I liked this analysis: Has nothing to do with Budweiser, Disney, Fox News, Kennedys, Windsors, etc.
The first generation heir gets 50% of the founder’s genes. The first generation heir also grew up while the company was being built and saw with its own eyes what it took to go from nothing to something great.
The second generation heir gets 25% of the founder’s genes. The second generation might have known the founder and depending on the relationship of the first generation to the founder might have valued what the founder created. Some second generation heirs carry on the family business, particularly if blessed with a first generation heir parent who was hard working and contributed to the development of the business.
The third generation heir receives 12.5% of the founder’s genes. Almost certainly the third generation did not know the founder and therefore has no direct knowledge of what it took to create the lifestyle the third generation enjoyed.
By the fourth generation the founder’s gene pool has mostly played out (6.25%) in terms of determining the intelligence, creativity and work ethic of the person. In addition by the fourth generation there have been three successive generations that have not had to worry about missing a meal and have been born and raised in luxury. Add to that indulgent child rearing and you have a receipe for failure.
Rarely do dynasties last to or past the fourth generation. By the fourth generation there may be 100 or more heirs, and the monthly allowances from the family trust are becoming too small to support the self-indulgent lifestyles of the many non-working trust fund babies. Often the unproductive heirs find an attorney and friendly court to help them bust the trust, liquidate the assets and give out equal shares of the assets. They then squander the cash raised by selling the business leaving the next generation, or their grandchildren to learn again the value of hard work and the motivation of hunger.
Glad we never had nothing! This sounds like slow torture.
I’ve been demanding reparations from the first generation for years now to no avail.
Well, if the first generation’s second wife wasn’t such a gold digging bimbo, the fourth generation might have gotten a bit of a gene boost from the inlet stream.
You had to be a pro to have found this..very profound..
Camels on the Horizon ?
by CAILFebruary 22, 2022
Interesting insight on history and innovation
The founder of Dubai, Sheik Rashid, was asked about the future of his country. He replied – My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I ride a nice car, my son rides a nice car, and my grandson will also ride a nice car – but – my great-grandson will probably be riding a camel again !
When asked why, he replied – Hard times create strong people, strong people create easy times. Easy times create weak people, weak people create difficult times.
Because of this, the need is to raise warriors, so people and society evolve and are strong – and not succumb to being weak, feeling entitled, or parasitic.
Evidence of this from history includes great empires that were created then disappeared – the Trojans, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, the British …. all within a span of 240 years !
Their demise was not by external enemies – but rot from within !! …. including adherence to tradition, the status quo, low risk tolerance, etc.
To avoid this issue, it’s essential organizations meaningfully improve outcomes with innovation coming from : “Process and Predictability“ + “Insight and Inspiration“ …. the ability to “Walk and Talk“ at the same time !
With this being a challenge in many organizations, it’s up to us to recognize the need to be strong by raising the bar based on – being good at the various forms of innovation, being open minded and enlightened, having a sense of purpose, working smart and hard, recognizing the changing nature of risk, creating significant new value, etc. Or, have the same fate as those in the above list !
This is very relevant now since the greatest generation of our time was 18-year-old kids storming the beaches at Normandy – that led to the end of World War 2 and the subsequent emergence of our modern society. To continue enjoying it, are we able to continue building on it ? Or, have history repeat itself by letting current trends go their course that are heavily influenced by –
A. the meek and those who ignore unpleasant facts
B. people who seek safe places when they see things or hear words that aren’t nice or hurt their feelings
C. those that struggle with – change, adapting, being responsible, learning, making meaningful commitments and tough decisions, etc.
In this context, are you ok with “ riding a camel “ in the future (with current trends continuing) ? Or, innovating for impact to “ keep riding a car “ ?
..and yes, this arrives on hump day…
I wonder what Indian Dynasty Elizabeth Warren came from.
A contrary view on generations… Who should be called the Greatest Generation? WWII vets or someone more deserving?
The 18 year-olds who fought WWII were the line warriors. Grunts. Cannon Fodder. Tip of the spear but the bottom of the food chain. Yes they were brave in the face of battle but they didn’t do the planning or logistics to make the battle possible.
The generation that raised the warriors and PLANNED WWII were the WWI veterans who rode out the Great Depression so THEY should be called the Greatest Generation.
In that light we are 4+ generations past our peak as a nation and it shows.
Good point..I’ll raise my toasted butterscotch marshmallow soy latte to that!