So, you are a home-based professional. You have a job where you work from home, or you are an entrepreneur running your very own business. Have you ever wondered whether one or more of your children will want to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career as a home-based professional? Even the youngest children look up to their parents and many aspire to do the things that they see their parents doing every day.
As a home-based professional, you are providing your children with valuable insight into another way of working. They will grow up realizing that they have options when it comes to finding a career that fits who they are. Sometimes, children will express an interest in entrepreneurship at a very early age. You may even have seen some of these go-getters in your neighborhood. They are the kids who you see setting up their lemonade stand right after breakfast, leaving their “store” unattended only to go in for a quick lunch before returning to the business of refreshment until dinner time, the teens that are out mowing lawn after lawn or babysitting many of the neighborhood kids.
One of these motivated youngsters may even be your very own child. They have learned from you that work is a good thing, and they have figured out what kind of work suits their age, temperament and ability. You are proud, and you should be. You may also wonder how you can best support and encourage your child’s entrepreneurial tendencies.
Your child has already done the hard work of figuring out what kind of work they want to do. They may even have started doing the work and earning some money. Take time to talk to your budding businessperson and let them know how proud you are. Ask them how they feel about the work, what they like and dislike about it, and whether they think that it is something that they want to continue doing. Let your child know that you support their endeavors, and that they can count on you for support if, say, they run into trouble with a client who will not pay or some other problem arises. It is important to note that as tempting as it may be to pound on the neighbor’s door and demand to know why they did not pay your daughter after she watched their kids last night, she will be better served if you teach her how to deal with her client herself. You may want to offer suggestions on how to approach the issue politely but firmly, and offer to go over there with her if it would make her feel comfortable (and if you can resist the urge to interject). Offer to help your children if they would like you to help them turn their work into a business of their own. You can teach them the basics of accounting, business formation, and whatever else they are interested in learning.
Entrepreneurial kids are often hard working and motivated. Their drive to succeed will serve them well in whatever they do on life. If you have an entrepreneurial child or children, make sure that they know just how proud you are of their accomplishments.