If you hand over your company to your kid they won't understand the meaning of hard work. They won't know how when you started off you worked all through the night to fix a machine for the next day or how it is to have no money and still support a family. My son knew it. I was doing a job in the winter and my loader had a smashed window. Well we had a big snow storm and he said he'd plow in it never heard any complaints from him. He is a hardworker.

Asplundh Tree Company makes all the children work for someone else for 1 year before coming to the company. They also make the siblings earn their way throught the ranks. It appears to work as the end result is a sibling that appreciates where the money comes from and goes to.

I would love nothing more than for my son to take over my company. I made sure I made him work for everything when I brought him up. I don't do to much demolition anymore, but when I do i enjoy it.

I've read all the words of "wisdom" expunged by the group...interesting! The way to clearly motivate children to be the best at whatever they endeavor upon is to instill DESIRE !!!! Without it, all the rest is moot. With desire comes motivation. With motivation comes ethics. With ethics comes honesty. Couple all the above together with hard work and you will get harmony and success. It all may sound corny but "that which you reap, also shall you sow".

And they say blood is thicker than water........

The new generation doesn't want to work for a living, they just want to get paid. I don't know what the future holds.

I don't know if "encourage" is the right term to use. But if they wanted to go into the business, I wouldn't stop them. My son has a great time going out and looking at projects. he always ask questions on how did they do that and why.