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Better Business Better Life! Helping you live your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life through EOS & Experts
Welcome back to another episode of Better Business, Better Life. Host Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined once again by family business expert, Sara B. Stern to tackle one of the most critical and often avoided topics of family businesses: succession planning. On this second part of the family business special, they discuss why successful transitions take time (often up to eight years), how to start the conversation early, and why clearly separating family, ownership, and business roles is key. Sara also shares practical tools like EOS and the Three-Circle Model to help families define legacy, align on goals, and make confident decisions about the future. If you're thinking about handing over the reins or just want to set your business up for long-term success, this episode is packed with actionable advice and real-life insights. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.co.nz ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ____________________________________________ GUEST'S DETAIL: ► Website Link ► Grab a copy of Start Here: A Guide for Family Business Succession and ► Grab a copy of Married to the Family Business ► Sara B. Stern - LinkedIn Chapters: 00:32 - Introduction 02:15 - Sara B. Stern's Background and Expertise 04:23 - Challenges in Family Business Succession Planning 07:25 - Importance of Defining Legacy and Ownership Philosophy 09:29 - Operating the Business Professionally 21:38 - Addressing Conflicts and Seeking Professional Help 22:24 - Real-Life Examples and Practical Advice 26:12 - Final Tips and Tools for Succession Planning 31:55 - Conclusion and Future Plans
Better Business Better Life! Helping you live your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life through EOS & Experts
In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, host Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Sara B. Stern, an EOS implementer and family business expert, for part one of a powerful two-part series on navigating the complex intersection of family dynamics and business strategy. Together, they explore the Harvard three-circle family business model and how to apply EOS tools to create clarity, define roles, and manage conflict in family-run businesses. Sara shares practical insights on fairness across family, business, and ownership circles, the importance of clearly defined roles like Visionary and Integrator, and why conflict can be healthy if handled in the right context. If you're navigating blurred roles, tension, or unclear expectations on leading a multi-generational company or just beginning succession planning, this episode offers essential tools for building a stronger business and healthier family relationships. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.co.nz ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ____________________________________________ GUEST'S DETAIL: ► Website Link ► Grab a Copy of Start Here: A Guide for Family Business Succession and Married to the Family Business ► Sara B. Stern - LinkedIn Chapters: 00:32 - Introduction 02:12 - Balancing Family Dynamics and Business Strategy 03:38 - Challenges in Family Business Dynamics 05:18 - Defining Fairness in Family Business 08:21 - Role Assignment and Succession Planning 11:14 - The Importance of the Owner's Box 20:54 - Handling Conflict in Family Businesses 23:10 - Practical Tips for Family Business Owners 32:21 - Recommended Books for Family Business Owners
Curious about the secrets behind successful family businesses? In this episode of "Entrepreneurs Circle," Erik Cabral sits down with Sara B. Stern, a certified EOS implementer and expert in family-owned enterprises, to discuss strategies for navigating the complexities of family, business, and ownership roles.Tune in to discover how separating family, business, and ownership roles can lead to harmony and growth. Learn about the transformative power of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and gain valuable insights from Sara's consulting experiences. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of family business dynamics and improve your own business operations!0:00 Intro: Family businesses and the three-circle model5:05 Challenges of hiring family in business10:08 Using "hats" to separate family and business roles15:19 Baby boomers retiring and business succession20:19 Explaining the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)22:56 Embracing failure: A lesson in trusting instincts27:27 How Sara helps separate family and business relationships28:30 Closing remarks and contact information
Better Business Better Life! Helping you live your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life through EOS & Experts
Navigating a family business comes with unique challenges, from balancing personal relationships to ensuring fairness and clarity in decision-making. In this Better Business, Better Life Flashback Series episode, we revisit an insightful conversation with family business expert Sara B. Stern. Sara brings her wealth of experience to the table, offering practical tools and strategies to strengthen both your family and your business. Debra and Sara explore the three-circle model of family businesses—family, business, and ownership—and why each needs its own leader and structure. They discuss the importance of involving spouses in decision-making, avoiding communication breakdowns, and setting clear boundaries for long-term success. Sara also shares insights from her book Married to the Family Business and introduces resources designed to help spouses play a more active, informed role. Whether you're part of a family business or advising one, this episode is packed with timeless wisdom on leadership, fairness, and creating a thriving multi-generational legacy.Tune in and re-live the key principles that drive your family business while maintaining harmony and long-term success.CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.co.nz ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ____________________________________________ GUEST'S DETAIL: ► Website Link ► Married to the Family Business: A Handbook for Spouses of Family Business Owners ► Connect with Sara ► Sara B. Stern - LinkedIn Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 03:05 - Sara's New Book and Its Impact 04:29 - Challenges Spouses Face in Family Businesses 07:34 - The Three-Circle Model and Its Implications 07:58 - Advisors' Role in Family Businesses 14:03 - Practical Tips for Family Business Advisors 26:27 - Tools and Resources for Spouses 31:03 - Differences Between Family and Traditional Businesses 34:20 - Navigating Family Business Dynamics 38:21 - Fairness in Family Businesses
Host Adam Hill is joined by seasoned family business advisor Sara B. Stern, whose unique adaptation of Harvard's 3 Circle Model profoundly changed the way he viewed family business after hearing her speak a few years ago. In this episode, Adam and Sara dive into the 3 Circle Model, explore the transformative power of EOS, and discuss how to approach it all with healthy communication and a lighthearted spirit. 0:00 Intro 5:53 Family Business Realities 11:05 Advising Family Businesses 17:38 Communication and Succession 23:16 Starting the Succession Conversation 30:10 Bravery in Family Businesses 36:27 Three Circles Model 43:12 Resources for Family Businesses Resources Mentioned: Sara B. Stern's Website Start Here: A Guide for Family Business Succession by Sara B. Stern EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Follow Adam: Sign up for the newsletter and get a free Vision/Reflection Retreat Guide IG: @theadamchill YouTube: @adamchill TikTok: @theadamchill
Better Business Better Life! Helping you live your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life through EOS & Experts
Welcome to "Better Business Better Life," the podcast where Debra Chantry-Taylor interviews Sara B. Stern, a Certified EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide and a true Family Business Fanatic. If you're looking for valuable insights on building lasting legacies for your family business, this is the podcast for you. Sara brings a wealth of experience to the table. With certifications as an EOS implementer since 2015 and a coach since 2001, as well as a master's degree in organizational leadership, she is well-equipped to guide family business owners on their journey. Having grown up in a business family and worked in family businesses herself, Sara understands the unique challenges and opportunities that arise in these environments. One of Sara's distinguishing qualities is her candidness about her own struggles with "head trash." She openly acknowledges the mental barriers that can hinder success and helps others overcome them. Her passion for empowering family businesses is infectious, and she's not afraid to speak her mind or share a few choice words when discussing topics like the V/TO (Vision/Traction Organizer) and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy. Sara's expertise extends beyond working directly with family businesses. She also collaborates with family business advisors, providing them with the tools and insights they need to better serve their clients. With her guidance, advisors can avoid becoming "yes men" and offer powerful, customized solutions that truly benefit family businesses. If you're serious about implementing EOS in your family business and want someone who won't shy away from the tough conversations or the nitty-gritty details, Sara B. Stern is the perfect fit for you. But beware, she's not one to play around with the Accountability Chart or overlook the significance of numbers. On top of it all, if you appreciate a good dad-joke (the cheesier, the better), you'll find a kindred spirit in Sara. Tune in to "Better Business Better Life" as Debra Chantry-Taylor and Sara B. Stern dive deep into the world of family businesses, helping you create a brighter future for both your business and your life. HOST'S DETAILS: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ____________________________________________ GUESTS DETAILS: ____________________________________________ ►Website: familybusinessmn.com linkedin.com/in/sarabstern ___________________________________________ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/betterbusiness-betterlife/message
All of us have had experience with family businesses. They represent over two-thirds of privately held companies in the U.S., yet few people understand the unique challenges (and opportunities) that owning one presents. It requires a much more emotional approach to business than owning a traditional corporation—but that doesn't mean emotion runs the show. In[...] The post The Challenges And Opportunities Of Family Businesses, with Author Sara B. Stern appeared first on Your Team Success.
Better Business Better Life! Helping you live your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life through EOS & Experts
Sara is on a quest to help owners get what they want from their family business and build lasting legacies. As the former director of the nationally recognized Family Business Center at the University of Saint Thomas, a Certified EOS Implementer™ and the founder of The Sage Pages she helps her clients get real, simple results. In this podcast Sara shares many real-life stories & tips from working with hundreds of family businesses. As her name suggests, Sara knows how to B Stern with her family clients to ensure that they get the next from their business & their life & she has had many successes in this area. Sara's top 3 tips are based on the Harvard Business School's Three-Circle Model of the Family Business System: She recommends getting clarity on the Vision for each the 3 points: - Ownership - Family - Business Sara is also an Author & you can find her book, Start Here: A Guide for Family Business Succession (The Sage Pages) at the link below. https://www.amazon.com/Start-Here-Family-Business-Succession/dp/1726710610 Or https://www.thesagepages.com/ Head to our website - https://www.debrachantry-taylor.com/podcast Debra Chantry-Taylor Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner #betterbusinessbetterlife #entrepreneur #leadership #eosimplementer Professional EOS Implementer Australia Professional EOS Implementer New Zealand --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/betterbusiness-betterlife/message
Today's guest is Sara B. Stern of Family Business Minnesota. Sara has a particular interest in family-owned businesses. You know, because you might be in one, the unique dynamics of a family owned business. We will discuss how to lead a family owned business, how to set the vision for it, and how to keep it sane on Thanksgiving. As the former director of the Family Business Center at the University of St. Thomas and a trained coach and EOS Implementer, Sara has a unique ability to help family business owners create a plan to thrive for generations.
Get this: 2/3's of the privately held businesses in the U.S. are family businesses. And whether you're a family business owner or NOT, legacy, succession, and making the right decisions with the right people are BIG conversations. If you've inherited a business, are fighting with siblings about the future of your company, or if you just proudly support your local mom and pop, you can learn something from our guest Sara Stern. In this episode, you'll hear how Sara's expertise in working with family businesses creates meaningful insight for any business that wants to create a lasting culture, clear ownership and accountability, and a healthy bottom-line. Sara B. Stern is the founder of The Sage Pages and also serves as an EOS Implementer™ at Family Business Minnesota. Learn more about Sara at familybusinessmn.com Connect with Sara on Linkedin: @sarabstern Find the diagram Sara discussed in this episode at familybusinessmn.com/articles/better-family-business-decisions This episode is sponsored by Round Table Companies. They guide leaders, teams, and individuals to tell their stories and help shape a new world. Write your book, inspire your team, or bring a new purpose to your brand. Let’s work together to create your greatest impact. Visit RoundTableCompanies.com to get started.
What You'll Learn From This Episode: Having a clear vision for the family business Avoiding the feeling of frustration in running a family business Applying the 'accountability chart' Related Links and Resources: Go to www.thesagepages.com/secret and what you will find there are 6 places to focus on to have a world class family business. It's actually an outline for her upcoming book. Summary: Sara B. Stern is on a quest to help owners get what they want from their family business and build lasting legacies. She is the former director of the nationally recognized Family Business Center at the University of Saint Thomas in Minnesota, a seasoned coach and trained EOS Implementer. She grew up in a family business and has worked for several. Her experience makes her uniquely skilled at helping family businesses implement practical tools that help them get clear about their vision, gain traction toward that vision and be a healthy team. Here are the highlights of this episode: She loves working with multi-generational family businesses with at least 10-250 employees and they are hungry for a change while staying rooted to their legacy and values. She helps them to be really healthy with each other as they work together. These family businesses may feel the frustration when the profit is not there or where it used to be, and Sara wants them also to avoid to just randomly assign positions or create positions for their family members. Anke's Valuable Free Action (VFA): Sara advises to use what she calls the 'accountability chart'; get your leadership team and discuss what do you need in the business. Write down the key functions then create bullet points. After creating the structure, figure out the people who are uniquely skilled and have the experience to do that job. She says running a family business is not even close to a nightmare, it's a joy. If you're running a family business and you're trying to figure out how to move it from one generation to the next, Sara wrote a very short book about this, google "Start Here" by Sara B. Stern
What You'll Learn From This Episode: Having a clear vision for the family business Avoiding the feeling of frustration in running a family business Applying the 'accountability chart' Related Links and Resources: Go to www.thesagepages.com/secret and what you will find there are 6 places to focus on to have a world class family business. It's actually an outline for her upcoming book. Summary: Sara B. Stern is on a quest to help owners get what they want from their family business and build lasting legacies. She is the former director of the nationally recognized Family Business Center at the University of Saint Thomas in Minnesota, a seasoned coach and trained EOS Implementer. She grew up in a family business and has worked for several. Her experience makes her uniquely skilled at helping family businesses implement practical tools that help them get clear about their vision, gain traction toward that vision and be a healthy team. Here are the highlights of this episode: She loves working with multi-generational family businesses with at least 10-250 employees and they are hungry for a change while staying rooted to their legacy and values. She helps them to be really healthy with each other as they work together. These family businesses may feel the frustration when the profit is not there or where it used to be, and Sara wants them also to avoid to just randomly assign positions or create positions for their family members. Anke's Valuable Free Action (VFA): Sara advises to use what she calls the 'accountability chart'; get your leadership team and discuss what do you need in the business. Write down the key functions then create bullet points. After creating the structure, figure out the people who are uniquely skilled and have the experience to do that job. She says running a family business is not even close to a nightmare, it's a joy. If you're running a family business and you're trying to figure out how to move it from one generation to the next, Sara wrote a very short book about this, google "Start Here" by Sara B. Stern
Sara Stern joins me on the podcast this week to talk about family businesses and how they can tackle EOS as organizations. Sometimes family businesses can be tricky, but they also can be creative and rewarding when using the right EOS tools to tackle their issues.