Before the Deal, There’s the Story
Companies Are Not Bought, They Are Sold
You’ve heard me say this before—probably more than once—but that’s because it might be the most important truth when it comes to exiting your business:
Companies Are Not Bought, They Are Sold.
Even great, growing, profitable businesses don’t just “get acquired.” They’re positioned. Packaged. Sold with intention.
Most founders assume buyers just show up and offer life-changing money. But those who win the exit game? They’ve been shaping the narrative long before the deal was ever on the table.
They’ve built relationships. Told the right story. Created urgency before the sale ever started.
This isn’t fluff. It’s leverage.
And if you think your numbers will “do the talking,” think again. Buyers are busy. They won’t magically see your potential unless you tell them what to look for—with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
That’s why we say:
Start selling before you’re ready to sell.
Because every decision you make today—how you grow, how you show up, how you communicate—is part of the story you’ll sell tomorrow.
So, ask yourself:
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Do you know who your likely buyers are?
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Do you understand what they actually need?
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Have you packaged your company in a way that makes their decision easy?
If not, now is the time.
Craft your business story. Build clarity. Build urgency. Build leverage.
Because buyers don’t show up out of the blue.
You have to sell it.
And when you do it right, you exit on your terms—fully prepared, fully valued, and fully in control.
At OPTION 3, we help founders craft what we call their Irresistible Exit Story.
If this resonates, if it hits your gut a little… let’s talk.
— Mac
