Write a book in the year after your business exit

Executive overview

The first year post-exit is financially dangerous. Founders rush back into deals and lose wealth. Writing a book keeps you productively occupied while your stories are still fresh.

The single most valuable thing you can do in the nine months after exit is write your book — even if only your family reads it.

Why writing a book works post-exit

• Stories are at their freshest immediately after the sale
• The editorial process forces clarity and organises thinking
• A book creates ongoing opportunities to re-engage with your industry
• You pass on wisdom, not just wealth, to the next generation

How to write it without writing it

• Use a ghostwriter through Forbes Books or similar organisations
• They build a one-page plan, chapter outline, and title — you talk, they write
• Expect six to nine months; it is arduous but rewarding

A simple structure to follow

• Use your vision summary as the spine
• Dedicate one chapter to each core value
• One chapter per brand promise
• A chapter on your purpose and big hairy audacious goal
• Thread stories throughout rather than making it prescriptive