Word of the Week - Generational
“One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.” — Psalm 145:4
Amy and I are keeping four of our eight grandkids this week to allow my daughter Saige and her husband to attend a marriage enrichment retreat at Scott River Lodge (SRL) in northern California. We attended the same retreat a few years ago and it was life changing for us. SRL is a couples ministry of JH Ranch. Over the years, I have shared much about both and how they have shaped our generational view and approach to marriage, family, and life.
As the years pass and the number and ages of my grandchildren increase, I become more focused, passionate, and intentional toward building a godly heritage and legacy for my family and business. Over the years I have written several “WOWs” on Heritage, Legacy, and Generational blessing. Most of these were focused on family, which I believe is most important.
In this week’s “Word of the Week” I am applying the same concepts and principles that I have shared about family to building a company/organization that is truly built to last — not just for the next 5 or 10 years, but for generations. A business with clarity of vision, mission, purpose, and values that remains Kingdom-focused and impact-driven long after the first and founding generation passes the torch. I have been thinking about this and laying the foundation for this transition process at Founders Advisors for at least a decade. We initiated the transition process recently by putting an equity purchase plan in place for our next generation of leaders. This was a big step in the process that will likely take decades to complete. I am excited about the opportunity to be part of building a business that will remain on mission for generations to come with the hope that it will be the gift that keeps on giving long after I am gone.
So how do we build something that lasts 100+ years and honors God in the process?
Start with a shared God Vision, not just our own - A generational company begins with a Kingdom-centered vision. It’s not just about what we want to build, but about what God wants to accomplish through us. As leaders we must Abide in Christ and stay connected to the Vine of Christ so we can hear from God. We must lead with a long view — seeing our work as part of His eternal story. We must also work to build deep buy-in from leadership by including them in the process. This starts with who you hire and their alignment to your vision, mission, values, and purpose.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” — Psalm 127:1
Instill and Reinforce Clear Values and Purpose - Culture will drift unless it's consistently and intentionally shaped. We must clearly define, model, and protect values that reflect Christ — values like Servant Leadership, Order/God First, Growth, and Excellence. We must talk about our values and purpose often and always look for ways to model and reinforce them. We should include our team, especially our leaders in the process of reinforcing our values and hold each other accountable.
“As iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another.” — Proverbs 27:17
Think and Build Multi-Generationally – We must live with a generational mindset and be thinking about the future. We don’t just build for today — we build for those who come after us. That means developing leaders, transferring ownership wisely, and staying faithful to the mission. God calls us to think beyond our own timeline. It also means we are putting structures and systems in place that align with our longer-term vision. This can include board governance structures that can include stewarding the vision, mission, purpose and values of an organization such as a Perpetual Purpose Trust.
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…” — Proverbs 13:22
Challenge for the Week:
What are you building today that will still matter 100 years from now? What legacy of leadership, culture, and Kingdom impact are you leaving behind?
Let’s build something that lasts — for His glory, and for generations to come.