Meet Jill and Michael and see how intrapreneurship fits into their family business.
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Intrapreneurship in Enterprising Families |
Meet Jill and Michael and see how intrapreneurship fits into their family business.
Ross
It’s great, I just wanted to let you know that we had a really good week and, yeah, I’m glad you came by.
Michael
Sure, congratulations. Hey, there’s my daughter! Speak to you later.
Jill
Hey, see you later. Hi Dad.
Michael
Hi sweetheart, good to see you around the place. It’s been a little while.
Jill
Yeah, I know, it has.
Michael
Jill. Can I bring up something that's been on my mind?
Jill
Yeah, sure, shoot.
Michael
You know the whole family's delighted you've been working summers with us in this place. It's been great. But I'm not sensing the same enthusiasm from you anymore. You’re not banging down our doors to come work with us. Am I imagining things? Or is an automobile dealership not really your thing?
Jill
You want me to be honest? No. Look, I'm so proud of what the family's achieved, I think we’ve done very well. But I always heard that a great salesman has to believe in her product - I can't really sell cars. I think they're bad for us all.
Michael
Fair enough. I dislike pollution and traffic as much as the next guy. But this is our business. And it's a good one.
But what about the whole idea of being in business, maybe starting one of your own. Does that appeal to you?
Jill
Absolutely, I’d love to. I went to business school after all - and I did very well, as you remember. But, I’m not into OUR business. I’m so sorry Dad, but my heart's just not here.
Director
So Jill, you're sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Don't want to stay, don't want to leave.
Jill
It's crazy - I want to be in business and I love my family. You'd think it's a no-brainer.
But I don’t want to be in the car business. For one thing the whole business's been around forever, I don't really see a place for me. I'm young, I've got ideas. I ride a bike. If I would buy a car it'll be an electric one. It’s not a good fit.
The only thing is ... and I’m not sure I should mention it .. But a guy from work, we’ve been talking for a long time about doing something different, something innovative in the company. But, we’ll leave it there. We haven’t talked to anybody yet. So, we’ll see.
Director
Michael, what did you think about your daughter's comment? She's into business, she’s into your family, but she’s not into your family's business.
Michael
There’s got to be a way of keeping my daughter in the family business. Look, it's more than just money or cars. Our business is part of our community - it's got our name – it’s got HER name on it. And, you know, she's an entrepreneur, I feel it in my bones. We need her energy - her generations’ ideas. Otherwise we're simply not going to stay a family business for very long.
Is it a problem? Yes. But I'm looking for solutions. I’m just not ready to let her go.
