How to Lead Succession, Build Legacy, and Manage Emotional Shifts in Business Ownership and Leadership Featuring Chuck Cooper
Chuck Cooper is the President of WhiteWater Consulting, an HR advisory firm that helps small and midsize businesses maximize their people potential. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and author of the best-selling book The Family Business Blueprint, Chuck guides owners through succession planning, leadership transitions, and legacy building. With a passion for aligning people strategies with business goals, Chuck brings a unique blend of insight, empathy, and practical experience to every conversation—making complex transitions feel both possible and purposeful.
In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn about succession planning, legacy building, and the emotional transitions that come with running and eventually letting go of a business.
Chuck and I discuss:
- The backstory to WhiteWater Consulting [01:58]
- Lessons from real-life experience and its impact on consulting [04:48]
- The importance of being coachable and agile [05:58]
- Navigating client relationships and defining your ideal prospect [06:36]
- The power of saying no to non-ideal clients [08:17]
- Why succession planning is often avoided and why it matters [09:00]
- How identity and daily activity can delay necessary business transitions [10:41]
- Getting clear on goals for business transition [12:35]
- Critical steps in succession planning [14:20]
- The role of peer groups in navigating succession [15:08]
- Major career mistakes and recovery through community and mentorship [16:29]
- The value of a personal board of directors and going deep with community [20:11]
- Advice for corporate refugees starting their own business [22:00]
- Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are crucial for entrepreneurship [22:17]
Learn more about Chuck at:
https://whitewaterconsulting.net
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-cooper1
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About the author, David Shriner-Cahn
David is the podcast host and community builder behind Smashing the Plateau, an online platform offering resources, accountability, and camaraderie to high-performing professionals who are making the leap from the corporate career track to entrepreneurial business ownership.