Spot It.
You are the key relationship, the main decision maker and the source of most critical knowledge. If you stepped away, the business would struggle. That limits your freedom today, and it limits what the business could be worth to someone else tomorrow.
Sight It.
Businesses built around the owner rarely develop the systems and leaders they need to stand on their own. Customers expect to deal with the owner. Processes live in the owner's head. And buyers and successors see that dependence as a serious risk, which affects both their interest and the price they are willing to pay. We see this in many healthy, profitable companies. It is fixable, but it takes time.
Solve It.
Make the business less dependent on you:
- List the areas where you are essential today.
- Develop leaders who can take on those areas.
- Document the key processes.
- Introduce customers to other members of your team.
- Test it by stepping away for gradually longer periods.
A business that runs without you is worth more and is easier to enjoy.
Fixed it yourself? Great. Want help making it stick? Talk to a Troubleshooter.