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Walking to Destiny: 11 Actions An Owner Must Take to Rapidly Grow Value & Unlock Wealth
Rapidly grow and unlock value trapped in your business with strategic planning to exit on your terms
As a business owner, you know your business will eventually change hands. But will your transition occur on your terms and timeline? Financial advisors estimate that 80% of an owner’s net worth is locked in their businesses. Yet, when the time comes, most owners end up liquidating instead of selling because they lack a clear growth strategy.
Veteran entrepreneur and CEO of the Exit Planning Institute Christopher Snider brought forty years of experience in corporate finance and leadership to his five-star rated 2016 edition of Walking to Destiny. In this revised, updated, and expanded edition, he brings even more depth to his paradigm-changing work.
While most business thinkers focus on the endgame, Snider demonstrates that your successful exit is based on what you do now to unlock the value trapped in your business. His Value Acceleration Methodology will give you the steps to accomplish the exit planning necessary to make you five to ten times wealthier.
His methodology walks you through:
- The present value of your business and its potential best-in-class value with an Attractiveness and Readiness Assessment.
- A Prioritized Action Plan—a three-to-ten-year vision of your chosen destination to close your profit and value gaps.
- 90-Day Sprints— processes and infrastructure to execute relentlessly and evaluate your results with a scorecard that measures value growth.
- The act of decision-making every 90 days to see if you want to keep growing or shift to exiting—keeping exit planning present tense and in your control.
- The “4C’s” of your knowledge capital and how to identify, protect, and build these intangible assets.
- The Strategic Value = Simple Math formula to raise your valuation.
Align your business with your life with this systematic approach to quantitative growth. Whether you're a business owner or a business advisor who works with business owners, Walking to Destiny will position you to build and preserve family wealth for generations.
As a business owner, you know your business will eventually change hands. But will your transition occur on your terms and timeline? Financial advisors estimate that 80% of an owner’s net worth is locked in their businesses. Yet, when the time comes, most owners end up liquidating instead of selling because they lack a clear growth strategy.
Veteran entrepreneur and CEO of the Exit Planning Institute Christopher Snider brought forty years of experience in corporate finance and leadership to his five-star rated 2016 edition of Walking to Destiny. In this revised, updated, and expanded edition, he brings even more depth to his paradigm-changing work.
While most business thinkers focus on the endgame, Snider demonstrates that your successful exit is based on what you do now to unlock the value trapped in your business. His Value Acceleration Methodology will give you the steps to accomplish the exit planning necessary to make you five to ten times wealthier.
His methodology walks you through:
- The present value of your business and its potential best-in-class value with an Attractiveness and Readiness Assessment.
- A Prioritized Action Plan—a three-to-ten-year vision of your chosen destination to close your profit and value gaps.
- 90-Day Sprints— processes and infrastructure to execute relentlessly and evaluate your results with a scorecard that measures value growth.
- The act of decision-making every 90 days to see if you want to keep growing or shift to exiting—keeping exit planning present tense and in your control.
- The “4C’s” of your knowledge capital and how to identify, protect, and build these intangible assets.
- The Strategic Value = Simple Math formula to raise your valuation.
Align your business with your life with this systematic approach to quantitative growth. Whether you're a business owner or a business advisor who works with business owners, Walking to Destiny will position you to build and preserve family wealth for generations.
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2023
76 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 6, 2025
The size of the US economy in 2025 is $30 trillion dollars. And 60% or about $18 Trillion of that GDP, I was shocked find out in this insightful book, is generated by entrepreneurs and their privately held businesses. That fact alone makes one realize how much value and wealth is contained within this segment of companies, many of which are family owned.
So what is an owner to do in order to successfully tap into the value painstakingly built over years or decades within a privately held business? That is the subject of this practical book which, in my opinion, can be taken completely at face value by business owners to go from the point of owning the business to the point of successfully exiting the business in the owner’s own terms.
But first an owner must ask herself/himself the questions: am I a lifestyle owner or a value creator? This is a critical question. Because the fact is only transferable businesses can aspire to produce an exit benefit to owners. Many privately held businesses exist to provide lifestyle income to the owner. Yet when those businesses are closely examined there is little value in them because they have not developed human, customer, social or structural capital. Businesses that do not demonstrate strong evidence of having systems, processes and activity along these four fronts need to change their business strategy into a value creation strategy if there is any intent to exit profitably in the g=future.
The discouraging statistic point to only about 50% of owners being able to successfully transition out of their business. So the suggestion here is to embrace the concept of "value acceleration” in order to make a business transferable. Following this methodology will help optimize the chances of successfully unlocking the wealth in the business at some point in the future. Getting in front of this process, by utilizing the methodology presented in “Walking to Destiny”, can really make a difference for families and partners who can then realistically expect to exit both successfully and profitably. Statistically owners have about 80% of their net wroth tied up in their business. So an exit represents the single best harvesting opportunity for those who have dedicated their lives to their companies.
The book also illustrates in great detail a number of exit strategies highlighting both internal options, such as selling to family or to employees, and external, such as selling to a strategic partner or a priovate equity firm. In all cases there is an evaluation of pros and cons for each option.
As well, the book highlights the need for business owners to tap in to the professional skills of specific advisors, such as financial advisors, who can help organize information and strategy, goals and projects, people and resources, in order to advance the objective.
I consider this book a super valuable must-read for owners of all types of privately held buisnesses. It is also a terrific guide for advisors interested in helping their clients focus on the value they have created and the implications it has for their own personal and family wealth into retirement.
So what is an owner to do in order to successfully tap into the value painstakingly built over years or decades within a privately held business? That is the subject of this practical book which, in my opinion, can be taken completely at face value by business owners to go from the point of owning the business to the point of successfully exiting the business in the owner’s own terms.
But first an owner must ask herself/himself the questions: am I a lifestyle owner or a value creator? This is a critical question. Because the fact is only transferable businesses can aspire to produce an exit benefit to owners. Many privately held businesses exist to provide lifestyle income to the owner. Yet when those businesses are closely examined there is little value in them because they have not developed human, customer, social or structural capital. Businesses that do not demonstrate strong evidence of having systems, processes and activity along these four fronts need to change their business strategy into a value creation strategy if there is any intent to exit profitably in the g=future.
The discouraging statistic point to only about 50% of owners being able to successfully transition out of their business. So the suggestion here is to embrace the concept of "value acceleration” in order to make a business transferable. Following this methodology will help optimize the chances of successfully unlocking the wealth in the business at some point in the future. Getting in front of this process, by utilizing the methodology presented in “Walking to Destiny”, can really make a difference for families and partners who can then realistically expect to exit both successfully and profitably. Statistically owners have about 80% of their net wroth tied up in their business. So an exit represents the single best harvesting opportunity for those who have dedicated their lives to their companies.
The book also illustrates in great detail a number of exit strategies highlighting both internal options, such as selling to family or to employees, and external, such as selling to a strategic partner or a priovate equity firm. In all cases there is an evaluation of pros and cons for each option.
As well, the book highlights the need for business owners to tap in to the professional skills of specific advisors, such as financial advisors, who can help organize information and strategy, goals and projects, people and resources, in order to advance the objective.
I consider this book a super valuable must-read for owners of all types of privately held buisnesses. It is also a terrific guide for advisors interested in helping their clients focus on the value they have created and the implications it has for their own personal and family wealth into retirement.
September 15, 2024
Walking to Destiny" by Christopher Snider is a masterfully crafted roadmap for the Exit Planning strategy, offering a thorough and actionable plan for business owners. The book seamlessly lays out the fundamentals of exit planning with real-world examples that not only inform but also engage the reader from start to finish.
For newcomers to the world of exit planning, Snider’s book serves as an essential primer, introducing and clarifying the process with remarkable clarity. For those already familiar with the concepts, it re-engages the reader, providing valuable insights and details that are beneficial throughout the journey.
One of the standout features of this book is its methodical flow. Snider provides new insights into business practicalities and supports his points with informative graphs and charts that are easy to digest. This approach not only enriches the reader's understanding but also makes complex ideas accessible and straightforward.
For any business owner, "Walking to Destiny" is a must-read. It's a promise that this book will set you on the right track to accelerating the value within your business and provide you with a practical blueprint to achieve that. More importantly, it introduces a paradigm shift in understanding exit planning, ensuring you are well-prepared for the future.
In summary, "Walking to Destiny" is an invaluable resource, both for its comprehensive coverage of exit planning and for its engaging and accessible presentation.
For newcomers to the world of exit planning, Snider’s book serves as an essential primer, introducing and clarifying the process with remarkable clarity. For those already familiar with the concepts, it re-engages the reader, providing valuable insights and details that are beneficial throughout the journey.
One of the standout features of this book is its methodical flow. Snider provides new insights into business practicalities and supports his points with informative graphs and charts that are easy to digest. This approach not only enriches the reader's understanding but also makes complex ideas accessible and straightforward.
For any business owner, "Walking to Destiny" is a must-read. It's a promise that this book will set you on the right track to accelerating the value within your business and provide you with a practical blueprint to achieve that. More importantly, it introduces a paradigm shift in understanding exit planning, ensuring you are well-prepared for the future.
In summary, "Walking to Destiny" is an invaluable resource, both for its comprehensive coverage of exit planning and for its engaging and accessible presentation.
October 20, 2017
I approach books built around a specific business methodology with skepticism. The skepticism increases when it is written by someone who then consults on that methodology. So, when the author sent me this book to read, I was willing but not expecting much. However, the author of this book delivers upon the value claims that are made. This book is indeed a great reference book for an owner looking to exit from their business. There are relevant takeaways whether or not the owner ever decides to go down the path of engaging a consultant to fully execute the value acceleration methodology.
November 22, 2017
One of the better books I’ve read about Exit Planning and the process that serves owners of businesses transitioning their ownership to others in the wide variety of ways this is done. I read this book as part of the Certified Exit Planning Advisor program through the Exit Planning Institute at the University of Chicago. Highly recommended.
July 8, 2025
If you’re looking for an outline of what it takes to exit your business / pull the value out of a successful business you’ve built so you can retire in the lifestyle you’re accustomed to - this is the book for you!
November 4, 2020
A must read for all baby boomer business owners. A great process and set of tools to help you prepare for a successful business transition.
August 26, 2021
Backs up what I've been doing
Highlighted many great points made in this book that backs up what I've been doing in business growth for years. Thoroughly worthwhile book.
Highlighted many great points made in this book that backs up what I've been doing in business growth for years. Thoroughly worthwhile book.
January 19, 2023
This has a great map for those looking to sell their business. I am looking forward to getting my certification to help people sell their business with this great method.
May 29, 2023
Goodreads giveaway win
Goodreads giveaway win - enjoyed the opportunity to read, feel much more knowledgeable about this topic.
Well mapped out and and easy to follow book.
Goodreads giveaway win - enjoyed the opportunity to read, feel much more knowledgeable about this topic.
Well mapped out and and easy to follow book.
July 7, 2024
Great read. I pass it on to many that I advise or work with.
October 29, 2025
Probably the best framework I've ever read for building a valuable business. I'm looking forward to working through this with clients and my team alike.
February 4, 2026
I have no idea how this is 4 stars. It’s awful.
June 28, 2023
Walking to Destiny
Terrific and detailed Primer how you should navigate the exit process. Lots of takeaways and checklists to process and apply to your situation.
Terrific and detailed Primer how you should navigate the exit process. Lots of takeaways and checklists to process and apply to your situation.
March 25, 2017
if you own a business or advise a business owner in capacity, read this book. it is truly a work of art. the process laid out in the book will ensure the owner's business is not only attractive to buys but is ready for exit. the risk owners face are the limited opportunities for buyers to buy, and preparing the business to be read for exit reduces the risk. once a business is ready, the owner can always ask themselves should I grow or exit? the level of confidence puts the destiny of the owner in their control.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews