How to Address a Founder’s Difficulty in Relinquishing Control
The three components of a robust plan We have been contacted by business-owning families for help with a number of things, including philanthropic strategy, working through a family conflict, and planning worthwhile, productive family meetings. We enjoy helping with all those things! But the #1 reason we are contacted by business-owning families is for help […]
Succession and the ‘Silver Tsunami’
As a family business founder in the third third of life, are you prepared to embrace succession planning? A Little Story about Grandma at the Beach One bright summer day a grandma took her toddler grandson to the beach. She was keeping a watchful eye on him as he played in the sand at the […]
The GIVE and the GET of Governance
To overcome procrastination, think of family business governance as a gift exchange Have you completed your Christmas shopping? Some shoppers start early and (quite literally) wrap things up weeks before the holiday. But others put it off until the last minute, requiring them to venture out on Christmas Eve to the few remaining stores still […]
Five Conversation Starters for Your Family’s Thanksgiving ‘Cousin Walk’
Picture this: At Thanksgiving gatherings across the country, a quiet ritual unfolds. Younger family members grab their coats, exchange knowing glances, and slip out the door for what’s become known as the “cousin walk.” This week the Wall Street Journal put a name to this longstanding multigenerational tradition. The term encompasses everything from literal walks […]
Mastering the Cycle of Endings and Beginnings
A simple 3-step process can help your family grow through change We are joyfully anticipating the arrival of our third grandchild any day now, in Arizona. And at the same time, we are concerned for my 95-year-old mother in Illinois, who has moved in with my brother and sister-in-law to receive care while recovering from […]
Adolescent Engagement with the Family Enterprise
Foster – don’t force – engagement There are many rewards and satisfactions of being successful in family business. But when an adolescent or young adult in a business-owning family is struggling, their parents are often deeply troubled about it. Since launching Family Business Facilitators we’ve become acquainted with several families in this very situation. […]
Four Styles of Departing CEOs – Which Are You?
After a succession process, some wealth creators feel free. Others feel lost. What’s the style of the departing executive in your family business?