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Top of Mind: June 15, 2017
June 15th, 2017
by Bill Boyajian

Memo to Millennials

I handle many family transition issues, the coaching and mentoring of family members, and succession planning for businesses. One of the things I see most often is that young people coming into a business are not there as a first choice. Sometimes they feel guilty that they should help their parents. Other times they have nowhere else to go.

Young people should work outside of their family business before they join it. Sometimes it’s too late for that, and there is little recourse but to continue on. But this often leads to problems, uncertainty about long-term commitment, and resentment about not being able to choose one’s own path in business and in life.

 
Young people deserve the right to follow their passion and to choose their own way. One of the things I recommend to Millennials is to simply write down in one column what you love to do, in another column what you are good at doing, and in a third column whether you can earn a living from either or both. We are usually quite good at what we like to do, and if we can make money doing it, we may have a formula for success.

Sometimes our work is a means to an end and simply a way to earn a living. When this is the case, we often find a hobby where we can unleash our true happiness. Sometimes people can find that joy through their hobby, and also make a nice living from it. It’s hard to do, but perhaps worth trying. If you’re a Millennial, consider this option. It will help you decide what you truly want to do.

 

 

Business Tips:

  • Courage without measured caution is a recipe for disaster. Have the common sense to listen to others and consider their advice.
  • When we are too close to a problem, we are blinded by familiarity and proximity, while others can see the issue immediately.
  • We don’t realize the power of our words until we are silenced by the words of others. Be careful about what you say to people.

 

Life Tips:

  • That uncomfortable feeling when things just aren’t right, is often caused when we get outside of our comfort zone or experience.
  • Humility is not having a low opinion of yourself, but rather, the right opinion. Humble people are comfortable in their own skin.
  • Time is your most precious asset in life. Use it to explore new horizons, discover your passion, and share great moments with friends.


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“I needed help orchestrating a succession plan for our business. I had heard that Bill Boyajian specialized in assisting owners to transition their business to the next generation. He knows how to bridge the generation gap and deliver what each needs to hear. I would recommend Bill to any business owner who needs advice on succession planning from a trusted outside professional.”

–Charles Denaburg,
Managing Partner,
Levy’s Fine Jewelry
Birmingham, AL

"Our family needed some guidance on business transition and succession planning. We asked Bill Boyajian to help us because we knew we could trust him to tell us what we needed to hear. Bill became a valuable resource for our company and our entire family. He has the ability to meet each of us where we’re at and it has served us very well."

–Ceylon Leitzel
Leitzel Fine Jewelry
Hershey & Myerstown, PA

“We needed a plan to transition our business to a non-family member and we asked Bill Boyajian to help us. His experience in the area has really paid off, but we didn’t expect the added value of putting us together with a financial planner who helped organize our retirement needs. We now have the fundamentals to transition our business successfully, and we have Bill to thank for it.”

–Ernie & Debbie Cummings
Kizer-Cummings Jewelers
Lawrence, KS