What Do Google, Apple and Successful Family Businesses Have in Common?

Authenticity.

In a recent posting on Tech Crunch Network Justin Rosenstein writes that Apple and Google, both having reached the pinnacle of business success, are very different companies in their business style and leadership. What they have in common though is a culture of authenticity that is the source of their success. Rosenstein writes that what all great organizations and all great leaders share is self-actualization—working in a way that’s authentic to who they are. This requires, he adds, that they deeply know who they are.

Authenticity is largely believed to be inherent in family enterprises. And nothing could be more important for any business that put its family name behind who they are and what they do. For some family enterprises authenticity may be difficult to maintain as the generations transition. But this need not be so.

Rosenstein identifies six practices that a business can undertake to achieve authenticity. The top three are:

  1. Achieve clarity of purpose
  2. Determine and live your values
  3. Define your brand’s personality attribute

To read his article and all six practices: http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/05/the-one-thing-every-great-company-has-in-common/