Forging Ahead by Angela Klink shows what it takes to build a lasting family business—not just surviving across generations, but thriving. If you’re part of a family business—or leading any business with an eye on the future—Forging Ahead is packed with stories and strategies to help you build a legacy that lasts. #forgingahead Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local book store.
What does this post have to do with business? ……………………………………….. We will get to that in a minute. I just had the most incredible weekend with my two older boys (left the 4 year old with Mom) celebrating their 9th and 11th birthday. Instead of gifts, I started a tradition a few years ago, they each get to pick one experience and spend the day one-on-one with me. We have done fishing, camping, etc… When you have multiple kids, I think it’s important to give them one-on-one time once in a while. But, this year, I had an idea. A family friend from FL came up this fall and his son harvested a deer on my farm. He invited us down to Turkey hunt the rare Osceola turkey. So, I surprised my boys a few weeks ago breaking the news they had to give up their one-on-one day to go as a group. They happily obliged. 😎 We had a great hunt, but that might not have been the highlight. The only thing we love as much as hunting is rockets and space. Some time ago, I signed up for launch alerts on Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website. Well, Lady Luck was shining on us. There was a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch schedule for 1:45 Monday giving us just enough time to get to the airport. So, came the next surprise…….. People tell me all the time how their kids didn’t have much interest in the family business. As the father of the future 6th generation, naturally that concerns me. But then I think, what did those folks do to GET THEM INTERESTED?! Do you think the kids are going to just wake up one day and decide to work in the family business after their only experience is your venting and complaining about issues at work!? So, while at Kennedy, I had the opportunity to share real parts that two of my friends company’s Mike Wandler and Nick Goellner (also family businesses) have supplied in support of the modern space missions. One for the crawler rocket transport vehicle and one on the Space X tower itself. Finally, I shared my dream with my boys, a dream I also shared with our entire company 2 years ago. “Some day Nix Industrial will have a part on the launch structure or vehicle for the first manned mission to Mars.” Now, thats the stuff that gets a 9 and 11 year old fired up about the old family business. And, even if they go down their own path in life that doesn’t include the family business, we are all three better for taking the trip. We won’t ever forget that awesome 3 day weekend together! If you are involved in a family business, I would love to hear ways you encourage and engage the next generation in the comments. P.S. Thank you to Lindsey Nix for holding down the fort with our 4 year old and encouraging us to take the trip together. #familybusiness #forgingahead MakingSparks MakingChips Mike Payne Paul Van Metre
-
-
-
-
-
+14