THE LIFESTYLE ENTREPRENEUR

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Leading by Example

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.”

A recent blog got me thinking about his issue, related to how to raise children.

Since becoming a parent I’ve believed the best way to parent our kids is to lead by example - model the behavior and life we want them to emulate.

This goes the same with leadership in general.

Which is why Lead by Example is always my #1 leadership trait.

Entrepreneurialism and risk-taking was on my mind this morning, as it relates to raising our kids.

I wasn’t exposed to entrepreneurs growing up. My dad tried a few entrepreneurial ventures for about 5 years (that right dad?) before returning back to government work.

I got to observe his career transition and likely got some inspiration from his activities:

• He spent a few years building a financial advisory practice - but cut it short before getting past the critical mass phase of that kind of work

• He sold Amway products - Which was most definitely a side-gig before side-gigs were a thing

Just those few endeavors showed me an alternative to traditional work for bigger companies. But because they didn’t stand the test of time, the world of entrepreneurship was still a black-box to me before I took the leap and started my own company.

I’m now in the stage my dad was back then - with the first batch of kids in high school and preparing for college and adulthood.

My kids have lived their entire lives with parents as entreprenueurs. They literally grew up in our businesses.

They saw their parent teach classed, put on events, do planning sessions.

They’ve seen us have big wins and celebrations.

They’ve also seen us have big failures. Failures so big most people would go back to traditional work for other people.

They probably don’t know much about those failures, but they’ll learn about them as their interest in our histories grows. They’ll certainly see their parents continue to build their businesses, celebrate the many wins that are to come, and persevere through the tough times that inevitably also come.

Not only are they exposed to alternative careers, entrepreneurialism, and risk-taking with their parents. Their parents’ friends have a wide diversity of careers.

Doctors, lawyers, real estate professionals, entrepreneurs of all types.

This exposure raises the bar in their minds for what is possible in their lives.

Where my exposure was minimal and fleeting, to them it’s the baseline. They’re growing up thinking you can basically do whatever you want, as long as you work for it.

As my kids get older, I’ve grown to love teaching them things - yardwork, basic home improvement work, how to sell things, I even have been teaching them about AI lately.

But what I really focus my time on is modeling the life and behavior I want in them.

• I build businesses and am in charge of my own destiny

• I invest in myself and live a life of curiosity

• I live within my means but spend on experiences I value

• I prioritize my health and care for my physical and mental body

• I find time to spend with friends and family

• I know how to have fun and have it regularly

What’s something you’re working to model for your kids?

Talk to you next week,

Mike

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