Exit ready is a phrase that puts most founders off immediately. They hear it and think: I am not planning to sell. I built this business because I love the work. The last thing I want is to be thinking about how to get out of it. That reaction is understandable. And it is based on a misunderstanding of what exit ready actually means. What exit ready actually means The misunderstanding most founders have When most founders hear exit ready, they picture a sale process. Lawyers,

Most founders who are the bottleneck in their own business do not know it. Not because they are not paying attention. Because the signs look like normal business problems — busy days, a hard-working team, strong demand, good revenue. The bottleneck hides inside all of that. Here is how to know if you are it. The clearest signs you are the bottleneck Decisions stall when you are not available If the team cannot move forward on routine operational questions without your input,