Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy; you need motivation, hard work and dedication to succeed. But did you know your parents probably had a large hand in making you become the entrepreneurial-minded individual you are today? Yes, your parents play a major role in influencing the direction of your success. From nurturing your creativity and teaching you independence to teaching you the importance of setting good boundaries, here is how your parents helped make you an entrepreneur.
Encourage Creativity
One of the main reasons why parents are so important to their kids’ success is their ability to provide an environment that fosters creativity. Through their encouragement, parents can help kids to explore their ideas, develop new skills and dream big. With the latest technologies as well, they can show their kids that they have the tools they need to create and move forward on their own. For instance, maybe you grew up watching your dad use simply computer software to create a website or your mom use her knack for photography to grow her own business. Even at a young age, seeing their parents’ creative achievements can have a major impact on a kid’s own entrepreneurial ambitions.
Model Independence
As a kid, our parents are our first role models and their behavior often speaks volumes. We look up to them, want to be like them and want to do the things they do. When our parents show us independence, it gives us an example of what we can do and how to do it. For example, if you were to grow up watching your mom work from home, you may have grown up with an idea that it’s possible to make a living from something you’re passionate about. Seeing like-mindedness, in terms of independence, from our parents can be one of the biggest influences on our future entrepreneurship.
Teach the Value of Networking
Business is all about who you know, which is why networking is so important. From learning the art of communication to understanding the different kinds of people that can be useful to you, having a parents’ guidance and support allows us to develop the skills we need to confidently network our way into success. This could include everything from attending networking events as a family to actively seeking out people with the same goals in life. By doing this together, parents can even show their kids that networking can be fun and can be beneficial to both our personal and professional growth.
Teaching the Basics of Business
Another way that parents have the potential to make their kids successful entrepreneurs is by teaching them the basics of business. It doesn’t matter what type of business you’re involved in, understanding the fundamentals of how it works is essential for success. From learning how to make a financial spreadsheet to understanding how to use marketing techniques effectively, having a parent show you the ropes can make a huge difference. This can even begin at a young age with games or mock-business activities which teach the value of understanding business basics.
Introduce the Right Values
Having the right values can make a big difference when it comes to business success. Values such as honesty, integrity, trust and respect are essential for networking as well as customer relationships. Those who have such values already instilled in them have a better chance of getting a leg up in the business world. Luckily, these same values can also be introduced to us by our parents at a young age. Whether it’s through family activities or simply by example, having their parents’ guidance on such important values is one of the best foundations you can have for becoming an entrepreneur.
Lead by Example
Another way that parents can help us grow into successful entrepreneurs is by leading by example. This could be anything from seeing their own successes or maybe even their failures. For example, if you were to witness your parents working hard and then succeeding, it can be incredibly inspiring for us. Despite the hardships, seeing that with hard work and dedication you too can make a real impact can only help to drive an aspiring entrepreneur forward.
Nurture Dreams and Goals
All too often, young entrepreneurs give up because they feel like their dreams and goals are too far out of reach. But with the encouragement from our parents, this can be prevented. From taking your ideas seriously to offering advice and support, our parents can basically be a mentor for us. For example, if your dad started his own business in his younger years, you may have inherited your entrepreneurial skills from him. Thanks to his words of encouragement, you could now feel more inspired and more determined to make a move on your ambitions.
Instill the Right Attitude
Having a successful business takes more than just a good idea – it takes the right attitude. This can start from our parents with an attitude of self-belief. No matter how young or how old you are, having your parents’ confidence in you can do wonders for your success. They can help us develop a resilient attitude to life as well as a strong determination to see our ideas through to the end. With the right attitude and their support, your parents can help carry you down the path of success – both as an entrepreneur and as a human being.
Help Teach Self-Reliance
One of the biggest lessons that parents have to offer is self-dependency. Whether it’s taking responsibility for their actions or simply having the courage to tackle a problem, teaching kids to do things on their own is invaluable. For example, it could be something as simple as encouraging your kid to come up with a solution to a problem instead of solving it for them. With tasks like this, not only are you teaching your kid a valuable lesson but you’re also helping them develop their confidence.
Set Good Boundaries
Finally, it’s important for parents to set good boundaries for their child. Not only will this help to keep them safe from harm but it can also help them to make better decisions later on in life. From home to school, having boundaries allows for structure and order to enter our lives – something that any good entrepreneur needs. As a kid, seeing your parents set boundaries can be a good indication of the kind of boundaries you should set for yourself in the future. And as an adult, having a better understanding of what those boundaries are can help you achieve a balanced and successful life.
Growing up with an entrepreneurial mindset is no easy feat. From having to face the unknown of starting a business to dealing with the pressure of making it successful, it’s no secret that there are a lot of challenges that come with entrepreneurship. However, with the right guidance and support from our parents, we can lay the foundation for success. From teaching us independence to introducing the right values, our parents have the power to make us the successful entrepreneurs that we have always wanted to be.
