Over the holidays, I introduced my little ones to my(their) company and the work I do. It was the first step in their learning about business ownership. In late-December 2019, I registered Say More Multimedia Marketing LLC after a net-positive 2019 gave me enough validation to go legit.

A Little Background: In November 2019, I returned to my home state to permanently settle in the fast-growing, northern Alabama city of Huntsville. The December Christmas-New Years break from school marked the first time the kids and I had visitation – aka Daddy Weekend – at my home since the divorce of me and their mom – two years, unfortunately.

Daddy’s Online Business Has No Days Off

We had 10 days together. The kids were excited to see my home office in the living room but were quickly disappointed when I explained that everything there was off-limits. However, I DID let them spin in the orange chair, because I’m not a monster.

After my explanation, they seemed to understand the definition of Working From Home, but not the idea that Daddy needed the room to be a little more quiet for an hour or two a day.

Introducing the Kids to the Family Business

High on the list of things I was eager to acquaint the children with was SM₃, my digital media agency and the family business. My 6 year old read the name Say More Multimedia Marketing LLC from the IRS EIN letter.

I asked my son a question to see how he would answer: Do you know why I put Marketing in the name?

His round head swiveled side-to-side, and I said “Marketing is in everything we[people] do with each other. We’re always selling something.” I looked for some nonverbal that he hadn’t fallen asleep and continued “We might sell a toy or a book or even a good idea…When we want to sell something to a person, we have to help them believe they need it. I get to help people sell things by making websites!”

I can raise car buyers, car salesmen, car dealership owners, or car manufacturers.

I’m going to raise car manufacturers

M. Wright, on parenting

I gave great effort to sound like a guest celebrity on Sesame Street®.

Why I’m Teaching Business Ownership to My Kids

In one conversation, I introduced my children to three ideas I consider imperatives

• Business Ownership – The kids got to see a letter with my name and my company’s name. I explained that I am the boss. I get to choose when and where I go to work and who with whom I work.
• Working from Home – To help the kids understand working from home, I asked them both “You know how Paw Paw(their grandfather) goes to drive his 18-wheelers on Sunday?…I go to work in my office in the living room” #nailedit
• Work That You Love – I emphasized ‘I get to…’ intentionally to hint at my excitement about doing this work – like it’s a cool privilege. I might’ve even spun around in my chair when I said it to really sell it.

What does any of this mean to kids who ask the same question 5 minutes after you answered the question because they don’t remember your answer? Very Little.

Close

They won’t understand a lot of this stuff for a long time, but I never underestimate what kids can learn. Eventually, it’ll stick.

A major seed has been planted: they do not have to sacrifice freedom for money when choosing a career path. I’ll be watering this seed for them as long as needed.