Five questions to ponder before you begin your entrepreneurial journey Part-3
Miguel Guinard • Mar 09, 2020
This week's post will answer the question of family support in the entrepreneurial journey. If you are interested in my answers to the last two questions, click on the links below.
I will begin my answer by sharing my observation on the need to belong and how family support is essential on the entrepreneurial journey.
The need to belong can be detrimental if not experienced appropriately.
As humans, we want to belong. You can observe this in infants and young children. In the beginning, it manifests as a natural clinging to parents continually wanting attention. This need for care converts into a desire to be accepted.
If you observe family dynamics around you, the need for children to belong is obvious. If these young ones don't get it from their immediate parents, they are going to seek it from grandparents. The further away from the nuclear family children get, the more vulnerable they are. The sad reality is that many children don't get this need fulfilled at home and venture away into the streets where good company and influence are difficult to find.
As we grow, this need for belonging extends its tentacles to friendships and into our work life. We want to be part of teams, guilds, and associations to find common ground and expand our thoughts and network.
Solitude for short periods can help us clear our minds, meditate, and prioritize, but we can not remain there. We need other people to bounce ideas and to get feedback.
"It is not good for man to be alone."
Remember the last time you attended a wedding? Genesis 2:18 exemplifies the completeness of marriage and our need for companionship. This principle is not for marriage alone but for life itself. If you are not married and in other stages in life, you still need the companion of friends or family. Fire up any online search, and you can find that loneliness is not suitable for your health.
How family support helps us in our journey
In the life of Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, they had the support of family and the garage space they provided to keep overhead costs low. Jeff Bezos also started in a garage with his wife and the monetary investment of his parents. My local business owners and friends also relied on family to help with children, money, and guidance.
As I write this post, I have this feeling of joy and thankfulness for all the support and influence in my life. Because of their encouragement, I'm sipping my coffee at the local coffee shop with my noise-canceling headphones letting my mind wander into the creative realm.
"I have one question. Who pushed me?
Many years ago, I heard a story. I could not find the source, so here is my paraphrase:
"A rich king without a son wanted to give his daughter in marriage and his fortune to one brave man. He wanted to provide a physical and mental challenge that will test the suitor's ability to complete it.
The king prepared a pool infested with gators and lined up the suitors at one end. At the other end, the princess and the king awaited.
The tension among the men was fierce, and for a few minutes, no one jumped.
As the king started to wonder if there was such a brave man in his kingdom, one young man jumped into the water and started to make his way towards the king. There was fighting, pushing, kicking, and finally, the brave young man made it to the other end.
The king in awe asked the newfound son in law:
How did you find the courage to jump and complete the challenge?
The young man replied:
Dear king, I have one question, who pushed me into the pool?"
We need people in our lives that will challenge and push us to reach full potential. If we don't have excellent family support, we must invest in good friendships, or seek the advice of wise counselors who genuinely care for us.
When I was single, I jumped into many adventures that tested my mental and physical health and ability. Taking risks was more natural, even if the outcome wasn't always the best.
Now I have a family, and risk-taking requires more consideration and advice. As a married man, I take the guidance and support of my wife very seriously. I won't take a risk without her full support. I've seen many families around me fall apart because of decisions that did not have the full support of both spouses.
The entrepreneurial journey requires monetary consideration in a family. Careful planning and budgeting is a must.
Join me next week as I unfold my family's preparation for the Jump into entrepreneurship.
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