Love it or lose it

After over a decade of growing her web marketing business and helping clients achieve their goals – Sylvia’s success was recognised.

She was courted by a much larger company interested in buying her business for a generous price. The offer was enticing, also timely, as Sylvia had been admiring the green grass over the fence for some time. Months of negotiations ensued, culminating in her company being sold and rolled into the larger entity.

A modified business name, new staff and a rebrand followed. She was appointed as a director and shareholder of the parent company. The new venture went well… for about two weeks! Sylvia quickly found herself immersed in a boys club. Her new partners’ snide and chauvinistic remarks, overt profit mentality and disrespect for some clients were excruciating to bear.

In less than six months it was clear she made an error in judgement and needed to exit the partnership. Tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and numerous sleepiness nights later?Sylvia reclaimed her original business. What she learnt through this process, although agonizing, was also profound. If you don’t love and appreciate something, you will lose it.

Sylvia did get to feel the green grass tickle her toes, but like many who dare to leap onto it, she found the grass soggy underfoot and overrated. She didn’t know what she had until it was gone. Sylvia had a valuable and successful business; however, she stopped appreciating it and yearned for more. The amazing culture, creative freedom and work-life-balance, was all cast aside in pursuit of superficial goals and shiny ideals.

You can’t blame Sylvia for having a go, but her ambition came from a place of need, which turned out to be deceptive. Luckily she had the resources to fight and win her business back. In addition her loving and loyal business was very forgiving. As for Sylvia, she’s never been happier.

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Trent Leyshan is the founder and CEO of BOOM Sales! a leading sales training and sales development specialist. He is also the creator of The NAKED Salesman, BOOMOLOGY! RetroService, and the Empathy Selling Process.