Lloyd Merritt Smigel

A job description is a must. It does just what it says it does: it describes, in detail, the duties and expectations of the job.

Being an in-law means you have to fight many battles

The sooner you establish rules and a game plan for the family business, the easier it is to adjust

There may be instances where the oldest should run the company, but there may also be instances where that is not the best solution

As I continue working with family pest management businesses, it's interesting to see how the second or third generations view older generations' business performance.

Here is a case study of Arlene (not her real name) and her dad's family business:

We have to focus on family problems first.

Many of my clients bring me in to help decide whether they should sell their family businesses or pass them on to their relatives. The overarching point to keep in mind during this process is that each business is unique. Some firms have relatives working there who probably could not get jobs...more >>

Succession planning isn't birthright based.

I am one of those believers who believe that happy holidays are year-round. We should appreciate what we have and do what we can for others all year long.