Your Next: A Guide to Finding Fulfillment After Your Exit Hosted by Jerome Myers

Selling your business won’t save you if you’re not ready for what comes after, and most founders aren’t.

Less than 1% of women founders successfully exit their businesses. That story is changing, and Carrie Kerpen is leading the movement.

In this episode of Your Next, I sit down with Carrie Kerpen, founder of The Whisper Group and a successful agency exit veteran, to explore how women are rewriting the rules of business, building companies designed to sell, and creating exits that unlock freedom, legacy, and purpose.

We go deep into the reality of life after a big sale: the loss of identity, the challenges of integration, and the path to reclaiming power on your own terms. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the wire hits, this conversation will change how you think about exits.

Press play now, and step into the conversation that could redefine how you see your next chapter.

[00:00 – 12:00] The Agency and the Exit

• Carrie’s journey from co-founding Likable to an 8-figure exit
• How Built to Sell became her roadmap to acquisition
• Why do women approach exits differently than men

[12:01 – 20:00] Life After the Sale

• The emotional crash that follows even a successful exit
• The reality of working for “the mothership” after selling
• Why community and support matter most post-exit

[20:01 – 25:00] The 3 Ds + B Every Founder Faces

• The 3 Ds that threaten every founder: Divorce, Death, and Disability, plus the B: Burnout
• Why lump sums bring more fear than freedom if you’re not prepared
• How The Whisper Group equips women for the full journey, not just the transaction

[25:01 – End] Building a Sellable Business and Lasting Legacy

• The three biggest mistakes that kill value
• Carrie’s WHISPER framework for creating a sellable business
• Why legacy is built through resilience, profit, and purpose

Key Quotes:

“Nobody was really speaking to them in a way that matters.” – Carrie Kerpen

“Women-owned businesses, fully female-founded businesses, account for fewer than 1% of total exits.” – Carrie Kerpen

Connect with Carrie!

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carriekerpen

Website:  carriekerpen.com/

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You planned the deal. You closed the transaction. Everyone’s congratulating you.

But then… silence.

In this revealing solo episode, Jerome Myers explores the Founder’s Exit Paradox, that unexpected disconnect between financial success and emotional fulfillment.

Through real stories and powerful insights, Jerome shares why so many high-performing founders regret their exits and what you can do to avoid that fate.

If you’ve sold your business or are planning to, this episode offers the roadmap to reclaim clarity, purpose, and peace on the other side.

Tune in now to discover what you really need to prepare for, before, during, and after the exit.

[00:00 – 02:00] The Regret No One Talks About

• 75% of founders regret their exit
• Why selling your business is more than just a financial move
• The Exit Paradox explained

[02:01 – 04:45] Four Founders, Same Pattern

• James, Sarah, David, and Maria: different exits, same emotional fallout
• What financial success can’t fix
• How identity, relationships, and purpose suffer when unprepared

[04:46 – 06:30] What Most Advisors Miss

• Why traditional deal-making leaves founders unready
• The 6 Centers of Doubt: the real threat to your post-exit fulfillment
• The emotional cost of ignoring the inner transition

[06:31 – 08:30] Exit to Excellence: A Different Approach

• Readiness Assessments, NEO Profiles, and the Freedom Compass
• Measuring clarity, alignment, and energy, not just money
• A roadmap to identity and legacy beyond the business

[08:31 – End] Real Results, Real Transformation

• 30–50% jump in exit readiness in 90 days
• 80% report reduced stress and fear of irrelevance
• Why clarity and confidence, not just capital, define a successful exit

Key Quotes:

“Freedom stretches in every direction, but that very freedom can feel like a prison.” – Jerome Myers

“You don’t cling to the wreckage of your old identity. You step through the portal into freedom: clear, confident, and aligned.” – Jerome Myers

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You sold it. You won. So why does it still feel hollow?

In this deeply emotional and life-changing solo episode, Jerome Myers dismantles one of the most seductive lies in high performance: “I’ll be happy when…”

Through the raw and revealing story of James, a founder who reached the summit only to find it silent, Jerome explores the emotional collapse that often follows external success. This isn’t just about exits. It’s about identity, meaning, and the quiet ache of disconnection.

This episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and realign. If you’ve ever said, “I’ll be happy when…” this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about success and might just change your life.

[00:00 – 03:00] The Happiness Horizon Trap

• “I’ll be happy when…”  –  the emotional illusion
• Why milestone-chasing masks deeper emptiness
• The horizon always moves until you stop chasing

[03:01 – 06:30] The Exit Paradox in Action

• Why freedom often feels like invisibility
• The emotional fallout after success
• What founders truly miss after the deal closes

[06:31 – 08:30] Timing vs. Readiness

• When market windows close before you’re “ready”
• How waiting for happiness can cost you more than money
• A lesson from 2021–2023 exits you can’t ignore

[08:31 – 10:30] Stop Chasing. Start Aligning

• Why alignment is the new definition of wealth
• The emotional safety in clarity
• 3 powerful questions to reconnect with what matters

[10:31 – End] The Path to Real Fulfillment

• From exit strategy to life strategy
• The tools that create emotional stability post-exit
• Design a legacy rooted in influence, not just income

Key Quotes:

“I’ve seen founders who waited for the exit to fix everything, only to wake up with money in the bank and the emptiness in their hearts.” – Jerome Myers

“Happiness doesn’t live in the next milestone. It lives in clarity. It lives in alignment, and it lives in the influence you create every day.” – Jerome Myers

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Wealth fades. Legacy endures when it’s rooted in more than money.

In this episode, Jerome Myers sits down with Charlie Garcia, a West Point graduate, decorated combat veteran, entrepreneur, and managing member of R360, one of the world’s most exclusive communities of ultra-successful families. Charlie introduces the F.I.S.H.E.S. Framework (Financial, Intellectual, Social, Human, Emotional, and Spiritual capital), a guide for shaping a legacy that goes beyond accumulation into alignment and impact.

From his military discipline to global philanthropy and the creation of R360, Charlie reveals why true wealth is measured not in what you keep, but in what you give, nurture, and leave behind.

Tune in now to learn how to move from business owner to Legacy Builder.

[00:00 – 12:00] Introducing Charlie Garcia & the F.I.S.H.E.S. Framework

• Charlie’s journey from military service to entrepreneurship and leadership at R360

• The six forms of capital that shape a flourishing life

• Why legacy is about alignment, not accumulation

[12:01 – 24:00] Writing, Speaking, and the Power of Ideas

• Charlie’s upcoming book and the role of storytelling in shaping culture

• MarketWatch column “Charlie Garcia’s Market Sense” and his satirical approach to finance

• How humor and honesty open deeper conversations about wealth and meaning

[24:01 – 36:00] R360: The World’s Most Exclusive Legacy Community

• What sets R360 apart, and why even billionaires get turned down

• Designing 100-year family plans across financial, emotional, and spiritual dimensions

• Preparing the next generation through the Rising Leader Program

[36:01 – 48:00] Purpose, Resilience, and the Next Mountain

• How members reinvent themselves after business exits

• Using entrepreneurial skills for philanthropy and global impact

• Why purpose, not profit, fuels the next chapter

[48:01 – End] Faith, Mentorship, and Building a Force for Good

• Charlie’s perspective on Matthew 25:14 and God-given purpose

• Mentorship, coaching, and accountability as keys to growth

• Inspiring stories of resilience and possibility

Key Quotes:

“Legacy is not about accumulation, but alignment.” – Charlie Garcia

“Everybody comes with a unique gift they can use to help others.” – Charlie Garcia

Connect with Charlie!

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/charlespgarcia

Website:  http://R360Global.com

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The greatest risk to your business exit is relational.

When you exit your business, it’s not just a transaction. It is an emotional shift that can ripple through your marriage, your family, and your identity. In this episode, Jerome Myers speaks with Ruschelle Khanna, psychotherapist and author of Inherited Trauma and Family Wealth, about the emotional complexity of exiting a business and why unspoken dynamics can quietly sabotage even the best-laid plans.

Listen now to discover how to protect both your legacy and your relationships.

[00:00 – 13:00] Exit as Emotional Death

• Why a business exit mirrors grief and identity loss
• Common signs of resistance: sabotage, denial, and clinging to control
• The emotional weight on both the exiting founder and the heir

[13:01 – 26:00] Marriage, Misalignment, and Mutual Resentment

• How exits reveal cracks in communication and shared meaning
• What Gottman’s 7 Principles reveal about post-exit stress
• Why many spouses feel excluded, even when they say they’re fine

[26:01 – 36:00] Emotional Needs and Adult Tantrums

• HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired): decoding emotional outbursts
• Reparenting your partner: how trauma shows up in conflict
• Why emotional regulation is critical in post-exit life

[36:01 – 50:00] Family Tension and Generational Distance

• How adult children emotionally react to legacy decisions
• Spotting the signs of withdrawal, resentment, or performative agreement
• Avoidance, silence, and the cost of not asking hard questions

[50:01 – End] Trauma, Transition, and Transcendence

• The 5 trauma liabilities: chaos, procrastination, fawning, and more
• Inheriting more than money, modeling emotional clarity
• Choosing joy, presence, and intentionality in your next chapter

Key Quotes:

“A business exit is a tiny death.” – Ruschelle Khanna

“The definition of a healthy mind is to be able to hold onto two ideas at the same time.” – Ruschelle Khanna

Connect with Ruschelle!

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/ruschelle-khanna-lifestyle-for-legacy

Website:  https://www.lifestyleforlegacy.com/

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The biggest threat to your family business is the unspoken tension inside your family.

Jerome Myers talks with Amy Wirtz, senior consultant at The Family Business Consulting Group and Exit Planner of the Year, about navigating family succession with clarity and compassion. With deep experience as a lawyer, mediator, and strategist, Amy offers real-world wisdom for business owners struggling to pass the torch without burning bridges.

Listen now for frameworks that demystify legacy, reveal blind spots, and offer new ways forward.

[00:00 – 12:00] Family Businesses Aren’t Broken

• Why family businesses matter more than you think
• The emotional dream behind succession
• What sparks (and delays) transition planning
• Owners think about it long before they talk about it
• Outside advisors often prompt the first move

[12:01 – 24:00] Power, Voice, and Money

• Ownership is power
• Equal shares ≠ equal results
• Gifting vs earning the business
• Who gets to vote, who gets a say
• When silence costs more than taxes

[24:01 – 36:00] Ego, Exit, and Expectations

• Letting go is harder than you expect
• The myth of “work optional” retirement
• Why selling to your kids might be best
• Salary vs financial freedom
• What happens when you don’t diversify

[36:01 – 46:00] New Generation, New Vision

• Founders vs. next-gen work styles
• The “lazy” label, and what’s behind it
• Redefining hustle in a digital world
• Lifestyle over grind
• Learning from past downturns

[46:01 – End] The Process Behind the Plan

• Amy’s consulting roadmap
• Building healthy governance systems
• Coaching families through tough transitions
• Why change takes time
• Empowering families to lead their future

Key Quotes:

“You work for your money. You don’t get money just because you’re an owner.” – Amy Wirtz

“There is help out there for family businesses. They’re really smart, capable people who actually support the backbone of the economy.” – Amy Wirtz

Connect with Amy!

Website: thefbcg.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amywirtzcepa

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What happens when the finish line finally arrives, only to leave you asking, What now?

Jerome Myers talks with Tad Fallows, founder of Long Angle, about building and selling a company on his terms and the surprising challenges of life after the deal. They reveal the truth about “work optional” wealth, finding meaning beyond money, and what comes after you win.

Listen now to uncover life after success.

[00:00 – 12:00] From Harvard to High Growth

• Tad’s unconventional path from Ivy League to McKinsey to co-founding a SaaS company in an unlikely market

• Why early success is more about relationships than résumés

• How bootstrapping through the 2008 downturn shaped his approach to risk

[12:01 – 24:00] Scaling Without Selling Out

• Growing 40–50% every year without venture capital

• Why an unsolicited offer wasn’t enough to pull the trigger

• How a year of preparation expanded their market story and increased exit value

[24:01 – 36:00] The Exit on His Terms

• Choosing the right buyer over the highest bidder

• Why does Tad want all of his chips off the table, not half

• The surprising upside of post-sale stock grants

[36:01 – 46:00] Building Long Angle

• The sudden wealth questions no one prepares you for: estate planning, alternative assets, and raising grounded kids

• Why peer-to-peer wisdom beats Wall Street advice

• How a Slack channel for friends became a thriving founder community

[46:01 – End] Redefining “What’s Next”

• The Founder’s Exit Paradox: when money solves the math but not the meaning

• Why purpose doesn’t have to be permanent to be valid

• Finding fulfillment in family, community, and building again

Key Quotes:

• “If you have 10 times as much wealth, you’re probably 2x as happy.” – Tad Fallows

• “The hardest part of the exit is what happens next.” – Tad Fallows

Connect with Tad:

Website: longangle.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fallows

Don’t miss The Entrepreneur Event of the Season, the $100M Money Models Book Launch streaming live on YouTube, Aug 16, 2025. 

Register Here for Free 👉 https://shop.acquisition.com/pages/register?via=jerome11

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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You built it. You exited. Now what?

In this raw and revelatory solo episode, Jerome Myers introduces the Founder’s Trauma Tree:  a framework that exposes the emotional crash most Apex performers aren’t prepared for after the exit.

Through the real-life story of James, a founder who spiraled into anxiety six months after his 8-figure win, Jerome reveals why success doesn’t silence inner wounds; it amplifies them. And more importantly, how you can begin to heal.

There’s a story beneath your success:  one about pressure, pain, and the parts of you that never got to breathe. This is where healing begins.

Success checked every box, but something still feels off? This is the conversation that explains why.

[00:00 – 04:30] When Success Feels Like Collapse

• The post-exit silence no one prepares you for

• Why founders often mistake trauma symptoms for personality

• Introducing the Founder’s Exit Paradox

[04:31 – 08:00] The Founder’s Trauma Tree

• PTSD, anxiety, addiction: what lies beneath these symptoms

• A visual model of the emotional fallout after high achievement

• Why does unprocessed pain surface only after the pressure lifts

[08:01 – 10:30] Coping or Healing?

• The 4 escape strategies: busyness, deal-chasing, giving, isolation

• Why these distractions work—until they don’t

• The lie of high performance as emotional wellness

[10:31 – 14:30] Growing the Healing Tree

• What emotional integration means post-exit

• From numbness to nourishment: James’ healing journey

• How to grow peace, purpose, and legacy from the inside out

[14:31 – End] Beyond the Paradox

• The 6 Centers of Doubt: self-image, relationships, work, health, prosperity, significance

• From survival mode to alignment

• An invitation to stop pretending and start becoming

Key Quotes:

“What you’re feeling isn’t failure, it’s feedback.” – Jerome Myers

“Your identity is not your title. Your value is not your valuation. Your worth was never up for negotiation.” – Jerome Myers

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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What happens when the success you’ve chased your whole life finally shows up, and it doesn’t feel like enough?

In this thought-provoking episode, Jerome Myers talks with Calvin Correli, founder of Simplero and long-time spiritual explorer, about what comes after the exit. They talk through the emotional crash that can follow financial success, why most people are secretly afraid of feeling safe, and how founders can stop waiting for money to permit them to feel fulfilled.

This episode is about more than business. It’s about learning how to live well, right now.

Listen in and start rewriting the story you’ve been living by.

[00:00 – 12:00] The $300M Moment That Didn’t Fix Anything

• The email that started it all: a founder with a $300M offer and deep unhappiness

• Why the usual playbook of success stops working after a big win

• How entrepreneurship often reflects our search for something deeper

[12:01 – 24:00] Hidden Fears and Emotional Shortcuts

• Why do people put off feeling the way they want to feel

• How beliefs around safety and worth keep high performers stuck

• What happens when your goal no longer motivates you

[24:01 – 36:00] Awareness, Emotions, and Real Power

• A simple shift that changes how you relate to anger, fear, and desire

• Why it’s dangerous to say “I am” instead of “I feel”

• How to stop outsourcing your emotional life to outcomes

[36:01 – 46:00] Letting Go of the Hustle

• How Calvin shifted from chasing money to building around connection

• Why building a company can be more about intimacy than income

• What changes when you don’t need to prove anything anymore

[46:01 – End] What Purpose Looks Like

• Calvin’s three-level framework for living with purpose

• Why your presence might be your greatest gift

• How founders can move forward without needing another title, deal, or goal

Key Quotes:

“Money is just a way for people to say: I value what you do. That’s all.” –  Calvin Correli

“There’s no happiness in the future. The future never comes. The only time is now.” – Calvin Correli

Connect with Calvin!

Website: https://www.calvincorreli.com

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/truecalvin

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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Most high achievers are dangerously unprepared for life after the exit.

In this revealing episode, Jerome Myers sits down with Dr. Michelle Fritsch, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and founder of Propel Your Wellness, to discuss the hidden dangers that follow success. From loss of identity to relationship breakdowns and rapid health decline, Dr. Fritsch exposes what happens after the business card disappears, and what you can do to prevent it.

If you think your freedom phase will last forever, think again. 

Tune in now to learn how to design a life of wellness, purpose, and clarity beyond the exit.

[00:00 – 12:00] Freedom Doesn’t Last Forever

• Why most people hit a wall 6–12 months after their exit

• The false security of hobbies, travel, and to-do lists

• Preventable reasons brilliant people fade after retirement

[12:01 – 24:00] The Dangerous Assumptions We Carry

• Why doctors don’t know as much about you as you think

• The unexpected collapse of key relationships

• Early signals that your mind and body aren’t prepared

[24:01 – 36:00] Tools for Clarity: Life Purpose Scan + Wellness Portfolio

• Assessing purpose, values, and emotional resilience

• The risk of losing cognitive sharpness after an exit

• Designing your next chapter around contribution, not consumption

[36:01 – 46:00] Stress, Scams, and Silent Suffering

• Health risks tied to unmanaged stress

• Sophisticated scams targeting lonely, high-net-worth retirees

• When the physical body limits the life you imagined

[46:01 – End] The Power of Planning

• The seven dimensions of the Wellness Portfolio

• Why advanced personal planning matters as much as estate planning

• How purpose reduces pain, isolation, and mental decline

Key Quotes:

“Freedom for most people lasts about six, maybe 12 months, and that’s when they realize, wait a minute, this stuff’s fun, but it doesn’t fill up the rest of a lifetime.” – Michelle Fritsch

“There’s a huge difference between being functionally limited for the decades ahead and being functionally ready to do everything that you really want to do.” – Michelle Fritsch

Connect with Dr. Fritsch!

Website: properlyourwellness.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michellefritsch

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Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence. 

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