More than three thousand years ago a group of Chinese entrepreneurs were sitting in their group of local businessmen meeting. Their host that day was very old and widely recognized management consultant. It had rained for days and the roads were a mess, so that the ox-cart, which was gathering for him in the next village was too late.
That the entrepreneur has the opportunity to continue to grow its brain power. They were all complaining about him, as theyOffspring do not want to work hard, like you. They said the famous management consultant, their children and wanted the decision to delegate – even if only a few years of experience.
And their children were anxious, especially those married – have asked if he wanted to retire, and things are going to meet them. What is the problem with this younger generation, they asked?
Successful entrepreneurs experienced sitting at the feet ofConsultant on this day were frustrated. After all he had worked for his father honored for thirty years, and were happy to tell them what he and honored his father – both were in a shop if she had any questions. His father had talked about retiring, but recently, after more than seventy years – will not work until 7, and leaves before 8.
When working long hours for decades will be told what to do and howdo, it was good for me because my children seem so ungrateful?
The ancient Chinese business consultant listened carefully to the concerns of every entrepreneur, "and then said:" Farmers, traders, farmers, three generations. "Just like the entrepreneurs were more than respectfully request clarification, ox-cart stopped at the door, and as legions of consultants to follow over the centuries – he rose and without explaining what he meant on the left.
They knew what it meant. TheyHad seen their neighbors. A farmer worked hard to grow more than his family needed to live, and sold the rest. With the victory, he bought more land and grew even more – to make more profit, until one day he had a prosperous society that do not need to grow something. Now he was a merchant, and was the business went to his eldest son.
This son was done successfully, what his father taught him. The business grew and grew until it seemed thatwere able to perform. When her son did not need to impress him, because the sacrifice has been by his grandfather, it was necessary to build the business first.
He has not spoken on the day he takes the goods on their backs to the village to sell his ox, because only he had died in the street, she – slipped in the mud knee and broke his leg. He saw no value in his son said the price he had paid to build in the early years, was what his fathercreated, what it is today. He had never told anyone that will not always be faithful and not even the long-suffering wife, how difficult it had been.
So when his son, he will have his own horse and two cars – one for fine weather and a winter when the winds come. The child does not get his little house as the space in the back of the house of his grandfather that his father and mother shared with him and his two brothers.
The son had never experienced a period of drought is never a gang of robbersBurning their fields, and had never known what it is, if the price people were willing to pay was the cost of cultivation – in a way that they lost money on everything sold.
If the consultant ancient Chinese companies left – what is the entrepreneur has faced yet, because the company failed to definitively turn the third generation entrepreneur and his descendants returned to the peasants? And there's a lesson for us today, three thousand yearslater.
Successful companies – defined by me, like those that power to protect the next generation of owners systematically from the first day of work – all the parties a unique feature. These companies have somehow managed to convey a sense of common purpose, about the future of society. Every decision, both personal and commercial flows from this ghost. If everyone is strongly focused on a common vision of the future, the obligation – make decisions that probably all of them, movingPicture.
A successful company is successful and if it is a vehicle for achieving the goals of family and objectives. And business is not the intention, it is a process.
When you work from the perspective of common objectives with the necessary training will be encouraged, and indeed should, and the happy place. If the mission is the construction of administration for the future and that the training is then carried out the training. If everyone on the same page on the future ofConsultant, as soon as possible, because the need is seen for their skills. Once on board all together and row in the same direction Dad does the shopping for a new bass boat, and her mother began planning for their vacation in Europe.
Brothers and found no effort or interest in the company other ways, while mom and dad provide the tools for the place that they want a share of the economy does not help. And it begins today – the fact that children engaged inCompanies already in a way that their heritage. Seems the right to wait for the others, until the worst thing you can imagine happening has happened before receiving them.
And those who are starting to run the business for the next generation to take advantage of the best ways to make their talents and those of the existing key management and employees so that the search process for succession simple and seamless in place.
When Mom and Dad are sitting with their advisers, they do it with the image- What the company wants the whole family and everything else like in the future – right on the table before them.
And 'the role of consultants to create documents, money requested in the form of life insurance, and the structure – in order to get their wishes.
So it is not about "farmers, merchants, farmers" in case your family. But this is more likely to happen when something is done.
If the company does not reachis the potential that is your fault. It is not a tax, not the economy, it is your fault, as was their fault (the ancient Chinese entrepreneurs) for not stopping the car, pull back the councilors in the room and asked him what he could do to avoid the predictable cycle .
What should you do? I suggest you start with a family reunion.
Maple Veneer