At the end of the day, I’m a business owner—just like you. There was a time when I was running four businesses simultaneously. I was tired, frustrated, and ready to quit. And then my first grandson was born!

I knew something had to change, so I hired a broker to help me sell. But his advice hit me hard: he told me, "Don’t bother. Your businesses aren’t sellable." I had a "moment". Then, I put on my big girl pants, set myself a six-month deadline, and decided to figure it out. I gave myself permission to liquidate in six months, if I couldn’t make it work.

With a clear timeline, I mapped out an exit strategy. I assessed my current value, set my target, and determined exactly what I needed to do to reach it.

I focused on using people, processes, and technology to transform my businesses into sellable assets. I installed a loyalty program, delegated tasks like liquor inventory (which uncovered theft), and steadily became more profitable. Every decision was filtered through the lens of my goal, and that was liberating. I kept gaining back more time and control over my life.

Three months later, I found my buyer.

I was finally going to be free.

This experience taught me that you don’t know what you don’t know until you start asking the right questions. When I got clear on my goals, everything started to fall into place.

Now, I spend my time doing what matters to me. I’m no longer a slave to my businesses—I’m free to pursue projects that have meaning and impact. And I want you to know that you can break free too.