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Encourage them to embrace their gifts and passions and create a business from that. For example, my oldest son loves technology and now he has a business fixing computers, doing tech reviews, creating and editing video, and more. They can even start small by doing things for a parent who owns a business or doing extra work around the house or neighborhood. - Engage them to determine their “WHY” for being in business. When they love what they do and they know WHY they are doing it, they will find success. Keep asking them WHY after each answer until they have really developed a clear picture for themselves of what is motivating them. My daughter’s “why” this summer was to raise money for kids who have cancer. She was able to overcome her fear of the phone and talking in public all because it was so important to her that she raise money for kids with cancer.
- Let them be responsible for the business they are creating. I have seen too many times where the parents step in and take over the business for the kids and this doesn’t do anyone any good. Model, teach, and encourage the kids to raise the capital to start the business, keep good business records, and do marketing via social media, phone and in person. Kids really can do most of it themselves as long as we provide encouragement, education, and mentoring where we are able.
- Praise, encourage and love them in a way they receive it. All people need love, praise and encouragement but everyone receives it differently. Study Gary Chapman’s book called, “The Five Love Languages of Children” to know whether your child needs: quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, or acts of service. When we learned that my oldest son preferred verbal affirmation and quality time we were able focus on scheduling time and making an effort to tell him what he needed to hear. My daughter prefers gifts and quality time. I now make sure to put little surprises on her pillow and take her on “mommy daughter” dates. My youngest loves all of them but he prefers quality time. I also schedule time to take him on outings and them give him encouragement and love in all the other languages as well. Know what they need is the first step!
- Provide Leadership and Service Opportunities Within the Home. Every successful CEO that I look up to is someone who is a servant leader. They truly care about the people they are leading and they make a difference in the lives of others. One of the things that we do to develop leadership in our family is to hold family councils each week and rotate the responsibilities so that everyone has an opportunity to lead, speak, delegate, serve, and to be accountable.
Another thing that has been very helpful in our families and in other families is to look for ways our entire family can be of service to others in the community. This allows us to have the quality time together that our children desire as well as model for them how important serving is in becoming a successful leader in business and in life.
There are so many other things you can do so be sure to come back often for more ideas on how to raise kids who are successful and confident in business (if they choose) and in all areas of their life!
