Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Key Takeaways Crisis is where the real deals are: When a market enters crisis, the assets do not become worthless — the fundamental value remains. Real asset deals in distressed markets aren’t won by the highest bidder. They’re won by the person who spends time on the ground, builds relationships, earns trust and commits to staying. The best business decisions often look like the worst ones in the moment. If you’re willing to look past the headlines, you can find great opportunities in the places everyone else is avoiding. In 2014, when I first landed in Puerto Rico to explore business opportunities, the island felt like a place the world had given up on. The government was drowning in what would become a $72 billion debt default. Unemployment was above 13%. Entire neighborhoods had boarded-up storefronts and aging infrastructure. People were leaving — between 2010 and 2020, Puerto Rico lost nearly 12% of its population.…