My brother works with our dad, designing and selling kitchens and bathrooms. Although he's the younger sibling, Mike is cut from the same cloth as Chuck Walsh. On multiple occassions, they have arrived at their suburban office wearing the same outfit. It makes them dangerous, because they can be in two places at the same time, preaching the same gospel to disparate flocks.
Our realtor buddies John and Mike Duffy have a similar situation. When one or both of them are off surfing, John Duffy, Sr. handles their clients, like when I bought my house. When John Sr is off bass fishing, his sons step in. Recently, their sister Lauren joined the family business. More importantly, the firm's numerous affluent clients know that a Duffy is always available to assist them.
My friend Starling represents the third generation of Johnson women who have supplied gravel and concrete to North Carolina projects. There's always a pair of steel-toed boots in her trunk for when a meeting is on a job site and not in an office. Its female leadership makes the firm unique regionally and its industry.
Are you doing business with family businesses? On Father's Day, ask yourself, "Why not?" Generations of expertise and layers of trust make for awesome vendors, in contrast to the corporate conglomerates that seemingly emerge everywhere.