This father is an entrepreneur at heart, but that isn’t the only reason he wants to teach his son to run a business. He believes it’s what men need to teach their sons in this economy.
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I’ve owned businesses since I was nineteen years old and had always intended to teach my sons how to be entrepreneurs.
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As a man, owning our “own thing” is ingrained in us. We can work for other people or companies, but deep inside we have a longing to be free. We want to be the boss, we want to call the shots.
I’ve worked at thirteen different jobs in my life and to be honest I’ve hated every one of them. To be fair, it’s not because every one of those jobs were bad places to work, I’m just not built to work for anyone else.
I’m an entrepreneur through and through, but my wife isn’t. I’ve owned businesses since I was nineteen years old and had always intended to teach my sons how to be entrepreneurs.
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Here we are years later and our oldest son has grown to working age. As he has grown up I’ve tried to teach him what being an entrepreneur means. I’ve shown him by example what’s really possible.
My goal is for both of my boys to start their own businesses and live a life of freedom. My wife however has other ideas. A few days ago my wife took our oldest son for his first job interview.
He’s fourteen years old and the job is for a library helper. He does love books, so the job is probably perfect for him. Despite that there’s still a pinging within me, I don’t want him to get a job!
In marriage you have to compromise, because if you don’t your marriage won’t last very long. After we talked about how we both felt we came up with a solution. My son would take the job, but I would be allowed to help him start a business. When his business makes more income than his job, we would let our son decide.
The American Dream
This experience got me thinking beyond my children to young men in general. What are we teaching them? I’d like to think we’re teaching them to be independent thinkers and leaders but I’m afraid we aren’t.
When you’re a young man who doesn’t know any better, this life sounds amazing, so you strive for it.
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I think back to my childhood and what I was taught. You go to school and get good grades, you then are able to get into a good college. You have to get a college degree to get a high paying, six-figure-a-year job.
You get that job and are able to buy the big house with a white picket fence; the American Dream, as some would call it. When you’re a young man who doesn’t know any better, this life sounds amazing, so you strive for it.
The Reality of the American Dream
Once you get older you realize this is a just a fairy tale. The reality of today’s economy is that companies value experience more than anything else. If you’re going to college for a specialized degree: doctor, nurse, lawyer and so, on those jobs might be there for you when you graduate.
But if you’re going for a general degree, your chances of this dream are far less promising. The stats tell us that only 27% of people that graduate college get a degree in their field according to the Washington Post.
These days, young men are graduating from college with huge debt and no promise of ever getting out from underneath it. More than that, most of these young men don’t really want this “dream” in their heart.
You Can Make a Difference
After this debate with my wife and thinking about young men today, it makes me realize how badly we need strong fathers and strong male role models. We need fathers that will teach their kids by example, not just words, that there’s more to life than the “norm.”
If you have an opportunity to mentor a young man, teach him. We need strong men to teach younger men that there’s a better way that doesn’t involve digging yourself in a hole from the start.
We need men to teach the next generation to not rely on a paycheck and to create their own wealth and opportunity. We need to teach young men how to be entrepreneurs even if they have a traditional job, teach them how to be “Linchpins” as Seth Godin says.
If we don’t, I’m afraid for the environment my sons and your sons will grow up in. I don’t want them to grow up in a place where we produce drones that do things because “that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
We need to raise free thinkers. When I think about this I can’t but help quoting Steve Jobs:
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
Absolutely powerful! Those are the kind of young men that we need to raise. Even though your son may get a job, teach him the entrepreneurial spirit. Teach him how to think for himself.
When we instill this in our young men we can make a positive impact on the next generation. If change is going to happen it has to start with us. We are the front line and we need to start acting like it.
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My son and I have talked about a few ideas for businesses he wants to start. He’s very excited, and I’m excited to spend this time with him teaching him that the sky’s the limit!
I have also started mentoring a couple of young men from the Boys and Girls club. I don’t just want to talk to talk; too many men do that already. Men, we need you to step and lead and teach the next generation of men how to do so as well.
What are you teaching your sons?
Photo: Flickr/glasseyes view
Hats off to you!
Sam, you and my wife are thinking along the same lines. Nothing beats life experience and they need that experience to figure out what’s right for them. A mother of only boys? I would love to hear the stories you have to share! Got any yummy tips that have helped you with a house of boys?
Yep only boys 9 & 2. It
Love this! As a mother of only boys, this is what we want and try to teach our boys. To Think for themselves I put him in ethics classes where they learn to debate and share ideas rather than sit in a religion class and where they waste an hour of their life (which is what happens in part of the world). To keep harnessing their imagination as creativity generates ideas which can lead to opportunity. The value of education, you don’t need a higher education to do well but you do need to continue to learn so you can… Read more »
Powerful, real and thought-provoking! We can be different, but the choice must be made. My son is just 7 years old, but I’m working responsibility into him. The most important thing for him is that I’m available. He needs to see me doing stuff. He needs a mirror to look into and model himself after. I am that mirror. As I do my carpentry, he is by my side handing me tools and screws. As I trouble-shoot something in the car, I call him to see what’s happening.
He will grow up to be a strong man with the lessons you’re teaching him! I’m excited for him and you!