Humans instictively seek flourishing. Whenever we do something, we do it with an aim towards some idea of happiness. The gap between our efforts and the results often comes from our being mistaken about what flourishing truly is or how to attain it.
FGE
Avoiding 4 Traps of Core Values Discovery
Conducting a core values discovery exercise is a common first step in developing a family governance plan. Businesses will often perform a similar exercise to discover core values. Unfortunately, a values discovery exercise can become an ineffective cliché if it does not actually reflect or impact the behavior of the family. Even worse, poorly chosen […]
Decision-Making for the Rising Gen
“… discover for yourself what is necessary and what is superfluous.” (Seneca, Ep. 110) “90 percent of success is not getting distracted.” — Shane Parrish Superfluous (adjective) su̇-ˈpər-flü-əs : exceeding what is sufficient or necessary : EXTRA At a Glance One of the keys to happiness and productivity is learning how to prioritize. In the internet age this is more difficult than […]
Building Resilience
Everyone faces some kind of adversity on life’s path. One character trait that distinguishes successful individuals (including entrepreneurs, athletes, and musicians) is their ability to effectively cope when they face those setbacks and move forward. They use failure as a feedback mechanism to get better and keep going through tough times. Many of those who […]
Managing Family Disputes
Successful people often have strong opinions. Their success has come from sticking to ideas, intuitions, principles, and processes, often in the face of opposition. However, there may come a time when this tendency turns into a disagreement among family members. Ideally the family is resilient enough to absorb disagreement and productively manage the conflict. This article […]
An Ancient Fable and Spiritual Capital
Two and a half thousand years ago, Solon, the Athenian wise man and lawgiver, visited the wealthiest king of his time, Croesus of Lydia (now Turkey). 1 This is the same Croesus from whom we get the expression “rich as Croesus.” Croesus showed off his fantastic wealth to Solon, and then asked him, “Who is the most […]
5 Ways to Build Trust between the Family Office and the Family
Role of the Family Office Some family offices are simple, consisting of a registered investment advisor and a few ad hoc services. Others are complex, involving many non-family advisors and 3rd party external service providers. No matter the size of your family office, the dynamics will be complex. The family office’s role is to serve […]
4 Steps to a Family Governance and Education Program
What is Family Governance & Education? Family governance and education are two key and related components of an effective family office. They serve as the foundation for responsible stewardship of wealth, preservation of family values, and transmission of wealth from one generation to the next. These services help ensure that families flourish across generations. Failure […]
Building a Positive Wealth Identity
“The life of money-making is one undertaken under compulsion, and wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking; for it is merely useful and for the sake of something else.” –Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1.5 Introduction What is the feeling that you most associate with the word “money”–excitement, fear, anxiety, or something else? Does money make you happy? […]
Building the Family Enterprise View
What is Wealth? How do you measure your wealth? Most of us immediately think about bank accounts, investments, or real estate. Thinking more broadly, we might include skills we’ve acquired, a social network, and health. In fact, all of these are equally valid definitions of wealth. Wealth is really what makes us flourish as human […]