In this launch episode of The Owner’s Playbook, host Carol Dewey sets the foundation for what this podcast is all about: understanding the end game of business ownership. Drawing from nearly two decades of working with business owners, Carol introduces the core themes that will shape the entire show.

She explains the universal truth that every owner will eventually exit their business and highlights the reality behind why so many planned exits fall short. The episode breaks down the difference between income and transferable value, the importance of preparing early, and the common traps owners fall into when their business depends too heavily on them.

Carol also introduces key concepts that will recur throughout future episodes, including the wealth gap, the value gap, and the Eight Key Drivers of Company Value—focusing today on four foundational drivers:

• Financial Performance

• Growth Potential

• Monopoly Control

• Hub & Spoke

The launch episode frames exit planning not just as a business strategy, but as life planning. Carol shares how clarity, structure, and vision shape a business that can thrive beyond the owner and support the life they want after the exit.

What You’ll Hear in This Launch Episode

• The purpose and vision behind The Owner’s Playbook
• Why every business has an end game
• National research on business sales and success rates
• The difference between income and transferable value
• The common “fatal trap” many owners fall into
• Introduction to the wealth gap and value gap
• Four key drivers that influence business value
• How alignment between business goals and life goals sets the stage for a successful transition

Resources Mentioned

• Eight Key Drivers of Company Value
• Value Builder Score Assessment