Christine spent eight years at Northern Trust managing billion-dollar philanthropic portfolios. Adam helped steward 400-year-old legacy brands in the music industry.

But when COVID hit, something shifted. They needed a change.

They both cashed out their 401ks, sold their house, and bought a 50-year-old ski shop in Northern Michigan.

My conversation with Christine Donovan and Adam Weems covers their leap from corporate comfort to business ownership and what it means to steward a legacy brand.

My key takeaways:

→ The power of having a partner who says “I got you”

→ Why worst-case-scenario thinking actually reduces fear

→ The question “how much is enough” is a powerful question

0:00 Intro

2:00 The 50-Year Legacy of The Bahnhof Ski and Sport Shop

3:45 Christine’s Journey: From Flutist to Finance

8:17 Adam’s Path: Grocery Stores to Zildjian Drums

16:08 Purpose-Driven Work and the Question of “Enough”

25:10 The Leap: Why Fine Careers Weren’t Enough

29:04 “You’re Not Fun Anymore”

36:35 Finding the Listing on New Year’s Day

44:04 Cashing Out Everything for Retirement

46:42 What “I Got You” Really Means

55:02 Building Kindness Into a Specialty Shop

1:00:03 Keeping a Legacy Brand Alive

1:06:56 What Surprised Them Most About Running a Ski Shop

1:12:32 The Moment the Switch Flipped

1:21:02 You Belong Here

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