
The M&A process is only half the story when guiding a client to exit. This is one of the great lessons Dr. John Binkley’s decades at Generational Equity has taught him. What often goes underappreciated is the emotional aspect of an exit strategy.
What does Dr. Binkley mean by this? Well, when you dedicate years to nurturing your business, especially if you started from the ground up or it has been in your family for generations, making the decision to exit can be incredibly difficult.
The timing might be perfect, the offer could be ideal, the buyer the right fit… but you still find yourself not ready to let go.
Dr. Binkley’s son Ryan explored the emotional journey to selling a business in a recent article on LinkedIn, which covers this experience in greater depth. With many years working in the M&A industry behind them, they’re familiar with phrases from business owners such as:
- “I’m just not ready to exit.”
- “I will miss my employees.”
- “I have no hobbies or interests outside of the business.”
- “I am worried about the legacy I am leaving behind.”
- “No one can run the business as well as I do.”
- “What am I going to do when I leave?”
The final statement has been highlighted as it leads to the subject of this piece: knowing your motivation behind your exit strategy.
Understanding Your Incentive to Exit Your Business

Most people exit their business with a motivation in mind, whether it’s an offer too good to refuse, they’ve taken their company as far as it will go, or they’re ready to retire and take back time for themselves.
However, that motivation to exit can easily find itself buried under the emotions that can hinder any sale – the doubt, the grief, the fear. In Dr. Binkley’s experience, losing sight of this reasoning can make it more likely for sales to fall apart at the 11th hour and you potentially walk away from an optimal deal.
What is the consequence of this? Not only do you lose out on the time and resources you’ve devoted to valuing your company, sourcing a buyer and negotiating this deal, but it can also lead to greater issues later on, including:
- A host of confidentiality issues between you and the other party, which may lead to legal difficulties
- Issues forming between your loved ones, employees and partners over the uncertainty surrounding your business
- You develop a negative reputation among potential buyers, who will be more apprehensive about entering negotiations with you when you next decide to exit, likely hurting the value you receive
Furthermore, holding off on exiting because you are unclear regarding your personal motivations means you may one day find yourself forced to sell. Dr. Binkley often says there are two types of business owners:
- Those that PLAN to sell
- Those that HAVE to sell
It is far more beneficial to find yourself in the former group than the latter. So it is essential to make sure you’re mentally ready to exit early in your journey to keep you on course for a well-planned, successful outcome.
What is Your Reason to Sell?
As alluded to earlier, there are a host of reasons why you might be motivated to exit your business. But how do you find yours? Obviously, the answer to that can only come from you and your inner circle, but addressing this should take time and plenty of thought.
A decision of this magnitude should not be taken lightly, especially if you hope to achieve the optimal exit strategy. Rash decisions are the ones most likely to be reconsidered down the road, so it should take a lot of rationalizing and deliberation both internally and with those closest to you, be it your family, other shareholders or trusted advisors.
Indeed, talking to an experienced M&A advisor can be a huge help in reinforcing your motivations to exit. At Generational Equity, Dr. John Binkley places a strong emphasis on dealmakers getting to know their clients closely, understanding their background, needs and ambitions before proceeding any further in the process.
This focus has helped many of Generational’s clients understand their incentive to exit their business in pursuit of the maximum value. No two clients’ goals are exactly the same, which is why it’s crucial to work with an M&A professional that treats you as an individual, rather than taking a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach.
If finding and sticking to your motivations to exit are proving difficult, Dr. Binkley would like to share some of these clients’ stories, helping you understand:
- How diverse reasons for exiting a business can be; and
- How working with a professional keeps those motivations top of the agenda throughout the journey to exit.
Security for the Future – Mike Aman

We can’t predict the future. For Mike Aman, it took a wake-up call to fully appreciate this when a close friend suffered an unexpected stroke. Mike used this as motivation to talk to his family and reach the conclusion that selling his business in order to secure their financial future, so they were ready for any eventuality.
Freedom to Explore – Bobby & Stacy Evans

Being tied to their company restricted the time Bobby and Stacy Evans had to travel and experience different cultures. This vision was a big motivator for them in their exit strategy, giving them the time, resources and freedom to spread their wings and journey around the world.
Explore Your Passions – Tommy Barker

When you’re a serious business owner, your other passions often take a backseat. When the time was right, Tommy Barker decided he was ready to dedicate more time to his love of restoring classic muscle cars. This motivation carried him through the process, keeping him on the road to his optimal exit.
Partner for Growth – Debbie Ritchey

Sometimes exiting the business outright isn’t the motivation, but instead selling part of it to a partner to help it continue to grow. That was the case for Debbie Ritchey, who sought out an investor to support her company’s development, with the goal of reaching its full potential.
Enjoy Retirement – Michael & Rebecca Baker

Often, the goal of an exit strategy is to reap the rewards following years of hard work and perseverance. Having taken their company as far as they could, Michael and Rebecca Baker’s motivation changed to selling for the maximum value, giving them the freedom to enjoy life on their terms.
Finding Your Motivation to Exit
Dr. Binkley hopes this dive into the importance of keeping your motivations for exiting in the forefront of your mind has proved useful, as well as the stories of real business owners’ exit journeys. The psychological side of selling a business is in many ways just as important as the steps to achieving a deal, so it is important to take this into consideration.
Again, how your M&A advisor approaches the emotional aspect of the exit planning process should be a key consideration in who you work with. Make sure you choose an individual or team that prioritizes your goals as much as you do, helping these stay fresh in your thoughts during the difficult moments along the way to your exit.
You can discover more about both the psychological and practical aspects of exiting a business in many of Generational Equity’s in-depth insights. Alternatively, explore Dr. John Binkley’s blog for more articles on M&A, business, ministry, and more.