From Siblings to Cousins Prospering in the Third Generation and Beyond

by Craig E. Aronoff, John L. Ward

Going from the sibling to the cousin generation is the last major transition for business owning families and many times this is the most complicated transition. A cousin-stage business requires a completely different pattern of thought than a sibling-stage business. This book by the authors of Making Sibling Teams the Next Generation is aimed at helping cousins organize themselves and their extended family for success as a group that owns and runs a business together. You will become knowledgeable about the key issues that cousins face, such as how to attract the most capable family members into the business leadership roles or how to develop agreement among owners who may be widely scattered in geography and opinions. If you are a sibling owner, this book will help you create the circumstances to help your children become successful team -if it's the family's goal to continue in business together. This is a how-to book aimed at helping the cousin generation continue working together successfully. In From Siblings to Prospering in the Third Generation and Beyond you'll the requirements for success; managing the business in the cousin generation; the art of governance in the cousin generation; the transition issues that occur from siblings to cousins; special challenges for cousins; assuring continuity and success; and much more. When cousins set their hearts and minds to it, they can work together and give continuity to a viable business and the owning family. Transforming themselves from a disparate group of cousins who once hardly knew each other into a Cousin Collaboration will be both awe-inspiring and rewarding. From Siblings to Prospering in the Third Generation and Beyond will show you how.

69 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Co-founder and principal of The Family Business Consulting Group, Inc., Craig Aronoff is a leading consultant, speaker, writer, and educator in the family business field. Aronoff grew up in a family business. He received his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, his Masters from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. The parents of three grown children, grandparents of three grandchildren, Craig and his wife Jane live in Marietta, Georgia.

From the author's website.