My headline sounds harsh, nevertheless, it happens. In fact it is happening to me as I type this article.

My name is Ruben A. Estrada and I own and operate 3 different companies and a Non-Profit that I have spent countless passionate hours to build. Deep within the heart of all three companies lies my legacy. Today I am dying from cancer, getting weaker and weaker. In fact today I cannot get out of a chair without assistance. But back to the question of what happens to your legacy (the inheritance you will leave to your company, your family, your employees) if you die tomorrow? Will your company survive or quietly fade away?

After many years of coaching small to midsized companies I have separated them into two distinct groups.

GROUP ONE are business owners who hired very talented people to manage their employees. These new managers are masters in their disciplines of business be it Finance, Sales, Operations, Customer Service, Administration, IT.

These experts drive their areas of responsibility with a keen and trained eye, thus freeing you up to work on other areas of the business. HOWEVER....one day one of your superstars leaves and you find no systems documentation. Who gets sucked in to keep the department going until you find a replacement? You.

GROUP TWO also hires talented people. Ah! But here the focus is to develop documented systems, mastering a discipline of business and implementing the systems and making sure they can be replicated by all employees. This group literally develops operations manuals for every position in the department to establish work flow, standards, policy and so on. This group lives by the clear belief that you "Lead People and Manage Systems". With no system, time and energy are wasted managing people.

Earlier I told you I am dying from cancer and have been fighting this monster for over two years.

Did I follow my own teaching? You bet. I'm proud to tell you that I fall into group two. When I was yanked out of all my companies, the executives were left to operate without me while I had radiation, chemotherapy and other procedures. I'm comfortable knowing that I can "Go Home" that each company will continue to grow without me, that the companies will continue to run smoothly with a clear succession plan in place and my family will be well covered.

So, I'll end today's article by asking: What Group Are You In? If you say Group One....think about taking a courageous step and reach out to an Estrada Strategies Coach and explore survival possibilities for your business.

Written by: Ruben Estrada, President/CEO Estrada Strategies Franchise Inc. A National Network of CEO Coaches. We help the small to mid-sized business owner to think, act, and perform like successful CEO's. Ruben@EstradaStrategies.com www.EstradaStrategies.com - or - 909-476-3510