Steven Bartlett, founder of Social Chain and host of Diary of a CEO, shares unexpected advice … [+]
Picture this: You’ve just sold your business. Rushing, sleepless nights and relentless driving have paid off. You are financially free. No more worrying about payroll or chasing the next big deal. Yet in the midst of this newfound success, you’re left asking yourself a question you never thought you’d face: What do I do now? Like any departing entrepreneur, you need good advice after selling a business.
This is exactly where Steven Bartlett found himself after leaving his company. What came next wasn’t a business plan, a new investment, or even a vacation. It was a single piece of advice from a mentor that changed everything.
Best advice after selling a business
Steven Bartlett, founder of Social Chain and host of Diary of a CEOtells how his mentor and friend, Shakil Khan, gave him advice that was as unexpected as it was transformative. Shakil, an early investor in Shopify and a seasoned entrepreneur, didn’t suggest jumping on the next big thing. Instead, he asked Steven to do something profoundly difficult: nothing.
“The reason you were successful was because you were hungry,” Shaq told him. “You have to realize that you are no longer hungry for the same reasons.”
Steven’s instinct was to dive headfirst into another venture. But Shakil’s advice was clear: spend a year doing absolutely nothing. No new business. No new venture. Just time to reflect, recharge and rediscover what truly inspires you.
Additional resource: Beyond the sale: Navigating life after exiting your business
Why doing nothing is so hard—and so powerful
For high achievers like Steven, the idea of quitting seems counterintuitive. The same drive that drives someone to build a multi-million dollar business often makes them uncomfortable with stillness. But Shakil’s advice was not to stay idle. In fact, it was all about recalibration.
Stephen’s success was fueled by hunger: the drive of an “insecure child” struggling to survive. With financial freedom achieved, that hunger needed a new source. Shakil’s wisdom lay in recognizing that rushing into another venture without this recalibration could lead to burnout or, worse, mediocrity.
Additional resources: How to avoid depression after selling a business
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life was nothing,” admits Steven. But in that space of stillness, he found something priceless: clarity.
Finding Your Moon After Selling a Business
After months of reflection, Steven’s path forward became clear. Shakil’s second piece of advice was just as influential as the first: “You have to do a moonshot.”
A Moonsight is not just a new project; it’s a goal so big, so audacious, that it reignites your passion and forces you to grow beyond your current limits. For Steven, this meant identifying a challenge that was both daunting and exciting enough; something that would make him feel hungry again.
How this tip applies to you
Whether you’ve sold your business, hit a big milestone, or just feel stuck, the lessons from Steven’s story are universal. Here’s how you can implement them:
1. Take time to reflect
If you’re used to constant hustle and bustle, stillness can feel like failure. But taking time to stop is essential. Reflection allows you to:
- Reevaluate your goals.
- Identify what truly inspires you.
- Avoid rushing into something that doesn’t align with your values.
2. Redefine your hunger
The motivation that fueled your past success may not work for your next chapter. And that’s okay. Success is about evolving your “why” as your circumstances change.
Action step: Write your new definition of success. What excites you right now? What scares you (in a good way)?
3. Find your moonscape
A moonshot isn’t just a big goal; it’s a goal that challenges you to think differently and take bold risks. It’s the kind of challenge that lights your fire.
Action step: Name three big, bold goals that excite and terrify you. Then choose one to follow.
Additional resource: What is your Moonshot? by Sanei, John
The courage to sit still and do nothing
Steven’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best move is not to move at all. Resisting the urge to jump into another venture, he gave himself the space to discover what really mattered. And in doing so, he set the stage for his next great adventure; one fueled by passion, purpose and a renewed hunger.
So if you’re at a crossroads, take a page from Steven Bartlett’s playbook. Be brave enough to sit down. And when you’re ready, aim for the moon.
Additional resource: How to help your team thrive after you exit
Your next step after selling your business
The best advice after selling a business is to do nothing. Take time to reflect. Your next big breakthrough can only come from having the courage to stop.