The Adventures of Lee The SME Owner

Lee had to admit, he was impressed. After his chat with John, he’d received an email with a link to a form on the RegenerationHQ website. It wasn’t like the heavy, jargon-filled documents he’d imagined. Instead, it was clear and straightforward, asking about various aspects of his business—things like cash flow, client relationships, staffing, and systems. But there were also questions about him personally. What did he want out of this potential transition? How much control did he want to retain, if any? What were his biggest concerns?

Lee had filled out Stage 1 - The Brief, as John called it, over a cup of coffee. It had taken him a couple of hours to work through, but by the end, he felt surprisingly reflective. There were things he hadn’t thought about before—questions about what he wanted, not just what the business needed. It felt... personal.

The next step, Stage 2—The Initial Conversation—had been set up for a few days later. John had given him the option of meeting in person, but Lee had decided to go for a Zoom call to save a bit of time.

Now, here he was, waiting in front of his laptop, slightly apprehensive but also curious about what this so-called “Anti-Consultant” had up his sleeve.

The screen flickered to life, and there was John, sitting at what looked like a simple office desk, with a backdrop of a whiteboard and a few folders scattered around. He wasn’t flashy—just as Lee had hoped—and his smile was warm and easygoing.

“Morning, Lee!” John greeted, his tone as friendly as it had been on the phone. “Good to see you. How are things today?”

Lee smiled back, a bit of the tension easing. “Not bad. Let’s see what we’ve got, eh?”

For the next hour and a half, the two men talked about every aspect of Lee’s business. John led the conversation smoothly, asking questions that ranged from the financial health of the company to the relationships with key clients and staff. He wasn’t intrusive, but his questions dug deep enough to give him a solid understanding of where things stood.

He asked about Lee’s team—how involved they were in decision-making, whether Lee trusted them to run things in his absence, and whether they’d be willing to take on more responsibility.

“How do you feel about Troy, for example?” John asked, scribbling notes as they spoke. “Could he step up if you weren’t as hands-on?”

Lee thought about it, running a hand over his beard. “Troy’s good. He’s been with me for a long time. He could handle the day-to-day, but the bigger strategic stuff? I’m not sure. I’ve always been the one steering the ship.”

John nodded. “It’s common for business owners to feel that way. But part of this process is figuring out where you can delegate and what systems need to be in place for the business to run without you being the central figure.”

They discussed Glenn, which was a slightly more awkward conversation. Lee admitted he’d once hoped Glenn could take over, but he wasn’t sure if that was realistic anymore.

John, to his credit, didn’t push or judge. He just listened. “Family dynamics in business can be tricky,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s something a lot of business owners struggle with. But it’s good that you’re being honest about where Glenn’s at right now.”

They also touched on finances, contracts, and client relationships. Lee found himself talking more than he expected, laying out his concerns, his hopes, and even some of the things he hadn’t realised were bothering him.

As they wrapped up, John set his pen down and leaned back in his chair. “Lee, you’ve got a solid business here. From what I can see, it’s in good shape. But there are a few things we’ll need to focus on if you’re thinking about stepping back or selling. The most important thing is making sure the business can run without you being there day in, day out. That means strengthening the team’s ability to manage independently and making sure you’re not the only point of contact for key clients.”

Lee nodded, absorbing it all. “I’ve been thinking about that—how much the business depends on me. It’s hard to let go of the reins.”

“I get it,” John said. “It’s not about letting go all at once. It’s a gradual process. And it’s not just about the business—it’s about you too. What kind of future do you want? Do you want to stay involved in some capacity, or are you leaning toward a full exit?”

Lee thought for a moment. “I’m not sure yet. I like the idea of stepping back, but I don’t think I’m ready to walk away completely. Maybe in the future, but not now.”

John smiled. “That’s perfectly normal. It’s rare for someone to go from 100 to zero overnight. We can build a plan that allows you to ease out over time—whether that’s bringing in a partner, delegating more to your team, or eventually preparing for a sale down the track.”

Lee felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. It wasn’t that all the answers were clear yet—far from it—but at least he had someone who understood the complexity of what he was facing. And more importantly, John wasn’t pushing him to make any quick decisions. It was about figuring things out at his own pace.

“So, what’s next?” Lee asked.

“Well,” John said, flipping through his notes, “I’ll take what we’ve talked about today and come up with a few specific recommendations for the business. I’ll give you some actionable steps—nothing too overwhelming. We’ll work through it in stages. And if you’re open to it, we can meet again in a couple of weeks to review how things are going.”

Lee nodded. “That sounds good. I like the idea of breaking it down into manageable steps.”

John smiled. “Exactly. There’s no rush. This process is about getting you and the business where you want to be, without adding unnecessary stress. And if you ever feel like we’re moving too fast, just say so.” We are now in Stage 3 – The Summary Report.

As the call ended, Lee sat back in his chair, feeling surprisingly positive. It wasn’t that he had everything figured out—far from it. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like he wasn’t just drifting along, waiting for things to fall into place on their own. He had a path forward, and even though the road ahead wasn’t entirely clear, he knew he wasn’t walking it alone.

John Luxton, the “Anti-Consultant,” had given him something invaluable—a way to move forward without losing control. And that, Lee realised, was exactly what he needed.

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