Family Business: The Importance of Family Reunions
By Jack WOODLANDER for 'The Family Business School'

Family reunions are a great way for a family to have fun and, more importantly, to bring the extended family closer together. They are also an excellent opportunity for family members involved in the family business to reflect on the family’s values and to create a stronger bond between them, which will eventually benefit their business.

Family Business: Divorce, How To Manage It!
By Arnold AITKEN and Stephen BRAY 'The Family Business School'

Divorce is one of the most catastrophic events that can affect a family business. It not only affects the couple that decided to part ways, but usually affects every member of the family. In fact, it can even have some profound effects on non-family members who are deeply involved in the business and who deal with the divorced couple in day-to-day situations.

Family Business: Ensure Your Legacy with a Family Foundation
By Jack WOODLANDER and Stephen BRAY, 'The Family Business School'

There’s a major stumbling block that often stands in the way of a smooth succession in a family business: the retiring family member’s fear that he will no longer have a venue to exercise his time and energy.

Family Business: Why You Shouldn't Count On Your P.C. Much Longer!
By Stephen BRAY, Principal, 'The Family Business School'

If you own a family business then you should know that the Internet may be about to change, according to Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, and co-founder of Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

Zittrain foresees a world in which Internet access will use 'hard-wired' gadgets such as the iPhone, X-Box, and TiVos, which appear more secure than your P.C. but limit the ability of users to network creatively, or to invent new applications.

If his prediction comes good it will be a return to a world similar to the 1960s and 70s where multi-nationals such as IBM ruled computing applications.

Family Business And Family Therapy: Some Information For The Confused.
By Stephen BRAY, Principal, ‘The Family Business School’.

Opinions differ about how the first family came into being but all agree that a stable family contributes to health, happiness, and success.

It’s not just your family who gains from a family consultation, your employer, school, and local community will benefit too. This is because you will feel able, and want, to contribute more, which in time will bring you public esteem and this will benefit you.

Family Business: Planning For A Successful Transfer To The Next Generation
By Stephen BRAY, Principal, 'The Family Business School'

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, is said to be a huge fan of old Westerns. He loves those movies about early America, when everyone owned land and parents passed on their land to their children and grandchildren as part of the family fortune. A favorite theme of those old Western movies was how underdogs protect the land they inherited from the grubby hands of outsiders.

Family Business: Afraid To Take Risks? Can Business Simulation Really Help?
By Stephen BRAY, Principal, 'The Family Business School'

Mickey, the third-generation CEO to inherit the family tooling company, was sitting in his office nursing a hangover. Despite many years of studying and preparing to become the top executive in the family business, Mickey never really wanted to be part of operations. But he certainly enjoyed spending the company's profits.

There was a knock at the door and Doris, his long suffering secretary, entered the room.

Family Business: The Right Time To Sell?
An overview from 'The Family Business School'

Four years ago, 'Uncle Edward' and 'Aunt Emma' decided to sell their family business – a company that had been making letter envelopes for over 30 years.

Family Business: Its Survival and Governance
An executive summary from 'The Family Business School'

Corporate governance is a critical concern in any company. In the family business, the matter of governance is a bit more complicated, particularly if the family owns and runs the enterprise. The central role of the family in the business adds an extra dimension to governance. In this instance, it is not only the business that needs governance, but the family as well.

Family Business: How To Create Excellence!
By Stephen BRAY, Principal, 'The Family Business School'
Adapted by an article by the author originally published in Executive Excellence Magazine

A baby, reaching out to grab a rattle or a mobile hanging above the crib, is being creative. The infant learns from such experiences that there are internal and external worlds that s/he can influence.