Dear Younger Me:

Family business enterprises, found in virtually every country, are the backbone of most economies. In the USA and Canada there are over 6,000,000 businesses which contribute 57% of the GDP and employ 63% of the workforce. The leadership challenges they present are complex and unique. Most executives and family members in these firms eventually discover that their education and years of hard work have not fully prepared them to address many of the interpersonal demands that come with the territory. David Bentall came to realize to make a positive contribution and be a part of the solution for his own family business, he needed to work on several key personal qualities. Balancing academic research and practical insights from his own and many other well-known family enterprise leaders, he presents a brilliant case for pursuing a new path for personal growth. Dear Younger Me presents nine key character traits that are critically important for developing any leader, and for cultivating emotional intelligence. Business successors who cultivate these qualities will find their leadership dramatically improved, and their relationships enhanced, especially with other family members and senior executives.Written in a handbook format, these traits are useful for any business executive, but especially aspiring for family enterprise executives, providing insight and inspiration on how to develop HUMILITY, CURIOSITY, LISTENING, EMPATHY, FORGIVENESS, GRATITUDE, CRITICAL THINKING, PATIENCE and CONTENTMENT. The book explores the role that these virtues played in the lives of several iconic leaders including Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Kim Phuc, Walt Disney, John Wooden, and Helen Keller.This is a guide that any business leader will benefit from."