In fact, I’m making routines the focal point of my life for the next few years– exactly how long? Well, based on expected PhD duration, let’s say E(x) = 4 years. My working dissertation title is:
"Force of Habit: How Routines Help Find Balance Between Long-Term Resilience and Short-Term Agility for Family-Owned Businesses."

Of course, I know the final title will evolve (and probably become more concise), but the core focus will remain: the relationship between routines and resilience in family businesses. I’ll be undertaking this journey at VU Amsterdam, and I feel lucky, privileged, and excited to join an amazing cohort of PhD candidates. They bring a wealth of diverse experience, yet share one common trait: a deep passion for their research topics.

Why This Topic?

To me, change and routine are the perfect couple. At first glance, they seem like opposites, but one cannot exist without the other. If you want to change a habit, you implement a routine and carefully (and caringly) nurture it until it takes root. By the time this happens, the change itself has already become the new status quo. The change becomes the routine. But when exactly does that transformation happen? The process is gradual, yet blink and you’ll miss it. A once shaky routine solidifies into something rock-solid– anything but flexible. This paradox fascinates me. And as someone who has already written one dissertation, I know one thing: you must burn for your topic, because that’s the only fuel that will get you through the tough days, writer’s block, and sleepless nights. 

Why Family-Owned Businesses?

Speaking of paradoxes, family-owned businesses are one themselves. They make up about 70% of all businesses worldwide and contribute at least 50% of global GDP. Yet, they are rarely used as a basis for general economic models. Despite growing research, they remain underexplored. That’s a shame – because general business can learn a lot from them. Estimates vary, however, if a non-family organization has a life expectancy of 12-15 years, family-owned businesses tend to live for 40-60 years.

But here’s the catch: while 66% of family-owned businesses set out to transition to the next generation, about 40% manage the shift from first to second generation, and fewer than 5% make it beyond the fourth generation. Some of them clearly do something right when it comes to building to last. They form habits that allow them to preserve their core while remaining agile enough to adapt. This means two things: There is untapped knowledge that should be shared between family businesses. This knowledge is valuable beyond their ecosystem – for business resilience as a whole.

What’s Next?

At this stage, I have far more questions than answers – and that’s exactly how it should be.

• What is the exact relationship between habits and routines?
• How do routines and organizations influence each other?
• What routines help family-owned businesses stay resilient while remaining agile?
• How are these routines formed, maintained, and adapted?
• What organizational mechanics enable successful routine adoption?
• How can process automation and AI help balance long-term stability with short-term flexibility?
• What does research already know, and where are the blind spots?
• And most crucially: which of these questions can I answer in depth?

What Does This Mean for the Blog?

There will be some changes to the blog content. I’ll be sharing insights I discover along the way, as well as life hacks on balancing a full-time job as an independent change and interim project manager with writing a dissertation. This will be a long journey and a learning experience, and I want to take you along for the ride. After all, a trip to Amsterdam is always a great idea.

That being said, routines matter—so fear not! There will still be room for my evergreens like Managerial Zoo, updates on current and past projects, book reviews and news from non-profit initiatives.

On a Closing Note…

Almost two years ago, I made a public commitment to publish a blog post at least once every two weeks. And guess what? Not a single deadline was missed. So, I can confidently say: making an official public commitment is a powerful way to ignite the process of building a routine. But what else helps? To quote a BBC classic from the ‘80s, Red Dwarf: "I don't know, but it's going to be a lot of fun finding out." How right you were, Listy!

Let’s Connect!

Are you fascinated by routines? Do you have insights into family-owned businesses? Or are you just curious about balancing work, research, and life?

I’d love to hear your thoughts– let’s connect!