The Rea Report Spring 2015 | Page 12

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Canton, OH Permit. 1005 419 W. High Ave PO Box 1020 New Philadelphia, OH 44663-5120 WWW.REACPA.COM Investing In Your Business’s Immortality HINT: YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE G o ahead. Take pride in all that you’ve accomplished. Relive the moment you decided to go into business and reflect on your trials and triumphs. And as you reminisce, identify everyone who helped you achieve your vision – because chances are you didn’t get where you are by yourself. Make no mistake. In business, the strength of your team directly impacts your company’s success and overall value. Therefore, it’s never been more important to ensure that your exit from the company doesn’t lead to a “going out of business” sale. Your Company’s Longevity As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to continually evaluate your business. Part of the evaluation process is ensuring that the right people are in the right place to help guide and grow your company – even when you’re not around. Whether they move on or retire, eventually every person on your leadership team will leave, including you. You must decide what kind of impact this will have on your company when it happens. One of the best strategies you can embrace is to become obsolete. That’s not to say that your work is not important, it 12 just means that your team, your business, does not depend on you for its survival. Every time you recruit an employee, you have an opportunity to reinforce your company’s mission. Do your due diligence to make sure the people you hire are on board with the company’s vision. They will continue to set the tone after you leave, which is why the qualities you consider when hiring a candidate should go beyond their education and experience. Anyone you hire must have the passion to succeed, the capacity to learn and a personality that helps them easily overcome complicated situations. From entry-level to leadership positions, y