Last Sunday, Mehul visited his mother. She handed him a steel dabba and said,
“Beta, take this back home.”

He opened it expecting snacks.
Instead… it was filled with old keys.
Dozens of them.
Tiny ones, fat ones, fancy ones, keys that looked older than him.

He asked, “Maa, these open what?”
She smiled, “I don’t remember… but they must open something important. Keep them safely.”

They both laughed, but Mehul felt a pinch in his heart.

Because those keys were exactly like many families’ businesses and assets —
valuable, emotional, but undocumented… and nobody knows what opens what.

Most founders don’t avoid succession or inheritance planning because they’re careless.
They avoid it because it feels uncomfortable…
like admitting time is moving.
Like letting go of old keys.

But here’s the emotional truth:
If the person who created the keys doesn’t say what each one opens,
the next generation is left guessing…
and sometimes fighting…
over locks they never asked for.

A little clarity today can prevent a lot of pain tomorrow.
A simple conversation can save a family years of confusion.
A small document can protect a lifetime of love.

As Mehul packed the keys, his mother said softly,
“These were important once. Now only memories remain.”
That sentence stayed with him long after he left.

In business and in life,
memories shouldn’t be the only thing we leave behind.
Clarity is a far greater gift.

For deeper stories, examples, and practical steps on succession, exit, inheritance, and life beyond business, visit my book:
Breaking Free: The Family Business Guide to Succession, Exit, Inheritance, and Life Beyond Business
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