How to Know When to Move On From the Business You Built Figure out if the next step in your business is to leave it.

After spending several years building my business, I sold it in 2009 for a tidy sum and left it behind—the entrepreneurial dream, right?

Not really. I'd wanted out for quite a while, since I'd sacrificed my health and my marriage to build a successful brand. I was fortunate to find a buyer for my business, but I would have walked away regardless.

For many entrepreneurs, arriving at this moment is tough, especially when, as in my case, business is thriving. We're taught that "winners never quit, and quitters never win," but it's not always that simple.