You Sold and Exited Your Technology Business: Now What?

After exiting ChannelE2E and MSSP Alert in December 2022, I began to think about “what’s next” for my personal and professional life. Some folks asked if I was ready to retire (short answer: No). Other folks asked if I would start something new — over and above building Channel Angels (short answer: Stay tuned).

I don’t write much about my personal life. (Because that’s personal.) But on the professional front, every chapter of my life has involved heavy networking to find a new or unique path forward.

Arlin Sorensen, founder, S2S Peer Groups

With that thought in mind, I plan to attend the S2S peer group meeting, set to be hosted by Arlin Sorensen in mid-January. S2S is short for “Success to Significance.” The peer group is “designed to bring together former business owners or leaders who have successfully exited their company and are working on or want to begin the next chapter of life.”

Sorensen and the S2S team are uniquely skilled to build such peer groups. As MSP industry veterans know, many of the S2S team members have been involved in the ConnectWise IT Nation Evolve peer groups and the former HTG Peer Groups organization. (To be clear: S2S is an independent organization.)

You Launched, Built and Sold Your Business: Now What?

So how do I potentially fit into the S2S conversation? As you may know, I covered the MSP market as a journalist and blogger from about 2008 to 2022. That journey involved interviewing thousands of MSP owners and operators who launched, built and sold their businesses. My former business partner (Amy Katz) and I were very fortunate on multiple fronts. We enjoyed our work. We became “fast friends” for life. And we successfully bootstrapped, built and sold two media companies — Nine Lines Media Inc. in 2011 and After Nines Inc. in 2021.

Fast forward to present day. Neither Amy nor I own or work for our former businesses. She and I still speak daily about life and family. And while I can’t speak for Amy’s path forward, I suddenly find myself facing multiple life inflection points. And I’m not alone: Thousands of former MSP owners and operators are facing similar inflection points after selling and exiting their businesses in recent years.

S2S Peer Groups: Success to Significance Details

Amid that market reality, Arlin Sorensen has organized the S2S peer group and associated meetings to “focus heavily on life, legacy, and planning. By leveraging their skills, leaders who have exited their businesses will share value with each other as they meet together and look forward to the future.”

I look forward to the conversation. But mostly, I look forward to listening, learning and charting my path forward.

PS: I should mention that the S2S peer groups are more than a one-man show. Beyond founder Arlin Sorensen, the core team includes Partner Pete Sorensen, VP of Strategy Jim Shelton, Facilitator Rich Anderson and Engagement Manager Peggy Cole. Thank you, in advance, to that entire team for organizing the S2S peer groups.