As Founders balancing entrepreneurship and parenting, we put in countless hours, take big risks, bear the mental load of heavy decisions, working to build something from nothing. But how do we explain why we make such sacrifices to our children? How do we show them that our work is more than just a job? It’s our passion?
The Moment Everything Changed: From ‘What’ to ‘Why’
I’ll never forget the day my boys came to a BrightStar Care Franchisee Conference and wore the “Future Co-CEO” badges we had made for them. It was a sweet gesture, but I could tell they didn’t really get what the company was truly all about. It was a good start, but it was just showing them the “what” of my business, not the “why.”
That changed when I brought them to visit a long-term client, a quadriplegic man named Tim. Unprompted, Tim shared with my boys that the care he received through BrightStar Care allowed him to live far longer than expected, to see his daughters grow up, get married and his grandchildren be born.
My boys looked at me differently after that visit. They understood that I wasn’t just building a business; I was changing lives. That one visit had more impact than all the hours I had spent trying to explain my work. They understood my heart, and from that day forward, they understood much more about why I worked so hard, and were more understanding during the 18-hour days of the early pandemic.
For entrepreneurs, the more you can show your children the “why” behind what you do, the better. It gives them a window into your passion and helps them understand why you push so hard to make an impact.
Balancing Passion with Giving Your Children Choice
That sense of ambition is a value I’ve always wanted to instill. I worked my way through college waiting tables and have leveraged my work ethic to achieve success. If I had it come easy, or even easier, I don’t know if I would or could have pushed myself to the limits that I did. While I wanted my boys to enjoy the benefits of my hard work, I also wanted them to develop their own personal drive. That’s why I strongly encouraged them to get jobs as soon as they turned 16.
One of my sons worked at Chick-Fil-A, learning quickly about the benefits of working overtime and earning responsibility. My other son found a wonderful program with Jewel-Osco that provided jobs for those who learn differently. Both of them took pride in their work and learned valuable lessons about earning money, the cost of things, and also things like social security and taxes, which only come with receiving a paycheck.
But even as I shared my passion and ambition, I continued to remind myself it is essential to give my children a choice. Discuss your business and the challenges you face in occasional conversations to see if your business ignites a spark in them. But be open to supporting your child’s own unique path. I was so passionate about my mission, I knew I could put in the hours needed to build a successful business. But if my children have a different calling, my job will be to support them in finding their own mission.
What’s a creative way you’ve involved your children in your entrepreneurial journey? Share your story below and continue the conversation in our community for Female Founders.
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