Making an exit is often the ultimate dream. But this dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you fall into these three traps.
Because the real question is not: "How much did you sell?"
But: "What did you do with that freedom?"
Mistake No. 1: Lifestyle drift
You've earned your comfort. But comfort is not a project.
The exit brings with it an insidious temptation: to go into "rentier mode". You buy, you equip, you enjoy... and you get ankylosis.
It's not so much the money spent that's the problem, it's the psychological effect:
- You lose the fire.
- You lose your sense of urgency.
- You're settling into a life of small-scale enjoyment, with no great course.
Tip: Establish budget discipline from the outset. Define a pleasure zone (rent, lifestyle, travel) but lock the rest into productive or tax-free investments. And above all: keep your project moving. Without ambition, money becomes poison.
Mistake No. 2: Capital misallocation
The "freetax" acts like a freebet: it pushes you to bet any way you want.
Too many exiters blow their 150-0 B ter on poorly-rated funds, bogus deals or lousy startups "because they had to be quick".
"I was under the impression that as long as I reemployed on time, everything was good. In fact, I mostly validated emotional tickets."
Tip: Stop. Take back control.
- Create your own structure (holding, operating or trading company).
- Build your own team (accounting, tax, legal).
- Use the 150-0 B ter as a lever
- Track your assets like a box: cashflow, dashboards, arbitrages.
Post-exit capital is a strategic tool. Not a fireworks display.
Mistake #3: Pressure from your entourage
The exit isolates you. It's brutal. And often, silent.
We think money solves everything. It just moves the problems around.
- Your friends no longer understand your troubles.
- Your loved ones think you're "lucky" but out of touch.
- Your children risk becoming "rich kids" if you don't set the right rules very quickly.
Tip: Organize your personal and family governance.
- Draw up a family charter to lay the groundwork.
- Create a family council, even an informal one.
- Teach your children about effort, gratitude and discipline.
- Surround yourself with exiters. People who know what you're going through.
Because anyone who hasn't been there can't understand how you feel.
Photo: Valentin Kremer