Do you have an exit strategy?

Even if you’re just starting, think about when you’ll be leaving.

It will make life easier from the get go, during, and then when you do actually leave.

Because you will leave.

As much as you think you’ll be there forever (your job, your home, your whatever), there’s a chance you’ll be done with it someday. What does it hurt to have an exit plan?

This post is prompted as I hand over the reigns to a website for an organization that I’ve been involved in for the past 10 years. I’m now seeing how much work is it to transfer something after it’s been in your hands for such a long time.

It’s not rocket science. Just ask yourself a few questions:

1. If  I were to hand over the reigns today, what would that entail? How could I make that process smoother?
2. What systems or tools or choices might I make if I knew I were handing it over? Would those be different than if it were my thing forever? What are the pros and cons?
3. How much work will it be if I treat this thing as mine and never think of handing it over? Then one day I hand it over.
4. Is it an option to never have the reigns? From the outset?

Weigh the options today no matter where you are along the process and see how you can make that exit strategy all the easier. It’s not that hard to do it now. It’s quite a bit harder to do it when you exit.