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10 Years in a Family Business:

Lessons Learned

By Ryan Leiterman, D.V.M.
Director of Technical Services
I spent nine years in
college before entering
what my dad refers
to as the real world. It
was only after college
that I realized how
little those nine years
had prepared me for the road that lay ahead. and friend. Ed had regularly scheduled visits
For the past 10 years I have been fortunate to our office every quarter. On one of those
enough to work alongside my parents in our days, he arrived about an hour after my dad
family business. I’ve learned more during and I had a big argument. He could tell that I
my time in the family business than I did in was upset so he came into my office and shut
all those years of college. I’ve also learned the door. The conversation went like this:
a lot from working with our clients and their Ed: “It’s pretty obvious that something is
family businesses. Below are three of the
most important lessons I’ve learned so far. bothering you. Want to talk about it?”

Me: “Sure, but there is not much to talk
Lesson #1 from Our Accountant: about. My dad drives me crazy. I swear
Disagreement Among he must be the most stubborn person on
Business Partners Is Normal the planet. Honestly Ed, I’m not sure I
am cut out to work with my parents.”
and Necessary
Ed sat there for a while without
Ed was our accountant from the day my saying anything. Looking back at our
parents started Crystal Creek® to the day he conversation I am not sure if he was
died, 3 years ago. Ed filed our taxes but he just giving me time to finish fuming or
was really a trusted business advisor, confidant possibly giving a long pause for...

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