I read Inc. magazine for years until my subscription ran out .. I would say the experience of reading that for a couple of years will give you plenty if ideas of what to do and what not to do.

Unfortunately there's nothing I can suggest to you that will 'give you' the knowledge that you appear to seek before setting out on this voyage.

I can recommend that changing your life and/or career should be an evolutionary change. Repurpose your goals gradually, starting thinking withint a different framework. I'll give you an example.

Long ago, a colleague of mine worked with an incorrigible slacker. After months of whining about his co-worker, he finally shut up and instead tried to develop new ways of working with his colleague, providing help, suggestions, guidance on the project they were working on together. Not surpisingly, the incorrigible slacker suddenly (hah) became a productive, indispensable team member, and the project quality took a big jump up. Everyone was happy.

My advice is this: don't focus too much on the goal of growing your business to a specific size with the goal of getting bought out. Take care of the small stuff, and growth will happen. With growth will come notice on a wider scale, and with that will come folks interested in buying you out.

One of my favourite quotes comes from a character played by Robin Williams in Dead Again, where he confronts Kevin Brannagh's character about his smoking. He says, "It's not difficult to quit smoking. Just decide whether you're a smoker or a non-smoker, and be that person." Just decide who you are, and be that person. Words to live by.