You have probably heard the saying, “It is not personal. It’s business.” But if you are part of a family business, you quickly come to the realization it is both. Mixing family, money and a stressful environment will exacerbate the different dynamics the family is going through.
A new infographic from Fundera provides some insights into what it takes to make a family business work with lessons from famous entrepreneurial families. Titled, “7 Business Lessons from Famous Entrepreneurial Families” the infographic gives families looking to start a business, or who are already running their enterprise, some important nuggets of wisdom.
A Small Business Trends interview with 60-year-old family business Perfection Spring & Stamping Corp. reveals the benefits and challenges of running a family business.
Currently in its third generation of family ownership, Joshua Kahn, one of the son’s of founder Louis Kahn, explains what it takes to run a family business.
Kahn says the family aspect of the business is much more of a strength than a weakness. He explains, “There’s always a level of trust with the people around you. Whether you agree or disagree with them on an issue, you know they have your best interest at heart as well as the best interest of everyone working for us.”
Meredith Wood Editor-in-Chief at Fundera, says, “While there is no roadmap to success for family businesses, looking to the accomplishments of famous entrepreneurial families can provide inspiration. The lessons these families learned along the way provide insight into what it takes to run a successful family company across generations or breed a family full of entrepreneurs.”
The Lessons from Entrepreneur Families
The number one lesson is how collaboration is crucial. Companies which start with two founders raise 30% more investment and grow three times as quickly, according to the infographic.
Famed Walmart founder Sam Walton puts this lesson a different way. The infographic quotes the legendary entrepreneur, “We’re all working together. That’s the key.”
Another piece of advice in he infographic about family business comes from SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, “Life’s too short for long-term grudges.”
Solving conflicts quickly is an important lesson because if left to fester these conflicts can have long-term consequences both in the business and in personal relationships in the family. It is best to get to the root of a problem quickly with an open and honest dialogue, the infographic explains.
Not that such conflicts can be totally avoided, according to another quote in the infographic. As director and entrepreneur Francis Ford Coppola explains, “Anything you build on a large scale or with intense passion invites chaos.”
There are many challenges in running your own business, whether it is with your family or with anyone else. With only 6% of the adult population owning their own business as their primary source of income, it is not for the faint-hearted.
But for those brave enough to tackle the venture, it can be rewarding. You can create a successful business and if you bring your family aboard strengthen the relationship you have with those you love.
You can take a look at the rest of the advice on running a family business in the infographic below.
Image: Fundera