Life After The Big Hurrah

1. First day of kindergarten

2. First day of elementary school and riding a school bus

3. first day of middle school

4. First date, first kiss, first  . . .

5. First day of high school

6. Driver’s ed

7. Getting driver’s license

8. First car

9. Graduating high school

10. First job

11. Going to college

12. Graduating college

13. First legal drink at a bar

14. Getting married

15. First big vacation

16. First kidAnd then the Big Hurrah’s start to fade and one no longer is rushing to get older. The biggest Big Hurrah’s are typically milestone birthday’s: 30, 40, 50, and milestone anniversaries. In business, a Big Hurrah is selling your company. For most business founders, this happens once in a lifetime if at all. As the owner (or co-owner/boyfriend), everyday you have the right to make the final decision and do what you think is the right thing to do. And then one day something happens and you decide to sell. The Big Hurrah comes at signing the paperwork, the media attention and frantic phone calls to business associates. Like most Big Hurrah’s, this one too is filled with post mortem depression. While retained with a contract, you no longer have the final say. You no longer have the corner office. You no longer are independent. So what does one due to cure this depression? Good question. For many ex-owners, there is no depression, just elation and in most instances, they don’t stay on for more than 90 days. But for those that have signed a long term contract, my thinking is that they still want the glory days of being independent and relevant but struggle with being a “second-class” business citizen. I will say they have more time to read blogs, send email, read the Journal, look out the beach house window and think about “what’s next?” And perhaps this is the greatest paradox for business owners. Unless we are ripe in age, we always want to know “what’s next.” For many, they start up another company. Some retire and figure out a way to enjoy life on the golf course or by volunteering. But for a few, especially those on a long-term contract, financial freedom, the ability to visit St. Barth’s anytime or shopping all day long at farmer markets doesn’t do it. The moral of the story is that no matter where we are in our life, we are always looking for one more Big Hurrah. And that’s not a bad thing. Happy Monday!