Build It Like You’re Keeping It

Howdy!
In today’s blog, I want to talk about a mindset shift that’s served me well for over two decades of building companies: Build it like you’re keeping it.

Even if you might sell one day… you should be building a company you’d want to own forever.

Here’s the thing: I see far too many founders building their businesses with an exit in mind from day one. Every decision is made to dress things up and impress a potential buyer — not to serve customers, not to take care of employees, and not to create long-term value. This all adds up to a recipe for shortcuts, not a sustainable business.

Short-Term Thinking Leads to Shaky Foundations

When you begin to build with the main goal of flipping your company quickly, you’re tempted to cut corners — on processes, on quality, and on people. You’ll find yourself chasing growth at all costs, inflating your numbers, and pushing your team to the point of burning out… all to make things look better than they really are.

But, when you build something you’d be proud to own for 10, 20, even 50 years, you make better decisions — decisions that are rooted in sustainability, efficiency, and trust.

You focus on:

• Profitable growth (not just top-line revenue)

• Loyal customers (not just vanity metrics)

• Strong culture (not just perks)

• Repeatable processes (not just one-time wins

Ironically, This Is What Makes Your Company More Valuable

Buyers don’t want a business that’s been built to sell — they want a business that’s been built to last.

They’re looking for:

• Healthy margins

• Operational efficiency

• A loyal team and customer base

• And a founder who didn’t bail at the first opportunity

   

So if you’re thinking about building to exit — do yourself a favor. Do it by building a company worth buying.

It’s okay to dream about a big payday one day. But never let that dream replace the responsibility you have today — to your customers, your team, and your business.

Because if you build it like you’re keeping it, you’ll always build something worth keeping.

Important Question to Ask Yourself This Week:

Would you be happy to own your company 10 years from now — just the way it runs today? If not, what would you change? Consider changing it now.