Even Evergreen CEOs Need To Think About Exits

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.