“Dad… I’m an Entrepreneur” Break the “Good” News this Holiday
Got good news to share with the fam this Christmas? Like, maybe you’ve finally made enough to quit your day job, or you’ve partnered with a great marketing guru who is going to help you take your biz to the next level.
I had some good news to share with my relatives on Thanksgiving and it all kind of went down the tubes, got flushed, disregarded and melted into the murky turkey gravy. So, I’m a bit sensitive when sharing my career accomplishments and excitement with the kin-folk.
It seems that my folks are a bit more accustomed to dealing with negative news. They deal better with hearing stuff like: “Poor Nancy’s neighbor’s not doing so well with the chemo” or “Yeah, Johnny got two flat tires on the way to the store to pick up the egg nog.” Negative news brings about conversation and concern in my family. I rarely share negative news with them, because I prefer to focus on what I believe to be positive.
Do you ever feel that your non-entrepreneur friends and family just don’t care about your business and your good news? Or, maybe that they even consider your good news to bad news?
So, you’re home for the holidays and can’t wait to see cousins Mikey and Mickey, kiss babies who’ve grown so much since last year, and get your laundry done. Not to mention eat mom’s cooking and open presents. And you’re quite revved up by your recent entrepreneurial successes. Wouldn’t it be great to share the news with the ones you love the most?
The Christmas table is set, and brothers and sisters are passing around lumps of mashed potatoes. Everyone’s smiling, chattering and drinking wine. Even great gramps is drinking wine. You think maybe this is the right time to spring it on them.
You clear your throat. “Mom, Dad” you say “I’m um, I decided…. I mean I am… I’m an ENTREPRENEUR.” “He’s what?” cries your hard of hearing granny. “He’s an en-trap-en-er,” gramps shouts in her ear. “What? What’s wrong with Tommy”? sighs Auntie Stella. “I decided to start my own business after graduation. My own internet business.” “You need a computer, Tommy”? shreaks your mom. “Yeah Tommy, you don’t have a computer,” chimes dad. “I’ve got a lap-top, guys. What are you talking about?”
There’s a big hub bub at the table. You hear: “Tommy’s gay?” “When are they getting married?” “I heard Lisa tried to start her own business a couple years back – yeah, best of luck to you my boy.” Maybe not exactly the best responses in the world. But, do not let it get you down. We are not completely normal to them. And they are certainly not normal to us. So, it’s harder to relate.
My family relates better to tragedy. Don’t ask why. I haven’t figured that out myself. I try to keep my good news short and sweet and only talk to them about important issues when they can give me their total focus. The worst thing is to blurt out news of your new book deal and have someone shout “whaaaaaat?”
Always talk to them on their level – never in your business lingo. Find something that they like or relate to (in my case, death, Cancer or horse racing would do). Tell them you have “good” news. This allows them to get prepared to hear about something that makes you happy. They will react better this way.
You need to share your important and positive news – it makes you feel all that more successful and happy. That’s what entrepreneur friends are for. Your family will always love you and be proud of you - they just may not express it in the best ways.
One Comment
David Askaripour
December 18th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
Awesome article, Gina. LOL, made me laugh. Yeah, I know too many young entrepreneurs who have families that don’t really take them seriously. Quite sad, really. But for the most part, I think that your family is looking out for your best interest and when they are able to understand/see your vision clearly, then — and only then — they
become more accepting.
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