Why Only Those in the Arena Get to Build the Future

“It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…”– Theodore Roosevelt

Succession planning can feel like one of the most exposed things a business owner or family can do. Everyone has an opinion—on timing, readiness, fairness, even legacy. And yet, none of those opinions matter as much as the work being done by the people actually making decisions.

The founder weighing when to step back. The successor wondering if they’re ready—or if they’ll ever be. The family trying to navigate what’s best for the business and for each other.

That’s the arena.

It’s not clean. It’s rarely simple. But it’s the work that builds a future.

At Strategos, we sit beside people in that arena—not judging from the sidelines, but helping clarify the path forward. Because in succession planning, the hardest part isn’t the plan—it’s facing the emotions, identities, and relationships that come with it. That’s why so many avoid it. And why those who do it well deserve so much credit.

There will be missteps. Some conversations won’t go smoothly. But every step taken—every time a founder starts the dialogue, every time a successor steps up, every time a plan moves forward—that’s a win.

So here’s to the ones with dust on their boots. The ones building beyond their own timeline. The ones planning for a business they might not run, but deeply care about.

“You can’t predict. You can prepare.”— Howard Marks

If that’s you, you’re already ahead of the curve. And you're not alone in the arena.