Been running my landscaping company for 14 years. Met a friend for coffee yesterday, first thing out of his mouth: 'So I hear you're selling. Everything okay?' I know it's innocent but I froze. What do you all actually say? I don't want to sound like I'm dying or going broke.
Exit talk
How do you respond when friends ask why you're selling?
Usually just 'time for something new.' People fill in the blanks themselves, and it kills the interrogation.
I tell them the truth: I'm tired. The business is fine, I'm not. That usually ends it.
Had a guy at church ask if my wife wife was making me sell. Some people have zero filter. I just said 'the offer was too good to ignore' and walked off to get more coffee.
Why do you owe anyone an explanation? 'Because I want to' is a complete sentence.
That's the thing though, TashaB, I don't have a headline offer yet. So if I say 'too good to ignore' and it falls through, now I'm the guy who couldn't sell.
Frame it as succession. 'Putting the business in good hands' sounds a lot better than 'exiting' or 'cashing out.' Same thing, different packaging.
Longer version for nosy friends: 'We've built it to a point where it needs someone with more energy and fresh ideas. I'm proud of what we did but I don't want to be the guy holding it back.' It's not a lie and it shuts down the 'are you broke?' follow-up.
Some honesty: 'I'm not selling because the company is broken. I'm selling because I am.' Landscaping at 58 is different than landscaping at 44.
Sure, but you don't owe a grocery-store acquaintance your medical chart.
I've started saying 'We're exploringg options' and then asking them a question about their own life. Deflection by curiosity. Works every time.
velvet_hammer, that's just good manners. Most people asking about your sale actually want to talk about themselves anyway.
'I'm not selling, I'm buying time.' Then smile and change the subject before they figure out what that means.
Alright, tking notes. I think the short version is 'time for something new' and the longer version is the succession angle. Thanks all. If anyone needs me I'll be practicing in the mirror.
'Time for something new' is nicely vague. I might borrow that. Good luck with the sale