I was fascinated to read an article last week by an exited Business leader in which he posed the question - After exiting a business, many founders, entrepreneurs and family business owners face the same question: What’s next? 

When I sold my baby I thought I would retire - how foolish, It is extremely difficult to retire fully when you have been the head of a good-sized, growing, national, all-consuming, fast-paced technology business for many years.

Suddenly no one needed me, except my neglected family - and that requires different skills.

All the business experience, expertise and contacts I had built up over my working life were no longer useful. I had sold my business to a BIM/BO team that included my co-directors and protected my employees, so I did not want to compete with them (restricted covenants accepted).

I tried full retirement for a while, did all the family stuff, caught up on projects at home, did a bunch of voluntary stuff, and pursued my hobbies - but I was unfulfilled, I started to lose my self-esteem, felt undervalued and missed stress!

I missed the cut and thrust of business, problem-solving, decision-making, measuring my success, the camaraderie etc.

I had a taste of retirement but it was not for this exited founder - but I did like the idea of semi-retirement. I realised that if I did not reengage with business I would lose my mojo and my value - and I knew I had some value, so I pursued my next career as a Non-Executive Director/ Investor/Chair.

It's all about helping people.

Over the next few years, I was involved with several businesses some of which we sold, some of which we failed to sell and some which bat on.

Then I came across the concept of Peer Advisory Boards for Business Leaders and set up Pabasso - Peer Advisory Board Associates.

It's all about helping people.

It's a very practical alternative to pursuing a plural NED career or indeed it can complement such a career.

We facilitate advisory boards for growing MDs & CEOs to help these leaders of established businesses progress through shared experience, expertise and support.

It's a powerful phenomenon that allows exited business leaders to help other business leaders, remain relevant and use all those valuable tools in their toolbox and stop them from becoming rusty! 

We say flourish don't fester!

It takes about 9 days a month to run a Pabasso - Peer Advisory Board Associates board and help other business leaders, it's stimulating, demanding and rewarding in equal parts and it provides a nice recurring income - you do still have value.

We currently have a vacancy in one of our Yorkshire-based Pabasso – Peer Advisory Board Associates boards so if you would like to know more about how we at Pabasso – Peer Advisory Board Associates help leaders of established businesses progress through shared experiences, expertise, and support, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

If you would like to know more about how we at Pabasso – Peer Advisory Board Associates help leaders of established businesses progress through shared experiences, expertise and support, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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