“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire,” said composer Gustav Mahler. Family businesses often face the challenge of doing just that: keeping their core values burning while navigating rapid modernization. In a time when 70% of family-owned enterprises fail to transition successfully to the second generation, the tension between heritage and innovation isn’t just philosophical—it’s existential. How do these businesses maintain authenticity while adapting to digital tools, market shifts, and customer expectations? In this expert roundup, leaders share how they preserve what matters most while evolving for the future. Their approaches may surprise you—and inspire you.

Family Dinners Preserve Values While Modernizing Operations

Weekly family dinners at our restaurant have become our secret weapon for keeping our values alive while modernizing our operations. When we introduced online ordering last year, I made sure my uncle Tony, who’s been our head chef for 20 years, was involved in designing the digital menu to maintain our authentic recipes and presentation standards. These regular family meetings help us stay true to our traditional hospitality while embracing new technology that our customers expect.

Allen Kou, Owner and Operator, Zinfandel Grille

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Family Celebrations Keep Business Roots Alive

One thing that’s made a big difference for us is inviting my family members—my wife and even my little girls when they’re around—to join in on company events and milestone celebrations, like when we close a big deal or hit a goal. It keeps the family’s warmth and roots at the core of our business, even as we use new tech and data-driven systems to stay competitive, so our clients and team always feel that personal Vegas touch alongside the modern efficiency.

Casey Ryan, Founder, We Buy Any Vegas House

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Next Generation Bridges Tradition With Innovation

From my experience, one effective way for a family-owned business to keep its values intact while staying current is to actually involve the next generation in key decisions—especially when adopting new methods or tech. When my kids started showing interest in our real estate work, I invited them to help pick out property management software and brainstorm ways to keep our customer-first mindset alive online. This kind of collaboration bridges tradition with innovation, making sure our family culture naturally evolves with the business.

Paul Myers, Founder, Myers House Buyers

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Legacy Grows Through Principled Modern Choices

We shape modern choices by reflecting on our past principles. We follow principles that have been around for centuries. These include caring for nature, taking pride in work, and feeling responsible for others.

Before making any change, we ensure it preserves or enhances what we have inherited on our farm. This is how we decide. Whether adopting digital tools or introducing new services, we never act just for trends. Legacy is not fixed; it grows when you apply it, not when you archive it.

Lord Robert Newborough, Owner, Rhug Organic Farm & Rhug Ltd

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Values Filter Every Business Modernization Decision

In my experience running a family business, the best way to keep our core values alive while adapting to modern practices is by making sure every decision—whether it’s adopting new technology or changing how we market—gets filtered through the lens of what matters most to us, like honesty and genuinely helping people. For instance, when we upgraded our client communication tools, we made a point to keep personal follow-ups and check-ins part of our process, so clients still feel that family touch. That balance helps us stay true to our roots while making smart changes to stay competitive.

Nick Elo, Founder, Fast Vegas Home Buyers

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Team Storytelling Centers Values Amid Tech Evolution

One thing that’s worked for us is having regular team meetings where we share stories about how our work has helped real families in Dayton—this keeps our values front and center as we roll out new tech tools or update our processes. It reminds everyone why we do what we do, even as the way we do it evolves.

Travis Copeland, Founder, Wright Home Offer

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Community Service Anchors Values During Digital Transformation

One way I’ve found to preserve our family-owned business’s core values while embracing modern practices is by making community service a central part of our mission, even as we adopt new technology or marketing strategies. For example, while we’ve digitized much of our real estate workflow for speed and efficiency, we still prioritize personal connections—like volunteering or hosting local events—because those hands-on experiences keep our core values alive and visible in everything we do.

Parker McInnis, Owner, Speedy Sale Home Buyers

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Value-Driven Hiring Blends Legacy With Progress

One way I’ve seen our family-run business preserve its core values—like trust and integrity—while embracing modern practices is by intentionally hiring team members who share our values, then using tools like digital project management and flexible work options to help them serve clients better. For example, we’ll start client meetings by sharing a bit about our history and what we stand for, making sure every new technology or system we adopt strengthens that personal, relationship-driven approach rather than replacing it. In my experience, it’s all about blending the heart of the family legacy with smart tools that move us forward.

Jeremy Schooler, Founder, Kitsap Home Pro

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Handwritten Notes Meet Digital Systems

One thing that’s worked well for us is keeping the family’s spirit of hospitality front and center, even as we use newer tools and tech. For example, we still handwrite thank-you notes for our Airbnb guests, but we track every detail of their stay with digital systems—so the personal touch stays, while we get more efficient. I’ve found blending tradition with smart, modern practices not only preserves our core values but makes us stand out in a crowded market.

Gene Martin, Founder, Martin Legacy Holdings

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Veteran Team Members Shape Technology Implementation

One way we hold onto our family business values at Bright Home Offer—while still moving forward—is by inviting long-time team members into the process when we adopt new technology or change up our workflows. For example, when we rolled out a digital offer system, we had our most trusted folks help test it and give feedback, so it worked the “Bright Home” way from the start. I’ve found that making core team members part of the evolution keeps our culture strong and ensures any update feels like a natural extension of who we are.

Jasper Cool, Founder, Bright Home Offer

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Staff Input Preserves Values Through Modernization

One way I help our business hold onto its core values while modernizing is by involving our team in key decisions, especially when change is on the table. For example, when we considered automating parts of our home-buying process, I asked everyone—including longtime staff—how we could keep our reputation for fairness and personal service intact. Their input shaped how and when we use new technology, making sure our family-first approach comes through, no matter how digital we get.

Hunter Lipski, Principal, Pro Home Buyer Solutions

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