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The Power of Complimentary Skills
October 22nd, 2023
by Bill Boyajian

I see it all the time in consulting for family businesses:

  • Two brothers are as opposite as opposite can be, one an “inside” guy, the other an “outside guy.” Yet they build a very successful business together.
  • A mother and daughter have very different skills, one with great experience and the other with a knack for new technology. Together they grow a thriving business.
  • Two cousins take over family business that is going nowhere. One is a salesman and people person; the other is a back of house expert. The business propels exponentially.

Family businesses are a lot like marriages. Opposites attract because we see in a partner talents and characteristics that balance our own skills. Business owners don’t always have a partner to compliment their skills, so they must seek the kind of people who can help to make them “whole.” This is the brilliance of surrounding yourself with people who share your core values, yet add to the family business a set of skills that balance yours as an owner.

Sometimes the stress and pressures of business cause disagreements between partners, family members, and owners and employees. It is vital to understand the differences in style and perspective, and to meet somewhere in the middle. Take the time to talk things out and share your views in an open and caring way.

The power of having complimentary skills in any family business is the key to maximum success. It’s not easy, but family businesses are successful when members are honest with each other and learn to put their own interests aside for the good of the company.



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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