Dealing With The Exit

I just read an article in this month's INC. Magazine that talked about the psychological affects in life after your business.

Although many business owners have a clear exit strategy from the get-go, it's hard to know how one will feel when that day finally comes. For many, their business is their main "purpose" in life. Once that purpose is gone, then what? Purpose is a very powerful thing to feel. In an example story in INC., a young business owner who was good looking with a picture-perfect family sold his business (at the young age of 38) and walked away with $100 million. A month later, he hung himself. To outsiders, this guy had it all, yet without a sense of purpose, he couldn't take it anymore.

As another example from the magazine, a guy sold his business and was financially secure for life, yet a week later, he realized just how lonely he was. His children were at school. His friends were at work. His wife was involved with something during the day. He was used to having people depend on him. He used to be the center of attention and it was up to him to make huge decisions that impacted the company. Now, even with a boat-load of money, those inner gratifications were gone.

So, I've been thinking about my own situation. I didn't start this business for a quick buy-out. I truly am passionate about what we do here and I can't imagine what I would do if I didn't have this. There is so much fulfillment in always having goals to reach. Yeah, there's stress too, but that keeps us in check. Thinking back to the INC. article, I'm in that "I Have Purpose" mode right now and although millions of dollars sounds appetizing, I think I would go insane giving up daily business operations and my "purpose" in exchange for days filled with driving the Porsche back and forth to the golf course.