Most founders delay exit planning while focusing on growth, product-market fit, hiring, or fundraising. Building with an exit mindset means designing the company for future liquidity events, long-term capital, or scaled leadership rather than temporary momentum. Experiencing catastrophic loss during the Great Recession showed the importance of durability and rebuilding with strategic foresight. Successful entrepreneurs prioritize clarity, structure, and intentional preparation for exits, whether IPO, SPAC, acquisition, or stepping back. An exit mindset encourages discipline, resilience, and architectural decisions that enable companies to scale, endure, and attract sustainable capital.
After three decades in capital markets and entrepreneurial ventures, I've learned one hard truth: Most founders wait too long to think about their exit. They're focused on growing the business, product-market fit, hiring the right people or raising their next round, and understandably so. But here's the reality: The companies that scale, endure and lead are the ones built with the end in mind.
During the Great Recession, I lost everything. Years of work and millions in value disappeared seemingly overnight. That moment was both devastating and instructive. I realized that while I had been focused on growth and momentum, I hadn't built with durability in mind. I hadn't built to exit; I'd built to run. Coming back from that loss forced me to rebuild from the ground up and reimagine what success really meant.
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