The Foundation of Every Strategy.
Frameworks aren't formulas; they're tools for thinking clearly under pressure. At Simple Mystery, we use two core frameworks to guide our work: ÉLAN for exit readiness and Live on Four for sustainable leadership. These aren't academic models. They're battle-tested approaches built from real experience and applied every day.
The ÉLAN Methodology: Exit readiness isn't about checking boxes on a due diligence list. It's about building a business that works without you, drives predictable value, and gives you options when the time comes. The ÉLAN Methodology breaks this down into four phases:
A roadmap to Explore, Lead, Accelerate, and Navigate toward an exit-ready business.
We built Simple Mystery around two proprietary systems that guide founders through both sides of exit readiness, building transferable value and understanding personal clarity.
ÉLAN (Explore. Lead. Accelerate. Navigate.) is our methodology for building an exit-ready business:
Evaluate: Where are you today? We assess financial performance, operational systems, customer concentration, team structure, and market position. The goal isn't to judge, it's to see clearly. Most founders overestimate readiness. This phase creates a baseline.
Leverage: What drives value in your business? Revenue predictability? Customer retention? Proprietary systems? Team depth? We identify the 3-5 levers that matter most to buyers and strengthen them systematically. This is where readiness becomes value.
Align: Does the business reflect your goals? If you want to exit in 18 months, the strategy looks different than if you're building for a decade. Alignment means making sure operations, growth trajectory, and financial structure all point in the same direction.
Navigate: When the time comes, whether it's a sale, partnership, or transition—execution matters. Navigation is about deal strategy, buyer positioning, negotiation, due diligence coordination, and post-transaction planning. This is where readiness converts to results.
ÉLAN ensures the business is ready.
Who it's for:
Founders who want to build with exit in mind, whether they sell next year or never. ÉLAN creates optionality.
Our Promise
Because it’s not a mystery; it’s a strategy.
We partner with founders to bring structure to complexity, clarity to decision-making, and purpose to transition.
We don’t just help you plan your exit, we help you build a business and a life that are ready for it.
Simple Mystery.