If you own a private or family business, you’ve probably thought about the future of your company more than once. You may have wondered who will lead it after you, how the transition will unfold, and what your own life will look like on the other side. These are big questions, and they deserve more than a passing thought on a Sunday evening. For 30 years, we’ve walked hundreds of business owners through the journey of transitioning ownership from one generation to the next. Our Transition Roadmap Developer Process™️ has
Transition is a journey, not an event. I say that often because I mean it. When it becomes an event, it tends to catch everyone off guard, even when a plan technically exists. And what I see most often is that the plan was built around the business and the wealth, with very little thought given to the people who are supposed to carry it forward. I’ve seen plenty of transitions that looked complete on paper. The ownership structure was figured out. Someone had thought through the what-ifs. And yet
We get asked a lot about what it means to be responsible. Gosh, what a big word. Especially when you’re leading a business or guiding a family through a transition. For most of the owners I work with, the word “responsible” sits right next to a quiet fear. They’ve built something meaningful. They provide for their people and protect what they’ve created. And somewhere along the way, they make a decision (sometimes out loud, more often just in the back of their head or their heart) that they’ve done their
When John Arnolfo called me a couple of years ago, he had just sold the Silver Grill Cafe in Old Town Fort Collins, a restaurant he’d stewarded for more than four decades. The Silver Grill, which has been open since 1933, is one of those places that becomes part of a town’s identity. Famous for its cinnamon rolls, its warmth, and its history, it had grown from one small building to five buildings and over 200 seats under John’s watch. He thought he was ready. He’d even started planning for
I get this question a lot. Sometimes it comes from a business owner who’s heard the term but isn’t quite sure what it means in practice. Sometimes it comes from someone who already has an attorney, a CPA, and a financial advisor lined up — and they’re genuinely wondering what on earth they’d need another professional for. Both are fair questions. And the answer is this: a business transition consultant isn’t meant to replace any of those people. We work alongside them. What we focus on is something that often
If you’ve been thinking about transitioning your business but keep putting it off, you’re not alone. Most owners don’t avoid transition because it’s complicated. They avoid it because it feels final. Heavy. Like the beginning of an ending they’re not ready for. And once that feeling sets in, next year has a way of becoming five years down the road. That’s something I’ve seen over 30 years of working with business owners and their families. It’s also why I sat down to record this solo episode: to offer a different
Most transitions fail for one reason. It’s not because the legal documents were wrong, but because the relationships were not done and looked after properly. I’ve been doing this work for over 30 years, and I’ve watched brilliant technical advisors create perfect estate structures, flawless tax strategies, and airtight legal documents—only to see those transitions completely fall apart. The attorneys did their job. The CPAs did their job. The merger and acquisition folks executed the transaction beautifully. And the family still ended up fractured. https://youtu.be/Qh1YZLFNiuo Here’s what I’ve learned: technical
A lot of business owners find themselves lying awake at night, turning over the same question: what happens next for the business, and for the family. It’s more common than most will ever say out loud. At some point, the idea of bringing in a consultant crosses their mind. And then comes the doubt: is that actually necessary, or is it overkill? This is our honest answer. More Than a Plan Most people picture a consultant as someone who hands you a binder full of recommendations and calls it
Most business owners believe that succession planning is succession planning. A good attorney, a solid estate plan, the right financial structure, and you’re covered. Yet when you look closer at how transitions actually play out, something important emerges: the way you approach the process shapes everything. It shapes whether your transition brings clarity or confusion. Unity or frustration. Momentum or resistance. And most owners don’t realize which methodology they’re using until it’s too late to change course. https://youtu.be/ojRkfIGf4Kg That’s why I want to walk you through three transition models, ones
