A granddaughter’s noble quest
She promised her grandfather on his deathbed to keep his publishing company in family hands.
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Leadership Development
Keeping titles in their proper perspective
They do matter, but far less than many family businesses believe. Far too much emotion is invested in them.
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Why smart people make dumb choices of leaders
Family companies lack systems of selection that reduce bias and political intrigue.
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The Cousins Tournament
Life gets more complicated in later generations of a family company, as the Blanchards discovered when they tried to set up a process for selecting a new leader.
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Lessons in realpolitik for successors
For advice on the darker side of power relationships, there is still no better guide than Machiavelli.
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A Hooky–Playing Son’s Field of Dreams
Build a better sweet spot and they will come….That’s what Bud Hillerich did and the great hitters all came to Louisville.
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Kids should feel free to follow their bliss
When young people sacrifice their own ambitions in order to live out a parent’s dream, the results can be destructive.
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Taking charge in a disaster
When relating the hair-raising events of the past two years, the two partners do it with a certain drama and flair.
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Twelve tasks of succession
Planning a leadership transition is hard, stressful work. Not every family has the stamina to stay the course.
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The Reluctant Successor
Dan Gerber was set to take on the reins of the Gerber baby food company. But at age 21 he decided to pursue a different dream.
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