The Art of Jumping
Out of a Business
Free the Founder. Free the Business.
Working side-by-side with Founders of eight-figure businesses - freeing them from being trapped as a business runner.
Let your business grow without you stuck in it.
Maintain your legacy. Keep reaping the rewards.
Unlocking double-digit growth potential,
De-risking succession planning,
Releasing the Founder to pursue their next chapter, without “exiting” or selling the business.
Helping Founders find fulfillment.
Many Founders only get to enjoy the fruits of their labor when it’s too late. Many end up trapped by their own success. Founders who are still the glue for their businesses. The rainmakers, the business-backbones, the “father-figures”.
It’s heartbreaking to see anxious, neurotic and unhappy Founders. The more successful their businesses become, the less success they get to celebrate. They are in the Founder-trap.
This is inevitable when ‘business builders’ end up being ‘business runners'. And, the trap can be equally frustrating for the management team. Founders have their eyes on new opportunities and their heart on creating and innovating. Managers need best practice “runner” leadership to see the business (and themselves) reach its ultimate potential.
But letting go of your baby is hard, especially when your wealth, legacy and commitment is at stake.
Thankfully there is a solution that doesn’t require the disruptive and value-risking sale of the business. Solving this dilemma requires both a “what” and a “how”:
Setting up a high-performing management team with clear strategy and goals. Tailoring structure and operating best practices to suit your unique business and operating model.
Working side-by-side with the Founder to “be their conscience”, help them let go, and find somewhere to land!
I work with Founders and their management teams to re-engineer their business - allowing it to flourish without the Founder’s operational involvement.
Faster Growth
Management teams have limited experience and exposure to how other companies do things. I work side-by-side with the leadership team to objectively assess the business, drive structured change and make the tough calls. This typically unlocks huge growth potential and rewards.
Lower Risk
Founders pulling all the strings creates risks - key-man-dependency risk, talent-risk and business-value risk. Not to mention the health and personal risks on the Founder. A smoother, independently running business makes succession planning easier and increases the value of the entity.
Greater Freedom
‘Doing-it-yourself’ and relying on a Founder to step out on their own is a big gamble. I work as a part-time business-partner through the process - for both guidance and accountability. This drives the right changes and ensures the Founder gets the freedom they are looking for.
Making a change - and making it stick - takes time and effort.
With the right partner, you’ll reach greater success much faster - for both your business and yourself.
The Solution
The Book
Insights and real-life stories straight from the Founder-trenches.
Inside you will find:
some of the key symptoms of the Founder trap,
the core elements that typically need transforming to release a Founder
thought-provoking personal success factors that a Founder needs to embrace to really make change happen
Feel free to schedule a chat with me to discuss your business and swap notes - I’ll send you a free electronic version of the book.
Or visit your local Amazon or Barnes & Noble online store.
Keen to swap notes?
Let’s chat.
Because of the deep nature of my engagements, I only work with a (literal) handful of clients every year. But, I love hearing Founder stories, learning about their business, and sharing ideas. Feel free to reach out and we can set up a call to connect.