Avoid the Trap of Golden Handcuffs After You Sell

About the Episode

Don’t let your dream exit turn into a corporate nightmare. Learn how to protect your team and your sanity when staying on post-sale.

I had the most money I’ve ever had in my bank account, but I was probably the most unhappy I’ve ever been.

James Gardner

What You’ll Learn

• The Reality of Golden Handcuffs: Understand the emotional toll of staying in your business as an employee after being the boss.
• The Power of Written Agreements: Why a gentleman’s agreement is a dangerous mistake and how to codify your authority in writing.
• Vetting for Cultural Fit: Learn how to spot red flags in a strategic buyer’s leadership style before you sign on the dotted line.
• Prioritizing Your Team: How to protect your employees and key customers from the friction of a poorly managed corporate integration.
• The Importance of Your Next Act: Why you must have a clear personal plan for life after the sale to avoid losing your sense of purpose.

Topics Covered

Want More? Related Resources:

• After the Sale – Planning a Smooth Integration with the Buyer
• Negotiating the Letter of Intent
• The M&A Training & Transition Period

Meet Our Guest

James Gardner

CEO Coach | London, England

James Gardner is a people-centric business leader with over 25 years of experience building, scaling, and selling multi-million-pound enterprises. Driven by the philosophy that leadership is about protecting and empowering the team, James grew his first startup into a multinational manufacturing success with a 25% year-on-year growth rate. Notably, he navigated the sale of that business while ensuring his employees’ jobs and rights remained secure.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-gardner-entrepreneur/