32: How Founder Complacency Kills Value—and What Scott Allison Did Differently

What do you do when you hit “enough”—but your business still has room to grow? In this episode, Scott Allison, co-founder of Allison Marketing, shares how he scaled a boutique PR firm into a global agency with 52 offices and $100M in revenue. He dives into the challenges of founder complacency, the nuances of strategic M&A, and how he architected a smooth, 11-year earn-out. From exit readiness to post-acquisition purpose, this is a masterclass in growing and exiting with intention.

Key Takeaways:

• “Growth is a decision”—you must consciously commit and act to scale.
• Founder complacency is a major threat to long-term business value.
  
• Timing specialist hires correctly is crucial for sustainable growth.
  
• Strategic M&A can be a major growth engine—if you plan early and stay methodical.
  
• A thoughtful, multi-year exit plan leads to better terms and less regret.
  
• Emotional detachment from deals is key—don’t fall in love with the transaction.
  
• Identity and purpose after exit require just as much planning as the deal itself.
• Smooth leadership transitions take time; gradual step-downs work best.

Timestamps:

• 00:16 – Introduction to the episode and sponsor message
• 01:24 – Meet Scott Allison, co-founder of Allison Marketing
• 02:03 – Scott's early career and unexpected path to entrepreneurship
• 04:52 – Building a company from scratch and facing early challenges
• 06:07 – The growth of Allison Marketing to a global presence
• 08:07 – Key lessons learned in leadership and scaling a business
• 11:24 – The role of acquisitions in business growth
• 13:24 – Transitioning from CEO to a new chapter
• 15:28 – Advice for entrepreneurs considering selling their business
• 18:24 – Scott's future plans and passion projects

Links & Resources

• Scott Allison
  
  • Website: https://www.allisonworldwide.com/
  • Email: allisoncommunications@gmail.com

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