The Secret Family Code: Not Just “Don’t Touch the Thermostat”

Ratajack’s 1920s

Lessons in Frugality: Growing Up with Great-Depression-Era Parents

Growing up with Great-Depression-era parents and grandparents in a family business was like attending a masterclass in frugality—complete with pop quizzes on who could survive the longest without turning on the heat! I distinctly remember the “don’t touch the thermostat” rule, essentially carving it into stone like a biblical commandment. Sure, there were plenty of valuable lessons tugged into my memory, but they never made it onto a vision board or a motivational poster. Or so I thought...

From Immigrant Struggles to Entrepreneurial Success

Our family business was not just a source of income; it was a survival quest. My grandparents were immigrants who arrived with wallets that could best be described as ‘almost empty’ but were ready to work harder than a squirrel in a nut factory—although it was, specifically, a sugar factory. Most of the family worked in sweatshops, building their livelihoods through relentless manual labor, treating it as a badge of honor.

The Birth of a Family Business Against All Odds

Yet, the fascinating part is that of my great-grandmother's entrepreneurial spirit. She created a business before women had bank accounts or even the right to vote.

How a Determined Woman Built a Legacy Before Women Had Rights

Shortly after rolling off the immigrant boat in 1888 from Poland (which was the Kingdom of Prussia at the time) and taking the scenic route via Buffalo to North Chicago (because who doesn’t love a good detour?), she figured, "Why not start a family business?" So, with a whopping loan of $4000 (which is about $125,000 in today’s dollars), she decided to buy some land and get the whole thing rolling. Meanwhile, her husband Adam was off risking his life at the Waukegan Sugar Refinery. You know, that little place known for its delightful explosion – that is a story for another day!

From Ice Cream to Liquor: The Evolution of a Family Store

She set her sights on building a storefront with overhead apartments to house the family—why not add some serious architectural family bonds to their lives? Her eldest son, Al, was chosen to run the show because, as everyone knows, only a man can manage chaos, especially when it comes to running a business, a.k.a. sarcasm. What started as an ice cream parlor turned into a liquor store—because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t need a good scoop of sweetness followed by a dash of alcohol? Life was full of interesting twists and turns until the final plot twist: they sold the whole circus in the 1970s. Who knew entrepreneurship could be this much of a rollercoaster? Now they’re probably reminiscing in heaven about the days when it was all just sprinkles and beer!

Surviving the Great Depression and World Wars with Resilience

However, in 1959, they decided it was finally time to put some structure into the family business—probably after realizing that running things like a three-ring circus wasn’t exactly a winning strategy. The little family business was finally rolling in some cash. Surviving two World Wars and the Great Depression, they emerged “strong like bull” as my grandma used to say.

Family Business Governance: When Structure Became Essential

As we understand it today, the concept of "family governance" for family businesses really took off in the latter half of the 20th century—it was the latest trend like seat belts in cars—at first, optional, then encouraged, and now, if you're not on board, you're just behind the times.

The Role of Lawyers in Strengthening Family Enterprises

At that time, lawyers, perhaps weary of arguing over who gets Grandma's fancy china, began offering wise advice to complex families. This makes sense since my Uncle Gene earned his law degree from Northwestern while working long days and nights in the family business. He knew it was time to focus on developing a governance structure beginning with a Vision, Mission, and Core Values for the family. The only problem was that he didn’t tell anyone.

A Hidden Family Mission Statement: Lessons from the Past

“Our mission is not only to survive, but to achieve. We must do so with morality through maturity and happiness.”

With a family that started out chasing the elusive American Dream—leaving their homeland only to be called a DP, Dumb Polak, not knowing the local lingo, and wrestling through the Great Depression—you’d think their motto would be "Just survive and thrive, baby!" Imagine my surprise when I finally stumbled upon our family’s mission statement after my aunt and uncle decided to join the great beyond long after our family business sold.

The Unbreakable Rule: “Don’t Touch the Thermostat” Lives On

My only lasting memory from those days? The eternal command: “don’t touch the thermostat!” It’s like a family heirloom, carefully handed down to me, now as the official thermostat police of the family, I still won’t touch it. Who knew being the matriarch would come with its own set of rules?