Francis Farwell, founder of WinterSilks Inc., a Middleton, Wis., mail-order apparel company, planned to sell his business from the start. Based on that decision, he built the business accordingly. Instead of plowing all his earnings into growth, he made sure the company maintained a sizable free cash flow, making it more attractive to potential buyers. In 1990, Farwell sold out, pocketing several million dollars.
That year was 1990, January 2nd it took three days to close and I had been purposely taking a lot of time off in '89 to prove that I wasn't necessary for the business. While the acquirers were doing the due diligence, I had told them that the number two guy was extraordinarily talented and could ea...(Full transcript available to logged in subscribers.).
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