Learn How Successful Entrepreneurs Are Raised
Parents often shield their children from adversity, a natural instinct. However, exposing children to real challenges and demonstrating that they can overcome them helps them learn to embrace the world rather than fear it. This approach affirms both reality and possibility, teaching children not to be driven by the fear of failure. In this article, we will delve deeper into how successful entrepreneurs are nurtured.
Nurturing Successful Entrepreneurs
Alexis Jones, the founder of I AM THAT GIRL, a digital empowerment community for girls, learned from her mother, Claudia, that personal growth often involves significant struggles. Claudia, who taught an auto repair extension class at the University of Texas, worked as a bartender at night, and at 43 years old, went back to school to earn her BA. She exemplified independence and self-reliance, showing Alexis how to make things happen on her own.
Claudia always allowed Alexis to choose her own path and make her own decisions, supporting her in various endeavors from sports to modeling to acting to public speaking and pursuing a graduate degree.
When Alexis got accepted into a graduate program at the University of Southern California but lacked the funds to attend, she rented a garage in Beverly Hills for $135 a month to live in and financed her education through scholarships and student loans. Alexis completed the two-year program in just one year to reduce costs. Today, through I AM THAT GIRL, Alexis is empowering girls worldwide, following the example set by her mother.
Supportive and Close Relationships
In my interviews with 70 successful entrepreneurs and their parents, the presence of a close and supportive parent-child relationship emerged as a common factor. Whether raised in large or small families, wealthy or modest, traditional or unconventional, with one working parent or two, the outcome was similar— a strong sense of having a safety net if needed.
While not all tightly-knit families produce entrepreneurs, supportive environments that foster confidence tend to nurture individuals who grow up to be proactive, risk-taking entrepreneurs. What seemed to make a difference was the encouraging, trusting, and supportive demeanor of their parents.
After closely examining the family structures of the entrepreneurs I interviewed, it became evident that there was no one-size-fits-all family type that produced these remarkable individuals. They came from diverse backgrounds— some from traditional nuclear families, others from single-parent households, and a range of economic statuses. What mattered most was the attitude of their parents.
It's not solely about receiving love from your family, regardless of its composition. It's about having them believe in you. Encouraging you to pursue your passions, trusting you to make sound decisions, and instilling the belief that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
One of the key takeaways from my interviews was that while all parents love their children, successful entrepreneurs have parents who also believe in them, support their interests, nurture their dreams, and reassure them in the face of setbacks.
When a child grows up in a secure, supportive environment and is entrusted with responsibilities, the outcomes can be truly remarkable.
Author Bio
Margot Machol Bisnow spent two decades in government, including roles such as FTC Commissioner and staff director of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. For the past ten years, she has been speaking to parent groups about raising creative, confident, and resilient children who can achieve their aspirations.
She has served as an Advisor to EQ Generation, an after-school program in New York City that equips children with the skills for success; on the Advisory Board of the MUSE School in Malibu, focusing on passion-based learning; and on the Board of Spark the Journey in Washington DC, mentoring low-income high school students for college and career success. Her latest book is Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did. Learn more at raisinganentrepreneur.com.
