What Can The Prodigal Son Teach Us About Family Business?
Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son is a fantastic exploration of one of the most powerful parables in the Bible. But have you ever considered this: it’s also a story about a family business?
I’ve known this parable all my life. You know the story—One son takes the money and runs, the other stays and toils. The father, patient and generous, waits with open arms. It’s a story of repentant hearts and reconciliation.
But there’s a whole other angle to this story, especially if you’re navigating the often-messy, always-personal terrain of a multigenerational business.
The Prodigal Son is a living metaphor for family dynamics in business.
Let’s dive in.
Who Are You in the Story?
Take a step back. Ask yourself right now, in your own family enterprise: Which character are you?
The Younger Son
Are you the one who took what was given and ran off to chase your own vision? Maybe you came back, maybe you’re on your way.
Either way, it takes courage to admit you’ve been or are the Younger Brother. This is the family member who sees the business as something to leave behind, to take from, to eventually return to, while hoping for grace.
The Older Brother
He’s the one who stayed. Who never left. He’s the one who buried his pride in the name of responsibility.
If you’re the Older Brother, you’ve carried the load, held the reins, maybe even built the legacy. But is there resentment lurking beneath the loyalty? "Where’s my celebration?" you wonder. “When do I get recognized?”
The Father
Then, of course, there’s the father. The leader. The parent. The founder.
You gave, you waited, and now you’re asked to make hard choices between love and fairness, grace and structure. You’re not just managing capital, you’re managing hearts. It’s exhausting. It’s complicated. And it’s deeply human.
But wait, aren’t we forgetting another key character? Yes! This character represents a group. The fourth character in the Prodigal Son is the Observers.
The Observers
The fourth, often forgotten character, the Observers, are those watching from the margins: spouses, in-laws, employees, advisors.
The Observers see the drama unfold but aren’t always empowered to act. Observers hold silent truths and unspoken judgments. They influence the room, even when they’re not speaking.
Who Do You Want to Be?
These roles aren’t static. In any given season, you might move from the younger son to the older, from observer to the decision-maker. That’s the complexity, demand, and opportunity of the family business.
There’s a lot of hope in that. You’re not just stuck in one narrative. You’re writing it as you go.
The question then becomes not, “Who are you?” but rather, “Who do you want to be?” And perhaps even more crucially: “Who should you be for your family?”
Does your family need you to be the forgiving father, even when your gut says otherwise?
Are you needed as the loyal son, the Older Brother, even when you’re exhausted by duty?
Should you be the one who speaks up, even if you’ve been the observer?
Answering that question takes courage. It also takes humility, and often, a little help.
Who’s Helping You Stay on Track?
No one becomes the right character alone. Growth cannot happen in a vacuum.
Family business is a story that needs editors, not just authors. Coaches, mentors, and counselors can help you identify your role, challenge your assumptions, and rewrite your ending.
The most powerful transformation in Nouwen’s book wasn’t the return of the prodigal. It was Nouwen’s realization that we are all meant to become the father. The one who loves generously, leads wisely, and knows when to let go.
That’s the goal. And it’s not easy. Don’t do it alone. Contact me today to learn how The Family Business Coach can help both your family and your family business thrive.
Questions to ask at your next Family Meeting:
What role are you currently playing in your family business?
Are you living out the role you feel called to, or the one you feel trapped in?
Who’s helping you to tell the story with clarity, grace, and integrity?
Let’s talk about it. This isn’t just a parable. It’s your legacy in motion.
