Rules for Life

21 years ago, in Chateau Clair de Lune on the outskirts of Biarritz, my new husband and I sat down with a glass or two of fizz and agreed our ground rules.

Those have stayed with us through ups and downs, building a business and selling it, house moves and holidays, children and stepchildren, family deaths and all the other swans - black or otherwise - that the world has thrown at us.

One thing is certain. We have navigated life with more grace, pace and certainty than we would have done otherwise. Even the really gritty bits.

Does your family have something similar?

Whether you're in business together or not, whatever your goals and hopes, whether you have a family or estate office or you're entirely self propelled, a set of principles is a useful support when things are tough - and indeed, to make the most of the good times too.

The important thing is that they're built with a deep understanding of the context in which you operate, aligned with your ethos and future plans, meaningful to you and demonstrate clear intention.

When I do this work now for others it's always framed in narrative and supported by purpose, based on a period of deep research and familiarisation.

As for ours? I keep a copy in the back of my diary. He keeps his tucked into the frame of a mirror in his office. They have proved both useful and accurate time and time again.