Case Study

From Exit to Impact:
How One Owner Reframed Retirement Through Purpose, Not Pause

Learn About The Growth Catalyst Role

After building and selling multiple successful tech companies—including one acquired by Autodesk—Augie Grasis found himself at a crossroads. With a beach house, hobbies, and time on his hands, he had checked all the retirement boxes. But something was missing. That “something” led him to Acumen, where he has spent the past five years helping other CEOs grow as a Growth Catalyst.

Before Acumen:

  • Sold his last company and took time off—travel, hobbies, family.
  • Realized “retirement” didn’t offer the fulfillment he expected.
  • Missed contributing to something bigger and using his entrepreneurial experience.
  • Considered starting another business, but lacked the energy and appetite for the grind.
  • Found consulting too inconsistent: “feast or famine” revenue and exhausting context switching.
  • Felt disconnected after decades of leading companies and teams—“the phone used to ring; now I’m the one calling.

After Acumen

  • Re-engaged in meaningful work by leading two Growth Catalyst teams at Acumen.
  • Built a balanced rhythm: two weeks of Acumen, two weeks for personal interests, family, and other business pursuits.
  • Found purpose and significance helping CEOs navigate growth, leadership, and faith integration.
  • Contributed to transformation stories—including multiple CEOs in his teams who became Growth Catalysts themselves.
  • Experienced the satisfaction of long-term impact without the pressure of running a business full-time.
  • Developed recurring income with a sustainable cadence: $5K/month once teams are up and running, with 40-50% margins.

The Acumen Process

  • 1 Reflected on what life should look like- Start with the end in mind. Don’t worry about the path—define the goal first.
  • 2 Experimented and eliminated- Used a “post-it on the whiteboard” method to test ideas—some stuck, others didn’t.
  • 3 Joined Acumen and committed to a cadence- Structured work with team meetings and one-on-ones during two weeks each month.
  • 4 Facilitated transformation- Helped CEOs implement tools like EOS, navigate crises like COVID, and rediscover their leadership edge.
  • 5 Multiplied impact- Inspired and mentored CEOs to become Growth Catalysts themselves—extending the reach.

Augie didn’t retire—he redefined work. Through Acumen, he’s been able to “add value without starting another company,” working with peers who speak his language, share his values, and are still in the game.

Leading teams gave him back structure, community, and purpose. As Augie puts it, “It’s just more fun to focus on other people.” For former CEOs looking for their next chapter, Acumen offers a runway—not a rocking chair.

“What I’ve learned is that it’s just more fun to focus on other people. Watching how much better these companies are run now compared to when their CEOs first joined—that’s where I get satisfaction. Seeing leaders grow, seeing their businesses operate better, a deeper faith, and knowing I played a small part in that—that’s incredibly rewarding.”

Defining Value in Entrepreneurship 

 

Don't Rush Retirement

 

Is This Your Next Chapter?

If you’re ready to re-engage—not with spreadsheets, but with significance—you may be built for this. This isn’t a retirement gig. It’s a calling for those who are still called to build, lead, and serve.