With so many big changes happening in 2024—from founders exiting their businesses, M&As shaking up smaller agencies, and scale-ups being bought out, to C-suite leaders stepping down and athletes facing non-renewed contracts—it’s been a year of major transitions.

If you’ve been thinking about leaving your current role, pivoting to a new career, or changing direction with your current offerings (whether voluntary or not), you’re not alone. In fact, I’m navigating a lot of change myself.

But how do you approach this next chapter when you’re coming from a high point in your career and aren’t quite sure what the future looks like? That’s exactly what we’re diving into in this week’s blog.

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So you’ve made the big exit.

You’ve sold your business, walked away from a high-profile role, or retired at the top of your game—whether as a successful entrepreneur or an athlete who dominated your field. Congratulations! But now comes the question no one talks about openly: What’s next?

It’s a topic that resonates deeply with many successful entrepreneurs and leaders I work with because not many a) have experienced it themselves and/or b) talk about it: Life after the big exit.

You’ve hit the peak, so where do you go from here?

The world tells you to enjoy your newfound "freedom," but as a high performer, there’s this always this nagging feeling: Who am I now? The accolades stop rolling in, the busy schedules fade away, and suddenly you're faced with the question that many don’t see coming / ask themselves often enough —What do I do with myself?

I’ve walked this path myself a couple of times and also worked through with countless high-achievers, and let me tell you, the emotional journey post-exit is very real. In fact, the first time I had this conversation, my client—a tech entrepreneur who had just sold his company for an eight-figure sum—said, "Everyone’s patting me on the back, but I’ve never felt more lost."

The Emotional Rollercoaster of an Exit

We often treat the exit as the ultimate achievement, but no one prepares you for the emotional impact. I remember reading a Harvard Business Review article where a mentor told the author post-exit, “Now get ready for depression.” And while that may sound extreme, it captures the essence of what many successful people feel after stepping away from something they’ve built.

One of my clients, a serial entrepreneur, confided that after selling his last business, his phone, which used to ring off the hook, fell eerily silent. The sudden shift can be disorienting. You go from being the decision-maker with a purpose and a mission to having all the time in the world, but no clear direction.

Rebranding Yourself After the Exit

So, what’s the way forward? It’s not just about what you’ll do next but who you will become. Rebranding yourself from a business owner to whatever comes next is the key challenge—and opportunity—post-exit. This is where it gets interesting because now it’s time to leverage all that experience and turn it into something new, something impactful.

Take David, a former private equity CEO. Post-exit, he could have easily settled into retirement, but he chose to pivot. Instead of jumping into another business venture, he focused on mentoring younger entrepreneurs. His decades of experience became his value proposition, and within two years, he had created an exclusive mastermind group that became a must-join for rising stars in finance.

Your Unique Value Proposition

At this stage, your unique value proposition isn't tied to a company or a title—it's about what only you can offer. Another example is Emily, a former CEO of a luxury fashion brand, who didn’t just transition into consulting. She carved out a niche helping brands with sustainable growth strategies—a space she knew intimately from years of navigating high-end fashion’s environmental challenges.

How You Want to Be Perceived

One thing to focus on is how you want to be perceived in this next chapter. Do you want to be seen as a thought leader, a mentor, or maybe a bit of a renegade who does things differently? It’s about crafting a personal brand that feels authentic but also strategic. Think about this: every conversation, every piece of content you put out now shapes that narrative.

For instance, Michael, a retired athlete built his social media presence to a decent size - not massive but engaged. He used it to document his journey on their training regime, their preparation for games, fan interactions, nutrition but also to speak about the mental challenges of high-performance environments. It wasn’t just about sports anymore—it was about mindset and resilience, which he could then monetise in paid keynotes as business executives resonate with this.Diversifying Platforms and Staying Consistent

And don’t underestimate the power of consistency. It’s not just about dabbling in a podcast or posting sporadically on LinkedIn—it’s about creating a strategic presence across multiple platforms. Look at Paul, a former tech founder who now uses LinkedIn to share daily insights while hosting a high-level podcast that’s become a go-to for CEOs navigating exits. He didn’t just ‘move on’—he strategically built a new brand around his expertise.

The Power of Experimentation

And yes, it requires experimentation. The post-exit phase is messy; there’s no perfect formula. But that’s where the magic happens. One of my clients, who had exited a billion-dollar logistics company, decided to venture into philanthropy. But rather than jumping into a well-worn path, he created a unique fund focusing on sustainable tech, merging his passion for innovation with his desire to give back. This wasn’t an immediate decision—it came through trial, error, and a lot of self-reflection.

Conclusion

So, what’s next for you?

The next chapter isn't about recreating what you’ve already done—it’s about leveraging your wealth of experience to create something even more fulfilling. Whether that’s mentoring, investing, or starting a completely new venture, this is your opportunity to redefine success on your own terms.