Have you ever considered opening a business? a family business?
I have often asked my maternal family "why should we not try?" Are these some of the answers that you have received when exploring entrepreneurship as a family?
- Who is reliable enough to do all that is necessary to maintain the everyday activities of running a business?
- It's too much work, and I'd rather we not.
- What about retirement?
- A full-time job provides a steady paycheck, and there is too much of a risk in running a business.
- Where is the start-up money going to come from? The sky?
- Why should I put in more of the start-up money, if I earn more at my job than her/him or you?
- Being a family member is enough, we don't need to be in business together.
- Oh no, I am always the one that pays for most family-oriented gatherings now.
- Sounds like a business plan, now you go try it if you want to and when you fail or achieve I'll be ---. (encouraging realizing it takes a lot to run a business :)
I believe that the running-a-family-business topic should always be apart of family-focused conversations, during family reunions/holiday dinners/etc. It doesn't matter what race you are in regards to such actions, but African Americans are the last to think of such ventures. Really, the last! We won't live in the same dwelling together. (Other cultures will have 10 or more family members sharing the expenses of a 2-bedroom rental until they achieve saving their financial goals.) Oh no, not most of us (African Americans) before this article--. We won't buy a car together. We won't go into business with our family members, friends, or networking group. Where is the yesteryear of African Americans where everyone puts in to help financially? Or is that the problem, we are helping the outside world more than our very own flesh and blood? Yet, we realize that most often people who lack give the most to organized charities and religious programs/services.
I honestly believe that every family should try some type of venture together other than a family-reunion event. Realizing each year you have to pay a family-reunion fee to attend, how many of you pay your fee portion? If you have a great organizing committee, for your family-reunion event, don't they act just like the average bill collector? "Excuse me, when are you going to pay your fee portion?"" :)
Families, excuse me, but when are you going to pay your fee portion? If you don't want to pursue a large company, choose to start a small family business as a family venture now.