Why You Need Your Family’s Support In Your Business

There is only one way to treat your family while you embark on your journey as an entrepreneur or a business owner – AS AN ASSET. Be it is your wife, your siblings, your parents and/or your children, you will always need their support throughout your journey as an entrepreneur. This support is invaluable and does not even have to be monetary in its nature. Consider this very important piece of advice – if your business does not work out for some reason or other (and in business there are many reasons), you are more likely to go through rise up again if you have your family’s support in the bad times.

I cannot stress the role family plays in the success of your business enough. I used to underestimate the role my family played in whether I would make it or not in a particular business venture. The funny thing is that once I started involving my family in my business ideas and ventures I suddenly started getting results. When I say that you should get family involved in your business ventures I am not talking about employing them or doing joint ventures with them, I am talking more about communicating with them with regards to your business challenges, making sure that you still have time for them etc. The worst thing that can happen to you as an entrepreneur is if your family does not believe in you or what you are trying to achieve. No matter what you are made of, it will affect you – negatively.

My experience has been that family is family, it does not matter how you relate or what differences you have or had, when it comes to the crunch, invariably your family will always support you. However it is also true that you have to trust in them and make sure that they are part of your journey. Some of the things that you can do to get your family on your side throughout your business ownership life:

Always have set downtime for your family, this is a period of time that is dedicated to spending time with your family and doing the things that your family wants to do.
Occasionally take your wife, children, mother, father, brother etc to your place of business and familiarize them with what you do and what you are trying to achieve. Some of them may not be interested but they will feel that at least you felt that they were important enough for you to take the time to show them your business
If you are having functions for your employees (eg Christmas party) make sure that it is family orientated so that your family can be involved as well. From a cost perspective you will find that your spouse and the spouses of your employees may be keen to assist by cooking some of the food, buying certain drinks etc
Accept constructive criticism from your spouse, parents, siblings etc, while at the same time encourage them to also give you possible solutions to your business challenges.
Although it’s hard, simply because we are human beings, try not to hide your problems from your family; even if you believe that they may look at you negative light. You will be amazed at how relieved you can become once you start sharing your problems with your close family.

Business is a funny old game, when its good it’s really good but when there is trouble in paradise, boy is it really, really bad. People have been known to commit suicide for lesser reasons than failing in a business and this is where family comes into play. Even if you have failed in a particular business venture, if your family is on your side you will definitely pull through.