Harold: You know, Mary Ann, I like the idea of giving the grandchildren the opportunity to take the business forward. I think we need a meeting of the family so everyone knows my latest thinking. You understand more than I do about organizing families; you’ve been to those seminar things about family business. Can you set up a family meeting for us? Maybe next Tuesday?

Mary Ann: Right idea; wrong timeline. A formal Family Meeting is exactly what we need BUT let’s give ourselves more time to think about how it’s going to work.

Harold: It doesn’t sound that tricky. It’s a FAMILY… MEETING. We get the family to meet. Simple.

Mary Ann: If you think it’s SIMPLE, let me ask you some SIMPLE questions. First: who should come to this meeting?

Harold: Well, those of the family who are involved in the business.

Mary Ann: That could mean you, your two sons and your two grandchildren. Five family members who WORK in the business.

Harold: Obviously it’d also include you: you’re my daughter.

Mary Ann: But I don’t work in the business and I’m not an owner of the business. I’m a family member only.

Mary Ann: If you’re going to include me, then why not include Bob and Victor’s wives? Aren’t they family members too?

Harold: Hmmm…

Mary Ann: And what about my partner?

Harold: Well…

Mary Ann: And my ex-husband who’s the father of three of your grandchildren?

Harold: No way!

Mary Ann: I’m just saying these things to show that we have to think more carefully about who would come to a formal Family Meeting. Here’s a second SIMPLE question: What’s the agenda?

Harold: That’s easy. It’s all about me.

Mary Ann: It’s about you. Hmmm. Do you think you’re the only item on the agenda?

Harold: No, no… well, yes. I mean, I’m the one at the centre of all this, aren’t I?

Mary Ann: Maybe, just maybe, other members of the family have some items they would like to raise. Like, about themselves.

Harold: Okay. Fine. So the agenda is another issue that we’re going to think carefully about. Anything else?

Mary Ann: Third, who’s going to be chairperson?

Harold: Not sure…

Mary Ann: Fourth, what are the ground rules?

Harold: Hmmm…

Mary Ann: Fifth, what…

Harold: You don’t need to go on. I see there’s going to be a lot to sort out for this Family Meeting. Mary Ann, will you help our whole family by taking on the organization of this thing?

Mary Ann: I’ll have to ask everyone else if they’re okay with that. And, I’m a busy lady. How much am I going to be paid?

Harold: This certainly isn’t going to be as simple as I thought…