Episode 06: Closing the Business You Built
How Do You Know It's Time?
You've built something that feels like yours. So what do you do when the question quietly shifts from "How do I make this better?" to "Should I even still be here?"
In this personal episode, Ashlee and Brad each talk about closing a business after eight to nine years, and how different those endings felt. Ashlee walks through why she shut down her agency in a matter of weeks, even though nothing was technically broken. Brad shares the story of a business that was pushed to the end of the line.
Together they dig into the fear, identity, and guilt that get tangled up in this decision. They talk about why "was it a good idea?" is the wrong question, what it took for an outside voice to break through Ashlee's rationalizations, and why the craft and the content of your work take different amounts of time to build. They also look at the difference between creating value and capturing value, and what both of them are grateful for now.
If you've ever wondered whether it's time to walk away, or grieved a chapter you didn't want to end, this one's for you.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Ashlee's Story
05:00 Sitting With the Emotion
09:45 Two Businesses, Two Very Different Endings
14:00 Was It the Right Call? Was It a Good Idea?
17:00 What Made the Last Time Different
33:00 The Outside Voice That Cut Through
40:00 Craft vs. Content: Could You Have Gotten Here Sooner?
49:00 Big Swings and Opportunity Cost
52:00 The Good That Came Out of It
57:30 Key Takeaways
Have a growing pain you're struggling to solve?
Send us your scenario at innerworkofbusiness@gmail.com. Tell us what's happening, how long it's been going on, and what you've already tried. If we use it on the show, we'll keep it anonymous.
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Brad Eisenberg is a scalability consultant who helps founders get out of the weeds and build businesses that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside. Learn more at beleanbusiness.com
Ashlee Berghoff is a fractional COO and author of Eureka Results, building systems that protect sanity, peace, and creative work in a frenetic world. Learn more at ashleeberghoff.substack.com