Most founders believe the liquidity event is the finish line.

It isn’t.

In this episode of Your NEXT, Jerome Myers sits down with Colin Hodge, a founder who grew a dating app to millions of users with virtually zero ad spend, navigated a first exit, joined the acquirer, and then experienced the part nobody markets: the emotional “now what?” that follows the deal.

Jerome unpacks what he calls the Transaction Illusion: the belief that money automatically brings relief, identity, and fulfillment. Colin shares how vulnerability became a growth catalyst, how his company was forced into a fire sale, and the unbelievable twist of buying his own business back and scaling it again.

If you’re building toward an exit, recovering from one, or quietly wondering why success feels… weird, this conversation will land.

Key topics:

Why money doesn’t solve the post-exit questions it exposes

Identity shifts, shame, and the silent side of “success”

Organic growth through user psychology

The boomerang story: sell it, buy it back, grow it again

Why founders need a “descent protocol” before they summit

Links:

Learn more: exittoexcellence.com

Explore the work: [NEO Assessment / Exit Readiness Assessment link]

Guest: colinhodge.com (book + latest projects)

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