The Six Metamorphoses of Business Transition: Why It’s More Than Just a Handoff
Last week, I led my first solo client delivery. I’ve done plenty of client work before in other contexts, but this was different—this was the first time at The Transition Strategists that I stepped in to deliver something solo. As I finished my prep, I felt that familiar flutter of excitement mixed with imposter syndrome.
Am I really ready for this? What if they ask something I don’t know?
Elizabeth reminded me, “You’ve got this. They need to hear from your perspective.”
The Five Things Your Parents’ Succession Plan Probably Misses and How to Bridge the Gap
Here’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: most succession plans are written about us, not with us.
I see it all the time in the successor community I’m part of. Our parents work with their CPAs and attorneys to create these detailed financial structures and legal documents—which, don’t get me wrong, are important. But then we’re handed a plan that feels like it was designed in a boardroom without anyone asking what we actually want or need.
From Hire to Heir: Why Every Family Business Successor Needs a Transition Roadmap
That moment when you hire your child into the family business feels like progress.
Finally, you’re taking steps toward your Next Adventure™️.
Yet six months later, you’re wondering why things feel more complicated than ever.
Does this sound familiar?
Many owners assume that bringing their successor into the business is the first step of their transition journey. In reality, it’s often where the confusion begins.
What It’s Really Like to Work with Siblings in a Family Business: Lessons from 3 Real Stories
There’s something uniquely vulnerable about working alongside your siblings in a family business. You’re not just colleagues debating strategy in a conference room. You’re siblings with decades of shared history, inside jokes, and (let’s be honest) unresolved childhood dynamics trying to build something meaningful together. Recently, I had the privilege of hosting a conversation with […]
White Smoke, Legacy, and Leadership: What Papal Succession Teaches Us About Business Transitions
When white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel yesterday and Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony, I felt a wave of emotion I didn’t expect. I remember where I was the last time it happened—when Pope Francis was elected. I was younger, still learning what leadership really meant. I hadn’t yet become a mom […]
What It Feels Like to Step Into Leadership: Reflections From My First Month as TTS President
Transitioning into this role has come with a steep learning curve. I stepped into a company with history, structure, and strong principles. And that’s exactly what drew me here—because I didn’t want to start from scratch. I wanted to build on something meaningful.
That said, I’ve been in sponge mode. Absorbing what works. Questioning what could be better. Figuring out what to preserve and where to innovate. And—maybe most importantly—learning to say, “I don’t know yet, but I trust myself to figure it out.”
What No One Tells You About Being a Successor (And Why It’s Not Just Hard — It’s Worth It)
When I first started my business in high school, I named it “Flaming Squirrel Design.” I was seventeen, designing logos and building websites. How does this tie into what I do now as a Transition Guide helping family businesses? Well… there are lots of valuable skills I learned that have come with me into my family’s limited partnership and my role as a successor in a private firm.
That’s the thing about succession journeys—they rarely follow a straight line. And whether you’re taking over your family’s business, stepping into leadership at a company where you’ve built your career, or joining an enterprise with the intention to lead it someday, there are universal truths about the successor experience that nobody really tells you about.
Five Steps to An Effective Business Transition Conversation With Your Family
You’ve built a successful business through years of dedication, vision, and hard work. Now, as you consider what comes next, one question looms larger than all others: how do you talk to your family about business succession?
If you’re like most business owners, the mere thought of initiating this conversation creates knots in your stomach. You’re not alone. According to our research, the fear of damaging family relationships is one of the top concerns that prevents owners from beginning their business transition journey.
Finding Your Own Dream: A Successor’s Journey to Authenticity
As a potential successor, one of the most challenging questions we face is: “Is this truly my dream, or am I just following someone else’s path?” As the daughter of a successful business owner and now a potential successor at The Transition Strategists, one of North America’s leading business succession consulting firms, I’ve wrestled with this question from multiple angles. Today, I want to share my journey of discovering authentic purpose in business succession, hoping it might help others facing similar questions.