From Founder to Future

“In an economic landscape roamed by private equity pirates and hedge fund mercenaries, this book is a powerful reminder that there's another model for commerce—one rooted in communities and in workers, producing stability and satisfaction. These pages can be a tool for sweeping change.” —Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy “From Founder to Future serves as both a source of inspiration and a practical guide for embarking on the mission preservation and succession journey—no matter your age or stage.” —Carolyn Edsell-Vetter, Program Director, Cooperative Fund of the Northeast “Abrams has seen the future of business and experienced the joy that comes with it, and wrote this book to guide other business owners. You should consult it whether or not you expect to follow his path.” —Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants “This work solves the legacy problem—it shows how to preserve business purpose and prosperity beyond the founder through employee ownership. Here’s hoping many, many businesses take up this model.” —Marjorie Kelly, author of The Divine Right of Capital “John Abrams has been one of the most passionate and convincing advocates for employee ownership and a great storyteller to boot. This new book is a compelling tale of his journey, and maybe yours as well.” —Corey Rosen, Founder, National Center for Employee Ownership “This is the book I’ve long been looking for. It offers practical step-by-step instructions on how to create and grow successful worker-owned businesses dedicated to the wellbeing of all their stakeholders. Essential reading!” —David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World “In this work, Abrams shares pragmatic advice about various employee ownership models. A must-read for any entrepreneur who is considering an equitable transition that preserves purpose and mission, while building wealth for the next generation of the workforce.” —Bart Houlahan, Cofounder, B Lab, the non-profit behind the B Corporation movement “This book achieves a rare and difficult balance: anchoring wise commentary grounded in clearly articulated values about the underlying purpose of business, with clear and careful discussion about the mechanics, strengths, and challenges of key alternative models and long-term continuity.” —Alex Moss, President and Cofounder, Praxis Consulting Group