Worry more when business is booming
Success is dangerous. It leads to complacency
Most business leaders believe their greatest challenge is surviving difficult times. Ironically, the most dangerous moment for an...
Worry more when business is booming
Success is dangerous
The most dangerous moment in a business is often when everyone believes there is nothing to worry about. Having spent half...
The family must agree before the business can grow
MOST FOUNDERS believe strategic planning begins by deciding where the business should grow. In my experience, the most important strategic decision is made much...
Every company needs a business plan, but it’s not enough
OVER the past three decades, I have reviewed hundreds of business plans. Some were prepared by start-ups seeking funding, while others came from billion-dollar...
Part 2: The Strategic Plan: Your most neglected competitive advantage
THE DEAL lasted only 10 days.
In mid-June 2026, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding. The Strait of Hormuz reopened. Oil...
Strategic planning is a waste of time
I’VE HEARD this from founders who built empires with nothing but instinct and iron will. From patriarchs who turned nothing into something. From partners...
The greatest threat to a family business is the conversation it never had
How Communication, Shared Purpose, and Stewardship Protect Family Unity Across Generations
What is the greatest threat facing family businesses across ASEAN?
Many would point to economic...
The cracks usually appear long before the collapse
Five Governance Gaps That Quietly Divide Successful Families
Most family business conflicts do not begin as conflict.
They begin as discomforts nobody wants to discuss.
A sibling...
The Lopez conflict — and lessons family businesses must learn
Why Strong Family Relationships Are No Longer Enough
I SERIOUSLY considered not writing this piece.
Not because the issue lacks importance. In many ways, it may...
Why ‘we are okay’ are the three most dangerous words in family business
“It is not the conflict you can see that destroys family businesses. It is the tension no one is willing to name.”
EVERY family business...