It was an exciting process, and the exit was made much easier for me by the knowledge that the company is in a strong position of growth thanks to the brilliant management team and the support of the acquiring company.
It all went through just before Christmas, which gave me the perfect opportunity to end the year with a proper break, and a period of reflection on what comes next.
It can be emotionally hard saying goodbye to something you’ve spend a long time building. It helps that I have a clear focus post-exit – I have a second company, Polpeo, that I co-founded back in 2013, which is also entering a period of growth and expansion, and I’m looking forward to being more involved.
But I also knew I shouldn’t rush straight into what is effectively a new job. Once the sale was completed, I needed some time first to celebrate, then to pause and reset.
Going through an exit is obviously amazing and exhilarating, but it can also be really tiring. I knew I had to avoid burnout and I’ve learned over the years to recognise the early signs of exhaustion, taking time off to recuperate so I can come back from a break focused and alert.
So I took a holiday in January. I closed down any distractions (including a bit of time away from my phone – not something that comes naturally to me!) which let me recharge, so I can start the new year and new role with renewed energy.
Here’s what helped me post-sale:
- Take a proper break. If you can, come off your tech for a while. Don’t check emails or social media, and close down your WhatsApp groups. For me, that can mean locking my phone in a safe to stop me checking it! Things like constant pings from WhatsApp groups can put your body into a constant state of alert, which isn’t good for you. I archived all my WhatsApp groups while I was away and switched off notifications from social media and emails.
- Have a plan for the year ahead. It’s really helpful to write down your goals and what you want to achieve, both personally and professionally. Then think about what serves those goals (including things like the groups you’re involved with). You need to shift out of one mindset into another.
- Have a group of people around you who hold you accountable to those goals. They’ll help you revisit your achievements and keep on track.
- Establish new working patterns and habits. I want to change how I work so it feels different – selling is a major change, and it feels strange if your day-to-day life is exactly the same. For me, that change means going into the office more regularly, meeting my team as often as possible, establishing new routines and a new schedule. A new year is a great time to start all this – there’s a real feeling of letting go of the old and embracing the new.
I’m now back from my break, ready and prepared for a new adventure, sleeves rolled up, and excited to get going on something new.
If you’re about to go through the process of selling a company, I really recommend that break to think about what the future looks like. Having a plan in place means you have a clear focus, something new to get your teeth into, and a real sense of purpose.
