Spring Break was COLD and HOT. We went from 12 degrees in KC to 107 degrees in Phoenix. It was also an adventure. All the flights that morning from Denver to Phoenix were canceled due to a storm. Guess where our connection was through? Denver. We ended up driving to Omaha (adventure!) and going direct. Good way to start out a trip and it was actually fun to kidnap my youngest in the car for 3 hours with only me to talk to.
Here’s my new perspective. Intentionally passing it on – allowing it to happen and then walking beside those who are stepping up and out.
We’ve launched one kid and have another headed out the door. The baby is left. He’ll be a high school freshman and so we are four years away from the empty nest. Life is slower with this one and since he’s the last I’ve been thinking about our next four years together.
On this trip he reminded me of all the things I no longer do for or with him. And I’m old enough now that all the kids have started doing things only we could do – and they do it better.
For example: Who takes the pictures now in your family? My kids take all of ours. They have the eye for the shot, understand the latest filters, angles, and vertical vs horizontal rules. We were hiking and a couple asked if one of us could take a picture – and then handed the phone to my son. They knew!! When I was a kid – that was a dad job only – technical, expensive hardware that had a cost to every picture – dad stuff.
Kids are such a great example of life’s evolution and a forceful one as we are NOT in control of their growth and exit. Yes we help them all along the way but they must decide their steps. We can’t go to school with them. We’re forced to pour all we can into their heads, hearts, and souls – and then let go, allowing them to create a new derivative of the life they lived with you.
In your business you ARE in control. You can hold on forever (in theory). You’re at the top and we can stay there. You don’t HAVE to do anything unless you want to – that’s why you started this thing in the first place, right?
When you wake up one day tired and ready to do something else, wanting the heavy burden off your shoulders, unhooking the financial guarantees - you’ll have wanted to plan that. If you show up and want it done tomorrow – all our exit planning friends will be angry with you. And your business will be worth less.
Time flies. The older I get the faster it goes. That’s universal. Your executive team, next gen, and financials all need time to be in the right spot to move to the next season.
If you need accountability to walk down this path, join a community of those who have done it, are doing it, and preparing to do it. Come and see. Don’t wait for the harvest!