Contents

Part I What's Causing This Mess?: The Family System, the Business System, and the Accompanying Baggage

1. Why You Need to Read This Book 2. Systems and Baggage 3. When Worlds Collide: The Family System Meets the Business System

Part II We Have Seen the Enemy, and He Is Us: The Seven Deadly Sins That Destroy Family Businesses

4. "It's the Same Old Song" 5. "We're One Big, Happy Family" 6. "They May Have Become Adults, but They'll Always Be My Children" 7. "You're Not Loyal to This Family If You Insist on Being Selfish" 8. Father Knows Best? 9. "Maybe It Will Go Away If We Ignore It" 10. "Tell Me About Your Childhood"

Part III Succession: A Battleground unto Itself

11. Certain Problems Are Inherent to Succession 12. The Baggage Returns in Time for Succession 13. Evolutionary Versus Revolutionary Succession 14. Successful Succession

Part IV It Comes with the Territory: Other Problems Inherent in Family Businesses

15. They've Stayed Too Long at the Fair: Long-Tenured Managers and Employees 16. Interlopers, Consorts, and Other Undesirable Meddlers 17. Baggage du Jour 18. The American Dream Versus the Family Nightmare

Part V All Is Not Lost: Recommendations and Solutions

19. Create a Council of Advisors 20. Create a Strong Team to Run the Company 21. Develop a Strong Team 22. The Right Consultant Is Critical to Your Success 23. Additional Sources of Expertise 24. Put It in Writing 25. Final Thoughts