Dance in the End Zone

Book excerpt: On November 18, 1973, wide receiver Elmo Wright scored a touchdown and became the first professional football player to dance in the end zone. You don't have to be a sports fan to feel the emotions and celebration of a really good end zone dance. Interviewed more than thirty years later, Elmo Wright said, "I've accomplished a lot in my life, but what happened in the end zone is what defines my career." If you own a business, you have something in common with Elmo. Business success may have already brought personal satisfaction and financial rewards. But what happens at your inevitable exit--in your end zone--likely defines your career. An exit that falls short can cause financial disappointment, family strife, or low self-esteem. Success at exit is the crowning achievement of a career, fulfillment of financial and family dreams, or the start of your business legacy. Dance in the End Zone will change your perceptions. Exit planning is not about some distant transaction but rather making decisions today that build a better business and position for your success. The book reveals the Seven End Zone Questions, provides more than fifty tools and tactics--the plays for your Exit Planning Playbook--and shares the real--world stories of dozens of business owners like you. Whether your ideal exit is soon or many years from now, this is a must-read to one day dance in the end zone.