Episode 16: Asking for Forgiveness Rather Than Permission | Restarting the Family Business as a G2 | Why Self-Care Is Good for Business

Apr 29, 2025

Guest

Michael Silverberg

Matthew Nix, the fifth-generation CEO of Nix Companies, shares insights on evolving a family business from a blacksmith shop into a diversified holding company. He discusses innovative acquisition strategies and the importance of asking for forgiveness rather than permission. Randy Carr, president of World Emblem, talks about restarting their father's business and the complexities of multi-generational leadership. Dr. Michael Silverberg emphasizes the significance of mental health and boundaries in family businesses, linking self-care directly to organizational success.

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ADVICE

Set And Honor Business Hours

Set structured business hours and stick to them to avoid burnout and protect long-term performance.
Allow exceptions for emergencies but prioritize downtime for hobbies, family, and health.

ADVICE

Prioritize Self-Care For The Business

Prioritize physical and mental health because investing in yourself benefits the business.
Seek treatment or counseling for ongoing stresses; strong relationships and well-being improve performance.

ANECDOTE

Restarting A Family Business From Zero

Randy and his brother restarted their father's envelope business in 1990 after it failed.
They rebuilt from Medley, Florida, and later scaled the company globally over decades.

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In this episode, we talk with Matthew Nix, president & CEO of 5th-generation NIX Companies, which started as a blacksmith shop in Indiana in the late 1800s and has since grown into a family holding company focused on service oriented businesses, real-estate, and other supporting services. Much of that expansion has taken place within the past two decades, under the guidance of the current generation. In this interview, Matthew talks about how that incredible growth was achieved and offers some advice on how NextGens can make their mark. He also discusses his company’s recent acquisition of another 5th-generation family business, taking an innovative approach to combining two storied legacies. To dive deeper into NIX Companies’ incredible story, check out the book, “Forging Ahead: How Five Generations of Small-Town Values Collided with Big Ambitions to Spark One of America's Fastest-Growing Companies."

We also chat with Randy Carr, president & CEO of South Florida-based World Emblem, the world’s largest producer of emblems and patches for sports headwear, footwear, garments and other apparel. Randy talks about being a second-generation leader who had to think like a founder when he and his brother took over their father’s fledgling business in 1990. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of bringing the third generation into the business.

And Dr. Michael Silverberg, a Board-certified concierge psychiatrist who specializes in advising executives, managers and family business stakeholders, as well as the treatment of individuals. He talks about the importance of boundaries and self-care for family business owners.

This episode is brought to you by Element Pointe, an independent multi-family office and wealth management firm dedicated to guiding individuals and their families through important financial, investment, lifestyle and interpersonal matters — in turn, helping clients build a secure future and enduring legacy.

Interested in being a guest or have a topic you’d like to hear us discuss? Contact host Zack Needles, editor-in-chief of Family Business Magazine, at: zneedles@familybusinessmagazine.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.