My two oldest children are co-owners of RIGGS Company & Design. Amie and Bill just came back from our bi-annual meeting of the Remodelers Advantage networking group. There are about 200 companies broken up into 10 or 12 members in each group. RIGGS has been a member since 1996 and now, instead of me attending the meetings, Bill and Amie go. It’s always a great learning experience for them as it has been for me. Each group has members from all over the country (none from the same city) so there is a diverse and experienced brain trust willing to reveal all and help all to become better business owners and better, happier people as well. One of the great advantages is that my children hear from the best and brightest remodeling contractors in the country that the RIGGS Company & Design business model and culture is the right way to do things.
When they first started attending the meetings with me, both Amie and Bill were considered the “kids.” Although they were treated with respect, they weren’t allowed to come without me. Now, after attending for 5 or 6 years they are both considered peers and equals. Their advice and opinion are valued and they can hold their own when discussing any area of the business whether it is marketing, financials, production, leadership or sales.
Now the group has asked me to stay away and give Bill and Amie the chance to grow without their father “getting in the way”! What a compliment to both of them. Who would have thought that they would grow into such competent business owners so quickly? My original motive was for them to hear from other remodeling company owners the same stuff I was telling them. Advice is never as powerful coming from a parent as it is coming from someone considered an “expert” in their field even if the parent is considered an expert by those experts. Now the “kids” are the ones being listened to. Go figure!
