This conversation with Ned stayed with me longer than most. I even talked to my family about it for a few days after.

Not because of the exit mechanics. Not because of the growth numbers. And not even because of the outcome. It stayed with me because of how intensely intentional everything was.

Ned does not drift into things. He decides. He commits. He practices. Then he moves on to the next challenge. That mindset showed up everywhere in this conversation.

In how he positioned his business. He did not try to be a generalist or hide behind vague labels. He got brutally clear on what he was great at, doubled down on it, and let the rest go. That clarity made the business easier to scale and much easier to sell.

It showed up in the transaction too. Rather than chasing the biggest headline number, Ned optimised for cultural alignment, incentives, and what life would actually look like after the deal. The earn-out worked. The business grew, and the transition was positive. That is not an accident. All intention and action.

But the idea that really stuck with me was his 20 hour rule.

The belief that with 20 hours of deliberate, coached practice, you can become genuinely good at almost anything. Not perfect or world class. But good enough to compete. Good enough to enjoy it. Good enough to open new doors. Bodes well for my cocktail-making skills!

That philosophy applies just as much to business and life after exit as it does to learning a new skill.

Too many founders prepare obsessively for the transaction and almost not at all for the transition. They assume freedom will just arrive. They assume fulfilment will magically appear. It does not work like that.

What Ned shows is that the same intentionality that builds a great business is the same intentionality required after the deal is done. You still need structure. You still need challenge. You still need things to work towards. The difference is that now you get to choose them.

This episode is not really about CRO or PE. It is about intention, focus and a path to mastery. 20 hours, done properly. That can change far more than a skill. It can change a trajectory.

Knowing Ned, I don’t think he’s going to slow down anytime soon. Whether that’s in his race car, his career, his health or his family life. That’s how the dude’s wired. And that’s precisely why I like him!

Listen to the full episode: The 20 Hour Rule: Growth, Exit and Life After the Deal on NexChapter.