From my experience as a business coach, the hardest decision a business owner faces will have to make is knowing when it is time to exit the business. For many owners, their business is more than just an income source — it is their pride, passion, and life’s work. Yet, life has a way of delivering stark reminders that can unexpectedly shift our priorities.

This is exactly what happened to one of my clients following a life-altering cancer scare, which led to the monumental decision to sell his business.

For years, my client had run a thriving professional services business. While profitable, his connection to the business had waned over time.  The topic of exit strategies from the business was a frequent, though distant, part of our coaching conversations — always framed as a plan for “4-5 years down the line.”

Everything changed when my client discovered a lump in his neck. The cancer diagnosis triggered a whirlwind of medical appointments, surgery, and recovery. Lying in a hospital bed, he had a moment of profound reflection: time is his most valuable asset, while also being a limited resource.  He realized the time spent running the business no longer fulfilled him. Success was about more than making a financial profit — it was about living a life filled with purpose and meaning.

This clarity drove him to make the bittersweet yet liberating decision to sell the business now. While navigating the challenges of the sales process, he will embrace the opportunity to step into the next chapter of his life — one where his health, family, and personal passions take precedence.

My client’s journey is a powerful reminder the decision to exit a business is not just a financial calculation — it is a deeply personal choice about aligning your life with what truly matters. Sometimes, life’s challenges provide the clarity and courage to make such a choice.