Step 2 - Laying The Foundations

12 Months Before “Deal Day”

Three months later and I’m still no further. The idea of selling up and leaving the business all behind has shown no signs of abating. If anything, I’m more obsessed than ever…

It’s the long list of seemingly unanswerable questions that is beyond frustrating.

For example, I love Eyeful. It's more than a livelihood; it's a part of my identity. But would anyone else feel the same affection towards it? I can easily make a case for it being the best company in our sector, if not the world (!), but will someone care about it as much? Be as proud? The answer’s probably no.

And then there’s the worry that I’m just too intertwined with it. I am, like it or not, the face of the company. The IP came from me. The book was written by me. All the bloody blogs are written by me. What will happen if I step away? Will it falter, or am I now the limiting factor?

Maybe I’ve become a bottleneck? I’m definitely less up for taking risks - is that preventing the business from taking that next big step forward?

And, of course, I worry about the financial side. What is the monetary value of my life's work? How do I quantify the years of sweat, tears, and triumphs? Lisa and I keep meaning to have a serious conversation about our financial needs and goals. What about the kids' future? The mortgage? Am I pulling the plug at the right time? And quite how the hell do I plan for something I know nothing about?

The team thing is also a head-scratcher. The option of just letting Luke and Lloyd do their thing is appealing. Everyone I’ve spoken to says I should just learn to step back and formally put them in charge. I can reward them for their loyalty and hard work through equity, profit shares, or options – Jeff could sort that out for us.

But the bigger question remains – can I really let go?

And then there’s the extended family of consultants and freelancers. They've been with us - with me - through every challenge. I worry that they’d be the first casualties if we sold the business to a competitor. I guess I could give them a few quid as a parting gift, but that would make the betrayal even more galling. It’s a bloody mess…

There is one final question that I’m really struggling with: why am I doing this? And how will people perceive this move? Is this an early retirement, and if so, is 54 too premature an age for such a step? Dad’s ultimately unfulfilled retirement and early death is a reminder that I can’t assume that I’ve got loads of time left. And I don’t want to be like him, a man defined by his work. Without it, he was lost - I'm determined not to follow that path. Despite that, the worry is still there – am I being hasty?

What I’ve come to realise is that this choice affects not only me but everyone connected to the business. It’s about stepping into an unknown future, just like when I started Eyeful. I’ve come full circle.