Well maybe but I totally agree with this and will repeat to reemphasize based on my personal experience: "My one regret was agreeing to stay on for four years.

Well maybe but I totally agree with this and will repeat to reemphasize based on my personal experience: "My one regret was agreeing to stay on for four years." When I sold my company I had to stay on to consult for 3 months. 3 months that was an eternity. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to have to work as an employee at a company that you just sold. Just hanging around not directly tied into the outcome in any significant way just is not the same as being "the guy" in charge.