Effective exit planning prepares you for more than the transaction by protecting your financial future, personal identity, and sense of purpose after the business is sold.

In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with Nate Collins, a former CEO, financial advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor who successfully sold his family business to a private equity-backed media company.

Although the sale exceeded expectations financially, Nate explains why he did not initially consider it a successful exit. He shares the mistakes he made before and after the transaction, from assembling the wrong advisory team to failing to prepare for the emotional realities of no longer owning the company.

You'll learn how to:

• Assemble experienced legal, financial, tax, and M&A advisors
• Begin planning early enough to identify tax-saving opportunities
• Define success using personal, professional, and financial goals
• Build a financial plan before negotiating the transaction
• Prepare for the loss of identity, purpose, community, and authority that can follow a sale
• Evaluate the risks associated with earn-outs
• Create a meaningful next chapter before leaving the company
• Strengthen the business so it is prepared for a planned or unexpected transition

Nate also explains why strong exit planning should focus on purpose, community, and health in addition to valuation. A profitable transaction alone does not guarantee that the owner will feel secure, fulfilled, or ready for what comes next.

Listen to learn how exit planning can help you build a more valuable company, avoid costly mistakes, and move into your next chapter with greater financial clarity and personal confidence.

Check out:

5:42: Why a profitable business sale is not always a successful exit

17:36: The emotional consequences of selling a company without preparing for life afterward

27:48: Why earn-outs can limit an owner's control, flexibility, and ability to move forward

Nate is a former CEO who managed a successful exit to a large, PE-backed media company. He now works with a limited number of business owners, CEOs, and their families to help ensure they are achieving their financial goals. As a Financial Advisor and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, he provides in-depth business exit and financial planning, as well as investment management. Nate helps owners optimize their businesses' value and transition into the next chapter.

Elevating humanity through business starts with creating value for employees, customers, communities, and owners rather than treating profit as the only measure of success.

In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser speaks with Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, about building a profitable, mission-driven business in one of the most demanding industries.

Dan shares how Founding Farmers grew from a partnership with North Dakota family farmers into a group of sustainably operated restaurants, a distillery, and a catering company. He also explains why supporting employees through difficult moments is not separate from business performance but an essential part of achieving it.

You'll learn how to:

• Build a people-first culture without sacrificing profitability
• Turn employee support into greater loyalty and lower turnover
• Create clear development paths that help employees advance
• Use failure as preparation for future opportunities
• Support family farmers through responsible sourcing
• Adapt training and advancement for a changing workforce
• Balance fair wages with the economic realities of running a business
• Practice conscious capitalism by considering every stakeholder

Dan also shares why elevating humanity is not simply an idealistic mission. When employees feel supported, valued, and equipped to succeed, they create more value for themselves, their customers, and the company.

Listen to discover how thoughtful leadership, employee investment, and conscious capitalism can turn business into a force for elevating humanity while still delivering sustainable growth and strong financial performance.

Check out:

8:52: How a partnership with North Dakota family farmers led to Founding Farmers

15:48: Why investing in employees creates loyalty, lowers turnover, and improves performance

28:36: How conscious capitalism can make business a force for elevating humanity

Dan Simons is regarded as a leading voice in mission-driven business practices, known for championing people-centric culture and responsible industry standards while developing systems that deliver profitability. He and his partner, Michael Vucurevich, are Co-Owners of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group in partnership with the North Dakota Farmers Union. Their goal is to generate profits for American family farmers, earn farmers a larger share of the food dollar, and influence the sourcing decisions of suppliers and others in the hospitality industry. They operate eight sustainably run restaurants, one DC-based distillery, and a full-service catering and event design company. He teaches courses at The George Washington University, hosts a podcast (Founding DC), and sits on the advisory boards of the DC chapter of Conscious Capitalism, OpenTable, and the Health Action Alliance Women's Health at Work Program. He blogs at www.DanSimonsSays.com and can be found across most social channels @DanSimonsSays.

Dan Simons is Co-Owner of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, which operates eight sustainably run restaurants, one DC-based distillery, and a full-service catering and event design company. A leading advocate for mission-driven business, he champions people-first culture and responsible industry standards while driving profitability.