Hello Friend, Subscriber and Exitpreneur,

Let me ask you a question: How many “vital” business decisions did you make this week? You know, the kind where your team said, “We really need your input on this.”

If you’re like most successful business owners I meet, the answer is “too many.”

Last week, I sat with Sarah, who runs a thriving $3M marketing agency. Great team. Strong profits. Impressive client list.

But she hadn’t taken a real vacation in three years.

“I can’t,” she told me. “Everything important runs through me. Client strategies, hiring decisions, project approvals…”

She paused, then said something that hit home: “Some days it feels like I haven’t built a business – I’ve built myself a demanding job.”

The Million-Dollar Truth

Here’s what I wish every business owner understood: The way you build your business today determines whether it becomes a source of wealth or a prison of your own making.

Think about your business right now: - Could your team handle your top three clients without you? - Do you have documented systems anyone could follow? - Could someone else run your sales process? - Does your team make decisions without “running it by you”?

If you hesitated on any of these, you’re not just missing out on freedom – you’re leaving money on the table. Maybe millions.

Let me show you why.

The Tale of Two Businesses

Last month, two technology services companies in the same industry, both doing about $5M in revenue, got valued.

Company A: Valued at $15M - Documented systems for everything - Clear decision-making frameworks - Team runs daily operations - Owner focuses on strategy

Company B: Valued at $5M - Owner involved in daily decisions - Systems “in the owner’s head” - Team depends on owner input - Owner works IN the business

Same industry. Same revenue. Triple the value.

The difference? One was built to run without its owner. The other was built to trap its owner.

The Wake-Up Call

The most valuable businesses in any industry share one thing: They’re designed to succeed without their owners’ daily involvement.

This isn’t just about someday selling your business. It’s about: - Taking real vacations without your phone - Focusing on growth instead of operations - Having time for other ventures - Building actual wealth, not just income - Creating options for your future

Your First Move

This week, I want you to do just one thing: Pick the decision your team most often brings to you. Document exactly how you make that decision – your thought process, your criteria, your non-negotiables.

Then, turn it into a simple playbook your team can follow.

It might feel basic. It might even feel unnecessary. But this is how you begin transforming your business from a job into an asset.

Next week, I’ll show you the hidden metrics that determine your business’s true value – and how to improve them fast. (You won’t want to miss this one.)

Until then, remember: Every decision you make either builds your prison or designs your freedom.

Which are you building?

Here’s to your freedom,

The Exitpreneurs

Brian MacDonald

​

P.S. What’s the one business decision you wish you could delegate? Hit reply and let me know – I read every response, and your challenges shape future insights.

Coming Next Week: “The Hidden Math: Why some businesses are worth 5x more than others that are comparable”

​

​