

Wants to Do What's Right—Caught in the Middle
Dear Coach Karen C, Here it is the New Year and I am complaining already. My nephew makes me crazy. I am Managing member of our family LLC. It is my responsibility to get the tax information to our accountant as early as possible. The compiled information from the LLC return must be provided to all the family members for their respective individual 1040 reporting. Every year my nephew, the LLC Treasurer, is really slow at getting the information to me. To his credit, the qual


Family Unity—It's Time to Pass the Glue
Last week we celebrated a special anniversary. Joe and I and 20 of our family members spent the week together at a lakeside cabin. Note—almost all who gather with us are what some would call Type A personality. Everyone is accustomed to being in charge. This remarkable week and celebration, produced by our adult children, their spouses and our in-laws was a very real example of passing what I call “the glue.” What is the glue? It is a generation in the family that seems to ho


Your Legacy—Have it Your Way
Bite sized pieces—food for thought: Legacy is the thread that weaves through at least two generations beyond you. What do your family and friends remember about you? How did you impact them? What parts of your daily life have a ripple effect beyond you today? Legacy is much more than money or the stuff of physical inheritance. How can you be purposeful about the legacy you live and leave for the future? What specific steps can you take to be sure the good relationships you h


While Home for the Holidays-Should We Have a Family Meeting?
Families gather for the holidays. Often folks travel great distances to be with family they see only once a year. Holidays are loaded with emotion and expectations. And—the gathering often leads one or more of the group to want to have an important conversation with the family while everyone is together. We are calling that “Important Conversation” –a Family Meeting—when it is clearly intentional. It has a goal, and is implemented with a plan. This can have a good outcome or