I’m a Business Owner, Get Me Out of Here!

I’m a Business Owner, Get Me Out of Here!

As explored in “Business is Personal; Small Business and Owners – a Love Letter” earlier this year,  Small Business can be the most wonderful and fulfilling business-life partner you’re looking for.
And sometimes it is not…

When it comes to business, we like to think we are strategic and thorough in our approach. We want to believe we know where our talents and opportunities lie, we spend years (and a fortune) on gleaning advice and (maybe) attending training and professional development, we devote all our collective energies to progressing, keeping a vigilant and jealous eye on the progress of our rivals.

Consequently, when (as a business owner) we’re ready to exit, it should be the easy bit.
We don’t expect there to be any particular complexity in this part of the plan. We’ve decided we want to relax and have fun, and envisage the only obstacles to such goals might be finding the right buyer, so that the business is sold for a song. We adopt an almost laissez-faire, she’ll-be-right-mate attitude, and readily take up suggestions of others without rigorous scrutiny, sometimes, without thinking about things too much at all really.

What becomes painfully obvious when we do get serious is that is what we’ve missed for many years. We fail to note that our business is so much more that just-a-business and not worth nearly as much as we think we deserve, because we insist on being haphazard and even slow about the planning and execution of the Exit. We stick to being guided by internet searches, hearsay, unlearned opinions and muddled instinct when we should be harnessing reason and independent advice from those who play in this space. We end up being a lot more miserable than we might be because we have not taken this part of the business lifecycle more seriously.

And we don’t because we assume that what worked for others will work for us too.

It doesn’t readily occur to us to take our unique situation, both in terms of the business itself and what it means to us and our family and our staff and our suppliers and our customers and our community overall, into account. But most of all, personally and individually.

We’re always looking for clues as to when to even acknowledge the question of Exiting the Business in the first instance, and then when to think about actioning it. Here are 7 to get started:

  1. No Longer Enjoyable: some owners may not enjoy operating the business any more.
    Whilst this might seem simplistic, it’s not. If we’re finding it’s a struggle to do what we once did with joy – why? is it the business itself? is it the people we are working with? is it what’s happening at home impacting on our workplace? Have we found something new to tickle our fancy? Are we just over it? Do we want to leave a legacy that is represented by our business, continuing well into the future, but want someone else to take the reins?
  2. Personal Debt: successful businesses can be sold to pay off owners personal debt.
    Have we found ourselves in a position where we’re staying awake at night worrying about the amount of debt we’re carrying and/or meeting the repayment regime? Is the business the one asset that could be sold that will address this, freeing us up from the burden and for our next add-venture? Is it a choice between the business or the family home?
  3. Capitalisation: to reap the dividends for many years of hard working by capitalising.
    “Capitalisation of profits implies plowing the money back into the business, or keeping it on the balance sheet for some future, yet-unidentified opportunity, or to return some or all of the profit to its shareholders, in the form of cash dividends or new shares” (investopedia.com)  Do we really want to sell, or just be able to get some hard-fought-for funds out? Is selling shares a way to do this, and to eventually move the business on over time? Is it a way to at least share the load?
  4. Ill Healththe owner may need to sell on health grounds.
    We’ve had a health check and the feedback is not what we wanted to hear. What do we do now? Do we put the business on the market tomorrow? Do we think all will be right and not worry about it? Do we start making calls to work out what options we have over what timeframes? Do we remonstrate ourselves for not having the business in a more saleable shape?
  5. Limited Potential: not seeing potential or poor performance.
    What future does our business have? Is our business ready to take on new initiatives? Is it in an industry on the decline or incline? Can it be reworked, repurposed, recycled, or refurbished? Do we know what to do to bring it into the 21st century but don’t have the energy or the care factor? Do we not know what to do, and not really sure which way to turn or who to pay attention to? Is this as good as it’s going to get for the foreseeable future, and therefore now would be the time to move it on before there’s more deterioration?
  6. New Project: owners may want to free up time to pursue a new project in mind.
    Freedom plays a big part in thinking about Exit. If we didn’t spend all our time running our business, what would we do instead? What could we do instead? What have we learnt through being a business owner that we can now apply to another path? What angle in our existing business have we discovered that excites us more? Would we actually prefer to be doing something completely different?
  7. Work/Life Balance: balancing work with life, or maybe even retirement.
    Maybe we’ve just had enough…
    We want more balance, whatever this means for us.
    We don’t want to die with our particular appetites and intense sensations tragically unexplored.
    If we use ourselves as our point of reference, what would our life without the business look like? What would we talk about?
    How would we identify ourselves? to others?
    What have we enjoyed in the past and might we recreate?
    What might we learn to say no to and contrastingly, to emphasise going forward?

What’s becoming evident to us as the Business Owners that we are, is that what’s been happening of late (or for the last number of years) cannot continue. Even if we’ve done well, we probably can’t just shut the business down without affecting and upsetting many others, and maybe we don’t really want to do this either. So what are the real options?

Selling the business is definitely one…

If any or all of these possible considerations are resonating, it’s time to work out what to do. If 2020 has taught us nothing else, it has highlighted how something can come out of nowhere and completely disrupt our world, whether we’ve been fabulous folk, excellent at business, or otherwise.
Let’s put this learning to good use…

Call me +61 3 8560 0524

To Small Business and Owners – a Love Letter

To Small Business and Owners – a Love Letter

Small Business – I admire and respect you. What a dream maker you are. How well you do for the fortunate.

Small Business Owners – How tenacious and trusting you are. You embark on this roller coaster for your own particular reasons, knowing that to not follow this dream outweighs the dream itself, hoping your business delivers way beyond expectation.

But, now what?

First up, let me note for the majority of us, there has never been a ride quite like the year that’s been, the year of 2020. So many hurdles, so many scunned knees, so many headaches, so many false starts, so many obstacles, but still we’ve managed to hang in there. These many opportunities provide a way to find meaning and gratitude, resilience and fearlessness in doing this good work, which is  also life-altering. All hail to us.

Having spoken with many a Small Business owner, trying to work out what the best way forward is and therefore the decisions to make has for the most part tough to witness and participate in. It is always a privilege to work along side you. My wish is that with my saleability and exit option expertise goggles securely fastened, I’ve done my best in supporting you towards a decision worth making. And as a result, I share a couple of observations that may prove beneficial over the year/s to come…

Personally, regardless of what life throws at me, I can’t imagine not playing in the Small Business world. To me, it offers variety beyond compare, with so many different characters to meet. As no one Business is the same, nor is the Owner, nor is one conversation a copy of another, even though when talking to me specifically about what I do, many have a similar intent.

There is no other form of enterprise that can generate so much energy, be so completely frustrating and add so much spice to life, possibly all at the same time. There is certainly nothing dull about working with Small Business. The ingenuity and sheer audacity of the Owners involved is a privilege to behold. The pride I hear in their voices when talking about their business is heartwarming and genuine. No doom and gloom to be found. If it does feature, then maybe the Owner is coming to the realisation that they may now be in the wrong game.

Taking this a step further, Small Business can be the most wonderful and fulfilling business-life partner you’re looking for. If I can offer any sort of guidance as to what to do with your small business post pandemic, it is to treat it as such. Support it, guide it, open doors for it, be the purposeful example of love-in-action you can be to enable your business to do its thing.

Many underestimate the impact our Small Business has on us personally, and overestimate how others should value it. Stories and history and media celebrate it as one of life’s ultimate goals, “the backbone of the economy”, even the solution for our pain and struggles. However the harsh reality is that Small Business is not for everyone, and nor should it be. It is in fact hard work (as all good things are), but, if you can crack the code, it is ultimately worthwhile.

Where I see it coming unstuck is when Small Business is to be an easy cure all. Fundamental values such as respect, humility, financial realism, and commitment towards it are ignored, as are the people to care about within its contours. Small Business is after all, a human-to-human contact sport. One that an Owner wants to be prepared to play over a long period, including being OK with doing all the hard stuff that comes along with such an add-venture.

Of course, the problem with alleged guru’s of Small Business is that their rhetoric can cause unrealistic expectations to be developed about what it actually is, and what it can do and/or should do for each of us individually, possibly sabotaging the very thing we wanted to hold so dear in the first place.

Make no mistake, Small Business is an emotional process; it is personal.
To truly make it work over the long-haul, it has to be. 

The truth is, if it is to go wrong, it did so before it even began or when early warning signs were not detected or paid attention to. Often the business that does kick on is a non-identical twin to the one you kicked off with, and you have to be OK with this. The market always provides clues once you start and ongoing. To ignore them is at your peril so you have to be sure to follow them…

You have to use not only your heart, but also your head. Yes, you want to build the business that makes your heart and ego flutter. But you also need to consistently evaluate the path you’re being led down, the values of those you’re dealing with, and how they treat themselves and us, making the necessary adjustments on route. You and your Small Business deserves this.

My one big lesson for you to take away is this: while ‘love’ may make you feel better about your Small Business, it doesn’t actually solve any of its problems unless you both do the work. Think of it as a loving relationship, and we all know how scary but how worthwhile it can be.

Yes, the roller coaster of emotions can be intoxicating, each high feeling even more important and more valid than the one before, but unless there’s a stable and practical foundation beneath your feet, that rising tide of emotion that got you here will eventually come and wash it all away.

One of the defining characteristics of loving Small Business is that we are able to think outside of ourselves and our own needs to help care for another person or group, and their needs as well. Or at least, this is what we should be aiming for. If it’s just about making money, this will eventually fizzle out.

One question that doesn’t get asked nearly often enough is: exactly what are we sacrificing, and is it worth it?

In loving relationships, it’s normal for both parties to occasionally sacrifice their own desires, their own needs, and their own time for one another. This is healthy and a big part of what makes a relationship so great.

But when it comes to sacrificing one’s own self-respect, one’s dignity, one’s physical body, one’s ambitions and life purpose for your Small Business, and it is not reciprocated, then that can sometimes become problematic. Your Small Business is supposed to supplement your individual identity, not damage it or replace it. If you find yourself in situations where you’re tolerating disrespectful or abusive behaviour, then that’s essentially what you’re doing: you’re allowing this beast of your own creation to consume you and negate you, and if you’re not careful, it will leave you as a shell of the person you once was. Not ideal in anyone’s language.

So let’s ask the question another way: would you tolerate the impact your Small Business is having on you in your best friend?

Amazingly, when you answer this question honestly, in most unhealthy and codependent relationships, the answer is ’no.’
Why therefore do we tolerate behaviour that we would never ever tolerate in our friendships?

Sometimes, the most loving action you can take for yourself and your Small Business is to not continue. Tough call to make no doubt, but it does not go against the fact that it might actually be the right decision.

Because what you want to do with your Small Business, and what is actually likely, can be miles apart. Genuinely understanding, and subsequently loving and treating your Small Business with all it deserves must be the first and foremost move into this new year, given a possible new phase of operating may be thrust upon you.

You can ‘fall in love’ with a wide variety of business ideas and models throughout the course of your life (goodness knows I have!). You can fall in love with people who are good for us and people who are bad for us. We can fall in love in healthy ways and unhealthy ways.
Love is not unique.
Love is not special.
Love is not scarce.

But your self-respect is. So is your dignity. So is your ability to trust.

There can be many “loves” throughout your life, but once you lose your self-respect, your dignity or your ability to trust, they may be very hard to get back. Proving a point with your Small Business is not worth this.

Small Business is a wonderful experience. I believe it’s one of the greatest experiences life has to offer. And it is definitely something to aspire to and enjoy. But like any other experience, it can be healthy or unhealthy. Like any other experiences, it cannot be used to define us, our identities or our life purpose. You cannot let it consume you. You cannot sacrifice your identities and self-worth to it. Because the moment you do that, you lose love of it and potentially lose yourself.

Because you need more in life than just your Small Business.
It is great.
It is necessary.
It is beautiful.
Love it by all means.
But Small Business in and of itself is not enough.

Small Businesses don’t usually give up on us, we give up on them.
Small Business will look after you if you do likewise.
However if it’s no longer for you, make the call…

7 Reasons to Consider Buying a Business in the C-19 Market

7 Reasons to Consider Buying a Business in the C-19 Market

Now that we’ve had a chance to catch a momentary breath, thought it worth sharing with you what we learnt from the GFC as a gauge to how this current situation may play out:

  1. Beat the Rush! Unfortunately, there will be business failure fallout due to what’s happening but not just yet. Quality business to buy is available now and will be for the continued foreseeable future, or at least until the distressed ones start hitting and clouding the market. Being in front of the Buying pack will work in your favour.
  2. Buyers continue to look to buy businesses, with our inquiries over the last week the highest they’ve been in some time.
  3. Buyers do so because it is a good time to seek out opportunistic acquisitions of quality, or looking out for perceived bargains, or even for Income Replacement due to job loss.
  4. Granted, it may take a little longer to transact, and all your risk-averse advisors will say the time is not right, but the longer time a business is in the market, it will give continued exposure, meaning more Buyers can come forward.
  5. The market will take time to settle.  You as the Buyer therefore may need the Owner to be around longer than first intended.  This can be good as it will give some certainty of mutual support in sharing the risk, as well as the possible option of a reduced agreed payment upfront as well.
  6. A good business it will stand out.  A good business will always find a Buyer.
  7. All of that said — nobody knows how far away waiting for a “better time” will be

If now is the time to act for you, please subscribe on our Watchlist and be notified each and every time all businesses come on the market through our network.

Rare Birds Deep-Dive Mentoring in Revisiting Business Fundamentals in C-19

Rare Birds Deep-Dive Mentoring in Revisiting Business Fundamentals in C-19

What a pleasure it was to be able to take a momentary breath and give some strategic thought to practical business fundamentals required now. Thank you TeamInspiring Rare Birds. Onwards and Outwards…

In the spirit of knowledge sharing during this challenging time for business, we want to note some key takeaways from today’s deep dive mentoring session with Business Value Analyst, Exit Facilitator and Broker of Sales Denise Hall.

👉Assess avenues for collaboration. Which companies can you partner with to deliver value to your customers and amplify your reach and impact?

👉Understand your greatest asset. Where is the $$$ coming from and how can you maximise that product or service?

👉Reflect on your value proposition. What do your clients pay for and how has this now changed? How can you pivot within your scope of value to adjust to their current needs?

At times like these it’s more important than ever to have someone with a high level of business experience and expertise in your corner. That is exactly what our Rare Birds Mentors are here for and they are waiting to make a difference for you: https://lnkd.in/gwwskjx

How to Sell Your Online Business…

How to Sell Your Online Business…

Online Businesses are booming. It makes sense then that we are seeing an increase in the number of online businesses for sale, some well-established and some start-ups. A relatively new area, how does the sales process differ from a bricks-and-mortar business?

The fundamentals still apply; it’s only the business model that is different.

Read this now in the latest Coast to Coast Magazine – Australian Businesses for Sale.

Coast to Coast Magazine article 2019

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