Tuesday, October 23, 2007

 

Why Family Business Succession Plans Fail & What to Do About It By Jeff Harris

Many scholarly researchers have concluded that a staggering 90% percent of family businesses fail by the third generation. This sobering statistic becomes more perplexing when you consider the army of attorneys and CPAs available to assist families with cutting edge business succession planning strategies. However my own research reveals a glaring omission in almost every family business succession plan: matters of the heart.

What Do Values, Morals, and Matters of the Heart Have to Do With Successful Business Succession Planning?

Those few business families that manage the succession process successfully have knowingly or unknowingly managed to pass on their values, morals, and positive family heritage. If you talk long enough to any thriving second or third generation business family you'll find they have, to a large degree:

How to Successfully Preserve Your Timeless Values, True Wealth & Your Family Business

1. Recognize your family's core values

Unless you know what's important to you and your family, you can't make sound business decisions that will impact future generations.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering your family's core values:
  • Who was the most influential person in your life between ages 10-15 and why?
  • What challenges have you faced, and what traits helped you overcome these obstacles?
  • What does an abundant life mean to you?


  • When you uncover what has impacted you in the past and envision your future, you can see emerging patterns that can help guide your business succession planning process.

    2. Create your family's vision ! statement and family history video

    Once you've determ! ined wha t's important to your family, create your family's vision statement. This four to five-page document is specifically designed to unify and preserve your family. To successfully create your vision statement you must articulate what's most important to you.

    Think of your vision statement as a guiding light for your children, grandchildren, and future generations. Help them understand their unique family heritage. Positively influence them to live fulfilling, meaningful lives.

    Then create a video of the family history, where each parent and/or grandparent tells their story.

    3. Hold a Family Meeting

    No matter how well you articulate your family vision statement, it can't do its job if it isn't properly presented to family members. Guide your heirs to self-discover the power and value of the family vision statement by asking them a series of highly targeted questions, such as:

    Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next

    Family Business Succession Expert, Jeff Harris is dedicated to empowering families with the skills, tools and resources needed to preserve their timeless values, protect their true wealth and create treasured lives of significance for themselves and their loved ones. Take Jeff's Free Family Business Succession Quiz at http://www.familyfl.com/thequiz.h! tml to discover if your family could benefit from the Family First Process

    Family Business Succession Expert, Jeff Harris is dedicated to empowering families with the skills, tools and resources needed to preserve their timeless values, protect their true wealth and create treasured lives of significance for themselves and their loved ones. Take Jeff's Free Family Business Succession Quiz at http://www.familyfl.com/thequiz.html to discover if your family could benefit from the Family First Process


    Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/95694-1-why-family-business-succession-plans-fail-what-to-do-about-it/
    home based business idea, home based small business

    Comments: Post a Comment

    Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]





    << Home

    This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

    Subscribe to Posts [Atom]