Not an anecdote, but an observation on nepotism.
In my work, I deal quite frequently with factories and mills. These typically will be set up by someone a few years back, prospered for many years and are by and large solid businesses.

They are (or will be ) invariably destroyed by a kind of nepotism.

What happens is grandfather is very smart, builds a successful business, then brings in his 4 sons and daughters. They aren't necessarily capable of running things, but Grandfather is around to watch them.

They all inherit 25% of the business.

Then they have kids. You've now got 4 2nd generation owners, and a dozen kids. Grandfather retires / dies, the business is split 16 ways, and the bickering starts. 6 of them don't want to work there, but they want their dividend each year. The rest all want big salaries too.

Then they breed. Now you've got a boardroom with 40 chairs in it, all occupied by people with 2.5% of the business. It never works, they end up driving it into the ground, because none of them have a clue how to run a business, or selling it to a mega corp.
(username failed moderation, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 16:48, 25 replies)

People are shit and for cunts.

(Baggenfrock get fucked, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 16:59, closed)

Quite.

(username failed moderation, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 17:05, closed)

see also: clever businessman marries beautiful woman, ignoring the fact that she has shit for brains
the kids inevitably get their dad's looks and their mum's brains and are incapable of running the business they inherit.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 17:38, closed)

is this what happened to you, but you got yer ma's brains and yer dad's looks?

(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 17:56, closed)

no
but also, you just repeated what i said. you really are a mong of the highest belmage and spasticity.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 18:10, closed)

"Mong of the highest belmage"
Now why can't replies win?!
( da5id <YOUR SIG HERE>, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 21:59, closed)

i clicked your post anyway

( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 11:32, closed)

Reply of the week.
Probably month and year too.
(zebideedoodah likes florence but prefers venice, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 12:47, closed)

#proudasalittlebitch
:)
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 16:01, closed)

Here's how replies can win.
Swipe can post the following on the main qftw:

'Dozer really is a mong of the highest belmage and spasticity.'

I know I'd fucking click on it.
(Dr Doctor Can't you see I'm burning burning?, Wed 15 Oct 2014, 15:10, closed)

ive never been so insulted

(katie hopkins telling it where its at, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 22:05, closed)

b mage and sp
( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 7:35, closed)

only at a stretch

(zebideedoodah likes florence but prefers venice, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 12:41, closed)

^^round of applause for reply...

It would've been perfect only it just needed about 9 million more words :)
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Tue 14 Oct 2014, 14:23, closed)

I'm delurking to click *like* on this reply
I have a feeling that I'm going to but this term to good use in the office today.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 15 Oct 2014, 9:59, closed)

takes special skills to observe a 1000 year old Chinese expression
regarding first generation wealth creation and how successive generations fuck it up.
( d.r._and_quinch when will you be famous?, Mon 13 Oct 2014, 19:37, closed)

Well, not quite.
What you're describing is part of it, but the point here is that it doesn't really matter how astute the successive generations are, the exponential growth of people wanting a slice of the pie means that you end up with a lot of small shareholders.

In reality, when that happens, it's an advantage to have as many dumb ones as possible. You really want one smart businessman, and 40 idiots who let him get on with it.

In other words, nice try but you didn't understand what I said and should go and fist yourself.
(username failed moderation, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 9:18, closed)

words many, points none.

( d.r._and_quinch when will you be famous?, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 9:26, closed)

You must be new here.

(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 11:29, closed)

MODS

( d.r._and_quinch when will you be famous?, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 12:16, closed)

Dunno where they are soz.

( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Tue 14 Oct 2014, 12:53, closed)

This is why the Japs adopt fully grown businessmen to carry on their family businesses.

( Slippery Mick &#8207;, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 19:47, closed)

It is a wierd thing that,
but from a pragmatic point of view quite a good idea.

They're definitely addressing the problem head on.
(username failed moderation, Wed 15 Oct 2014, 9:09, closed)

Which is why
You should pick one of your children who isn't a dopey twat to run the business whilst leaving the rest of your spawn a healthy cash settlement when you pop your clogs to stop them complaining.
(DarkLite swallowed my entire undercarriage, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 3:13, closed)

This is about right.
It's exactly how the company I work for operates.

The middle son was the brightest, and has obviously been groomed to take over from a very young age. He took control when he was just coming up to 40. He is a hard nosed businessman, his two brothers are feckless playboys.

But everyone is happy with it.
(username failed moderation, Tue 14 Oct 2014, 9:15, closed)