The quiet after you sell. Nobody told me about it

Greg named this in my other thread and I have not stopped thinking about it.

I sold Linkfold a year ago. Small exit. For about three weeks I felt relief. Then for about three months I felt nothing in particular, and that was worse. No inbox to check. Nobody needed me. I had spent four years being the only person who could fix a thing, and then the thing was not mine.

I started Quietdesk partly because I had an idea and partly, honestly, to have something that needed me again. I am not sure that is a good reason.

Anyone else?

Seven years on from mine. The quiet lasted about a year. What ended it was not a new company. It was teaching a woodwork class on Thursdays. I needed to be useful to someone in a room.

Four months off, got bored in the second, as I told everyone cheerfully. What I did not say was that "bored" was a polite word for it. I am glad you wrote this.

From the other side of the table: I now ask every founder I buy from what they will do on the first Monday. If they have no answer I slow the deal down. It is better for them and, selfishly, they are better in the handover.

He did ask me that. I said "sleep". He said "and Tuesday?"

Sold in 2006 and again in 2012. Both times I started something new inside six months. My wife says I don't have hobbies, I have companies. She's not wrong.

Needing to be needed isn't a bad reason. Just know that's what it is.

sold pingwell, took a job, was miserable for a year. this forum was my quietdesk. it needed me on weekends. still does

For the record, I did not know that was why you said yes to building it. I thought you were bored.

both

Never sold a company, but I left a career of fifteen years and it is the same quiet. It helped to read this.