Laurie Barkman – Quit Often Quit Fast
BIO: Laurie Barkman, the business transition sherpa, is the former CEO of a $100 million revenue company that was sold to a Fortune 50 company.STORY: Though Laurie has had a flourishing career in the startup world, she regrets not spending that time building her own business.LEARNING: Quit often, quit fast. Don’t hesitate, or stay in something that doesn’t bring you value. Pay attention to your instinct; don’t be afraid to act on it. “Gravitate towards your strengths and follow your passions if you’re clear about what they are.”Laurie Barkman Guest profileLaurie Barkman, the business transition sherpa, is the former CEO of a $100 million revenue company that was sold to a Fortune 50 company.Laurie guides business owners through the often overwhelming process of transition planning. As a mergers and acquisitions intermediary, she facilitates sell-side and buy-side transactions in the lower middle market.Laurie is the Amazon best-selling author of The Business Transition Handbook: How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options and hosts the award-winning podcast Succession Stories, rated in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally.Laurie earned an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s from Cornell University. She received a professional designation from The Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors.Get a complimentary business assessment. See how an acquirer would evaluate your business, enabling you to focus today on what will be important down the road. Learn what changes could double the value of your business.Worst investment everWhen Laurie was studying for her MBA, she also took entrepreneurship courses and was the president of the entrepreneurship club. Laurie was excited about graduating and going into entrepreneurship. But, she didn’t have the big idea or tech skills. This was in the late 90s when it was all about tech startups. Laurie also lacked the risk profile. So, instead of starting a business or buying an existing one after her MBA, she joined a startup, which in and of itself was a good thing.Looking back at her career, most of the positions Laurie had helped her add value and grow professionally. But one or two roles made her realize that she should have invested her time in building her own business instead of going into employment.Lessons learnedTry to figure out what you’re good at, what you’re not, and what you enjoy and don’t before settling on a permanent career path.Gravitate towards your strengths and follow your passions if you’re clear about them.Andrew’s takeawaysQuit often, quit fast. Don’t hesitate, or stay in something that doesn’t bring you value.Pay attention to your instinct; don’t be afraid to act on it.Actionable adviceIt’s important to trust your instincts. If you’re feeling unsure about something, trust that little voice.Laurie’s recommendationsLaurie recommends her book, The Business Transition Handbook, for business owners with questions...