, a first-time founder, or a seasoned executive, Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is your blueprint for building with purpose and winning on your terms.
For more free resources, visit Sharran.com
Sharran has helped scale two billion-dollar businesses, served as President of Real (NASDAQ: REAX), and led the 10x growth and sale of Teles Properties to Douglas Elliman (NYSE: DOUG). He brings lessons from Wall Street to Main Street, sharing what actually works—because he’s lived through what doesn’t.
Every episode offers simple, actionable playbooks for those who want to build extraordinary companies without the chaos. Whether you're a scrappy operator, a first-time founder, or a seasoned executive, Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is your blueprint for building with purpose and winning on your terms.
For more free resources, visit Sharran.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 7, 2021 • 26min
Our 4-Step Process for Investing in Companies
The concept of investing directly in a company is not as commonly done compared to simply buying stocks. Finding private investment opportunities to make money is a great way to unlock additional income. There is more risk involved, but the opportunities allow you to gain above-market returns and influence the business direction. Investing in a company can be a fantastic way to build wealth. But before you do that, make sure you have a concrete process. Professional investors need playbooks to replicate their success and learn from their mistakes. If you don't already have your own process, here is Sharrans’s 4-step process for investing in a company. It's pretty simple, but it works! Enhance your investing skills by listening to related episodes below: Episode 59: The 2 Investing Models Every Serious Investor Must KnowEpisode 61: How to Pitch Your VC and Investor FriendsEpisode 62: Price & Terms – Your Unfair Negotiating Advantage“We don't look at contracts as a way to enforce something. We look at contracts as a way to memorialize our agreement.” - Sharran SrivatsaaTimestamps:00:00 Why do you need a playbook01:39 Mistakes can be costly if you don't have a playbook02:22 Sharran’s framework is an excellent guide if you're considering investing in a business03:32 Discover the origin of Sharran’s FOUR GOODS process04:36 Good people - referrals are not enough; working relationship and history are necessary to get to know people09:37 Good intentions - is this person friendly, helpful, and collaborative?12:55 The two kinds of people - the person in the middle is a very dangerous person16:46 Good rationale - the deal has to work on a simple spreadsheet; No spreadsheet, No deal!19:16 Good contract (a Memorandum of Understanding can also work) - don't proceed with the contract without good people, good intentions, and good rationaleResources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Aug 31, 2021 • 12min
How to Buy a Business with Zero Money Down
Would you rather buy an existing business than start one from scratch?. The advantages include established customers and ongoing cash flow. The downside is that most business owners want upfront payment before they hand over the keys. However, you might be able to find an owner that will work with you to buy the business with zero money down and payments spread out over time. Of course, you need to know how to negotiate or have someone represent you to close the deal. Just how exactly do you buy a business with no money down? Tune in to this episode to hear how Sharran made it happen for his client.“Treat the seller like your grandma.”“If you’re the buyer, you would never do a bad deal with your grandma, so you want to make sure that the deal is the right deal for the seller.” - Sharran SrivatsaaTimestamps:00:00 So how do you buy a business for zero money down00:34 Let’s look at A MILLION DOLLAR deal01:19 What to do if your equity partner backs out02:28 Don’t make this MISTAKE when trying to convince the owner to finance the purchase of his own company03:30 Two questions to ask the seller so you can make them agree to fund the equity05:26 How to make the seller finance the balance and not just the equity (making the entire purchase seller-financed)07:17 The benefits of a seller-financed deal and how to counteract seller remorse09:18 Here’s why you need to treat the seller like your grandma Resources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Aug 24, 2021 • 26min
The 5 Core Human Objections
Objection handling is perhaps the most critical skill every person should master, even those not engaged in sales. Objections are a natural part of a conversation. Every time we communicate with others, there’s a subtle need to get them to agree with our ideas. In the game of sales, the ability to handle the word “NO” and all its variations will determine your level of success. To help you address your prospect’s concerns and help move the deal forward, Sharran lays out the 5 core human objections and provides you with a framework to overcome each objection and get the other person to say yes. If you want to effortlessly BYPASS OBJECTIONS and DOUBLE YOUR CLOSE RATE without hard selling or high-pressure tactics, get Sharran's Objection Handling Framework for 90% off: https://www.sharranvip.com/5-step-objection-framework“If you can answer these 5 objections, most of the time, almost anything will work.” - Sharran Srivatsaa Timestamps:00:05 This question prompted Sharran to create today's episode 00:50 What are the 5 core human objections we often encounter01:22 What happens if you can answer each objection04:47 Mistakes when addressing the IT WON’T WORK FOR ME objection 08:09 The 3 Whys to address the I DON'T BELIEVE YOU objection11:40 How do you convince people that they need something right now (addressing the I DON'T NEED IT objection)18:11 Addressing the NO TIME and NO MONEY objections is easier than you think20:31 How to create good content using the 5 core objections21:36 Why do you need to get people to say YES to the different levels of objections Resources:- Get Sharran's Objection Handling Framework for 90% off- Get the Productivity Playbook- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Aug 17, 2021 • 20min
How to Fix Overwhelm
How do you cope with constantly feeling overwhelmed? In our fast-paced, always-busy society, it’s clear that feeling overwhelmed is a common struggle. But you don't have to wear it like a badge of honor or use it as an excuse. Instead, you have to do something about it before it leads to burnout and more serious problems. Here’s Sharran to the rescue with his 3-step roadmap to help you deconstruct overwhelm. You can also get your copy of the Productivity Playbook to get you on the right track. “The first step to beating overwhelm is making sure your reality is congruent with your identity.” - Sharran SrivatsaaTimestamps:00:00 Let's talk about OVERWHELM00:50 Why going 10X on your business may not be right for you01:43 Discover the first step to conquer insane overwhelm09:16 Are you just busy, or are you stressed out11:03 When you’re stressed, check your GPS13:25 Your RNT (Right Next Thing) is the last piece of the puzzle15:43 People don’t realize that they’re making this mistake Resources:- Get the Productivity Playbook- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Aug 10, 2021 • 28min
Backstage Pass into the Creation of the Real 5AM Club
https://vimeo.com/580502077/3080ac500bA lot has been said about the benefits of waking up early. Think of great resources like The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma or The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. So what's unique about Sharran's 5AM Club? Almost 7,000+ people from diverse backgrounds tune into a conference call at 5AM Pacific Time, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to kick-off their legendary days. That’s what happens inside The Real 5AM Club.Curious how this once small accountability circle exploded into a global community? What makes thousands of educators, researchers, media artists, community members, advocates, and organizations make an effort to wake up early to join this call? Tune in to this episode to hear the story of one of the most powerful things Sharran has ever built. And you can experience it yourself. Get your backstage pass now: 5amclub.net.You can also watch the video here.“Greatness is a choice.” - Sharran Srivatsaa Timestamps:00:00 What is the 5AM Club01:10 The beginning of the 5AM Club04:42 The 30-day challenge that fuelled the growth of the 5AM Club07:50 Sharran, you're failing! 09:39 What is your “ONLY statement” 11:43 Get raw, on-demand messages every day17:44 A shocking accusation!21:12 Try this 3-part process for consistently waking up at 5AM24:25 What's unique about Sharran's 5AM Club Resources:- Join the 5AM Club- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Aug 3, 2021 • 11min
Price & Terms - Your Unfair Negotiating Advantage
Are you comfortable navigating through a high-ticket contract? It can be tricky whether you're the buyer or seller. Going through the different ways people enter a deal, you have to make sure the sale will be profitable. So how do you approach deal negotiations? In this short episode, Sharran discusses how you can leverage price and terms to your advantage before signing that contract. “There's no reason to go through a deal without having a deal advisor.” - Sharran SrivatsaaTimestamps:00:00 Understanding deal terms when negotiating a contract01:20 Sharran shares his 3-part negotiation structure02:17 Discover this one crucial lesson Sharran learned as a deal negotiator03:20 Price & Terms: Know which part you can negotiate 05:19 Is it possible to buy a company with no money down06:11 Always remember this when approaching a deal07:55 Why do you need a deal advisorResources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Jul 27, 2021 • 13min
How to Pitch Your VC and Investor Friends
Raising money is essential for the success of your startup or small business. But many first-time entrepreneurs are not confident about finding investors in the early stages of their business development. A quick thought might be to approach friends and family for financial support. But combining your business life with your personal life can be tricky since you wouldn't want to hurt your relationship over money. So instead of asking your friends directly for cash, why not look at them as a resource for testing your business idea and finding investors. Ask them if they know of anyone who would like to invest in your business. If you have a solid proposition, they might consider writing you a check. To give you a headstart, Sharran put together this quick 3-step guide to putting your pitch together and increase your chances of finding someone who will trust you with their money.“Our job is to use our network for their network, not use our network for what they do.” - Sharran SrivatsaaTimestamps:00:00 How do you get your VC friends to take you seriously01:20 Know the job of an investor 02:24 Two things you have to remember when approaching an investor04:19 Money vs. advice -- which one do you need04:40 The first thing you have to do is work on yourself06:24 Polish your pitch with the advice you get 08:18 Ask for potential investors or advisors within the same industry Resources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Jul 20, 2021 • 36min
The Purpose of Marketing
Most consumers now have access to a massive amount of knowledge about a brand's products and services. And consumer buying behavior is constantly evolving. So instead of just relying on your sales or marketing team to prepare elaborate marketing strategies, there are simple things you can do to boost your sales. But first, you have to understand the purpose of marketing and remember that there's nothing wrong with selling. People like to buy things that are good for them. So you should not be ashamed to sell, especially if you're sure that your product is what people need. In today's episode, Sharran talks about a different perspective of marketing summarized in the form of four questions. Tune in to find out how answering these questions can shift your thinking and help you sell more things to more people more often for more money. “Selling is just an invitation for people to do something with you that is good for them.” - Sharran Srivatsaa Timestamps:00:00 A different perspective on how you look at marketing 02:20 Taking away the stigma from selling05:35 The less friction, the better07:25 How do I sell MORE THINGS 12:31 How do I sell to MORE PEOPLE14:43 How do I sell MORE OFTEN 17:50 You don't have to sell every day, but you should show up every day22:41 How do I sell for MORE MONEY30:54 If you don't make money, you can't sustain the messageResources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Jul 13, 2021 • 36min
The 2 Investing Models Every Serious Investor Must Know
Warren Buffett said, “If you do not find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” So how do you make money while you sleep? If you have access to cash, the easiest way to grow your money is by investing. But you must do it carefully. Otherwise, you could end up losing money and jeopardize your financial future. So to help you evaluate investment opportunities properly, Sharran shares the two investing models that you need to consider before you start investing. You can listen to the podcast or watch this video:The 2 Investing Models Every Serious Investor Must Know“I don't invest in everything; I only invest in stuff that I know and understand.” - Sharran Srivatsaa Timestamps:00:00 The two questions you should ask before making an investment 01:52 How to evaluate a financial investment opportunity using The Parking LOT Model (Liquidity, Ownership, Terms)03:27 A practical demonstration of The Parking LOT Model for BTC and real estate11:09 The #1 issue that investors must avoid12:24 How to evaluate an investment opportunity using Sharran’s proprietary 4-Quadrant Method (Capital Preservation, Equity Growth, Yield or Coupon, Tax Advantages)14:30 A practical demonstration of Sharran’s proprietary 4-Quadrant Method for BTC20:28 Understanding the Wash-Sale Rule 25:41 A practical demonstration of Sharran’s proprietary 4-Quadrant Method for real estate31:23 Recap of the two big questions you should ask before making an investment Resources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for FreeConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram

Jul 6, 2021 • 54min
How Glennda Baker Makes an Additional 6-Figures Directly Through Social Media (Without Selling Anything)
How do you make money on social media without selling anything? Is it possible to drive a ton of traffic and sales by a simple Instagram or TikTok post? Social media is about social interaction and building relationships. It's never about pitching your latest offer. But the process of building a massive social media following requires a delicate balance among the factors that drive audience behavior and the algorithm. Is there a perfect formula? Well, someone seems to have discovered the ideal way to do it. In today's episode, Sharran interviews Glennda Baker, President & CEO of Glennda Baker & Associates, Inc. Glennda brings an innovative marketing style with superior networking skills to increase traffic to her site. She believes that “thinking outside the box” and exposing your offer to the maximum amount of potential buyers is key to getting the best deal possible. She's been using social media, specifically TikTok, to be visible to as many people as possible. If you want to get tips on generating sales via social media, tune in to this exciting conversation right now.“It is so much more difficult to be fake than to be real.” - Glennda BakerTimestamps:00:00 - Glennda decides to use social media and do live videos05:50 - Why start with live video and stories, and which platforms are right for you10:45 - Sharran shares two lessons from Jason Capital to help drive organic growth14:00 - How Glennda's presence on TikTok has brought her more inquiries 15:11 - Finding the common thread in what shows up in your feeds20:32 - Building a following in a month by Jason Capital25:12 - How Glennda picks a topic and format for her videos29:56 - Discover the power of DMs39:20 - What persona do you project on social media44:01 - How does Glennda' manage her time and content creation48:07 - How do you become top of mind for people who are looking for answers49:42 - The compound effect of posting every single day and being intentional about impacting people Resources:- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for Free Connect with Glennda:- Website- Facebook- Instagram- TikTokConnect with Sharran:- Website- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram


