Book Review: “Leaving in Style” by Janise Graham

BOOK REVIEW

By California Broker Magazine

Janise Graham wrote “Leaving in Style” for business professionals and business owners alike. Since the thought of business succession can be overwhelming, Graham wanted to create a story that illustrated an easy-to-follow process. As a professional, this book can be shared with prospects and like so they better understand the succession process and how you can help them.

Graham is an insurance professional who works with business owners to help them with the steps to include in their roadmaps. As the owner of Entrepreneur’s Insurance Services and President of Small Business Style, Inc., she dedicates her professional career to the planning needs of small business owners.

Her mission is to help business owners create plans that give them a realistic perspective and peace of mind. Her results-focused process is designed to help owners recognize and reach milestones that lead to successful outcomes. She has advised, coached, and counseled over 500 business owners and entrepreneurs in all phases of their business. As a member of the Exit Planning Institute and NAIFA’s incoming President for California, she is a true leader.

In our work with health insurance professionals, my colleagues and I see the value when a planning process is in place. Graham is a friend and collaborative professional with experience in all phases of business planning, including exit planning. We share membership in NAIFA and look forward to her leadership as she becomes the NAIFA CA president later this year. We also share involvement in the Exit Planning Institute in Orange County where we attend monthly meetings and access online resources to help clients. Graham offers all subscribers of Cal Broker to join her program to be active in your business planning. Please get the book, review the easy-to-read chapters, and take action.

“Leaving in Style” is the story of Grace discussing the many aspects of succession planning with Business Strategist, Janise Graham. Together, they draft a plan that ensures her business will thrive through any unexpected transition with the goal to both bring her peace of mind and build a solid plan to protect, grow, and possibly sell her business at some point in the future. Combining her business savvy with her love of fashion, Graham’s framework for succession planning made it easy for Grace and the path outlined should also fit for subscribers and their clients, to:

• Differentiate between pre-planning and crisis planning
• Increase stability with your team
• Build equity in the business
• Identify essential employees and their commitment level
• Recruit the right professional team players
• Facilitate effective annual meetings
• Prepare to exit your business with style

If you have a successful business that relies heavily on your presence to survive and thrive, this book is for you.

I love her chapter titles:

• Leading and Leaving Gracefully
• Design Your Plan and Create Peace of Mind
• Clarify Your WHY
• Identify Your Personal Style of Business Leadership
• Tailor Your Systems for Growth
• Create Confidence with Composure
• Step In Style Through the Transition
• Accessorize with a Dynamic Team of Experts
• Reflect and Refine with Annual Reviews
• Ready to Leave in Style
• About Janise Graham
• Special Invitation
• Supporting Women in Business

“Janise Graham has presented a very concise step-by-step plan for anyone to follow and accomplish. This is a must-read for everyone in business as well as CPAs, Attorneys, Bankers, and entrepreneurs thinking of starting one.” —CC Vest, Former Co-owner and President of Midpoint Bearing.

“Janise Graham’s comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to take them through the process of ‘leaving in style.’ Janise has skillfully created the essential exit strategy tutorial for anyone operating their own business.” —Ernie Silvers, MBA, Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship, Jack H. Brown College, School of Entrepreneurship

“If you have said, ‘I am going to get around to it,’ and you look at the calendar like I did, and it is 15 years later, this book will make you gasp and then propel you into action.” —Hilda Kennedy, Founder President, AmPac Business Capital

“‘Leaving In Style’ is full of wisdom, insight, and useful tips to help all business owners put good business practices in place just in case they don’t make it back to work.” —Janet Steiner, Former President and CEO of Thoro Packaging, President of MakeDust, Founder of TradeWorksUSA

“‘Leaving In Style’ is thought-provoking and will cause you to rethink everything you thought about your retirement or business exit plan. This book could not be more timely.” —Patricia Summers, Owner of California Smog & Automotive Institute

“Janise’s ability to make the complicated simple makes ‘Leaving in Style’ a must-read book for every business owner. Creating an exit strategy allows you to have peace of mind; and strategy, Janise shows you exactly how to do that.” —Ursula Mentjes, 5x Bestselling Author and CEO of Ursula, Inc.

This is a must-read for everyone in business as well as CPAs, Attorneys, Bankers, and entrepreneurs thinking of starting one.” —CC Vest, Former Co-owner & President of Midpoint Bearing.

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