Memento Mori and the Business That Still Stands
What my best friend’s loss reminded me about freedom, legacy, and letting go
This week, I lost someone dear.
My best friend’s husband passed away after a long, courageous health battle.
For nearly three years, she carried both the emotional weight of his care and the operational weight of their business.
She did it through his stroke, his recovery, his surgeries—and now, through his absence.
And here’s the remarkable thing:
The business didn’t just survive.
It thrived.
Why?
Because they had the foresight to build it as an asset—not just a job.
The Power of Preparation
From the moment his health crisis began, they shifted their focus.
They built systems.
They empowered people.
They structured the company to run without them—even if they didn’t plan to step away.
And when life intervened, they didn’t have to scramble.
The business held.
She was able to sit beside her husband in hospitals, rehab facilities, and hospice—not worried about invoices, emails, or payroll.
She was present where it mattered most.
That’s what true freedom looks like.
And that’s the kind of business we help our clients build—before the crisis hits.
Most Exits Aren’t Planned. They’re Prompted.
We talk about succession.
We talk about sale value.
But most exits aren’t the result of a pitch deck and a perfect timeline.
They come from:
A sudden illness
A family emergency
A moment when continuing feels impossible
The businesses that survive those moments are the ones built to operate without the owner at the center.
Memento Mori: A Different Kind of Business Wisdom
There’s an ancient practice called memento mori—"remember that you must die."
Not as a fear tactic. But as clarity.
As founders, we often lose sight of time. We pour energy into our work assuming the future will wait.
But time doesn’t pause.
And none of us are exempt from the unexpected.
This isn’t about pessimism.
It’s about building with intention.
It’s about creating something that endures—not just for buyers, but for the people we love most.
A Business That Supports Life—Not the Other Way Around
This week was a reminder of why I do what I do.
Because no founder should have to choose between their business and their life.
No spouse should carry grief and uncertainty about what happens next.
No team should be left without direction if something goes wrong.
We build businesses that hold when the owner needs to step back.
That continue when life demands a pause.
That protect when legacy becomes the only thing left to give.
So I’ll ask what I’ve been asking myself:
Is your business ready to support your family, your team, and your legacy—even when you’re not there to lead it?
✅ If the answer is no, let’s talk.
We help you build the kind of business that stands—through anything.
Not just for profit. But for peace.
