05.12.25 -- I didn't realize how unique our childhood was until years later.
Saturdays weren't for soccer games or sleepovers — they were for working the outlet store at our parents' manufacturing plant. My siblings and I packed swatches, answered phones, cleaned the floors, and yes, wore the clothes the business produced (not always by choice). Vacations usually meant visiting a fabric supplier or checking on a retail account. The line between business and family wasn't blurry — it just didn't exist.
We talked about trade shows, inventory, and shipping at the dinner table — when we actually had dinner together. During the hardest years, we didn't talk much at all. Our parents were deep in the hustle, trying to rebuild the business after a financial setback caused by a former partner. We moved from our home into a rental. We changed schools. At the time, we didn't fully understand why — we just knew things were different.
Still, I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Growing up in a family business gave us perspective, grit, and a real understanding of how things work — from the loading dock to the showroom floor. It's one of the most formative parts of who I am, and I know my siblings feel the same.
What I learned then — and carry now — is that hustle builds survival. But structure builds wealth.
Our parents were brilliant at keeping the business going. They worked incredibly hard to give us a good life, and they succeeded. But like many first-generation entrepreneurs, they were never taught how to build wealth beyond the business. Investing, retirement planning, tax strategies — none of that made it into our conversations, not because they didn't care, but because they were focused on keeping everything moving forward.
If you grew up in a business — or run one now — you probably recognize this pattern: head down, keep working, keep earning, pay for college, take a real vacation (finally)… and then maybe think about what's next.
This blog is for you — and every Monday, I'll share practical ideas and real stories from the field, drawn from what I see in my work with business owners every day.
It's for those of us who inherited the hustle, but want to pass on something more: structure, clarity, peace of mind, and a plan.
You've already done the hard part. Now it's time to make it work for you — and we'll do it one step at a time.