IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities. Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies & family owned businesses. The following blog article has been provided by Seth Rudin. Mr. Rudin is a senior business broker at IBA (www.ibainc.com):
Coaching Competitive Baseball and Being a Business Broker: More Alike Than You Think
When you think of coaching a competitive baseball team and working as a business broker, they might seem like entirely different worlds—one steeped in athletics and teamwork, the other rooted in finance, salesmanship and negotiation. But in truth, both roles require a deep understanding of strategy, timing, communication, and the ability to lead people toward high-stakes outcomes. The parallels are stronger than most would imagine, and the skills needed to succeed in both arenas are remarkably transferable.
For a profession, I am a licensed M&A Senior Business Broker at IBA. I am happy to lead the owners of privately-held and family-owned business through the sale of their most treasured asset – their business. I work with owners of businesses across a variety of industries and sizes. Along the way, I collaborate with professional trade partners such as attorneys, bankers, CPA’s, commercial real estate brokers, landlords, inspectors, and other related parties.
And as a hobby, I coach competitive baseball. Over my lifetime, I have coached youth baseball and basketball for more than 13 seasons. I am the coach for one of the two 14u baseball teams as part of the Field of Champions/Bears Baseball program.
At the core of both coaching and business brokerage is strategic decision-making. A baseball coach must develop game plans, adjust lineups, and make in-game decisions based on changing dynamics. Similarly, a business broker must analyze market conditions, assess business valuations, deal with a variety of prospective business buyers and craft exit strategies that suit each client’s unique goals. In both roles, success depends on reading the field—whether it’s a baseball diamond or a business transaction landscape—and adjusting the game plan in real time.
Another key similarity lies in the art of team building. Coaches invest time in identifying player strengths, fostering cohesion, and building a roster that can compete and win. Business brokers do the same with transaction teams, assembling accountants, attorneys, appraisers, and financing partners to form a deal-making roster to close the transaction between a seller and buyer. The chemistry among team members, their trust in one another, and a shared commitment to the goal are essential ingredients in both successful seasons and successful closings.
Communication and leadership are vital in both settings. Coaches must inspire players, navigate conflicts, and clearly convey expectations under pressure. Business brokers, likewise, serve as the primary communicators between buyers and sellers—often smoothing out misunderstandings, managing egos, and keeping deals alive. In some cases, acting as a counselor during the stressful process of selling a business. In both worlds, you need to know when to motivate, when to mediate, and when to stay quiet and let others lead.
Just like in baseball, timing in business brokerage is everything. Coaches learn to recognize when to pull a pitcher, send a base runner, or call a hit-and-run. Business brokers must know when to go to market, when to negotiate, and when to walk away from a deal. The stakes are high in both fields, and one ill-timed decision can change the outcome dramatically.
Both roles also demand resilience and emotional control. Coaches face losing streaks, tough calls, and disappointed parents or players. Business brokers deal with failed deals, demanding clients, and long hours of negotiation. In both jobs, the pressure is real, and the ability to stay calm, focused, and professional under stress is what separates good from great.
Ultimately, coaching competitive baseball and brokering businesses both center-around developing people and navigating transitions—whether it’s helping a young athlete grow into a team leader or guiding a business owner through the emotional process of selling their company. Both paths require trust, patience, and the ability to see the bigger picture. And in the end, both can be incredibly rewarding for those who thrive on challenge and thrive even more on helping others succeed.
If you have questions relating to the content of this article or the process associated with selling a business in Washington or Oregon, Seth Rudin would welcome the opportunity to talk with you. Mr. Rudin is licensed to sell businesses & real estate in both Washington and Oregon. Mr. Rudin can be reached at (425) 454-3052 or seth@ibainc.com.
IBA, the Pacific Northwest’s premier business brokerage firm since 1975, is available as an information resource to the media, business brokerage, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, accounting, legal, and financial planning communities on subjects relevant to the purchase & sale of privately held companies and family-owned businesses. IBA is recognized as one of the best business brokerage firms in the nation based on its long track record of successfully negotiating “win-win” business sale transactions in environments of full disclosure employing “best practices”.