What happens when the business you built, lived, and led for decades is suddenly no longer yours? In this episode of Something New Is Possible, I’m speaking with Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood, a strategic business advisor, certified exit planning advisor, and former multi-unit McDonald’s franchise owner. After 38 years in the McDonald’s system, including 24 years as a franchise owner in a family business, Michele found herself facing a painful business crossroads that forced her to make decisions she never expected. Michele shares what it was like to sell her business, grieve the loss of an identity she had carried for decades, and slowly begin discovering who she was beyond the work. We talk about listening to intuition, acknowledging difficult emotions, creating a “joy plan,” and why business owners need to think about their future before crisis forces the conversation. This is a grounded conversation about business, identity, grief, faith, transition, and the possibility of writing a new chapter. If you’ve ever wondered what comes next after a major life or business change, this episode is for you. CONTACT MICHELE WEBSITE: http://www.rbydesign360.com INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/michele_kirkwood/ LINKEDIN: http://linkedin.com/in/michelerkcoach LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHELE Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood is a strategic business advisor and certified exit planning advisor who helps business owners get clear, build real value, and create options to scale, step back, or exit on their terms. With 38 years in the McDonald’s system, including 24 as a multi-unit franchise owner, she brings practical insight, real-world experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build a business that supports both growth and life beyond it. Having navigated her own unexpected exit, Michele now helps others plan intentionally so they can move forward with clarity, choice, and confidence. SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL ⟹ https://www.youtube.com/user/bschwarck/featured?sub_confirmation=1 SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH BARBARA ⟹ https://calendly.com/barbara-2/exploration SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM ⟹ https://www.instagram.com/clearintentionsinternational/ FACEBOOK ⟹ https://www.facebook.com/ClearIntentionsInternational LINKEDIN ⟹ https://www.linkedin.com/company/clear-intentions-international BUSINESS CONTACT ⟹ info@clearintentions.net DISCLAIMER This channel is for information and educational purposes only and should not be used in place of therapy. Feel free to comment, like, and share our videos. For a deeper look into any of these subjects, you are invited to book a coaching package with me or participate in one of our programs. Please email info@clearintentions.net for more information.
