What’s better than being a successful entrepreneur? How about having a son or daughter that’s a successful entrepreneur.
The Wall Street Journal tapped some well-known entrepreneurs on a parenting advice article titled “How to Raise An Entrepreneur.” The five key attributes the article suggests you foster with kids on the entrepreneurial front and respective parenting advice include:
1. Adventurous: Urge kids to explore what’s around them
2. Dependable and stable: Provide an environment where they can deliver high quality work within a set time, and always be a model for emotional intelligence
3. Observant: Encourage looking at the world through the lens of problem recognition and opportunity
4. Team player: Encourage playing on sports teams, which provides teamwork skills, the opportunity to be an individual and have a role within that team, as well as the opportunity to take risks
5. Lead by example: If you have entrepreneurial experience, the most important thing you can do is pass that good knowledge on down
As mentioned, some notable entrepreneurs and researchers from the Boston area provided fodder and quotes from the article, including Home Depot founder Arthur Blank, Boston Beer Co. owner Jim Koch, and Babson Professor Pramodita Sharma.
- Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, owner of the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons (he is a Babson alum) on the importance of adventure: “Get them the right kind of toys—in which kids must figure out for themselves what to do. On vacation, try different restaurants outside their comfort level.”
- Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer Co. on teamwork: “Climbers are a lot like entrepreneurs. They are willing to put themselves in a risky situation and then once there they become careful and cautious and try to reduce and eliminate the risk.”
- Pramodita Sharma, a visiting professor at Babson College focused on family enterprising also provided research and fodder for the article, although no direct quote was included.
Entrepreneurial parents: What else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
