19 Difficult Lessons About Family Businesses And The One Key That Makes Or Breaks The Company

I knew working for my parent’s company would come with hard work, but I didn’t expect all the damn drama.

My Dad always told me that I had to work for someone else before I could work for him. The reason was simple; so I could experience other assholes (not exactly his words, but close.)

Little did he know, I could never work for him. He’s a Vietnam war veteran with a severe type-A personality who ran Miami bars in the seventies.

If we worked together, physical altercations were guaranteed, but I love him dearly nonetheless.

So, I did my round of working for other people, which was followed by a push through an MBA program as I started to take on more responsibility at the family business.

But what I didn’t expect was all the drama with other family members. Of course, we all have our story, and we’ll likely stick with it until the day we die, but damn, it got complicated.

It also ruined over a decade of meaningful relationships. Frankly, I’m sad over it, and as I get older and wiser, it brings tears to my eyes.

Looking back over the years, it shouldn’t have ended the way it did, but we males are young and hungry, and we’ll do stupid…