Gender Advantage Strategy

Sarah Moore shares her experience of turning perceived disadvantages into strategic advantages while searching for a business to acquire. Despite common beliefs about gender being a disadvantage in business acquisitions, she deliberately leveraged her uniqueness to stand out in a male-dominated industry.

Key Points:

• Gender as an Advantage:

  • Being a woman in a male-dominated broker community became a distinguishing factor
  • Used physical presence strategically (6'2" in heels, bright clothing) to be memorable
  • Brokers would remember her as "that extremely tall chick looking for a business"

• Unconventional Marketing Approaches:

  • Wore a sweatshirt saying "I want to buy your business" with contact info
  • Rode blue bikes around Boston wearing the sweatshirt
  • Used mass faxing campaigns with her picture
  • People still recognize her years later from these marketing efforts

• Freedom and Personal Agency:

  • "This country was founded on freedom, not equality"
  • Believes in using everything at your disposal (gender, age, background) to succeed
  • Views limitations as opportunities for differentiation

• Core Philosophy:

  • "Anyone who wants to buy and operate a small business can do so"
  • "It's not a matter of can or can't, it's a matter of will or won't"
  • Success comes from effort and persistence, not necessarily credentials

• Breaking Traditional Barriers:

  • Challenged conventional wisdom about needing extensive experience
  • Demonstrated that street smarts can be more valuable than formal education
  • Proved that being "shameless" in pursuit of goals can be effective

• Key Message:

  • Freedom isn't free - it costs time and effort
  • Use what makes you unique to your advantage
  • Don't let perceived disadvantages hold you back