There’s a comedian who does a bit about watching horrible news on TV. He tells a story about dropping to his knees watching heart-rending images and feeling overwhelming fear. Then he goes to the kitchen, and looks out the window, and everything’s… fine. There are cars driving and children playing and people going about they’re days. It’s a lot funnier when he does it.
The point is that even at the worst moments, life goes on. The world never really stops. I often think of that story when I talk to clients who are preparing to sell their agency or retire. They talk about ‘the end’ as if it really is the end. They act like they’re lives will be totally unrecognizable when the deal is concluded. They’re usually terrified.
Change Is Hard
We never lie to these clients. We never tell them that it won’t be different or that it’s not scary. Change is one of the most difficult challenges we can face. Particularly when it means a total change in your daily routine and environment. Going from 7am starts and the daily office grind to mid-morning breakfasts and afternoons with the family can be an adjustment.
The thing is, you need to change the angle a little. When you stop looking at the bad news on the TV and look out the window instead, things can seem… fine.
After the sale of your agency, you will still be involved with the agency. It will likely be a different role, but it won’t take as long as you think to adapt. Even if you do retire, that first day will be a big change but gradually, you will get used to it.
But Not As Hard As You Think
Once the change has actually occurred and you’re on the other side of retirement, you will find new habits to replace the old ones. You will also find that many things feel totally normal. The human mind has a funny way of building up to big changes. We create these impossible versions of what the change will be like in our heads and picture the world ending once the change has happened.
Then, when it finally does, it almost feels like nothing at all. You’re still you. You still enjoy the same pastimes and crack the same jokes. Many clients tell us how much they prepared themselves for the change, only to find that life just carried on. The big hit never came.
I am not saying that your life won’t change when you sell your agency or that the change will be easy. It is one of the hardest things you will have to do. The point to remember is that once the dust settles and you look out your window, your life will go on. It will just be a little different.
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