If I Sold the Business Tomorrow…

What would happen if I sold the business tomorrow? Not the valuation. Not the multiple. Not the wire transfer. What would I regret? In this episode, I take a hard look at ownership beyond the balance sheet. After decades in a second-generation aerospace machine shop — through downturns, reinvention, leadership transitions, and strategic pivots — I ask the question most owners avoid: Did I build something that can stand without me? I break down what I'd be proud of, what I should've done sooner, the conversations I delayed, and the identity shift that comes when you realize you are not the company — you're just its current steward. If you're a shop owner, executive, or next-generation leader, this one isn't about tactics. It's about legacy. Because one day, whether by choice or by force, you won't be in the chair anymore. The real question is — what's left when you're gone?