Lessons from the Trenches: Expectations and Offramps

When I joined a family-run business with the goal of becoming a partner, I soon realized that the dynamics were more complex than I had anticipated. The energy and trust from family ties existed, but so did unspoken expectations, blurred boundaries, and emotions that sometimes outweighed logic.

One turning point came when I realized I was doing my best to read the room, but the room itself lacked clarity. Without that clarity, I was working without a map.