Family harmony and sustaining an Evergreen® business do not always jive. It takes hard work, even when all family members are mostly in sync. Learning ways to navigate these challenges has been one of the unexpected benefits I’ve gained from joining Tugboat Institute®. Here are some of the insights I’ve gained from many conversations with other multi-generational ownership groups.

If absolute family harmony – with siblings, children, cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws – is your highest priority, it’s probably best to sell the business. The odds are, if you’re going to sustain your business over many generations (the essence of an Evergreen business), you will experience some degree of family discord. Not everyone will believe all decisions are “fair.”