“What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?”

We all received that question when we were kids. What was your answer? Do you remember? Perhaps you wanted to be an athlete, a fireman, or our nation’s President before eventually settling into your current career, likely something far different from those early aspirations.

However, when you think back to those early years, what were your parents doing? How closely does your personal career path resemble theirs? Odds are, your answer to that question is, “very closely.” That’s certainly the case for me as my father was a lifelong entrepreneur who inspired me to pursue my own entrepreneurial dreams.

And fortunately, it seems that my career as an entrepreneur is rubbing off on my own kids. Instead of me asking them, “what do you want to be when you grow up,” they came to me and asked, “Dad, what kind of business should we own when we grow up?” Wow – what a great question! I couldn’t be more proud of my kids for thinking independently and asking questions that will help them take ownership of their future.

I wrote about this concept in my most recent contribution to Franchise Gator. Few us realize the impact we do have on our children – and it’s not what we say, it’s what we DO. What are your children learning from you?

So, if I were to ask you at this point in your life, “what do you want to be when you grow up,” would your answer be your current career? If not, why not? And if your answer is “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, but I’ve never had the guts to make it happen,” what does that teach your children?

Remember, unfulfilled dreams don’t count. All that matters is what you DO. And if you are at a place where you are serious about business ownership, find a franchise coach and invest the time to find the right business.

The time is now to create a new trajectory for your family. Be an inspiration for your children and show them that it is possible to control their future as an entrepreneur! As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on our blog below . . .