Relationships are the carrier of all success in life and in business. So why not plan and implement specific systems that will develop the relationships that are important to you?  Why not be as intentional about the practices that develop healthy relationship as we are about the practices that develop healthy bodies or healthy businesses? Why do we focus on relational systems?  Because relationships are the primary mechanism to carry your family and business legacy to multiple generations. Children don't rebel against authority, they rebel against lack of relationship.  How is that teenagers will do everything their favorite coach or favorite teacher tells them to do? But they don’t listen to their parents? Why is that?  Because that relationship is important to them.  How is that teenagers will live under authority of their friends or the gang and yet they will live in rebellion to their parents.  Because the teens don't rebel against authority they rebel against lack of relationship.  Those relationships with their coach or teacher or friends are often stronger and more important to them. Where family identity and relationship is strong, peer pressure is weaker. So how do we make sure we are continuing to build relationships within our family so we aren't driving them outside the family to get their identity and vision for life?   We have found that you do that by implementing a consistent strategy of specific relationship systems. Following are some of the relational systems our family has practiced over the last 25 years which we mention in this round-table discussion: Family goal setting retreats Family compass review vacations Family council meetings Family nights One-on-one dates Family connection time Monthly “Shield Meeting” with Spouse to review relationship values and standards (Kylon & Te) Intentionally working together The “Listening Game” (An intentional process to listen well) Intentional variety to keep relationships vibrant ANNUAL GOAL SETTING RETREATS We do this all together as a family at the Beginning of each new Take 4 hours of solitude and silence where each family member journals on their successes in the last year and writes down goals for the new year After everyone takes time alone to work on their individual goals, Then everyone comes together to share so we celebrate each other’s successes and plan to support each other’s goals If you’d like more information on this check out the Systems for Success Podcast Episode 2 where we do a round table discussion right after doing our annual goal setting retreat. FAMILY COMPASS REVIEW VACATIONS We do a fun annual vacation that the whole family enjoys in the middle of the year every summer. Our family loves backpacking in the mountains so that’s usually what we do. During these annual vacations we Plan intentional time and specific activities to review our family mission, vision and values We Celebrate successes that we see individually and as a family in living out our mission, vision and values. We take time to discuss how to better live it out And most importantly, we make creative memories related to our family vision, mission and values. We’ve done plays and skits about our family mission vision or values.  We’ve built things that represent our mission or vision.  We’ve made up songs and chants about them.  One time we wrote our visions statement with 15-20 foot tall letters on beach that you could see for miles away. FAMILY COUNCIL MEETINGS This is the official guidance group of the family especially as our kids have all become adults and most are out of the home. Comprised of family members who are actively engaged in guiding family activities in a way that is informed by and responsive to the family compass and goals. Meets every two to three months in a formal meeting with clear agenda, leadership