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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