What if I told you that business transition isn't just about changing ownership—it's about six fundamental transformations that happen to both the successor and the current owner?

In this solo episode, Andrea introduces the Six Metamorphoses of Business Transition, a framework that helps families and business teams understand the psychological and practical changes everyone experiences during leadership transitions.

From the apprentice-to-owner role shift that successors navigate to the identity changes owners face as they step back from their life's work, Andrea walks through each transformation with real examples from her own succession journey at The Transition Strategists.

Whether you're a successor feeling the weight of growing responsibility or an owner struggling with when and how to let go, this episode will help you understand what's normal, what's challenging, and why having conversations about these changes is essential for a successful transition.

Key topics covered:

• The six metamorphoses: role, vision, power, relationships, purpose, and legacy
• How successors move from apprentice to owner while managing anxiety and proving themselves
• Why owners struggle with staying relevant while giving successors space to grow
• The dance between respecting hierarchy and stepping into leadership
• How vision conflicts create tension between honoring the past and building the future
• Why relationships inside and outside the business shift for both parties
• The identity and purpose changes that affect owners and successors differently

Key takeaways:

• Transition involves fundamental changes for both successors and owners—expect this
• Different people need to move at different paces through these metamorphoses
• The sooner you start conversations about what everyone wants and needs, the better
• Understanding these changes helps normalize the challenges you're experiencing
• Designing the future together prevents assumptions and misalignment

Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend:

• Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/
• Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/
• Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend
• Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/

Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:

• Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm

Chapters in this episode:

00:00 Introduction: The Six Metamorphoses Framework

00:38 Metamorphosis #1: Role (Apprentice to Owner, Relevant to Beyond)

02:36 Metamorphosis #2: Vision (New Ideas vs. Proven Success)

03:57 Metamorphosis #3: Power (Authority, Control, and Letting Go)

05:39 Metamorphosis #4: Relationships (Networks, Dependencies, and Relevance)

07:05 Metamorphosis #5: Purpose (From Job to Identity to What's Next)

08:45 Metamorphosis #6: Legacy (Honoring the Past, Building the Future)

10:12 Key Takeaways and Next Steps