Tag Archives: organization

Bayanihan Knitted Knockers | Breast Cancer ADVOCACY

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God is good all the time. I stumbled upon this advocacy for breast cancer warriors who’ve had a mastectomy – handmade breast prostheses. And I must say that this is one advocacy that is truly worth sharing here in my blog. I would like to encourage those who get to read this to support and share the project with your friends, families, and coworkers. ❤️

For international volunteers and donors who would like to support this advocacy by Knitted Knockers, you may visit this website:

https://www.knittedknockers.org/

To Filipino volunteers and breast cancer warriors who would like to get a pair of knitted breast prostheses for FREE, you may coordinate with the Bayanihan Knitted Knockers thru their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Bayanihanknittedknockers?mibextid=ZbWKwL

I also would like to dedicate this blog post to all the volunteers who support this cause and made this campaign a success. To the founders who started the initiative to help breast cancer warriors cope with the struggles and challenges of losing an essential part of themselves as a woman, the impact of this project is just beyond tremendous – a very big THANK YOU to all of you. 🙏❤️

Here are some of the testimonies from the recipients themselves:

God Is Good All The Time Talaga

Nakakatuwa lang si Lord. Dahil kagabi lang I felt like ni-shake, rattle, and roll na naman ang mundo ko. But God replaced it with peace and wisdom reminding me of His promises and the “positive” future that awaits when I obey Him.

I mentioned in my previous articles about this desire of mine to do volunteer work for the breast cancer community when I get back to Bicol. I don’t know how and where to start actually though I have an initial plan (please refer to this article). Pero as usual, umiral naman “imposter syndrome” ko and my complaint to God was that the task is too daunting. I lack a lot of resources from finances, logistics, to manpower. Sagot lang Nya is that “Christine, just wait.”

A Community of Warriors

And then came Knitted Knockers. This advocacy started in the US, and later on, ipinagpatuloy ng mga founders ng Bayanihan Knitted Knockers dito sa Pinas with the intent na matulungan ang mga Pinay na sumailalim ng mastectomy. Ang mga handwoven na breast prostheses ay technically mga fillers na nilalagay sa bra para maging pantay pa din ang mga dibdib o hindi maging flat ang mga dibdib.

Sa time ng mastectomy and lumpectomy ng Mommy and Lola ko (around ’90s), wala pang ganito. So, my Tita from the US bought my Mom a silicone pad (thanks Mommy Jud) altho lately na lang kaso mainit sya and hindi suitable para gamitin nang pangmatagalan lalo na dito sa Pinas. And nai-irritate ang pinagtahian lalo na sa case ni Mom na keloidal sya (like me) kaya nagkaroon ng keloid ang mismong tahi.

Akala natin maliit at simpleng item lang itong knitted breast prostheses pero malaki pala ang tulong na naibibigay para sa pag-boost ng self-esteem and confidence ng mga kababaihan na sumailalim ng mastectomy. Kaya nababawasan ang depression kahit paano dahil isa sa challenges ng mga breast cancer warriors after a surgery ay ang self-image at kung paano mag-iiba ang tingin sa kanila ng mga tao once they go out. The knitted breast prostheses somehow made the transition and adjustment process less traumatic and less painful to these women helping them cope with mental health issues better.

Volunteer For A Good Cause

So ito na ang ibinigay ni Lord na opportunity. It’s as if sinabi Nya na “Tin, I am now opening a door for you to volunteer.” Sagot ko sana ay, “May say ba ako, Lord, kung ayaw kong gawin?” lol Feeling ko isasagot sa akin ni Lord ay, “Ano ba talaga, Tin? Sabi mo gusto mo mag-volunteer tapos tinatanong mo ako kung ano ba ang nasa future mo, heto na ‘yun, I am giving you a glimpse how and where to start.” 😂 Sayang lang at hindi ako marunong mag-knit. But I really would love to learn. Kaso andami ko nang pending tasks pagbalik ng Bicol, baka maging hanggang drawing lang talaga itong pag-knit. Sana hindi. 🙏

I guess ito din ang isa sa mga purposes ni Lord kaya ako pinapunta ng Maynila dahil pinakuha Nya sa akin lahat ng mga training materials sa mga previous volunteer projects na sinalihan ko. Gaya nitong ginamit namin sa training as volunteers ng Victory QC (now Victory Katipunan) Community Outreach Ministry. I am not sure kung patuloy pa din ang proyekto na ito.

But I am grateful and privileged enough na nakapag-attend ako ng training dahil ang isa sa mga bumuo ng ministry na ito used to be the Dean (if I’m not mistaken) of the College of Social Work and Community Development in UP Diliman. I learned from one of the best mentors when it comes to doing community service and ang kagandahan, it was backed by Biblical foundations.

Extending The Project To Bicol

What I am praying for now is how I can bring the initiative of Bayanihan Knitted Knockers sa Bicol, like sort of create a Bicol chapter ng organization (kung wala pa) kahit magsimula sa kaunting volunteers lang muna. Dahil ang mga handwoven breast prostheses ay ipinapamigay ng LIBRE pero sagot pa din ng recipient ang shipping fee. Kung manggagaling pa ng Maynila, may kamahalan din ang babayaran na shipping fee ng breast cancer warriors from Bicol.

And kung Maynila lang ang pagkukunan ng knitted breast prostheses, baka masyadong matagalan ang delivery given the limited number of volunteer knitters they have. I am sure may marunong din mag-knit at mag-crochet sa Bicol. I plan to ask and coordinate with the founders of the Bayanihan Knitted Knockers here in Manila re the following:

– can we set up a Bicol chapter

– how long does it take to complete a pair of knitted breast prostheses (altho tingin ko depende na ito sa kung gaano ka-experienced ang isang volunteer knitter)

– are there specific requirements for the type of yarn, designs, foam used, proof of surgery (recipient), etc.

Based on their answers, doon ko malalaman what I will be needing for the Bicol chapter such as:

– number of volunteers (knitters and packers) depending sa magiging bulk ng orders and knitting/packing time

– targeted number of recipients (ilang cities and municipalities meron sa buong Bicol Region and ilan ang hospitals kada city/town)

– coordinate with oncologists/surgeons per hospital kung ilan ang pasyente nila na nag-undergo at maga-undergo ng mastectomy para sa referrals ng mga prospective recipients (this will be a very huge favor to ask from them soooo, mate-test ang superpower of persuasion ko dito or kaibiganin ko secretaries nila at i-bribe ng mamon para lumambot ang puso 😂)

Giving Everyone Equal Opportunity

Nakita ko kasi na konti pa lang din ang nakakaalam about Bayanihan Knitted Knockers kaya kung ia-advertise sa social media, ang mari-reach na mga breast cancer warriors ay konti lang. So, traditional way ng pag-advertise ang need gawin para mas marami ang makaalam at matulungan. And regardless kung ano status sa buhay, basta gusto mag-avail, dapat makatanggap.

Pagdating sa pag-round up ng volunteers, Bulan and Sorsogon City ang target ko since mag-uuwian ako from both places. Sa church sa city ang main target ko to get volunteers para habang nagni-knit o pack, diretso fellowship. Because why not? 😅

Kung madami ang orders, I plan to hire more knitters and mas preferred ko actually na bayaran ang gagawa pero syempre need mag-conduct ng financial planning kung kakayanin ba ng budget. We can’t solely rely on donations, but it would be a very big help. Ika nga nila, libre mangarap pero kailangan din maging praktikal.

Ang headquarters ay most likely sa hometown ko kasi ang vision ko sana ay doon iganap ang monthly meetings (once a month) sa farm namin. Pwede naman sa bahay kasi napagusapan actually naming magkakapatid na gawing bed and breakfast ang bahay in the far future since marami ang natutuwa at nagpapa-picture dito. Hindi lang nila alam ang daming multo. Isa na pala ako doon a.k.a. “the white lady.” 😀

Ni-disenyo mismo ng Dad and Mom. ❤️ They love to build things together. Ito actually ang fave pastime nila – ang magplano at gumawa ng proyekto. | photo taken by my 3rd sister 📸

Tapos kapag nasa bukid na, unli buko doon at sabayan ng pancit bato para sa meryenda. Pero ang catch dito ay kung sino ang gusto ng unli buko, dapat sya ang magsusungkit ng buko. 🤣 We call buko as “silot” in Bulan. And this is how we harvest coconuts:

Only a skilled “paralukad” can harvest the coconuts dahil delikado sya actually at mahirap gawin lalo na kapag ganito na katatangkad ng mga punong niyog.

Kung game ang mga volunteers sa panunungkit, then unli buko it is. lol I am just kidding. Of course, unli buko talaga at magpapabaon din ako para sa pamilya nila tsaka kung ano mahagilap o ma-forage nila doon sa bukid (aawayin na ako neto ng Daddy at kapatid ko 🤣). Dahil maliit na bagay lang ito actually and the volunteers will get to experience this once a month only. This is how I plan to repay them for all the volunteer (hard) work they do.

A Collective Effort Towards Social Change And Fellowship

Noong time ng Lola at Lolo ko, sa bukid namin madalas ginagawa ang spiritual retreat ng Protestant church na usually ginaganap sa buwan ng Marso o Abril kung tama pagkakaalala ko. I am praying my siblings are also open to the idea once kami na ang magma-manage. But this time, gusto ko sana na it will be open to any church kasi ang target natin is to foster unity within the body of Christ.

My 3rd sister suggested maglagay ng chapel doon sa hill na maliit (na for sure ay hindi nyo naman makikita sa sobrang layo 😆).

Isa kasi ito sa mga most memorable childhood experiences ko when it comes to fellowship. Yaong nagpe-praise and worship kayo na panay mga boses at gitara lang ang maririnig (no loud musical instruments) kasi walang kuryente doon. And even if magkaroon pa, I still prefer na ganito pa din ang praise and worship during spiritual retreats – it’s more solemn at ramdam mo ang connection with nature and with God. And then after ng preaching at intercessory prayers, kainan a la picnic style (potluck kami lagi) tapos bonding na and just relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Maganda mag-senti dito sa pond. ‘Wag lang masobrahan sa pag-sway at baka tumilapon ka diretso sa pond – lagpas tao din sya. 😅
The farm during dusk.

My visions are very ambitious, I know. 😀 But I am praying na ito ang will ng Panginoon at sana matuwa ang Dios kapag maisakatuparan ito. In everything, to God be the glory always. 🙏

For this article and what the organizers, volunteers, and supporters of Knitted Knockers and Bayanihan Knitted Knockers are doing, I believe the Bible verses below are fitting:

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:16

“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21

“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3

P.S. I believe this will be an ongoing initiative dahil kada taon meron at merong nada-diagnose ng breast cancer at naga-undergo ng mastectomy sa buong bansa. Pwede sa provinces madalang pero meron pa din. Kaya sa mga makabasa nito sa ibang lugar sa Pilipinas, sana maenganyo din kayo to start the same campaign sainyong mga lugar. 👍

Ang knitted breast prostheses ay hindi lang personal item. It is a powerful representation and symbolizes kung gaano nakipaglaban ang isang breast cancer warrior sa sakit na kanser. Thus, walang makakatumbas sa kanyang sentimental value. ❤️

*featured image courtesy of Bayanihan Knitted Knockers

All About Leadership: Which One Fits You? | 3 Types of Leaders

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I initially have no idea how this inclination to research about leaders started. My guess is that the experiences, circumstances, and opportunities that came along for this season probably have something to do with it.

While editing this article though a couple of days later, I realized that the Philippine general election this year (midterm election) has just concluded and a new set of government leaders are to enter office by June 2019.

I am usually mum when it comes to politics and everything involved with it. My husband is usually the one who shares his complaints about politics and why he doesn’t vote. His reason was that his one vote won’t mean anything against the greater percentage of Filipinos who will vote for the wrong candidates.

I also don’t vote but only because I haven’t felt the need to do so. And yet in the coming elections, I hope to participate as a voter and use this privilege as a citizen of this country. A privilege to a few citizens of this world actually as it is the cause of bloodshed and uprising in some countries just so they can exercise their right to vote.

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How Our Leaders Have Fared Throughout History

I believe it’s a given that we cannot change the government now no matter how much we rally against them and show them their incompetencies and what they lack. This might sound less convincing coming from someone who graduated from a university that is popularly known as a breeding ground for activists. But for the record though, I didn’t attend any single one of the student-organized rallies in our school opposing how the government runs.

I told my husband that decades have already passed and activists still fight for the same causes and ask the same demands from the government. I see rallies as good, though. Why? It raises awareness on the social and political problems that our country faces each day for decades already, centuries even.

And yet decades have passed, too, and still, nothing happened. All their pleas fell on deaf ears. Corruption is still there, for one, among other third-world problems. Maybe it is about time we bring that change through our own efforts. God also has a good purpose why He allowed the appointment of our government officials now and though we have a choice on who to vote, we cannot really dictate the results of the election.

Start The Change, Be The Change

The kind of change that we can instill is how we raise the next generation of leaders. Are we going to raise them wherein fear of the Lord matters more than anything else? Are we going to raise future citizens who are going to be men and women of integrity even if it means going against the system? Will these future leaders remain true to their calling even if persecution comes and their lives will be at stake a la Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Can we raise a generation of future leaders who are idealists and yet not of this world but of a higher standard which is that of God’s? Can we raise future leaders who will serve God first and their countrymen next?

I believe my stumbling upon the different types of leaders came by no accident. It is not just for the purpose of identifying different leaders but knowing the ones who honor God first and second, possess the leadership traits that our society, as a whole, needs.

The Different Types of Leaders

I found several types of leaders but just an overview, each of them has his/her own strengths and weaknesses and satisfies a particular need in every organization. I thought it best to discuss in this article the ones that will benefit an organization on a holistic level.

I came across transformational leadership through a Linkedin article and I was reminded of it again after a getaway with my college best friends. It was out of curiousity then that made me question the difference between a transformational leader and a visionary leader. I did my research and found these helpful links about their definitions and the delineations between each type.

What Is Visionary Leadership? | 7 Traits of A Visionary Leader

What Is Transformational Leadership? (The Benefits and Impact)

Charismatic Leadership: The Good, Bad, and Best Practices

Charismatic and Transformational Leadership: Characteristics, Similarities, and Differences

Are You A Visionary Business Leader?

Visionary Transformational Leadership Model

Future Leaders Need Mentors

Given all these, what the generation of future leaders needs from us now are mentors who uphold these values and leadership traits, live them out, and lead people towards God. Who are the figures of authority we see in our organizations now that are not driven by money, worldly success, and selfish gain?

It is my prayer that more and more of these people will be exposed to the limelight that they may become the salt and light to the youth. It is my belief that if we want to change how our government runs, it is not through ousting the current officials. But it is through honing the next set of leaders and learning from the mistakes committed by our leaders today.

Each and every one of us has a role to play. It is not just through our votes alone. It is more about our participation in raising the future leaders who will one day assume office in God’s appointed time.

I don’t involve myself in all the political bickering because every system has its own flaws. All we can only do is to learn from the failures of our system and our generation now and hope, pray, and involve ourselves in making sure the future generations won’t suffer the same fate.

You Are A Leader

Better yet, let us be the leader that God wants us to be in our homes, in school, at work, and in our communities. I see every individual who is part of an older generation as a leader because they have the wisdom and experiences that the younger generations don’t have (yet). There is no apprentice if there is no master, so to speak, and vice versa.

We don’t need a title to lead people. If we are called to make disciples, then that means God has already appointed us to be a leader not just inside the church but more importantly, outside our spiritual family. Every one of us is a born leader regardless of the status, background, and capabilities. This is our calling and whether we accept it or not, God’s purpose for us will still lead us to lead others.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7

I’d like to end this article by leaving this question for us to ponder:

“As a leader of today’s generation, what does God want us to do now with the resources, knowledge, and skills bestowed upon each one of us?”

Making disciples and leading through this blog,

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How Startup Companies Began

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I am back in the corporate world in my other job (I am juggling two) for a whole lot of different reasons and I appreciated the shift but I am still praying about this new season. I know I won’t be staying long in this setup, but I just felt that God brought me here for a certain reason. I cannot tell if I needed to learn more skills which I can only get through a corporate setting or something else. 🙂

The Diary of the Commuter and Employee

This means I’m also back to the daily grind beating the rush hour and the traffic and keeping up with the usual hustle and bustle of corporate employees. I usually commute via public transportation – the waiting time during traffic is bearable this way. 😉

I set aside 15 minutes of my workday walking because it syncs my mindset to the challenges I’ll encounter throughout the day. It is during these times, too, that I get to have a deeper contemplation and appreciation of things around me.

I adore structures but not as much as I love nature. And it is during one of my walks that I had a different perspective on skyscrapers. I never thought they can be beautiful, too, if you look at them from a different standpoint. For one, it reminded me about companies and startups and their value in our society.

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What is a startup company and how did it begin?

I’ve been working as a professional since 2008 although not consistently. I have been on and off the workforce because God brought me to different seasons and different places locally. I was able to try different working environments and industries and worked with different bosses and colleagues.

Some of my colleagues now are running their own start-up companies and most of them ventured into the digital marketing industry. Their number one reason for leaving the corporate world is that they got tired with the 8-5 work shift and the stressful environment considering all the demands and expectations they have to meet. And yet if you will ask them if being a boss is easy, they will tell you that it is doubly hard. The only difference is that they have the freedom to do what they love to do.

Startup companies usually come about because of someone’s passion.

The geniuses of our time and those before us all pursued what they loved. And doing what you love spurs creativity. Creativity very seldom happens in a boxed environment. The latter stifles the learning growth of an individual. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and other famous entrepreneurs and game-changers today were college dropouts. They never finished college because they pursued their passion outside the four corners of the academe.

Learning in the Academy

A university or any academe is somehow a boxed environment. Learning is limited to a certain degree. This is why I took a graduate study in Special Education because I’d like to explore what are the learner’s options and how can the academe address his or her specific needs. Everyone has a different learning style and there are schools now who are adopting the progressive approach to teaching where the learning of a student isn’t just limited inside the classroom. There are several studies that showed how a special branch of education which is student-centered and not teacher-centered can help tap the multiple intelligences of a child and be a well-rounded individual when they grow up.

How is this related to a startup? Let’s assume every workplace is also a learning environment. An employee learns skills that he will use to do the work he is being paid for. The nature of a specific job isn’t taught in school and only the companies can teach an employee the skills needed to accomplish what needs to be done and how it will be done.

Creativity in the Workplace

A startup company owner takes the risks to leave his corporate job and puts up his own company because he wants to pursue his passion, maximize his creativity, do what he loves, and earn money from it at the same time. It’s hitting multiple birds with one stone, so to speak. It is possible that creativity will never be present in a corporate setting as an employee given the tense and fast-paced environment. Creativity is hard to attain in those conditions because the mind can only come up with brilliant ideas when it is not subjected to extreme pressure.

I can relate to this based on my own experience as an artist and as a writer. When I write like this where I follow no very specific guidelines, ideas just flow. But when I need to meet certain criteria and writing standards, I oftentimes get a writer’s block and come up with a “chaotic” write-up because ideas were forced.

It is because of this that I appreciate editors who go the extra mile in knowing their writers personally so when they assign topics, they are more or less related to the writer’s personal interests and preferences. As they say, you can never write about what you do not know and you can’t write best if it is something you hate.

So, are these startups successful? Yes, there are those who are thriving, there are those who are getting by, but there were also those who never made it. And yet, if you ask them all, they have no regrets because they used their freedom to pursue what they love and given the opportunity to do it again, they won’t hesitate to take on the challenge. Not all corporate employees though have the option i.e. lack of resources, lack of appropriate skills, etc. to put up their own startup companies as their fallback.

The Corporate World

I have seen so much of what a corporate employee is like at work. When I see them, I would like to give them all a big hug for working so hard. Because I, too, went through the rigors of being one.

And if I am given the opportunity, I’d like to give them at the beginning of every workday some stick notes with words of encouragement and how much they are of value to the company and commend them for a job well done regardless of their performance. Because more or less they have contributed something for the benefit of the company.

This article from Harvard Business Review is a very good read when it comes to people management and I believe everyone (we are all going to be mentors sooner or later in whichever area it may be) will benefit from this:

“Mentoring Someone With Imposter Syndrome”

Employees are like engines. They are the heart of a machine. Without them, the machine won’t run. A business is nothing without its employees. I believe companies should owe it all to their dedicated employees and make sure their efforts never go unappreciated. Earning a huge profit is as important as managing people well and make sure they get what they deserve and not the other way around – exploited.

The Family Project Remains

My family and I are planning on a project. It is technically not a startup but a business expansion since our parents are into the agribusiness sector for decades already. However, what my siblings and I plan to pursue is a different type of agribusiness (organic farming), and if it is God’s will, we intend to expand to other enterprises (retreat house, vacation home, agri training center, etc.) that will allow more people to benefit from these ventures. Yes, it’s easier said than done always because the real deal involves a lot of planning, setting up, and financing.

I have been doing my research since last year about business developments and I found a lot of reliable resources on the net. If God wills it in the future, one of those skyscrapers might be our office. *wink* It might not happen today but it can be with our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Only God knows. 🙂

When my parents finally give us a go signal that they can no longer manage everything, we need to take over. Dad is 78 and Mom is 72 – they really need our help. Only God can tell the specific time when it will happen. But right now, as I’ve mentioned in my previous articles, this is a season of preparation. This is also the reason why I never see myself as a corporate employee for long.

One of the key research topics I have been trying to learn is about people management. Because I know we will be handling employees, too, since the new project is going to be on a bigger scale. My previous working experiences allowed me to view a company based on their company culture, the employer-and-employee relationship, employee retention, salary grades, and skills needed.

All of these led me to ask questions such as, how much does the company lose if there is a fast employee transition? Is the company willing to risk hiring someone with skills that are sub-par with the company’s standards because the high demand is already there? And a whole lot more of them questions that I never seem to run out of. 😀

Venture Capitalism and Micro-Capitalism

I also encountered in one of my tasks one term about startups that is new to me – venture capitalism. I did extra research if the Philippines has the same type of financing and based on what I’ve read, the country hasn’t tapped in this market type yet but more on microcapitalism. Both are important when it comes to helping out startup companies and small businesses in their financial needs.

I’d like to touch more on these topics but I’ll cut my article here for now because I only limit my blog post to 2,000 words max. 😀 I’ll discuss them in my future write-ups as I continue to give updates about the developments on the project this summer. I am praying the dredging equipment will be available this time and God will help me make the right decision when our parents say they need one of us to go home sooner or later to help out. But in everything, let His will be done. 🙂

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you.” – Psalm 37:5

Always working for God and for God only,

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P.S.

If you’ll ask me what I’ll be if I’m not a writer, I’d like to be a farm girl. *wink* It’s just that our parents never pushed us to take college courses on agribusiness because they want us to pursue what we’re passionate about and learn all other skills first. If we do feel the inclination, the interest, and the dedication later on to manage and develop the business, then that’s the time they will show us how it’s all done.

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December 2018 farm visit.

I would just like to appreciate our parents for this freedom and for respecting our individual capabilities and particular interests. In the same way that all five of us, siblings, were given the freedom to choose the church where we will grow spiritually in respect to all the different religions. Because faith, to them, is not about a religious organization but more about having fellowship with other believers. 🙂

Back to the project, if you also plan on putting up a business or you already have one and you want to turn them over to your kids one day or let them be involved in it, here’s a great article from Harvard Business Review:

“How Family Business Owners Should Bring The Next Generation Into The Company”