A Family Wired For Perpetual Dependence
When the sale of a family business is all about a founder becoming wealthy and their children losing their jobs, you can see why so few ever put themselves in play and sell. The CEO – the Chief Emotional Officer (Mom, and increasingly Dad) – just can’t stand to see the family pull itself apart.
Why Do Family Business Owners Often Die at their Desk?
I was speaking to a friend who owns a successful manufacturing business and asked him when he plans to sell his business”. His response echoed something that I’m hearing more and more from business owners in my audience. “I can’t afford to sell – if I sell and take the proceeds and invest in this
Mother of a Family Business
When the Young Presidents Organization brought me to El Salvador to speak to their newly formed chapter last year, I was both apprehensive and curious to see how my contrarian message on family business succession planning would translate in the Latin culture.
The M&A Industry Needs Its Own Family Business Awards
When the world’s largest speakers’ bureau sent me an email announcing that it had given me its Speaker of the Year Award, I was awash with emotion. My ego swelling with self-congratulation, I proceeded to moonwalk across my office – not pretty.
What’s Your Greatest Legacy? Hint: It’s Not Your Family Business
I was playing my regular Saturday morning squash game and had my friend two games to zero. I was only three points away from taking the match in a clean three-game sweep. But something happened. I started to drift and lose focus.
Boxing In Court: A Game The Whole Family Can Play
I recently spoke to a group of US billionaires. Virtually everyone in the room was the beneficiary of a third, fourth or even fifth generation family business. One fellow in particular, a wise old guy, told me that his family shareholder agreement made family harmony mandatory. Mandatory happiness – his wry smile told me everything.
Talking About Wills and Shareholder Agreements on Planes
Talk about life imitating art. Last week, flying back from the west coast, I sat beside an elderly gentleman who said he recognized me as the author of Every Family’s Business. I’m thinking this is very cool. After more than 200 speeches I’ve finally made it – I’m not just a best-selling author I’m a
