Becoming a Business Empty Nester: Preparing for Life After Ownership
Episode Description: Business owners face a critical question: What happens if you’re suddenly not there? In this episode of The Business Transition Roadmap, Elizabeth Ledoux guides listeners through becoming a “business empty nester” – preparing your business and successors to thrive without you. Learn why successful business transitions require planning, how to prepare successors for […]
Start with Curiosity: A New Framework for Family Business Succession Planning
How to navigate business transitions and family business succession without damaging the relationships that matter most.
Last year, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Max Ziegenhagen, a psychologist who has spent years studying human connection. He shared a simple yet powerful model that completely shifted how I think about communication—especially in business succession planning. I call it the Three C’s of Communication, and it’s become a game-changer for the families I work with.
Legacy and Harmony in Business Transition
Episode Description: Legacy and harmony don’t have to be competing forces in your business transition. In this solo episode, Elizabeth Ledoux challenges the limiting belief that business owners must choose between leaving a strong legacy and maintaining harmonious relationships. She defines legacy as what you leave behind—your business, impact, and wealth—while harmony focuses on how […]
Imagination: The First Step in Successful Business Succession Planning
In the world of family business succession planning, we often focus on the tactical elements—legal structures, financial considerations, and timelines. But after decades of guiding business owners through business transition planning, I’ve discovered that the most successful journeys begin with something far more fundamental: imagination.
Empty Office, Full Future: How to Transition Without Chaos
Have you ever closed your eyes and imagined walking out of your business today—never to return? What emotions bubble up? Relief? Panic? A mix of both?
This isn’t just a thought experiment. It’s a visualization that reveals your readiness for perhaps the most significant transition of your entrepreneurial journey. After decades of helping business owners through succession planning, I’ve found this mental exercise cuts straight to the heart of transition readiness.
The Timeline That Transforms: How Structure Creates Succession Confidence
Owners wonder, “How do I let go of what I’ve built?”
Successors ask, “When will I finally get to lead?”
This tension isn’t just about assets—it’s about two different realities colliding.
And until you create a timeline, both sides are stuck waiting.
Recently, during our Transition Timeline workshop, one owner put it best: “My job isn’t to lead anymore. It’s to mentor and teach them how to do it without me. It’s to help them design it for them, not me.”
Family Business Succession Planning: How to Start the Conversation Without Damaging Relationships
“I thought having all the plans in place before telling my kids was the responsible thing to do,” a business owner recently shared with me. “But when I announced my succession decision, you could feel the temperature in the room drop 20 degrees. Now my daughter won’t return my calls, and my son is talking […]
Time: Your Most Powerful Transition Tool
“I know I need to plan my transition, but there’s always something more urgent to handle.”
I hear this from business owners almost daily. You’re managing daily operations, dealing with employees, keeping customers happy, and trying to grow your business. The thought of planning your eventual transition feels overwhelming – especially when you’re not even sure where to start.
But here’s what I’ve learned: time is your most powerful ally in creating a successful transition.
Put People First in Family Business Transitions
One of our favorite books by Patrick Lencioni is “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” (If you haven’t read it, we highly recommend it.) He’s also the author of an article in the Harvard Business Review about corporate values. In this article, Lencioni asks readers if four values — communication, respect, integrity and excellence —resemble […]
