My daughter just landed her first real job, and I couldn’t be prouder! She’s a nurse, and a few months back, she started working at a regional hospital. Lately, she’s been sharing her frustrations about the stress that comes with the role. Coming from a family that’s run successful businesses for 25 years, she’s had her share of experiences—everything from washing dishes at our restaurants to handling hiring, payroll, and vendor relations.
I’ve always believed that kids from family businesses should seek outside jobs so they can grasp the true demands of time management and responsibility in a real-world setting. Often, we might give them a little too much leniency, but she has never been one to slack off.
Today, she called me after expressing a desire to quit multiple times over the past few days. My immediate response was that she has an obligation to fulfill—after all, I’m not paying her bills anymore. Yet, I could sense the stress weighing on her. As a dad, one part of me wanted to say, “It’s okay, just quit; I’ve got your back,” but I also shared with my wife that it’s important for her to experience that stress because it builds character.
After her shift, she video called me, and I expected to hear her complaints, but instead, she was vibrant and full of energy. “Dad! I cracked the code!” she exclaimed. I asked her what she meant, and she said, “The job code!” Curious, I asked her to explain.
She revealed, “I don’t have to do everything—I just need to stick to my job description.” I agreed, reminding her that’s the whole point. It turned out she had been trying to take on every task herself, but today she decided to focus only on her responsibilities and to work at her own pace. She even told her coworkers when their requests weren’t part of her job.
I told her, “And now that your shift is over, you can leave work behind!” She enthusiastically agreed. We talked about the differences between being a business owner and an employee—where a business owner has to take on everything and can never truly clock out.
She ended the call by saying, “I love this job!” It was such a relief to hear her excitement!
2 Comments
bdadmin
What a fantastic story! It’s amazing to hear how your daughter has navigated her first job and discovered the balance between work responsibilities and personal well-being. It sounds like she’s found an important lesson in setting boundaries and understanding her role, which can be such a valuable skill, especially in the nursing field.
It’s great that you encouraged her to confront the challenges instead of giving her an easy way out, even though it must have been hard to watch her go through that stress. That’s a huge part of building resilience and character.
Being in a family business gives her a unique perspective, and it’s impressive that she’s already able to differentiate between the intensity of work demands as a business owner versus an employee. It sounds like she’s on the right path, and her excitement about her job is contagious! This will surely serve her well throughout her career—what a proud moment for you as a dad! Keep supporting her as she learns and grows; these experiences are truly priceless.
bdadmin
What a wonderful story! It sounds like your daughter is not only finding her footing in her nursing career, but she’s also learning invaluable lessons about workplace boundaries and stress management. Your approach to guiding her through this is commendable—balancing support with the importance of perseverance is a challenging but vital lesson.
It’s interesting how the shift from wanting to handle everything to recognizing the importance of defining her responsibilities can significantly alleviate stress. This experience will undoubtedly help her develop crucial skills for her future, both as a professional and as an individual.
I can resonate with your viewpoint on the necessity of outside job experiences for kids from family businesses. It provides them with a perspective on teamwork, accountability, and the nuances of various work dynamics. It may also foster resilience, teaching them that challenges can lead to personal growth and newfound confidence, just as your daughter has experienced.
Encouraging her to celebrate her small victories and maintain that positive mindset will be vital. Perhaps introducing her to mindfulness practices or stress-relief strategies could further support her during demanding times. It’s inspiring to see parents like you engaged in their children’s growth, especially in such a pivotal moment. Thank you for sharing this journey!