25 years helping people suck less in public

My company, Missing Link - is 25 years old today. So that's a thing. I'm 47, so this wee entity has been around more than half my life. As such, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to reflect sporadically over the next month and share 25 ideas or lessons that I have learned that have shaped who I am today. I'm doing this for somewhat selfish reasons (self-reflection is a superpower) but it's my hope that you take something out of each one.

Now, while future reflections will certainly be about the people that built this company with me, today is a wee bit more introspective.

Reflection 1/25 - you don't need to exit your business - in fact, most of you shouldn't

So, the company is 25, I have mentioned this to a few people today, and of course, when I do I get met with applause?? and congratulations ??. However, if you're cynical, you could go another way, "Sheesh man, are you still driving that old banger?".

And you wouldn't be wrong. Conventional wisdom and the fashion at the moment is inded that you build a business to sell it. That's the purpose of most companies, they start, literally, with the end in mind.

I remember obsessing over this idea for years, and there were a few times we got quite deep into discussions with companies looking to acquire us. When I look back though, the singular emotion is always the same

THANK GOODNESS, YOU DODGED THAT BULLET.

A lot of my friends and acquaintances are entrepreneurs, and many of them have sold their businesses. Often for huge sums of money. My first reaction is a feeling of joy for them - it's incredible, however, there's always that wee bit of jealousy that creeps in, and of course the self-doubt (you're not good enough to sell).

The thing is many (not all) of those same people, years later, are miserable and lack the same spark that they had before. It's like they sold off a piece of their identity and now have to struggle to try to carve out a new one - the problem is that they liked who they were, and they liked what they did.

I often joke that Mulholland is my middle name, as my actual surname is "from Missing Link" (von Missing Link / Mc Missing Link ). When people introduce me they say, "Hey, this is Rich from Missing Link" - and I love it - I love being Rich from Missing Link!

Missing Link's purpose statement is "helping ordinary people deliver extra-ordinary presentations (because it can change their life)", my personal purpose statement is "To live a fun life, while provoking and empowering others to make their mark on the world."

Missing Link's purpose is literally the path to the fulfillment of my own - why would I possibly want to sell that!?

The great thing about deciding to build a business that you have no intention of selling is that it stops you from thinking like an entrepreneur (build companies) and starts you thinking like a craftsperson (learn more).

I love the craft of presentation and public speaking and want to dedicate my career to making people better at it. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone is one great presentation away from changing their trajectory, and I want to be a part of an organization that's hell bent on helping them do just that.

So for me (and me alone), the 25-year achievement is less about not dying, and more about not selling. It's okay to not grow, it's okay to not sell. It's okay just to get better at what you do, day after day, and to be happy with just that.

I'm not sure I'll still be actively involved in Missing Link in another 25 years, but I very much hope to still be around for it.