Chuck Cooper is the President of WhiteWater Consulting, an HR advisory firm that helps small and midsize businesses maximize their people potential. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and author of the best-selling book The Family Business Blueprint, Chuck guides owners through succession planning, leadership transitions, and legacy building. With a passion for aligning people strategies with business goals, Chuck brings a unique blend of insight, empathy, and practical experience to every conversation—making complex transitions feel both possible and purposeful.
In today's episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about succession planning, legacy building, and the emotional transitions that come with running and eventually letting go of a business.
Chuck and I discuss:
- The backstory to WhiteWater Consulting [01:58]
- Lessons from real-life experience and its impact on consulting [04:48]
- The importance of being coachable and agile [05:58]
- Navigating client relationships and defining your ideal prospect [06:36]
- The power of saying no to non-ideal clients [08:17]
- Why succession planning is often avoided and why it matters [09:00]
- How identity and daily activity can delay necessary business transitions [10:41]
- Getting clear on goals for business transition [12:35]
- Critical steps in succession planning [14:20]
- The role of peer groups in navigating succession [15:08]
- Major career mistakes and recovery through community and mentorship [16:29]
- The value of a personal board of directors and going deep with community [20:11]
- Advice for corporate refugees starting their own business [22:00]
- Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are crucial for entrepreneurship [22:17]
Learn more about Chuck at:
https://whitewaterconsulting.net
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-cooper1
Thank you to our sponsor:
The Smashing the Plateau Community
Unlock practical strategies and actionable insights from our experts—join our community and transform your journey to business success today!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.