I’ve been working with family businesses for almost twenty years, and I’ve seen three common themes emerge:
1. The most successful family business owners are rock solid dependable.
The most successful people are almost boring in their dependability because you never have to question whether or not you can count on them to do the things they say they’re going to do, when they say they’re going to do them.
2. They have guts.
These people (the most successful family business owners) accept responsibility not only for their actions, but for the actions of their team.
They’re accountable. They do the hard things at the most important times.
They’re willing to take risks. And if the risks don’t pan out, they don’t whine or make excuses. They accept responsibility and have the courage to move forward fiercely.
3. The most successful family business owners never stop learning.
Back when I started in marketing and advertising in August of 1995, I remember working for Bruce Welker at Z100’s radio station. I made something like $305 every two weeks.
It wasn’t a lot of money, but even then I made it a point to give back to my career. I bought seminars and tapes and tried to go to conferences — anything I could do to improve my craft. That continues to this day. I bet the same is true for you.