Some leaders take pride in leading from the front. They’re in the trenches with their team. They never delegate a task they wouldn’t do themselves. It earns respect, builds morale, and inspires loyalty.
But it can also destroy the value of their business.
Buyers don’t pay top dollar for a company that revolves around its owner. They want a business, not a boss.
Doug Lowenthal learned that the hard way.
When Dedication Becomes a Liability[1]
Doug spent nearly 20 years building TruTechnology, a multi-million dollar IT services firm. He believed leadership meant doing whatever it took—managing the help desk, answering support tickets, even working through holidays. His team respected him, but the pressure was nonstop.
Eventually it caught up to him. One day Doug felt a crushing weight in his chest. Convinced he was having a heart attack, he rushed to the hospital. It turned out to be a false alarm—but it was a turning point.
Doug realized he had built a successful business, but he was at the center of everything. His team was capable. He just hadn’t let go.
Letting Go Made It Valuable
That scare pushed him to change. Doug handed over real ownership to his department heads. He tied bonuses to profit. He opened the books and taught his team how the business actually made money. From gross margin to operating expenses, EBITDA became everyone’s North Star.
His team started thinking like owners. The business began to run without him.
Not long after, Doug sold TruTechnology to Evergreen Services Group in a 100% cash deal—proof that stepping back doesn’t erode value; it creates it.
[1] https://builttosell.com/radio/episode-497/
