Should you encourage your children to study a particular field to prepare them for working in your family business? It’s not essential, and the best approach is giving them the freedom to follow their passion. Inevitably, success will follow. Working in family businesses can be difficult. That’s why it’s so important that the people involved are passionate about what they …


Success is Personal Freedom
I recently had a very interesting chat with Philip Portman on his Success Is ____ podcast
Should family businesses be more entrepreneurial?
Consider this if you’re looking for a link between family business and entrepreneurship. Three-quarters of companies in 48 economies are founded with significant family involvement. In the US, 30% pull in family members within the first two years. Family is an essential component of entrepreneurship. A family business is the product of a successful entrepreneur. While it may be tempting …
Why is conflict in a family business invevitable?
A family business has the potential to create lasting bonds, wealth, employment and a legacy for the family behind it. Some of the most successful businesses in the world are run by families, and their focus on long-term benefits and values puts them in an advantageous position in today’s changing economy. Families, however, are inherently complicated entities in which relationships …
Trends in family business management
It’s a cliché as old as time that older generations view their successors as lazy and entitled, with millennials often labelled as such. However, research has shown that the opposite is true, with nearly three-quarters of millennials working more than 40 hours per week while one-quarter work more than 50 hours. This generation is also the most educated among family …
Family businesses and diversity – is it possible?
Diversity in business is more important than ever. The role of business in society continues to evolve, and companies are increasingly in the spotlight as they are expected to play an active role in addressing important social issues, including promoting diversity and inclusion. What is diversity in a business context? In the past, diversity was typically viewed in terms of …
When should I start thinking about having my kids join the business?
If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Benjamin Franklin put it as succinctly as can be. This is true of almost everything in life, and nowhere is this more evident than in family businesses, where the question of which family members should join the business, and when, is absolutely crucial. It’s never too early for a succession …

Winning on Main St: Succession Planning in Family Businesses
I had a great time chatting with Gordon Henry from Winning on Main Street about the ups and downs of successfully creating a succession plan for your family business.
Should I join the family business or get a job somewhere else?
Many graduates have asked themselves: Should I get a job or join the family business? In theory, joining a family business seems to solve a number of problems for you and your parents. You don’t have to stress about finding a job while you have the opportunity to develop and grow an already established business. Sounds like a win-win situation …