How to Give Feedback That Will Strengthen Your Family, Not Harm it

---

As I mentioned last week, as a family, we do a 360 peer review, just like the ones in an organization, to build our family's culture. Giving and receiving feedback to one another in this way has had an incredibly positive impact on our family. 

It has: 

• Created self-awareness 

• Given us insight into our strengths and weaknesses 

• Created accountability

• Most importantly, it has created a culture of openness, one where we know that our voice matters.

Giving and receiving feedback requires humility, and it's a skill that takes some practice.

I mentioned this last week, but it's worth repeating, what we believe to be criticism, our brain tries to protect us from what it perceives as a threat. When that happens, it can be uncomfortable. We may get defensive, we may dismiss it, or outright refuse to believe it.  

When that happens, no one is learning or growing. And we may be hurting our relationships rather than establishing trust and connecting. 

There is a difference between correcting and criticizing others and giving feedback.  

• Criticism typically makes negative assumptions about the other person's motives. Feedback, however, generally avoids speculating on the other person's intent, focusing instead on the actual results of their behavior.

• Criticism places blame, while feedback helps you move forward and grow.

When we give feedback in a loving way, rather than criticism, other people will be more likely to hear us out and take into consideration what we have to say. 

As the leaders of your home, it’s not only important that you learn how to give good feedback, but for your kids to as well. 

Here a few ways we can give feedback will strengthen your family, not harm it. 

1. Be specific. Provide tangible examples of the behavior you're addressing. We generally respond better to a particular, positive direction. For example. don't say, "I don't like the way you load the dishwasher." Instead, say, " I would like you to group the utensils (forks with forks, spoons with spoons, etc.) so it's easier to put them away."

2. Be timely. When you give feedback, it matters. Do it more than just one time a year. Don't wait until your family retreat to provide positive or negative feedback to one another. Make it a regular part of your week or month. Plus, the closer you give feedback to the behavior in question (good or bad), the more effective it will be.

3. Focus on the behavior, not the person. When discussing a problem with performance, control your emotions. Avoid exaggerations and avoid statements like, "You always…", or "You never..." This allows you to have a kind heart and right motives. It shows you care. John Maxwell says, "People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude." 

4. Both positive and negative. For us to develop and grow, we need to know what we are doing well, so we know to repeat it and further improve, as well as what we are doing less effectively so we can make adjustments. What evaluated improves. 

As the leader in your home, you set the atmospheric of feedback. When you give feedback well, your spouse and your kids will begin to do it too. 

Keep in mind, everything that you say should be true, but everything true shouldn't be said. So really be thoughtful about what you are saying. 

Giving and receiving feedback in a healthy way will not only help build a strong family culture, but it will help you grow individually.

Are you wondering how you're doing in the area of giving feedback? Here are 2 questions you ask yourself. 

• Am I more interested in helping and fixing or blaming?

• Am I talking more about the past rather than the future?

Are you interested in hosting your own retreat?

We’ve taken the guesswork out planning yours by creating the Family Retreat Packet. It’s guaranteed to save you time!

Our Family Retreat Packet includes sample itinerary, packing list, activity suggestions, discussion worksheets and much more!

LEARN MORE

---

Prefer listening to reading?

Check out this episode of The Family Culture Project podcast >> How Giving Feedback will Strengthen Your Family

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

How to Receive Feedback in a Way That Strengthens Your Family

Giving and receiving feedback is key to the growth and health of any culture, including your family's. However, we often avoid it because it's not always easy to do. It requires humility, plus I believe it is a skill that takes some practice.

I've talked before about our family's annual 360 peer review here and here. The questions we ask are similar to those that organizations ask as a part of their employee reviews. It allows us to reflect on how we were doing personally and as a family. Our conversations aren't always easy, but the feedback we get is priceless.

Honestly, I don't always want to hear what people have to say about me; however, without honest and timely feedback, our personal and family growth is limited. When done correctly, giving and receiving feedback will not harm your family but strengthen it.

We know from experience that giving and receiving feedback isn't always easy.

For many of us, when we receive feedback, or what we believe to be criticism, our brain tries to protect us from what it perceives as a threat. When that happens, it can be uncomfortable. We may get defensive, we may dismiss it, or outright refuse to believe it.

When we react this way, the people in our family don't feel heard or valued. However, if you welcome feedback and know how to receive it, we can use it to create a culture that fosters the growth of individuals and the family as a whole.

We need feedback from others because, without it, it's hard to tell if you're succeeding or how you can improve.

Plus, receiving and acting on feedback eliminates our blind spots. Whether we'd like to admit it or not, we all have them.

The first time we asked our kids for feedback, we expected most of what we heard. For example, everyone agreed we wanted to bicker less and be on time. Our kids shocked us when they said, "Push me to learn and manage my time better." "Be more strict [to help me meet my goals]." and "Tell me to practice more." Yikes! I thought I was helping them by taking it easy in these areas, but they needed support I wasn't giving.

Because when we were open to hearing what our kids had to say, we were able to put together a plan to make positive changes, ones that would benefit everyone.

If you receive feedback that is less than glowing, it does not mean you are a terrible parent. So don't let the fear of this stop you from hearing what others have to say.

The most successful leaders receive input from others so they can improve. I believe that as parents, we should be doing the same.

Andy Stanley says, "Leaders that don't listen to others will eventually be surrounded by people that have nothing to say." The last things we want is for our kids to clam up and not talk to us about how we can love and serve them better.

Here are a few things that will help you receive feedback in a way that strengthens your family.

1. Change what you think about it. Receiving feedback is not a negative thing. It provides an opportunity to grow and improve. When you change the way you think about it, you will change the way you feel about it. You will no longer dread it, but crave it and eventually embrace it.

2. Separate the do from the who. The feedback you receive is about what you do, not who you are. When you take it as a personal attack, it's hard to learn from it.

3. Ask clarifying questions. General questions in response to feedback rarely lead to growth. Consider asking, "What's one thing I could improve in this area?" Avoid asking questions that are likely to result in "yes" or "no" answers. Ask questions that begin with 'how' or 'what'. Often, the best and most straightforward response is, "Tell me more."

4. Invite feedback often. The best way to get comfortable with getting feedback from others is to ask for it regularly and when you get it listen well. Don't wait until things go terribly wrong before you are open to what others have to say. Make it an ongoing practice.

Feedback is excellent not just on the back end of a project, vacation, or change in circumstances, but on the front end as well.

Also, take notice of the areas you get defensive or push back on. These areas may be precisely where you need the feedback the most.

Without honest and timely feedback, your personal and family growth is limited.

If you would like to improve in the area of receiving feedback, ask yourself:

• "On a scale of 1-10, how strong am I at receiving feedback?

• Then commit to improving that. Also, ask one person you trust, "If you had to make one suggestion for improvement, what would they be?"

---

Are you interested in hosting your own retreat?

We’ve taken the guesswork out planning yours by creating the Family Retreat Packet. It’s guaranteed to save you time!

Our Family Retreat Packet includes sample itinerary, packing list, activity suggestions, discussion worksheets and much more!

LEARN MORE

---

Prefer listening to reading?

Check out this episode of The Family Culture Project podcast >> How Receiving Feedback will Strengthen Your Family

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

You Alone Can Create a Strong Family Culture

Back in April, I did a survey. Many of you said that one of the biggest obstacles in imagining, planning, and building your family culture was not wanting to do this work on your own. 

There may be different reasons that you find yourself alone in this process. You may be a single parent or have a spouse that works long hours. Maybe your spouse isn't on board with personal growth or intentional living. 

Whatever the reason, I want you to know that you can do this! You can take small steps that will help your family live with purpose. 

When my kids were young, I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted family life to look like. I envisioned family nights, memorizing scripture together, and special Saturday morning breakfasts cooked by someone other than me. I'd run these ideas past my husband, and even though he would think they were great, he wasn't very helpful in making them a reality. 

After a while, I started to feel sorry for myself. I became frustrated and angry; eventually, that anger and frustration just led to bitterness. 

I was so busy insisting that I shouldn't have to initiate these family rituals and routines that many of my ideas never came to life.

I would complain to my friends about all the things our family wasn't doing because my husband wasn't on board. I maintained that I should have to "drive the bus." They all agreed that it sucked. Until one friend finally said to me, "So what, if it's so important to you, why don't you just make it happen?"

I was annoyed at her comment, but she was right. 

By making excuses, all I was doing was losing time. My kids were getting older by the minute, and I was lamenting over the family I wish I had. 

That all changed when I understood the power I had to implement the changes I wanted to see.

When you get to the point where you believe the things you do matter, whether small or large, you'll begin to take action. And that action will create forward motion in your family. 

The actions that you take within your family will either have a positive or negative impact. No action is neutral when it comes to culture building. 

Here are a few steps you can take to create a strong family culture on your own. 

1. Recognize what is already in place. What rituals and daily routines do you have that are working for you right now? Celebrate it and do more of it. You are doing better than you think!

2. Brainstorm a list of things that are important to you — for example, self-sufficiency, personal faith, respect, creativity, curiosity, healthy boundaries.

3. Choose one or two from the list and answer the question, "What is one small step that I can do over and over again to get me moving in that direction? Decide not just on the action but also the details of it. Every day, once a week? In the morning, at bedtime?

4. Partner with someone.

• Find a friend to hold you accountable. Forward this post to a friend and say, "Hey, let's make some changes together."

• Create a circle of friends that you can meet with regularly. My friends and I read Life-Giving Home by Sally Clarkson together. We got together once a month to talk about how we were implementing the ideas in the books. Group accountability can lead to incredible friendships.

• Hire a Coach. As a family coach, I work with people to help them figure out what really matters to them and what that looks like in the everyday. I help them overcome the obstacles that prevent them from living connected and with purpose. Coaches don't give you advice but rather cheer you on and hold you accountable for the steps you're taking to achieve your goals.

You may not see the fruit of the small steps you take right away, but over time you will. We may be tempted to give up. But don't do it. 

Ask yourself, "Who can I partner with this journey?" Then write that text. Send that email or make the call you need to get the support you need to start building your family's culture on purpose. 

---

You are wondering if family coaching is for you?

Let's hop on a call to see if you're ready to take the next steps.

---

Prefer listening to reading?

Check out this episode ot The Family Culture Project podcast >> Ep. 65 You Alone Can Create a Strong Family Culture

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

How Connecting with Your People Will Help You Succeed

In this hectic world we live in, we often only have the time and energy to correct our kids, discuss to-dos, and make sure everyone is where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there. We are juggling home life, work, marriage, schedules. It's no wonder we barely have time for connection. 

You might think going about our business without slowing down to connect would help us get more done and make us more efficient, but in fact, it does not. 

One day one of my kids can home for school in a bad mood. They were unkind to their siblings and short-tempered while doing their homework. I asked them to clean up their snack, and they acted like they didn't hear me

At that moment, I had a choice to make. I could freak out and punish them, or I could take a moment to connect with them and get to the bottom of what was going on. Thankfully I was having a good day, and I chose the latter. I took a deep breath and said, "Hey, what's going on? Did something happen at school today?"

They opened up and told me that something indeed happened on the playground that day. 

Because I was able to slow down and connect with my kiddo, I saw a shift in my child's demeanor. They had more patience for themselves, were able to finish their homework without losing their cool. Not only that, they cleaned up as I asked. 

We build connections and take steps towards our desired outcome when we take the time to see and hear others, become concerned for one another, and come alongside each other in our everyday.

Here are a few ways you can connect with your people:

• Ask questions. Don't assume you always know what's going on or what another person is feeling. Slow down and listen. Ask open-ended questions.

• Show empathy. Recognize how the other person feels and understand their point of view is important to them.

• Share your feelings and thoughts when appropriate. Remember that children will listen to you once they feel heard.

We all yearn for connection — with our kids, spouses, parents, siblings, and friends. We weren't created to be robots going about our day in the most efficient way possible. We were meant to do this life WITH our people.

My conversation with Brian Dixon on The Family Culture Project podcast that I would, in fact, have a more significant impact as a wife, mother, friend when I connect with my people. 

Brian had a habit, both in his business and his family, of putting projects before people. Then he had a unique experience that showed him that this thing that he thought made him successful might be the very thing that was holding him back from the success at work and home. He writes about it in his new book Start with Your People.

As he began to master the art of connection, he saw exponential growth personally and professionally. 

As you read this post or listen to this interview, think about the people in your life that you would like to connect with and decide on one way you can begin to do that today! 

---

Listen to my interview with Brian Dixon on The Family Culture Project podcast here >> Ep. 64 Brian Dixon and Why Connecting with Your People Matters

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

{This post contains links and references to products and services that may have affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships. I may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Thank you for your support! }

How to Motivate your Family Members

Teaching children to be obedient is essential; however, when it comes to building a healthy culture, the goal is not perfect behavior. It's creating a team with shared values and beliefs, people that work together toward a joint mission and purpose. 

We all want kids who do what we tell them to do, right? 

When my kids listen, I feel like a great parent. But the opposite is also true. When my kids don't listen, I feel like I suck as a parent and wonder what I did wrong. If I am not careful, my response will be to brainstorm strategies and consequences to get my kids to act the way I want them to. These tactics may work, but alone they are not a long term solution. 

I want you to know upfront, this post is not about dismissing the systems you have in place to teach and correct your children. It is about how to motivate, not manipulate, your family members to embrace who we are as a family and the responsibilities that come along with it. 

There are a lot of things that I want my kids to do, not because I force them to do it. Yes, when kids are young, we do make them do things, such as clean up their toys and brush their teeth. But as they get older, I want them to do these things on their own, without me prompting them to do it. 

I want them to take care of their belongings, maintain their hygiene, show respect to others, and participate in family events. The list goes on.

I am so tired of being a taskmaster. I don't want to control my kids; instead, I want to motivate my kids to do things, to participate in what we are building together. 

So what does it mean to motivate the people in our family?

According to the dictionary, motivate means to stimulate (someone's) interest in or enthusiasm for doing something. 

A leader's definition of motivating is the art of leading someone to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.

When we motivate, rather than manipulate, our family members to do what is required to make a home and family work well we:

• Foster loyalty. 

• Establish habits that will last. 

• Avoid anger and resentment. 

The art of motivation can be applied not only to our kids but our spouses too!

Motivation is very, very different from manipulation.

• Motivation cares about the work and the person. Manipulation only cares about the work.

• Motivation empowers people. Manipulation controls people.

Here are 3 dos and 3 don'ts for how to motivate your people in a way that lasts.

Don't:

1. Use fear and threats. Fear can be a good motivator in the short term, but it's difficult for anyone to be successful when fear drives them. Constant fear creates an unhealthy environment in the home. 

2. Be passive-aggressive. It's a form of manipulation, and it keeps people guessing. For example: When you finally get some face time with your teenager, don't say. "It's so nice of you to grace us with your presence." Instead, say." I love spending time with you. I'd like to do it more often."

3. Avoid handing out candy and promises. In the workplace, money is essential, but studies show it's not the biggest motivator and retainer of employees. It's relationships and empowerment. This principle is true not only in business but in families, as well. Rewards often play a role in many situations, but relying on them for motivation isn't a good long-term strategy.

Do:

1. Create a culture of appreciation. Show appreciation more than you think you should. Brag on people. Celebrate what's right. Notice when they are doing something good! What you give attention to grows! One of the biggest reasons people leave an organization is that they don't feel appreciated. Be creative in how you encourage! (LINK)

2. Model motivation. You inspire others more by your example than your words. Kids are smart. They hear your words, but they also see your actions. When your excited, consistent, and engaged in what you are doing, they notice! The people around you will rise to your level of passion. That means that you will have to work on motivating yourself. 

3. Share the WHY. When we understand the WHY, it is easy to "get with the program". Take the time to share what you are doing and why. There are going to be times when your kids will need to do things just because you said so. However, more often than not, a few extra moments of explanation go a long way.

As you shift from controlling to motivating, you will still need to discipline. 

It is actually demotivating when, as a parent, we consistently accept unacceptable performance. We lose the respect of our people if we don't address problems, poor behavior, or disobedience. As I mentioned earlier, kids see everything you do, and you can't easily foole them. 

If something is not important enough for you to enforce and maintain, why should your kids care about it?

Want to start motivating your family members today? Ask yourself these questions. 

• On a scale of 1-10, how good are you at showing appreciating? 

• What can you do daily to stay motivated and excited about your responsibilities and your family's mission?

---

Prefer listening?

Check out The Family Culture Project podcast here >> How to Motivate your Family Members

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

{This post contains links and references to products and services that may have affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships. I may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Thank you for your support! }

The Best Time to Teach Your Kids About Money

Reports show that most parents don't talk to their kids about money. The main reason is that they don't feel confident about sharing personal finance lessons with them. As a result, the vast majority of kids enter the real world without ever learning about money in school or at home. 

I was one of those kids. I had a part-time job in high school, so I earned money to go out with my friends and buy a few things. But that experience alone was not enough to equip me to manage money well. In college, I racked up credit card bills, partially because I didn't have money for school expenses, but if I'm honest, it was because I bought things I didn't need. It took a long time for me to get back to get to a financially healthy place. 

This is why I am so passionate about teaching our kids about money. And it's a topic I have talked a lot about here on the blog. 

If we don't teach your kids how to manage money, somebody else will.

We don't have to have a perfect financial record or have reached our financial goals to talk to our children about this topic.

You can give your kids what they need to win with money at any age when you:

• Decide what you believe about money.

• Start the conversation about money with the kids when they are young.

My conversation with Art Rainer on The Family Culture Project podcast reminded me of just how much fun learning about money can be. He created a series of chapter books that teach kids ages 6-9 basic financial principles. 

• The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff (The Secret Slide Money Club, Book 1)

• The Mad Cash Dash (The Secret Slide Money Club, Book 2)

• Trouble at the Toy Store (The Secret Slide Money Club, Book 3)

These books follow Jake, Sophia, and Brody on adventures that teach them about the biblical financial principles of give, save, spend.

Stories, especially fun and entertaining ones, are incredible tools to teach kids life lessons. 

---

Listen to my interview with Art Rainer on The Family Culture Project podcast here >> Art Rainer and The Best Time to Teach Your Kids About Money

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

---

{This post contains links and references to products and services that may have affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships. I may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Thank you for your support! }

Building Family Culture Through Routines, Rhythms, And Habits

January is the time of the year when most of us start thinking about change and a fresh start. Each year I take a look at where I have been and start dreaming about where I would like to go in my business, personal life, and family.

Some years I’ve been better than others when it comes to achieving my goals. Through all the ups and downs of goal setting, I’ve discovered that focusing on the routines, rhythms, and habits is the best way to make changes that last, especially in your family.  

Just like in an organization, culture is not created by a one-off team-building exercise and a good orientation day, but in the routines, rhythms, and habits that are practiced by its people. Small steps over time.

Your family culture is a product of your routines and rhythms in our home.

What is a routine?

Routines are the things that you do on a regular basis. They are a flexible form of time management that will move you towards the life you want and will help you meet your goals. I guarantee that you have routines and rhythms that are working for you and yes, even against you.

Over time the routines and rhythms we have will become habits.

Why are routines, rhythms, and habits important?

Family life runs smoother when routines and rhythms are in place. The sometimes dreaded morning routine comes to mind. When it’s haphazard, when we get up at different times, only have our lunch pre-packed occasionally, and aren’t sure when breakfast is we’re miserable and rarely on time. However when we know what to expect and when there’s less commotion and arguing, and we are mentally prepared for the day.

Routines also let your children know what’s important to your family. You can say something is meaningful, but if it doesn't show up in your schedule or done on purpose, it’s a clear sign that it isn’t. Kids and other people can see right through that.

Routines and rhythms give family members a sense of belonging. Our actions often affect others, especially those we live with. When our routines are interconnected, we gain a greater understanding of this and reaffirms the part we play in our family.

Here are a few things that you can do to start creating routines, rhythms, and habits that matter.

• Get clarity. It’s important to know why you are you doing this. It will give you the motivation you need to get started. And when you are discouraged, you can keep referring back to why what you do matters. It will continue to propel you forward even when it’s not easy. Try imagining what it will be like once these routines, rhythms, or habit is apart of your life. What will it change, how will you act? How will it feel?

• Attach it to something you are already doing. For example on the card ride to school, I have the kids take turns reading our Read it Pray it cards. Honestly, we weren't getting to them any other way, but now they are a part of our every day… at least Monday through Friday.

• Remind yourself. Use technology and set a reminder on your phone or digital calendar. Or write it down as a daily, weekly, or monthly commitment in your planner or Powersheets.

• Enlist a buddy. - Find a family member or friend who is working on the same thing and hold each other accountable. What about your spouse or children? My kids love when I ask them to make sure I do something.

• Start simple. Don’t try to start too many routines, rhythms, and habits all at once. Choose to implement or change one or two new things at a time. This also applies to the amount of your new practice. For example walking 10 minutes a day is better than trying to do 30 every day, not being able to do it and then getting discouraged.

• Identify what’s already in place and do it better. I naturally had a rhythm of slowing some on Friday afternoons. When I decided that I wanted to incorporate a Sabbath practice into my week intentionally, I tried a bunch of different days until I realized Friday was perfect for it.

• Make it accessible and or visible. Do you want to drink more water put a jug out on the counter every day? Would you like to read a devotional with your kids in the morning? Set the table for breakfast with plates, flatware, napkins, glasses, and your favorite kid’s devotional.

You don’t have to wait until a New Year of even Monday to start making small changes that will change your life or your family culture. Today is the days to start!

You don’t even have to design a big campaign to kick start change… start now. Imagine the life you want and figure out the small steps consistent steps to get you there.

Additional Note:

Creating new habits can be hard. But if we understand how we are wired, it becomes much easier. Gretchen Rubin's book Better Than Before helped me figure out my tendencies, and now everything makes sense.

Prefer the ease of listening to reading? No Problem!

Just click to play to hear this episode of The Family Culture Project. Carl and I share a few of our family’s routines, rhythms, and habits how we got them to work for us on the podcast.

Be sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes or your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

{This page contains links and references to products and services that may have affiliates, sponsorships, or other business relationships. I may receive compensation from referrals or sales actions. Thank you for your support! }

The Secret to Making Your Holidays More Meaningful with Becky Kiser and Sacred Holidays

The holidays don’t have to be stressful! Your family can celebrate them with thoughtfulness and intention! << Click to Tweet

This new book from Becky Kiser called Sacred Holidays: Less Chaos, More Jesus is a game changer for me. I really do love the holidays, all of them. However I typically get stuck in the ugly cycle of being too busy, not preparing for the holiday, making a mad dash to save the day, and then feeling crummy because it didn’t meet my expectation. It’s the worst when Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or my child’s birthday did not match the picture I have in my head of what it SHOULD be. Yikes!

I want 2019 to be the year I break out of that cycle. This doesn’t mean that every holiday form here on out will be perfect but that they would be approached with intention and on purpose.

What I love about Becky’s book is that she make it easy to achieve that. It’s part soul encouraging and part resource that walks you through the steps you can take to simplify and bring meaning back to your holiday experience.

She touches on what to consider when planning and decorating for each holiday, how to manage friends and family who do things differently than you, and why grace matters in the process of figuring our what works for you and your family.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Becky on The Family Culture Project Podcast about her new book and how we approach our holidays with intention. Check it out!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to The Family Culture Project!

Together with my husband Carl, I will be bringing you weekly podcasts that empower you to create a thriving family culture.

When my husband and I first got married, we had so many ideas of what family life would be like. We wanted a welcoming home with an open-door policy, a family that loves and serves God together, a simple life that prioritized relationships.  

However, after moving to the burbs, having a few kids, and investing into our careers, we discovered that the values, beliefs, and expectations we had for our family had gotten lost in the shuffle of our modern-day life.

We found ourselves in the rut of just surviving, barely getting through the week. We packed our schedules with school activities, sports, church, and volunteer commitments. These were all good things. However, we felt like we didn’t have control over the direction our family was going.

We realized it was time to change the trajectory of our family.  

In an effort to bridge the the gap between the life we were living and and the life we’d hoped for, my husband and I set out to create a mission statement. It was harder than we thought it’d be. After a few failed attempts, I began to research how successful companies created theirs.

That’s when I discovered the power of culture and the part it plays in a thriving organization.

Along the way, I realized that the very same principles that cause an organization’s culture to flourish and business to succeed can help my family thrive.

We’ve created this podcast because we believe you don’t have to feel hopeless looking at the path your family is on. With thought and deliberate steps, you can create a culture in your home that reflects your family's values and beliefs.

As a result, you’ll be able to lead with purpose and passion and create unity within your family. When it comes time for your children to leave your home, they will have a foundation of confidence and purpose that will equip them to follow their personal mission and embrace who God has created them to be.

Don't miss an episode!

We want to let you know up front; we don’t have all the answers. However, we’ve both experienced intentional culture and default culture in business, ministry, and family. We’ve studied what makes some organizations succeed and others fail. Since we are smack dab in the middle of raising our own kids, we’ll be learning with you along the way as we speak with experts, leaders, and everyday people who are intentionally building cultures that thrive.

We can’t guarantee that as parents you’ll make all the right choices, or that your kids will never make mistakes. We can, however, promise you that if you do the work to establish your values and beliefs, translate them into behaviors that can be repeated and measured you will have a culture in your home that will anchor your family to what matters to the most.

I hope you’ll join us when we launch the show on Tuesday, January 16th.

To make sure that you’re with us for that very first episode subscribe to us in iTunes or in your favorite podcast app now. Until then, you can hear our story and learn more about the show at thefamilycultureproject.com. While you are there you can sign up for our newsletter which will include show notes, resources, and bonus content.