Ounce of Wisdom with John Ratliff
It’s a question that can—and often should—stop a business owner in their tracks.
In the latest episode of Ounce of Wisdom, serial entrepreneur and strategic advisor John Ratliff explores a deceptively simple but deeply revealing question:
“Would you buy your business from yourself?”
For John, this wasn’t just a thought experiment—it was a wake-up call. After building and selling Appletree Answers, a company he scaled to 24 locations and 650 employees, John found himself looking at one of his newer ventures with fresh eyes. What he saw changed everything.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why founders often lose sight of what made their business exciting in the first place
- How to evaluate your company like a buyer would
- The power of viewing your business through the lens of assets and capabilities
- What Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods can teach you about strategic value
John’s insights are grounded in real-world experience—from building culture-driven companies to advising entrepreneurs on M&A strategy through his firm, align5 (Click here for a helpful article by align5).
Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or business leader, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you see your business—and inspire you to take action. It is an Exit or Reset Test.
Watch the full episode now.
