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Transition Chapters take time to write...

How much time do you have? Let’s do the math:  

Average Life Expectancy
– Your Age =

Your ‘Hit by the Bus’ Date

The Unwritten Chapter:

Don’t feel like writing? 
No problem … your survivors will write it for you.

Here’s what different writing sessions will sound like – without you…

Family Stakeholders in the Business:
"It’s not what he / she said. They said… 'I’m the boss and you work for me.'
"He / she did not mean that. They meant…"
"Those days are over. If you think you’re going to push me around again, you’re out of your mind. Go screw yourself."
"We never discussed this succession plan. This document came out of nowhere."
“Wake up. This is our chance. Call your siblings right now and let them know if they don’t like it they can leave.”
“Here’s an offer you shouldn’t refuse! If you sign over your shares to me I promise to support you when you decide to… “
“ Let me get this right… after decades of treating me like I wasn’t even a member of this family… you now want my help. Screw you."
"Nobody ever explained how the company actually works. Now you expect me to make informed decisions?"
“ Sorry, but there’s no road left for you to kick the can down. You’ve got 9 months to come up with a settlement plan for the IRS or you're toast."
“ It’s out of my hands… now it’s up to the judge. Should've listened when you had the chance."
“Sure, you can sue anyone you want, including members of your family… but how are you gonna pay for it?”
"The buy-sell agreement hasn't been funded. There's no cash to execute the transfers you want."
"The bank is calling in the loan. Family disputes trigger our default provisions."
"Your competitors are using your succession issues against you with customers."
“No, you don’t have our support, until you show us…”
“No, we’re not giving you another dime, until we see…”

What's Really at Stake in Your Family Business?

When family business leaders avoid planning their transition, they leave more than just business decisions to chance. They risk:

Family Relationships Fractured

Without clear succession plans, family members compete for recognition, power, and control. Decades of relationships can unravel in months.

Business Value Destroyed

What took generations to build can collapse during a hasty, reactive handover.

Legacy Lost

Your family's values, traditions and purpose get buried beneath conflict and chaos. Future generations lose not just financial assets, but their sense of identity and connection.

Lost Opportunities

When focusing on crisis management, innovation stops. Markets shift, competitors advance, and opportunities vanish while your business struggles with internal uncertainty.

The Questions That Haunt

Why did we wait so long? Why didn't we give the next generation a chance? Why didn't we bring in outside help when we had the opportunity?

Employee and Customer Exodus

Without a clear transition plan, uncertainty ripples beyond the family. Employees and customers notice – and might not like what they see unfolding.

Stop hoping the bus will never show.
(It always does!)

TOP TOOLS TO SUPPORT SUCCESSION PLANNING

THE PRIMER: A different approach for addressing the emotional obstacles

This workbook is for those who are serious about transition–both those testing the waters and those who need to jump into the deep end. The Primer will help you think about the future, not ruminate about the past with 100 prompts specifically designed to address the top challenges you’re facing as a family business.

LEARN MORE ›

Transition with Confidence: Family Business Coaching

Family business transitions aren’t just about changing leadership—they’re about preserving relationships while securing your business legacy. Our proven 7-step coaching process helps you:

  • Define the real challenges facing your business and family
  • Collect meaningful data to inform decisions
  • Clarify individual positions before navigating group dynamics
  • Design implementable plans everyone can support

You don’t have to face this critical journey alone.

LEARN MORE ›

SCHEDULE A DISCOVERY CALL ›

The Heart & Soul of Family Business… On-The-Go

Get your hands on our custom-designed pocket notebooks.

INQUIRE ON AVAILABILITY  ›
PRIVATE LABEL ›

Need to talk about writing your transition chapter?

Schedule a conversation

No transition plan... what's your excuse?

Try on a quick sampling of THE PRIMER: 100 Prompts to Stimulate Your Thinking About Transition. Fill out the form below to download the PDF.

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