Monthly Archives: February 2018

02/23/18

A Warrior Heart

In preparing this blog piece, I turned for inspiration to one of the most important books I read last year, Money and The Soul’s Desires: A Meditation on Wholeness by Stephen Jenkinson. I had gotten no further than the author’s ‘acknowledgements’ page when I came across a statement about his son that stirred images and a longing in me, both as a father and as a son: “My son, Gabriel shows me the grace of his brawny warrior heart. I remember him taking his canoe out through the mist alone, and I honor him and kiss his brilliant feet for finding their own brilliant way.”[i]

To be successful as a multi-generational family enterprise, we must be able to honor our children for finding their own brilliant way—for themselves, the family and the business under their leadership. While this places responsibility on the child for setting out to brave the mists of next-generation leadership, it places equal responsibility on parents for helping our children develop their own warrior hearts.

[i] Stephen Jenkinson, 2002. Money and the Soul’s Desires, A Meditation on Wholeness. Iron Gold of Mercy Publishers, Ltd., Ontario, Canada. Page xi.

 

 

 

02/10/18

The Future Begins With Intention

An intention to be a multi-generational family business is a requirement for becoming one.

At the Family Business Mastermind™ meeting this month, one of the participants spoke about the importance, to her, of preserving the hard work her parents put into growing the family business. She and brother were witnesses to the building of the business and it was a very large part of their childhood.

She mentioned that although she and her brother are pursuing careers elsewhere, she has come to see the significance and meaning the business has to each of the family members as a common bond between them, in addition to being a resource that has supported them financially.

She recognizes also that a transition will inevitably come about, and there has been very little discussion with her parents about the future. Her hope in attending the meeting was to hear of ways to preserve the integrity of the family and the business.

She was clear that her intention, through the glue of the family business, is to keep the family bonds strong between her and her brother, and to her parents who founded the business, and to extend them to future generations.

Her intention will supply the force to help her clarify and expand this vision. She conveyed that she will continue seeking answers. It was heartening to hear.