Hook
The night before a closing, the seller called me at 11 p.m.He wasn't worried about the price. That was settled.He was worried about Monday.“What do I tell my people? What do I do at 7 a.m. when there is no company to run?”I have sat on both sides of that call. Buyer, seller, operator.Here is what I told him.Tell your people before the rumor does. Tell them what changes and what doesn't. Tell them who to call.Then tell yourself the same thing.Most owners plan the deal for two years and plan the day after for two minutes.The wire clears. The identity doesn't.Write down what Monday looks like before you sign. The work, the people, the role you want, if any.If you can't write it, you're not ready to sign.What would you want to hear the night before?
