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The Exit Nobody Prepares You For with Chris Donnelly
Selling your business doesn't mean you've arrived. It means you're starting over. And nobody warns you about the wall you hit on the other side.
In this episode, Marc Bernstein sits down with Chris Donnelly, a former investment banker turned plumbing and HVAC entrepreneur who spent a decade rebuilding his family's business before selling it in 2023. Amy Wicks, founder of Wicks Consulting Group, joins as guest co-host. Chris shares the unfiltered story of leaving Wall Street for a trade shop in Lansdale, how one employee exit forced him to launch an entirely new service line, and the identity crisis that followed a successful exit.
Key Takeaways:
- Losing 30% of revenue overnight can be the push a business needs
- Culture balance: caring deeply about people while staying performance-driven
- Consistent one-on-ones are the simplest way to grow leaders from within
- Know when to develop talent internally and when to hire outside A-players
- Three unsolvable problems became the clearest sign it was time to sell
- Post-exit identity reset is real, and most entrepreneurs don't see it coming
About Chris Donnelly:
Chris Donnelly is a galvanizer who removes barriers to agency for mid-market CEOs. After selling his business in 2023, he's navigating his "second curve"—from operator to advisor—serving as a Vistage chair and strategic advisor. Chris helps stuck CEOs ($30-200M revenue) escape operational quicksand by building systems that solve problems without them. Drawing on frameworks from psychology, strategy, and power dynamics, he transforms decision paralysis into decisive action. He's proof that your next chapter can be more meaningful than your first.
Connect:
Website www.vistage.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chrisdonnellyvistage
Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!
💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!
📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.
📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.
View all episodes
By Marc BernsteinSelling your business doesn't mean you've arrived. It means you're starting over. And nobody warns you about the wall you hit on the other side.
In this episode, Marc Bernstein sits down with Chris Donnelly, a former investment banker turned plumbing and HVAC entrepreneur who spent a decade rebuilding his family's business before selling it in 2023. Amy Wicks, founder of Wicks Consulting Group, joins as guest co-host. Chris shares the unfiltered story of leaving Wall Street for a trade shop in Lansdale, how one employee exit forced him to launch an entirely new service line, and the identity crisis that followed a successful exit.
Key Takeaways:
- Losing 30% of revenue overnight can be the push a business needs
- Culture balance: caring deeply about people while staying performance-driven
- Consistent one-on-ones are the simplest way to grow leaders from within
- Know when to develop talent internally and when to hire outside A-players
- Three unsolvable problems became the clearest sign it was time to sell
- Post-exit identity reset is real, and most entrepreneurs don't see it coming
About Chris Donnelly:
Chris Donnelly is a galvanizer who removes barriers to agency for mid-market CEOs. After selling his business in 2023, he's navigating his "second curve"—from operator to advisor—serving as a Vistage chair and strategic advisor. Chris helps stuck CEOs ($30-200M revenue) escape operational quicksand by building systems that solve problems without them. Drawing on frameworks from psychology, strategy, and power dynamics, he transforms decision paralysis into decisive action. He's proof that your next chapter can be more meaningful than your first.
Connect:
Website www.vistage.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chrisdonnellyvistage
Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!
💬 Love the show? Let us know! Leave a quick rating & review here—your feedback helps us grow!
📲 Stay connected with Marc Bernstein:
➡️ Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
🎤 Got a success story worth sharing?
We’re always looking for visionary founders to feature! Apply here to be a guest on the Founders' Forum Radio Show & Podcast.
📩 Join our email list here so you never miss an episode.