Working With Kids

Many of us (male and female) juggle the responsibility of work and business with being a parent. It can be a challenge, to say the least. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day, or days in the week. And of course, kids are great at making us feel guilty. My kids favourite is “you love your computer/clients/staff more than me!!”. Next thing you find yourself feeling guilty. But remember this – and I feel my kids this – if I didn’t work and wasn’t successful, we might be on Government benefits and they wouldn’t have their Xbox, Razor Scooters, computer, ipod or mobile phones etc.

The first thing I think you can do for your kids is involve them. Explain what you do. I’ve had many a discussion in the car on the way to school about small business, bookkeeping, work practices etc. Of course you have to edit the discussion according to the age of your child. I’ve talked about franchises and why someone would get into a franchise with my then 14 year old. Remember many business skills can benefit anyone in life; whether it be how to use a computer, write a cheque or do the banking. I can remember a client of mine telling me about their new Office Junior being sent to “do the banking” and not having a single clue what to do. She went to the bank, left the deposit on a counter and promptly left. Fortunately banking staff got to the cash deposit before an opportunist customer took action. My point is that get your kids to help you. An 8 year old can easily (and even enjoy) shredding. A 12 year old (once shown) can do basic filing. It’s not “slave labour” as your older children may chime, you are:

• teaching them the valuable lesson of work ethic
• teaching them skills – which will look great on a resume later on
• getting help via delegation
• spending time with them AND
• showing them that money doesn’t grow on trees – it has to be earned.

Kids are sponges and they learn things very quickly.   Hand them money without them having to earn it and they sure will get used to it quickly; when it comes to working for someone, they will have no (good) work ethic.  I’ve had office juniors in my own business who initially thought it was fine to sit and chat, use their mobile, text messages or sit doing nothing.   Short of winning Gold Lotto, I’ve not yet come across a way where people just give you money for nothing – I have to work hard for it and so do my children.   My now 18 year old was shocked years ago when he didn’t get the full $10 for the front lawn; I gave him only $7.  He stood there and wanted to know why I’d “short changed” him.   He’d done a chocking job; he’d missed the entire side strip and so I said that wasn’t satisfied and would not be paying in full.   If a client of mine wasn’t satisfied with the job, they wouldn’t just pay me in full; I would have to either rectify or get only part payment – if I was lucky.   Since that day, he’s mowed the lawn properly – and been paid – in full.  Sometimes he even gets me to come out and “inspect” his work before putting away the mower.