Jeff Applegate, president of custom injection molder Blackwell Plastics Inc. in Houston, has joined the ranks of plastics industry executives-turned-authors.

Good to Great Families, which Applegate self-published within the last month, is the title of the work in which Applegate applies business principles to raising a family.

“My personal motivation was the fact that I have employed the practices of vision, mission and core values as tools to help guide and manage business and wondered why I would not apply similar tools to help me raise my family,” Applegate wrote in an Oct. 25 email. “After developing a one-page plan that I used for my own family, many asked for a copy and wanted more information [on] how to employ it in their own family. I was encouraged to share my own experience and expand it into a book.”

Applegate devoted two years to writing the book. A father of three, he is concerned that the United States is struggling for a lack of moral leadership and he believes it is closely tied to the breakdown of the family. Men and women need basic tools to lead their families.

“Why not use the ones we practice and know work in our business life?” he asked.

He admits that for many people the idea of developing a business plan for their family would sound crazy.

“But others who are wired like me need some structure to help point the direction and provide clear boundaries,” he said.