If “X marks the spot,” where are you trying to go with your business?

Every business has a destination. Smart business owners choose theirs intentionally. The rest? Their destination gets chosen for them—by time, by circumstances, or by a lack of preparation.

But here’s the hard truth: the majority of business owners don’t arrive where they hoped. They run out of time. They hit unexpected bumps—divorce, disability, death, disagreement. Or worse, they miss the window to sell or pass on the business because it wasn’t ready.

“81% of business owners who sold their business wish they had spent more time preparing.” — UBS Research

The Risk of Drifting

Most business owners focus on revenue and profit. But when it comes time to sell or hand off the business, they learn the painful lesson: it’s not about revenue and profit—it’s about value.

“The ultimate goal of every business owner should be to maximize value—not just profit.” — The Business Owner's Guide to Maximize Business Valuation

That’s why you need to know your “X.” Whether you want to:

• eXpand your business through organic or acquisitive growth

• eXit by selling it (remember, 83% of intended exits fail to complete)

• eXchange it with the next generation of leaders (and 65% of those transfers also fail)

The only way to reliably get there is by creating value—consistently and intentionally.

Know Your X. Accelerate Toward It.

Getting to your destination requires more than direction—it requires momentum.

Once you define your X, the next question is: how fast can you get there? That’s where value creation comes in. It’s the engine that powers your acceleration. Whether your X is expansion, exit, or exchange, you need a business built for performance.

That’s what the Value Creation Engines are designed to do:

1. Revenue Growth – Drive consistent, scalable income.

2. Process Optimization – Improve efficiency and profitability.

3. Culture Development – Engage your team to drive results.

4. Strategic Innovation – Open new lanes for revenue and market leadership.

Each engine contributes to the two components of business value: EBITDA (your horsepower) and your multiple (your torque). Together, they create the force to move your business faster and further toward your goal.

When your engines are firing on all cylinders, you're not just moving—you’re accelerating toward your ideal outcome with purpose and power.

Action Over Regret

Don’t wait. Don’t drift. Don’t be one of the 83% that wanted to exit—but couldn’t.

Start by asking: What’s my X?

Do I want to eXpand, eXit, or eXchange to the next generation of leaders? Even better, would I like to have options to choose?

All of these great options require a focus on value creation.

But here's the key: to get to your X, you need to know another X—your “You Are Here.” This is the current value of your business. It includes what your business is worth today, what it could be worth at best-in-class performance, and what’s standing in the way.

Just like a GPS can’t chart a course without knowing your starting point, you can’t build a plan for value creation without an honest assessment of where you are now.

That’s why the first step is to measure your business’s value. We’ll help you get clarity on your current valuation and show you the path to unlock the full potential of your business.

Know your X.

Know your “You Are Here.”

Then take control of the journey.

Schedule your valuation consultation now.

Originally published on Darrell Amy's LinkedIn.