If Everyone’s Focused on the Exit, Who’s Steering the Ship?

I’ve seen this play out too many times:

An executive team gets obsessed with the exit date. Every decision bends toward “what boosts my payout in 24 months?” rather than “what builds a stronger company in 10 years?”

Companies aren’t spreadsheets. They’re made of people. And people don’t show up every morning to maximize someone else’s multiple. They show up for meaning, stability, growth, and belonging.

Ironically, the best financial outcomes come from ignoring the financial outcome, at least in the short run. When you build a company with a real purpose, when you invest in culture and strategy, exit opportunities don’t disappear. They multiply.

The trick is to act as though you’ll be the one holding the reins long after the next transaction. That mindset creates the kind of company people want to buy and more importantly, the kind of company people want to build.