Have you been trying to organize your family — the calendar, the meals, the routines, the chores — but still feel like there is something deeper your family needs?

In this episode, I’m talking with Rich Christiansen, entrepreneur, author, mentor, and founder of Legado Family, about what it really means to organize your family.

And although you know I love job charts, shared calendars, and family meetings, the conversation goes much deeper in this episode. We’re talking about family culture, values, identity, traditions, rites of passage, and how to help your children know who they are, what your family stands for, and what kind of people you are becoming together.

Rich shares the story of how his business experience, mentorship from Stephen Covey, and desire to protect and strengthen his own family led him to create the Legado Family Framework. What started as a private framework for his own family has now helped thousands of families create more stability, connection, and purpose. 

Note that this conversation is not about creating a perfect family, having a big budget, taking fancy humanitarian trips, or starting when your kids were babies. Rich reminds us that every family is messy, and where you are now is the perfect place to start.

Key Takeaways

1. Family culture needs intention.
   Most of us organize what our family does — schedules, meals, chores, and routines…but in this conversation Rich helps us think about organizing who our family is. Taking the time to ask, “Who are we as a family?” and “What do we stand for?” can help us get a vision of the kind of family we’re becoming and identify values that keep us on track.
2. Values are the foundation.
   Rich teaches that the first step is identifying the values your family agrees on. You don’t have to agree on everything, but finding six to ten shared values can create a powerful foundation for your family culture. 
3. Trash can values matter too.
   It’s not enough to know what you stand for. You also need to know what you’re choosing not to pass down. Rich calls these “trash can values” — patterns like shame, guilt, scarcity, fear, or anxiety that stop with you. (This is how you can declutter your family’s values!)
4. Symbols, doctrine, and traditions help values stick.
   A family logo, color, phrase, mantra, or weekly meeting can help children feel seen and connected. These don’t have to be complicated…they just need to remind your family who you are. 
5. Rites of passage can shape your children deeply.
   Rich shares examples of meaningful experiences that helped his sons identify with their family values. But he also reminds that it doesn’t have to look a certain way. Rites of passage can be simple, local, and personal to your own values. 

So What?

Ask your family one simple question:

What do we want everyone to know our family stands for?

Remember, done is better than perfect.

Just write down what your family says, notice what themes emerge, and let that be your first small step toward creating a more intentional family culture.