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For 3 seasons, HBO’s award-winning sequence, Succession, has been centered round what the present’s title suggests: Who will inherit management of the Waystar Royco? As somebody who has spent the higher a part of my profession working with the real-life Logan Roys of the world — we’re speaking ultra-wealthy people, typically with youngsters from a number of marriages, sitting on the helm of main firms — let’s simply say I’ve ideas on how Logan Roy, the patriarch of the Roy household and founding father of Waystar Royco, has orchestrated the corporate’s succession plan.
As we head into the extremely anticipated fourth and closing season, I will share, primarily based on my in depth expertise — as a planner, strategist and private advisor for people and households in addition to a pioneer and premier authority on legacy planning — 5 classes the Roy household may gain advantage from studying.
However first, let’s recap the place we left off. Logan Roy is about to relinquish management of his media and leisure conglomerate. However quite than handing the reins to considered one of his three youngsters, in a shock twist, he says he has determined to promote — not merge — Waystar Royco to streaming platform GoJo. This implies none of Logan’s youngsters will take over because the buyout deal would fully minimize them out of the enterprise.
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It is a transfer that nobody anticipated, and even thought was potential. A stipulation that was negotiated by Logan’s second spouse as a part of their divorce settlement protected the youngsters from ever shedding management of the corporate. Logan Roy would wish the youngsters’s unanimous consent for any change of management — or so we thought.
Within the closing moments of the season, Logan Roy revealed he renegotiated that divorce settlement, and the youngsters now not have such energy. It might seem heading into season 4 that Logan Roy is (but once more) in full management of Waystar Royco’s destiny, at the least for now.
Whereas this succession nightmare makes for entertaining TV, there are some actual classes we are able to be taught primarily based on how the present panned out. So let’s dive proper in!
1. You completely want a succession plan for your corporation
Okay, if there have been a succession plan, then there in all probability wouldn’t be a present. That stated, Logan Roy is in his 80s, and but there isn’t a plan for who will take over as CEO of Waystar Royco ought to he die or turn into incapacitated, nor does there appear to be a plan in place for what occurs to his wealth and controlling shares of the corporate. Whereas not unusual, that is fully irresponsible. A succession plan ensures a easy transition upon a CEO’s resignation, loss of life or incapacity and helps keep away from the dangers of misplaced income, decreased productiveness or a broken repute.
2. A prenuptial settlement is a should
A prenuptial settlement is completely crucial to guard your corporation. With out one, you danger your corporation changing into a marital asset topic to divorce proceedings. Had Logan Roy had a prenuptial settlement, his shares of Waystar Royco may have been clearly designated as non-marital belongings to which his ex-wife had no proper or entitlement. He may have retained full management of the corporate, and his youngsters would by no means have had the chance to band collectively and probably block a sale or merger of the corporate. Even worse, the supply that was negotiated really incentivizes Logan to pit his youngsters in opposition to one another so they’re by no means a unified entrance — which brings us to our subsequent concern.
3. Household success is constructed upon wholesome communication and belief
A now-famous research performed by Roy Williams of the Williams Group surveyed 3,250 households over a 20-year interval and located that the rationale 70% of intergenerational wealth transfers fail is due to a breakdown of communication and belief inside the household unit. The Roy household may very well be the poster youngsters for this research.
There’s completely zero belief amongst the relations, neither is there wholesome communication. Consequently, the truth is that Logan’s fortune will most probably be squandered rapidly after his loss of life. If Logan wished his fortune to final generations, he must create wholesome strains of communication amongst the household that emphasised transparency and belief. Common household conferences and outings are a technique of conducting this. One consumer of mine even had a household publication that went out commonly.
4. Cash doesn’t purchase happiness
I do not learn about you, however I don’t need to be a member of the Roy household. Regardless of their wealth, they only do not look like pleased individuals. Maybe that’s as a result of, because the previous adage goes, cash can’t purchase happiness. Properly, that previous adage has been backed by science. In response to optimistic psychology, happiness within the sense of your total well-being and flourishing as a human consists of 5 parts (known as “PERMA“): optimistic feelings, engagement, optimistic relationships, that means and accomplishments. Cash and materials possessions solely produce non permanent gratification and never long-term happiness.
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5. Take the time to find your life function
The elemental flaw with each character in HBO’s Succession is that every lacks a way of life function. We have no idea why Logan Roy created Waystar Royco or what the corporate’s mission is. It’s instructed that Logan grew up impoverished and beneath harsh circumstances across the starting of World Conflict II. Are we to consider that Logan’s drive is fueled by a need to flee, and by no means return to, these circumstances? His youngsters, however, appear merely to be vying for his or her father’s love and approval. In different phrases, everybody appears to be caught in some type of trauma, versus pursuing some better life function.
Essentially the most profitable purchasers I’ve labored with, when it comes to dwelling pleased, fulfilling lives whereas reaching nice monetary wealth, are those that will not be outlined by their circumstances and have lived their lives in pursuit of a better function.