Truth Hits Everybody

Been dark on the interwebs. The last post. A diagnosis.

Unfinished. More than a tattoo on my back, a mantra. God’s not done with me yet.

Once the diagnosis set in, it became a battle cry. Could I keep adding value for others? Yes. Could I do it differently? Yes. Could I do what I do with my values front and center? Yes.

If I was going to add value, I had to do it differently, hold myself to a new standard, and redefine ROI. I hired a business coach—it was the best decision I ever made.

I embraced some EMDR—it was life-changing. I put my faith first.

What did I love about building to exit? The founder-led CEO. Why? Their spirit. The way they are wired. I’ve been in and around them most of my life (you know who you are). Could I add the same value as I did for PE and VC-backed firms? Is the discipline the same?

The answer. Yes. It’s a flex.

Prototyped. The intersection of brand and business. Partnered with experts. Took a scalpel knife to the strategy. Brand to exit.

Found the flex. Why it matters: With founder-led CEOs, it is personal. Culture is almost always at the center. They are values-focused. Mission-driven. The company reflects them.

The greatest challenge? The jump from $2M to $5M. The first chasm. Founder-led CEOs stop seeing their value and focus on the company's value. Those are two different things. The jump from $5M to $10M. The second chasm. The toll it takes to get there.

There’s a sweet spot. The in-between. That’s where I want to thrive—no equity positions. I’ve sprinkled enough fairy dust.

Creating real value, getting a founder a check—or multiple checks—and seeing the smile on the founder’s face—that’s worth more than I could ever put into words. Build to exit.

Three clients at a time. The Holy Trinity. For as long as the good Lord lets me.