Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success: Lessons from a Nine-Figure Business Sale

The Key Lessons Learned from Selling a Business

Selling a company can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences for a business owner. Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo, a leading Black-owned hair care brand in the U.S., shares three hard-won lessons she has learned that propelled her to a successful sale for nine figures. These insights not only provide invaluable guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs but also emphasize the critical attributes needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

1. Hiring for Values Over Experience

One of Twine's greatest realizations was that talent and skill can be cultivated, but core values, such as integrity and drive, cannot. She shares an anecdote about her first operations manager, who came with no experience in beauty and was new to English. Despite this, her passion and commitment to learning transformed her into an invaluable team member. By prioritizing hiring based on personal values, Twine built a resilient team that could adapt and grow, sharing a common vision and working collaboratively even during tough times.

2. Synchronizing Product and Brand Identity

Entrepreneurs often find success in their products but neglect their brand's narrative, which can lead to disjointed customer perceptions. Twine faced this reality when she realized her brand lacked clarity; while her products thrived, the story they told was confused across different platforms. After enlisting the help of a branding agency to create a cohesive style guide, her brand began telling a unified story, enhancing both customer experience and loyalty. For business owners, this serves as a reminder that a consistent brand identity is essential, especially in an era where consumers seek authenticity.

3. The Importance of Letting Go

Twine’s third lesson speaks directly to the entrepreneur’s common struggle with control. At first, she wore all hats, from operations to marketing, believing she could do it all more efficiently. However, this approach led to burnout and missed opportunities. Real transformation happened when she sought the guidance of an executive coach, who instilled the importance of delegation. By empowering her team and scaling her leadership, Twine could focus on the bigger picture and drive significant growth. This principle is crucial for business owners looking to expand; trusting a team can lead to greater successes than trying to manage everything alone.

Embracing Lessons for Future Growth

Twine’s insights provide a roadmap for upcoming entrepreneurs. The journey of building a brand involves inevitable hurdles, but the lessons learned through them can elevate a business from ordinary to extraordinary. Each of these principles—hiring for values, synchronizing brand and product, and learning to delegate—holds the potential to transform budding entrepreneurs into successful leaders.

For anyone looking to embark on their entrepreneurial journey, Twine's experiences highlight the necessity of embracing challenges and learning from them, ultimately leading to greater achievements.