When I write about stewardship in small business, succession planning is often the missing piece. Yet it may be the most important stewardship decision an owner will ever make.
Succession planning is not about your exit. It’s about protecting the people, relationships, and value you’ve built—so they continue when you’re no longer at the helm. Without a plan, even great businesses risk closing their doors or being sold under pressure, leaving employees and customers adrift.
The truth? Nearly 70% of small businesses never transition successfully to a second generation. But the ones that do have one thing in common: intentional planning. Asking hard but vital questions like: Who will lead after me? How do I prepare them? How do I make sure my business outlasts me?
Succession isn’t about endings. It’s about continuity. It’s stewardship stretched into the future. It’s about taking great care of ALL of your stakeholders.
Because a business without a succession plan is a story left unfinished. And your story deserves a lasting ending. Want to learn more? Read my book, Building With the End in Mind!