An Act of Congress is ready!!

I began writing this book several years ago with the idea that the lessons our family learned from this episode would help others avoid the heartache we experienced. It's turned into a new business venture for me. My new company is called The Forum for Family Business. In addition to the book, I've developed a keynote address featuring the real-life issues of communication, succession and preservation which are so important in a family business.

When I wrote and published, An Act of Congress - The Real-Life Story of Power & Politics in Family Business, I re-discovered the mistakes we made. Even though my new business targets relationships in family businesses, closely-held corporations and small businesses in general will benefit from our program. Had we learned and utilized the keys in my program, before going through the tragic and painful lawsuit, our families would have saved more than $1,000,000 and the destroyed relationships which can never be healed.

Every business owner or prospective entrepreneur needs to hear our story! An Act of Congress is an excellent tool for attorneys, financial advisors and accountants to put a fire under clients who swear they will eventually put together a plan for succession, but don't feel the urgency.

Over the next few weeks and months, I'll deal with some of the numerous ideas for preventing disaster from non-planning. I'll just end this blog with this advice...Even before you open a new business, make a plan for where you expect it to eventually go. Will you sell it, pass it on to the next generation or merge with others. The thought process should start at conception!

A Change is Coming!

Lane and I recently met with a truly talented expert on branding. His name is Dick Bruso and he lives in Denver, Colorado. He truly changed our thought process on where my business is going. Dick did a wonderful job helping us focus on the best direction for my company. For that reason, there is no longer an "Adduco Presentations." We will be unveiling a new business name, as well as a renamed book which does a great job explaining why our new business is vital to family businesses and closely-held corporations.

In the next few weeks, the book will be finalized, published and ready to use as a graphic reference for the importance of communication, succession and preservation with regard to family businesses. In fact, the lessons of these real-life issues are useful to anyone who values relationships as a key part of life!

Dick's influence was important in allowing me to see that a real laser-focus is the only way to use my experience to help others avoid the expense and heartache of not planning for the continuance of business and personal relationships. So many times we hold on to all of the comforts of the "status quo", because it seems easier that way. My speaking business had fallen into that trap. Thanks to Dick, I've put aside all of the stories and speech lines with which I had become so comfortable. I am truly looking forward to the new direction we're taking, and can't wait to share those things with all of you!