Yesterday I met a small business owner in the health industry who spoke about her father’s business style. Then today an executive talked to me over coffee about their dad, who owned businesses in the UK. I started thinking about the limitations or standards we give ourselves because of how we saw dad or mum doing business.
My own dad had a few businesses too. He worked for himself painting swimming pools in suburban Brisbane. Then he ran a small offset printing business. That was my favourite. I loved the smell of the inks (and still do) and the infinite supply of Letraset! My dad is still involved in businesses, at 72! These days it’s usually something involving IT.
If your dad believed self-promotion was kibosh, you might be determined to break the mold and or be stuck with his fixed beliefs. If you saw your mother develop relationships for life through her business, you’ll know a lot about integrity. Your dad might have been a workaholic and you swore you’d do things differently. Maybe both parents worked all hours in a corner store, role models for what you didn’t want to become.
The other day someone told me, “Stop holding back. You have nothing to lose.” I was running conversations in my head, the kind that talk me out of things. I’m sure my dad wouldn’t agree with the self-limiting voices in my head.
My client in the health industry told her dad she was speaking to a business publicist. He was delighted. He was happy even though she was breaking his mold
This week my son was choosing subjects for his HSC and talking about doing business studies. I wonder what he’s learned about business through overhearing my phone calls, Skypes and meetings for the past seventeen years?
What will inspire him, what will he rebel against?