FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

Do let your kids work at McDonalds

I was talking to a business owner this week, and our conversations drifted into how both of us got into our lines of work.  We were debating on what skills entrepreneurs need to have, when a thought occurred to me.  Ever noticed that the skills you are using for your business today might have been acquired through completely different periods in your life, in completely different jobs?

For example, my problem solving skills come from having an engineering background.  My patience and persuasion skills comes from being a volunteer summer camp assistant in junior high school dealing with screaming 5 year-old kids.  My sales skills come from a venture in direct selling.  And my systems skills are partially drawn from having worked at a pizza franchise for a couple of years in high school.  At any point in the past, if you would have told me that they were all great work experiences building towards something I could use in the future, I would have laughed at you.  But now I see it all working together.

So don’t discount your knowledge and experience in your past.  Think about what skills you acquired through each of your past job or venture, and leverage that unique list of strengths in your business, and find help for the skills you don’t have yet.

And if your kid wants to work at McDonald’s, let them!  I find franchises to be great places to learn about how to “systemize” your business.  Everything is documented and down to a science.  I still remember the script for answering the phone at that pizza joint.

Now if only I can figure out what skill I’m supposed to have learned from that summer in high school I spent in an electronic warehouse counting inventory.  I’ll be sure to let you know when I figure that one out.