Begin With the End in Mind

Begin with the end in mind.

Early in my career, I enrolled in a class on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Habit 2 is "Begin with the end in mind."

To be honest, I haven’t always adhered to that one.

When I started Francis Consulting Services in 2016, I didn’t have a clear exit strategy. I remember thinking, “At some point, I’ll just call my clients and tell them I’m done. Good luck.”

That changed in 2021.

I hired my first employee and better understood the value we were providing. It seemed wrong to let that value just disappear. In January 2022, I launched a 50-month plan to sell the company. Why 50 months? It would mark 10 years in business, and I believed I could get us to a "sellable" point by then.

The goal was attainable but hard, as all good goals should be.

Mathematically minded readers might be thinking: “50 months from January 2022? That’s March 2026. Is there something you’re trying to tell us, Brian?”

Yes. There is.

I’m actually two months ahead of schedule.

Effective January 1, 2026 Lumin Strategies is managed by Bryan Fox, IOM and owned by his wife, Angela.

Brittany Burton and Sarah Prencipe will continue to provide the outstanding service our clients have come to expect. I recruited each of them as part of this 50-month plan, and I am confident that the relationships, processes, and brand we’ve built will ensure the company’s and our clients' continued success.

As for me?

I don’t know exactly. As I mentioned, I haven’t always been good at beginning with the end in mind. For now, I will remain with Lumin Strategies as a Strategic Advisor. As spring turns to summer, that role will lessen.

I’ll still be looking for interesting opportunities where my skills can help others achieve their goals, and I’ll still be figuring out exactly what the "end" looks like.