Before the Clock Decides
By Mike Steward
For years, Mike Steward has sat across the table from owners who built great companies but never prepared for the moment that matters most. As a business broker, certified coach, and advisor to hundreds of entrepreneurs, he’s witnessed firsthand how easily an unplanned exit can destroy value and limit options.
Every business will either close, sell, or be handed down to someone else — and for most owners, the clock ends up making that decision. Before the Clock Decides gives you the clarity and control to change that. You’ll learn how valuations really work, what buyers look for, and how to build a transferable, owner-optional company, so you can finish strong on your terms instead of time’s.
Every business eventually reaches one of three endings:
It closes. It sells. Or it’s passed down.
Most owners don’t choose the ending they get—time chooses it for them.
This book is your chance to change that.
Before the Clock Decides is a clear, honest guide for business owners who have carried the weight of their company for years and know, deep down, that the next chapter won’t write itself. It’s written for the owner who wants to finish well, protect their family, and create a future that feels intentional—not accidental.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
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Understand what your business is truly worth
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Raise your valuation using five proven value levers
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Build an owner-optional company buyers trust
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Avoid the hidden risks that can destroy value overnight
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Create a 2–10 year plan for a successful exit
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Choose your ending instead of having it chosen for you
This isn’t theory. It’s what I’ve seen firsthand after two decades in the room with owners during their most important decisions—the victories, the regrets, the blind spots, and the turning points.
If you’re a business owner who feels the pressure of time, this book will give you clarity, direction, and a plan you can trust.
**Your final chapter is coming.
The question is whether you will design it…
or the clock will.**