In this episode, Jason Miller explores the unsettling feeling of being enrolled in a college class you never signed up for — and suddenly realizing you are expected to know the subject matter. The fear and overwhelm hit hard. For many business owners, that is exactly what business succession planning and ESOP transitions can feel like. He explains how that anxiety often stems from delayed awareness, not a lack of effort or responsibility.

Jason reframes what “readiness” really means — not mastery or having all the answers, but awareness and orientation. By recognizing the “class” early and naming what truly matters, business owners can navigate succession planning, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) transitions, and long-term exit planning with greater clarity, confidence, and control.