What do you do when you hit “enough”—but your business still has room to grow? In this episode, Scott Allison, co-founder of Allison Marketing, shares how he scaled a boutique PR firm into a global agency with 52 offices and $100M in revenue. He dives into the challenges of founder complacency, the nuances of strategic M&A, and how he architected a smooth, 11-year earn-out. From exit readiness to post-acquisition purpose, this is a masterclass in growing and exiting with intention.
Key Takeaways:
- “Growth is a decision”—you must consciously commit and act to scale.
- Founder complacency is a major threat to long-term business value.
- Timing specialist hires correctly is crucial for sustainable growth.
- Strategic M&A can be a major growth engine—if you plan early and stay methodical.
- A thoughtful, multi-year exit plan leads to better terms and less regret.
- Emotional detachment from deals is key—don’t fall in love with the transaction.
- Identity and purpose after exit require just as much planning as the deal itself.
- Smooth leadership transitions take time; gradual step-downs work best.
Timestamps:
- 00:16 – Introduction to the episode and sponsor message
- 01:24 – Meet Scott Allison, co-founder of Allison Marketing
- 02:03 – Scott's early career and unexpected path to entrepreneurship
- 04:52 – Building a company from scratch and facing early challenges
- 06:07 – The growth of Allison Marketing to a global presence
- 08:07 – Key lessons learned in leadership and scaling a business
- 11:24 – The role of acquisitions in business growth
- 13:24 – Transitioning from CEO to a new chapter
- 15:28 – Advice for entrepreneurs considering selling their business
- 18:24 – Scott's future plans and passion projects
Links & Resources
- Scott Allison
- Website: https://www.allisonworldwide.com/
- Email: allisoncommunications@gmail.com
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