NL
CASE_STUDY_001B2B Services / Construction

From Wet Concrete
to a Clean Exit

How I (Sean) transformed my own waterproofing company from a founder-dependent trap into a systematized business—using the exact methodology that became The Narrative Lab.

FOUNDER_PROFILE

Sebatech

Waterproofing Solutions

industry:Construction Services
engagement:24 months
outcome:SUCCESSFUL_EXIT
METRIC_01
340%
Revenue Growth
over 3 years
METRIC_02
-65%
Founder Hours
operational time
METRIC_03
4 → 18
Team Size
employees
METRIC_04
7.2x
Exit Multiple
EBITDA

// The Challenge

A Business Built on
One Person's Back

Before I developed this system, I was working 70+ hour weeks at Sebatech. Every quote, every client call, every job schedule ran through me. The business was profitable but I was trapped—because without me, there was no business.

70+ hour work weeks
Burnout imminent
No management layer
All decisions through founder
Zero documentation
Knowledge trapped in one head
Unsellable business
No transferable value
BEFORE_STATE
SEAN
SINGLE_POINT_OF_FAILURE
Sales
Ops
Finance
HR
Jobs
Clients
scalability:BLOCKED
exit_ready:FALSE

// The Transformation

24-Month Blueprint

01
Week 1-2

Discovery & Audit

  • Mapped all founder-dependent processes
  • Identified 23 undocumented workflows
  • Assessed team capabilities and gaps
  • Defined exit-readiness criteria
02
Week 3-6

Soul Architecture

  • Developed brand story: 'Keeping Foundations Dry'
  • Created customer journey map
  • Built referral engine narrative
  • Established culture documentation
03
Week 7-16

Systems Build

  • Implemented CRM with automation
  • Created job scheduling system
  • Built quote-to-invoice pipeline
  • Deployed KPI dashboard
04
Week 17-24

Team Enablement

  • Hired operations manager
  • Trained team on all systems
  • Established SOPs for all roles
  • Created decision-making frameworks
05
Month 7-24

Exit Preparation

  • Compiled due diligence package
  • Demonstrated founder-independent operations
  • Showcased scalable growth trajectory
  • Facilitated buyer conversations
AFTER_STATE
SYSTEMS
TEAM
SEAN
STRATEGIC
Sales
Ops
Finance
HR
Jobs
Clients
scalability:UNLIMITED
exit_ready:TRUE

// The Result

A Business That
Runs Without Its Founder

After 24 months, Sebatech transformed from a one-man show into a systematized operation. I stepped back to a strategic advisory role, working just 15 hours per week—and the business grew faster than ever. This experience became the foundation for The Narrative Lab.

Revenue tripled
With founder working 65% less
Team grew to 18
Self-managing operations
Full documentation
Every process SOP'd and trained
Successful exit
7.2x EBITDA share sale
FOUNDER_REFLECTION

"I went from being trapped in my own business to watching it thrive without me. This experience taught me that escape isn't about working harder—it's about building the right systems with the right soul. That's why I created The Narrative Lab."

S
Sean
Founder, Sebatech & The Narrative Lab

// Your Turn

Ready for Your Own Transformation?

Every business has its own version of "wet concrete." Let's find yours and build the path to your clean exit.

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