A blessing for letting go in the family business
Handing off your role can be hard (2 Corinthians 4:16)
While I’m working on my next series about “wilderness” in the family business, I’m posting a few popular reflections from the past. Last week I offered a blessing for parents and grandparents in the family business. This week my focus is on those who are trying to let go in the family business.
A key challenge in family business succession is the senior generation’s transition to a different role, or to a partial or full exit from the organization. Not only must they “let go” of what they’ve done — and perhaps even a little bit of who they are — they must also “grab hold” of a new role or new activities. Often, in the midst of some level of doubt, and with a lack of clarity about the future, they must conceive of their contribution in a different way. It isn’t easy. This blessing is for them.
A new dawn emerges And you begin to realize What once was easy is no longer so And that working harder is not the answer Moving as quickly becomes a challenge Peaceful rest is elusive Aches curiously appear where before there were none You feel the morning chill more deeply in your bones Your spirit senses other sounds New hopes from a distant place Intimations from an earlier time Whispers from a still small voice Beckoning you to climb a different kind of mountain Similar in shape but different in substance A calling to nourish your spirit and connect with others This is the business of your soul May the sacrifices you made in your early business life Now create an appreciation for values beyond the financial May the mistakes you made in your early business life Now provide wisdom for future generations May the successes from your early business life Now help you define your best contribution And may your family appreciate your many gifts Even those you did not intend to give May you be blessed with the courage, strength, and vision To enthusiastically embrace your next chapter And gracefully turn the page from your current family business role.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)