Inside the episode
Why can't you switch off?
You started a business to be free. So why does it feel like you can never switch off? Christine Nicholson hears this from business owners all the time.
She left school at 16 with no qualifications, joined the military and trained as an accountant. Early on, she helped one family sell 40 businesses. Now she is a four-time Business Mentor of the Year.
There isn't one exit, there are three
Most people think an exit means selling. Christine sees three. First you step out of the day-to-day job. Then you stop being the only person who makes the big decisions. Only then do you sell.
Each exit makes the next one easier. And even if you never sell, the first two give you back your time and your head space.
Control, ego and your team
Founders often hold on tight because the business feels like their baby. But when every decision comes back to you, your team never grows, and neither does the business.
Christine puts it plainly. The more your business relies on you, the less it is worth. Handing over is not losing control, it is building value.
Three things to do right now
Give away one task a day. Find out what your business is really worth instead of guessing. Then look at it through a buyer's eyes, because that is the fastest way to spot the risks.
Small steps, done often, add up to a business that can run without you. That is real freedom.
