Selling A Business. My First Business.
Selling a business (my first business) was an experience that was both exciting and bittersweet. On one hand, I accomplished something significant by creating and growing a successful company that started from just a tiny thought or idea. On the other hand, I’m saying goodbye to something that I put so much time, effort, and passion into and that it was difficult to say the least.
My family business is setup as an LLC which operates multiple brands, websites, events, and projects. We work together to build these brands and we have a small but mighty team of employees (aka our kiddos plus me and my husband) as well as a tiny team of contractors that help us run the day-to-day operations.
We recently finalized an aquisition deal (using an asset purchace) to sell off one of the larger brands.
And while that was the 100% right decision for the brand and for us, it was a little more emotional than I realized it would be. In this blog post, I want to talk a little about that emotional roller coaster as well as what I hope to achieve in the future!
The Brand. The Business.
Live Camp Work [LCW] was a brand that provided information and inspiration to RVers who wanted to work on the road while enjoying their freedom to travel and explore. I started the business because I was passionate about giving people the freedom to work from wherever they wanted to and live life on their terms – which is something my family and I enjoyed for 8+ years.
It started as a hobby blog, then a book, then a newsletter and eventually it was a full community with events, plus multiple products and services all aimed at helping working rvers achieve thier big dream!
LCW helped countless individuals achieve their dream of working on the go. However, over time, I found that the growth I wanted to achive would only come to frution with additional time and resources. Time and resources I couldn’t devote to it… That’s when I realized it was time to sell the business.
The process of selling LCW was pretty easy, and I was fortunate enough to find a buyer who shared my vision and was willing to take the business to the next level. As part of the deal, I agreed to come on board at the new owner’s company to manage the LCW brand and transition it into its new home.
A Mix Of Emotions.
When the sale was finalized, I experienced a mix of emotions.
On one hand, I felt a sense of pride for having built somthing incredibly valuable. On the other hand, I felt a sense of loss as I said goodbye to something that had been a big part of my life for so long. It was like saying goodbye to a friend who had been with me through thick and thin.
And eventhough I will still be helping to manage the brand, it’s still a difference because it’s not mine anymore, you know? Like I don’t have final say in anything that happens, the direction it goes or what the end goal will be.
Directly Following The Sale
Directly following the sale of the brand, I felt totally depressed!
I could not wrap my head around the sale and where I was gong next! This was kind of a weird place for me, if I’m being honest. I was trying to celebrate and be happy about the sale, but all I could focus on was the loss and it really felt like grief.
Initially I thought we’d go out and celebrate immediately with a big expensive dinner and great drinks, but ultimately we didn’t. Well not immediately. We did end up going out to celebrate, which I think is really important and did help me to change from thinking about the sale as a loss rather than a gain.
After A Few Months
After a few months of sitting with my decision to sell, as well as working with the new owners, everything felt much better. So I guess it was more about me accepting the change I asked for and moved forward with it, rather than sulking in a decision that switch up how everything used to be.
Note To Self: Change is good!
Reflection & Personal Growth
As I reflected on the sale of LCW, I realized that it was a reminder of the importance of being open to new opportunities. By agreeing to join the new owner’s company, I was able to continue to build on the work I had done and explore new horizons to grow something that had become really well known inside the RV community.
Ultimately, selling Live Camp Work was a positive experience for me.
It allowed me to take a step back, reflect on my journey, and move on to new challenges while still being connected to the brand I had built. I will always cherish the memories and experiences I gained from building and growing Live Camp Work, and I am excited to see where the brand goes in the future under the guidance of its new owner.
