SUMMER LEGACY PLANNING

There's something about summer that makes you pause, breathe deeper, and think about the bigger picture. Maybe it's the longer days or the way the pace naturally slows down, but this season has a way of making us reflect on what really matters, and what we want to leave behind.

This month, we're beyond excited to sit down with Lori Friedman, Founder of The Love Policy, for our upcoming #SheOwned IG Live on June 18th at 1pm EST on @wccmiami. We know this conversation is going to open our hearts and minds to what it means to build a business that serves a purpose bigger than profit. Our co-directors Valerie and Gelly are preparing to dive deep into conversations about creating meaningful impact, and we have a feeling it's going to leave us all thinking about legacy in a whole new way.

As women entrepreneurs, we're not just building businesses, we're creating movements, changing communities, and crafting paths for the women coming behind us. But here's the question that hit us during our conversation with Lori: What happens to all that impact when we're not here to drive it anymore?

This summer, let's use this reflective season to intentionally build businesses that don't just survive us, they thrive because of the foundation we create today.

You know that fire in your belly that made you start your business in the first place? That passion that keeps you going when the bank account is looking funny and the to-do list never ends? That needs to be documented, preserved, and passed down like the family recipe it is.

Your "Business Love Letter" Sit down this week and write a letter to your future team, your successors, or even your future self. Include:

• The moment you knew you had to start this business

• The values that guide every decision you make

• The impact you dream of creating in the world

• The non-negotiables that define your company culture

Make It Actionable:

• Schedule 2 hours this month to write your business origin story

• Create a "Values Vault" a document that captures the core beliefs driving your business

• Share this document with your team, advisors, or trusted business friends for feedback

Let's get real, if your business would fall apart without you physically present for two weeks, you haven't built a business. You've built yourself a very demanding job.

Summer is the perfect time to step back and create the systems that allow your business to run smoothly whether you're on a beach in Turks and Caicos or dealing with a family emergency. This isn't just about vacation coverage, it's about building something sustainable.

The "If I Got Hit by a Bus Tomorrow" Test:

• Could someone else run your client onboarding process?

• Are your financial systems documented and accessible?

• Do you have standard operating procedures for your core services?

• Is your marketing strategy written down somewhere besides your head?

Start With These Three Systems:

1. Client Journey Documentation - Every touchpoint from first contact to project completion

2. Financial Process Manual - Invoicing, payments, expenses, and reporting procedures

3. Team Communication Protocols - How decisions get made when you're not available

Here's something we learned from Lori that hit different: Your legacy isn't just what you build, it's who you lift up along the way. The women entrepreneurs you mentor, the collaborations you create, the doors you open for others, that's legacy in motion.

At The Women's Chamber, we see this daily. The most successful women in our community aren't just focused on their own growth—they're actively investing in the success of women around them. They're creating ripple effects that extend far beyond their individual businesses.

When you invest in your community, you're not just building relationships, you're creating a network that will carry your values and vision forward long after you've moved on to new ventures.

This one's not sexy, but it's essential. 

Your business legacy includes making sure your family, team, and community are protected if something happens to you. This goes beyond just personal life insurance, it's about comprehensive business protection.

Financial Legacy Essentials:

• Business Insurance - General liability, professional liability, and key person insurance

• Succession Planning - Who takes over if you can't run the business?

• Emergency Fund - 6 months of business expenses set aside for unexpected situations

• Legal Documentation - Updated wills, business agreements, and partnership contracts

The Miami Reality Check: Living in South Florida means hurricane season, economic fluctuations, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with our vibrant city. Your financial legacy planning needs to account for our unique environment and economy.

Consider working with local financial planners who understand the Miami market, and don't sleep on connecting with other Chamber members who've navigated these waters successfully.

Inspired by Lori's incredible work, this strategy is about capturing the heart behind your business decisions and ensuring your values live on in your company culture.

Your "Business Love Policy" is more than a mission statement, it's a living document that guides how your business shows up in the world, treats people, and makes decisions. It's the love letter to your industry, your community, and future generations of entrepreneurs.

What Your Business Love Policy Should Include:

• How you define success (beyond revenue numbers)

• Your non-negotiable values in action

• The way you want clients and team members to feel when they interact with your business

• Your commitment to your community and social impact

• Guidelines for difficult decisions that align with your values

Take time this summer to write love letters to:

• Your future employees about the culture you want to create

• Your clients about the experience you promise to deliver

• Your industry about the change you want to see

• The women entrepreneurs following behind you

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Legacy isn't just what you leave behind, it's what you build forward. It's the businesses you inspire, the women you empower, the systems you create that serve people long after you've moved on to your next chapter.

This summer, as you're soaking up those longer days and maybe stealing a few moments of reflection, remember that every decision you make today is either building toward the legacy you want or away from it.

Your business has the potential to change lives, shift industries, and create ripples of positive impact that extend far beyond your wildest dreams. But that only happens when you intentionally build for longevity, community, and love.

Thank you to Lori Friedman for reminding us that business can be an act of love, and that our legacy is ultimately about how much love we pour into the world through our work.

Follow Lori, her work, her mission, her purpose, her love in action here!