For John, the focus was never about just making money. What started as a desire for independence quickly became a quest for sustainability and long-term success. John readily admits, “Nothing great is ever accomplished as a solo affair.”

More and more frequently, Tom was saying he’d had enough. He wasn’t one to complain but, at 67 years old, he was getting tired. Though he loved the farm and everybody around him knew it, the worry lines on his face were a bit more pronounced each day.

Way back in 2005, I left the comforts of a corporate career and started a business dedicated exclusively to helping agribusiness owners plan for generational transfer.

“I’ve been waiting 33 years for these boys to have this conversation!” Helen declared as she jumped to her feet. In that moment, I realized a lot about this family’s problems and, not coincidentally, the difficulties most people face in planning for succession.