So my next blog. Even though I commented on only writing one, here I am sitting at my PC on the Monday after the sale contemplating the whirlwind that was the final week leading up to the close of the deal.
You would think that for a man who has been making deals all his working life, selling a business would be just another tick in the box. That’s what I thought, but it has been such an emotional ride, it’s difficult to articulate.
The final week goes something like this:
Monday: After deciding on the previous Friday that we were to complete on Thursday (great sentence eh!) My business partner changed it to Wednesday; queue moans and groans, who really wants to go to a post sale party on a Wednesday night!
Monday afternoon: Frantic last minute contract issues relating back to when the business was started. To set the scene, I have spent the last nine months answering queries and producing documentation, only to be hit with a wall of last minute requests. A heated debate, some good old fashioned phone slamming, and I leave the office for a few glasses vino, and another night of broken sleep.
Tuesday: Eureka! Believe it or not we had the missing paperwork from 6 years ago (yep, we were that organised) the team are very appreciative, further arguments abated I am off to meet a client over from France.
Tuesday (late): Apparently, whilst entertaining the team from France, with more wine and cheese, there has been some sort of disaster, by 11pm everything is resolved.... yet another night of broken sleep.
Wednesday: Meet with the lawyers to go through contracts. They want this, we won’t give it and debate rages with plenty of expletives! Sit in lawyer’s office drinking coffee and a few bottles of beer for the rest of the day! I believe this is a lawyer tactic to soften you up for the oncoming bill!
The moment: We enter a large board room with a 30ft long table covered in paperwork, we sign what seems like hundreds of documents, probably somewhere in the region of 30, the deed is done. Although my head knows this is the right thing to do, and that it’s great for the business, I was really nervous through the whole process. My hands where sweating and I must admit I did question for the 1000th time, am I doing the right thing?
The rest of the night is a blur of noise, champage, beer, vodka, and well you get the rest……
The most nervous part of the whole process was standing in front of our 50 or so staff to explain what we had happened, and why. I am not afraid to say that I was terrified, and by the way I am not a nervous type having spent a large part of my life running and motivating sales teams. On this occasion I found myself in strange territory, stumped for words and voice that seemed detached from me; is this what people call fear of public speaking, if so, I really empathise now...
Comments