Keep the Family Baggage Out of the Family Business: Avoiding the Seven Deadly Sins That Destroy Family Businesses

As a family business counselor and consumate reader, I continually look for new materials that can help clients--family members and non-family managers--better understand the family business enterprises in which they are employed...or enmeshed. The title of this book turned me off. I know of no family business that can avoid the "socalled 7 deadly sins." Family baggage is part of family business. Nonetheless, I recommend the book. My usual use of the book is education of non-family managers who work for family business. My favorite reading references for professional managers are by John L. Ward: Keeping the Family Business Healthy, and his revised, expanded update, Strategic Planning for the Family Business. Family members may be willing to read the book, although I have limited experience with that. I would refer them to books like Working With The Ones You Love by Dennis Jaffe.

I bought 3-4 books on family business, as we were experiencing some challenges in succession and estate planning. I felt that none of them really dug into the heart of the issues that make family businesses fail, or just downright unenjoyable. This really digs into the psychology and the pitfalls to avoid. It's REALLY direct, especially towards the owners/parents who must eventually step aside, although it has plenty of warnings and admonishments for the next gen.I thought it was bold, and said what needed to be said. I immediately bought 4 copies. I recommend it over all the others. Especially the ones with the boring covers all written by the same authors - the info is trite, obvious, and largely feels like the role of women is in the 60's...but this book is different. Highly recommend. I wish my family had read it years ago.

I don't know what I can say about this, except that I ordered about 4 family biz books at once, and this was the only one that was worth it. Totally accurate. Bought in the middle of a family biz crisis, and wish I had bought it a year prior.

The dynamics of a family business are truly very different from a non-family business. As the book points out, majority of the small businesses in America are family-owned and this book is a good place to start to understand the various roles/dynamics of family members in businesses.

I ordered and read every book in this family business sucession area and this one really hits the points that I feel are important to our 3rd generation family business. It is clear, easy to read and not full of a lot of scientific or legal jargon. After reading I bought 6 more copies!!

Keeping the family baggage out of the family business is a wonderful and deeply insightful exploration of the way family systems intrude into business systems in family owned and run businesses. The book reflects a deep knowledge and mastery of this subject. In the family business literature, this is a standout!

A good book for parents interested in succession of a family business. Not exactly what I was looking for - that's why the 3 stars. Still enjoyed reading it.

I love it, it help me a lot to uderstand why some things are like they are. I believe God put this book on my hands when I need it the most.