David C. Bentall is a passionate and acclaimed writer. His most recent book, Leaving a Legacy, offers a refreshingly candid look at what can go tragically wrong in a family enterprise. You’ll learn how to avoid pitfalls and disappointments based on the Bentall family’s experience as well as the experiences of two dozen other business families.
Leaving a Legacy: is an excellent guidebook and a resource designed to help families in business learn how to integrate family and business effectively.
David’s first book, The Company You Keep: The Transforming Power of Male Friendship, explores the potential for great friendships and earned two awards from the Canadian Word Guild Awards.
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Image Credit: UnsplashWithout realizing it at the time, my brother was my first role model. Chuck is 12 years older than me, and as a boy I always looked up to him (and not just because he was a lot taller than me). He was cool and drove a convertible Austin Heely...
Photo by Pixabay I recently spent two days on retreat at a monastery. Over breakfast, I met our guest master, Brother James (not his real name). When I discovered he was 44 years old, I casually remarked that my wife and I had just celebrated our 44th wedding...
By David C. Bentall HOW COULD I be spending 10 days in Bordeaux, the premium wine district in France, yet feel unhappy? I had no work to do, was surrounded by beautiful scenery, and found amazing French cuisine around every corner. Yet, there I was, feeling sorry for...
By David C. Bentall For centuries, leaders around the world have desired to see their offspring follow in their footsteps. Whether monarchs or business executives, they shared a common hope that the next generation would successfully assume the mantle of leadership....
I have never been much of a Royal watcher. However, I was, and still am, a fan of the Queen. Looking back over her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II is widely credited with both reforming and humanizing the monarchy in Britain. She also helped provide stability to the...
UNEQUAL TREATMENT REGARDING MONEY: Parents may elect to favor one child over another (sometimes unconsciously), but if they do, they need to be ready to deal with the consequences of their actions. One of the best ways to ensure that children become bitter and...
Even if family members decide to one day go their own way, and no longer remain in business together, this doesn’t need to destroy their relationships. Unfortunately, in my opinion, “shotgun clauses” are often inadvertently killing many family businesses in Canada....
I come from a family with a successful track record of business achievements that span most of the last century. My grandfather, Charles, and my father, Clark both built an enviable record in construction and real estate. Today, over 1,000 people working across North...
Family business and succession advisor speaks on the importance of planning VICTORIA – Renowned family business and succession advisor David C. Bentall, Founder of Next Step Advisors, recently spoke at an event put on by the Canadian Association of Family...
In a recent team teaching workshop for professional directors, we spent some of our time discussing the challenges that would-be successors in family businesses face today. We talked about how heirs to the leadership mantel in a family business often have a hard time...