Comments on: Small Biz is Often All in the Family http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/ Helping Small Business Become Big Business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Do you have family in your business? | The Whale Hunters http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-4526 Do you have family in your business? | The Whale Hunters Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:39:28 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-4526 [...] friend Lorraine Ball, founder of the marketing firm Roundpeg wrote an interesting blog post this morning that got me thinking.  It’s about having just hired her daughter to work in her [...] [...] friend Lorraine Ball, founder of the marketing firm Roundpeg wrote an interesting blog post this morning that got me thinking.  It’s about having just hired her daughter to work in her [...]

]]> By: Mary Jo Gremling http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2332 Mary Jo Gremling Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:23:20 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2332 Having been in business with my daughter and my son for over six years now, I continue to count it one of my greatest joys to work with them as peers and not as parent/child. However, when I say that, they're quick to remind me that it's been a process, and certainly not an automatic one. While my son is comfortable talking shop nearly any time, my daughter has chosen to set limits to work hours only for business conversations, and I'm happy to honor her request. A big temptation for entrepreneurs is to allow one's business to consume and overshadow all aspects of life. This is particularly challenging in a family business, where individual energy levels and enthusiasm may not be the same for each member at any given time. Asking permission of the other person before diving into a business discussion outside of work hours might be a good practice... Having been in business with my daughter and my son for over six years now, I continue to count it one of my greatest joys to work with them as peers and not as parent/child. However, when I say that, they’re quick to remind me that it’s been a process, and certainly not an automatic one. While my son is comfortable talking shop nearly any time, my daughter has chosen to set limits to work hours only for business conversations, and I’m happy to honor her request. A big temptation for entrepreneurs is to allow one’s business to consume and overshadow all aspects of life. This is particularly challenging in a family business, where individual energy levels and enthusiasm may not be the same for each member at any given time. Asking permission of the other person before diving into a business discussion outside of work hours might be a good practice…

]]> By: Mary Jo Gremling http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2331 Mary Jo Gremling Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:16:01 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2331 Having been in business with my daughter and my son for over six years now, I continue to count it one of my greatest joys to work with them as peers and not as parent/child. Whenever I say that, they're quick to remind me that it's been a process, and certainly not an automatic one. While my son is comfortable talking shop any time, my daughter has chosen to set limits to work hours only for business conversations, and I'm happy to honor her request. A big temptation with entrepreneurship is to allow one's business to consume and overshadow all aspects of life. This is particularly Having been in business with my daughter and my son for over six years now, I continue to count it one of my greatest joys to work with them as peers and not as parent/child. Whenever I say that, they’re quick to remind me that it’s been a process, and certainly not an automatic one. While my son is comfortable talking shop any time, my daughter has chosen to set limits to work hours only for business conversations, and I’m happy to honor her request. A big temptation with entrepreneurship is to allow one’s business to consume and overshadow all aspects of life. This is particularly

]]> By: Tricia http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2189 Tricia Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:53:33 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2189 Lorraine, I answered you via email but I wanted to come back and leave an answer to your question here as well. I try to keep the biz conversations off the dinner table not because we get burnt out but more because it makes other family members feel left out. We have to really be careful not to talk about it too much or everyone else gets bored! It takes a little bit of work. Lorraine, I answered you via email but I wanted to come back and leave an answer to your question here as well. I try to keep the biz conversations off the dinner table not because we get burnt out but more because it makes other family members feel left out. We have to really be careful not to talk about it too much or everyone else gets bored! It takes a little bit of work.

]]> By: Kevin Hood http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2187 Kevin Hood Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:37:44 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2187 I worked for my family business for over ten years. It can be difficult at times, but it can also be easier in a lot of ways. There will be little fights here and there, just like between mother and daughter, but you will also be able to communicate a lot easier with your daughter versus a "regular employee." She can partially read your mind, and you probably know her pretty well, too. The hardest part for me was listening to my dad talk, because I already knew what he was saying, what he was going to say, and the point of the conversation from the beginning. So it will take a little patience from each of you, and a little time to get used to the new role of boss and employee and figure it all out, but I think family businesses are some of the best companies out there. They care more, have more stake in it, and sons / daughters usually have the mind set of working hard so they can eventually take over and have a business of their own. (That's after you retire rich and famous.) I worked for my family business for over ten years. It can be difficult at times, but it can also be easier in a lot of ways. There will be little fights here and there, just like between mother and daughter, but you will also be able to communicate a lot easier with your daughter versus a “regular employee.” She can partially read your mind, and you probably know her pretty well, too. The hardest part for me was listening to my dad talk, because I already knew what he was saying, what he was going to say, and the point of the conversation from the beginning. So it will take a little patience from each of you, and a little time to get used to the new role of boss and employee and figure it all out, but I think family businesses are some of the best companies out there. They care more, have more stake in it, and sons / daughters usually have the mind set of working hard so they can eventually take over and have a business of their own. (That’s after you retire rich and famous.)

]]> By: Barbara Weaver Smith http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2186 Barbara Weaver Smith Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:39:24 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2186 Congratulations Lorraine--hope it goes well for you and Michelle. You inspired my blog post this morning, so I will link instead of responding here: http://blog.thewhalehunters.com/blog/arts-of-the-big-deal/0/0/do-you-have-family-in-your-business Congratulations Lorraine–hope it goes well for you and Michelle. You inspired my blog post this morning, so I will link instead of responding here: http://blog.thewhalehunters.com/blog/arts-of-the-big-deal/0/0/do-you-have-family-in-your-business

]]> By: Lorraine Ball http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2185 Lorraine Ball Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:30:58 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2185 Thx Tricia, My question is: How do you keep biz conversations off the dinner table? Thx Tricia,
My question is: How do you keep biz conversations off the dinner table?

]]> By: Tricia http://www.roundpeg.biz/2009/07/small-biz-is-often-all-in-the-family/comment-page-1/#comment-2184 Tricia Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:03:06 +0000 http://www.roundpeg.biz/?p=2301#comment-2184 Great post! My mom and I work together at my business and everyone always asks us how it works out. One difference with us is that she works from Florida and I work from the "home office" in Indiana. But we do attend a lot of conferences together. There's definitely a level of difficulty that you don't have with other employees. But there is also a loyalty that you would never have with anyone else. On the whole, I would say that my mother and I are much closer now that we work together on a daily basis. The hardest thing is not "talking shop" too much when the whole family is together! Great post! My mom and I work together at my business and everyone always asks us how it works out. One difference with us is that she works from Florida and I work from the “home office” in Indiana. But we do attend a lot of conferences together.

There’s definitely a level of difficulty that you don’t have with other employees. But there is also a loyalty that you would never have with anyone else.

On the whole, I would say that my mother and I are much closer now that we work together on a daily basis. The hardest thing is not “talking shop” too much when the whole family is together!

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