I'm immensely proud of my mother, who is a serial entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur is risky. She has several successful businesses and a great reputation in the community, all of which she has worked hard for, but they were earned with a few failed businesses and many, many difficult challenges that she had to overcome.
My grandparents wouldn't consider themselves entrepreneurs, but they technically are. Although farming has always been a way of life for them, the combination of my grandfather's knack for farming and my grandmother's business mind led to a successful corn and soybean family farm in Indiana.
In both scenarios, success is relative. Family farms don't make a lot of money, but when you have nothing, a few extra bucks to help feed and support your family makes a big difference.
I personally suck at entrepreneurship. I don't have the mindset or personality of the entrepreneurs of my family nor the entrepreneurs I've met in the community. I'm the Leo Bloom to the Max Bialystocks of the world. I share his averse to risk-taking ventures, although he was much better with hard numbers than my people-skills wired brain.
My grandparents wouldn't consider themselves entrepreneurs, but they technically are. Although farming has always been a way of life for them, the combination of my grandfather's knack for farming and my grandmother's business mind led to a successful corn and soybean family farm in Indiana.
In both scenarios, success is relative. Family farms don't make a lot of money, but when you have nothing, a few extra bucks to help feed and support your family makes a big difference.
I personally suck at entrepreneurship. I don't have the mindset or personality of the entrepreneurs of my family nor the entrepreneurs I've met in the community. I'm the Leo Bloom to the Max Bialystocks of the world. I share his averse to risk-taking ventures, although he was much better with hard numbers than my people-skills wired brain.
Perhaps I just don't have something I'm passionate enough about yet. I want a simple lifestyle, so I don't have the desire for an income that exceeds my needs. A friend and I did open a not-for-profit organization in Florida a few years ago (official with the state and a .org website and everything) but medical tragedy struck her family soon after, which required our attention and support, so we dissolved the young entity. While most entrepreneurs would feel this was like losing a child, I felt some relief at less responsibility and more free time.
Through the MBA program, I'm hoping to find ways to build on and grow the existing family businesses. (At a minimum, keep from being the one who mis-manages them and runs them into the ground! But let's stay positive.)
Hi Christie,
ReplyDeleteI think it is so neat and admirable that you are following in your family's footsteps, taking over the family businesses. I am sure that your passion and people skills will drive you to be a fantastic asset to the farm and to your mom's firm. Similar to your grandparents, it sounds like you are not giving yourself credit for being an entrepreneur, even though you are acting as one! I look forward to hearing and reading more about your endeavors as you work more closely with your mom and take on more responsibility of the family businesses. Best of luck!
Jill
Christie, I can relate to your story, my great grandmother owned a small shop and bar situated in front of her house and I don't think she would consider herself an entrepreneur, although she was. I think the mentality was different back then because as you said, it was just a way of life for them. There is a lot pressure with being a possible third generation entrepreneur. But if you ever decided to explore that, you have such a wonderful support system around you to exploit. I don’t think you would run your parents business to the ground. You are so knowledgeable and well versed and I think you would do well. As you would have learned from your mom, success comes with failures and challenges but it doesn’t mean you will never get the result you want.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds that you are not very enthusiastic about being an entrepreneur even though you have one of the key characteristics, people skills. If you realize almost all the greatest entrepreneurs had/have amazing people skills, maybe the only thing missing is finding something you are really passionate about, that might be the motivation you need to be successful. Since you are not motivated by profits, maybe finding a good cause will be sufficient for you to start another nonprofit organization. I recently read Robyn’s story and she helped orphans in Nicaragua when she was 16 years old and ever since then the school has had their future classes follow in her footsteps. Maybe that is a direction you are willing to venture into.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely sounds that you are not very enthusiastic about being an entrepreneur even though you have one of the key characteristics, people skills. If you realize almost all the greatest entrepreneurs had/have amazing people skills, maybe the only thing missing is finding something you are really passionate about, that might be the motivation you need to be successful. Since you are not motivated by profits, maybe finding a good cause will be sufficient for you to start another nonprofit organization. I recently read Robyn’s story and she helped orphans in Nicaragua when she was 16 years old and ever since then the school has had their future classes follow in her footsteps. Maybe that is a direction you are willing to venture into.
ReplyDeleteHello Christie - Thanks for sharing the story of your grandparents and mother. I am interested in the farm!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am not so sure about you diminishing your entrepreneurial self! I actually think you are very skilled in having several key pieces of an entrepreneur. Most notably the ability to recognize problems as opportunities. Moreover, you find innovative solutions and creative ideas. You make a great point with "risk" and of course there is risk and everyone has their level of comfort with ambiguity. However, in today's start-up economy there is more and more opportunity to reduce and mitigate the risk through proven business models, franchises, and accelerators to bring your creativeness to life!
Watch out Christie you may surprise yourself one day!