One of the central tenets of Evergreen businesses is that they stay private. But that doesn’t mean there will never be an exit in the form of a change in leadership. For his book “Finish Big,” author Bo Burlingham spent years talking to entrepreneurs about the best way to exit — whether through a sale or by passing the company on to the next owners. His advice: Start preparing for an exit years in advance.

Burlingham explains that in order to leave happy, you need to view your exit as another natural phase of the business, not a sudden event. By knowing yourself and your purpose and doing right by the people who have shared your journey, you can create a happy, satisfying life for yourself after your exit.