Family Entrepreneur

Easier Said Than Done

Entrepreneurship of opportunity is the cornerstone of job creation but entrepreneurship of necessity is increasing as structural unemployment deepens in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Seniors need to extend their careers. Youth are having difficulty starting theirs. Many women are looking for more flexible roles to allow for family demands. The most important skill in the 21st century may well be the ability to create your own job. Globalization has placed a premium on flexibility and adaptability. Paramount in the creation of small flexible ventures is the family business, offering advantages such as a built in support network, financial assistance and a dedicated talent pool.  Offsetting these instinctive benefits is a whole series of special considerations tied to the family dynamic.  Like its predecessor, “Everyday Entrepreneur”, this is not a textbook, taking the form of a story, to which most people can relate, while providing an incidental learning experience.

For ten years Mary has managed the office of her brother’s business. During that time two younger brothers have joined the company receiving shares. She has not.  Mary has reached her breaking point when she hears about a developmental seminar series focused on family entrepreneurship. A close friend insists it will help her determine her future.  Plagued by doubts about her ability to change the culture in the family business or succeed outside it, Mary arrives at the first seminar and is confronted by a crusty mentor named Sam who conducts the sessions. The class includes three others. Jeff is considering taking over a family business from his father. Cheryl has a successful company involving her two daughters. Steve has a stormy working relationship with his brother.

The reader experiences the loosely structured seminars as Sam leads all four to decisions about their future. Throughout the narrative, qualities of an entrepreneur operating within the context of a family business are brought out through discussion and a wide range of anecdotes. The lessons provide a solid foundation for those considering a career as an entrepreneur within a family enterprise.

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Praise for Family Entreprenueur

  • “In the age of Twitter, it warms the heart that ‘smallbizpreneurs’ still rule the roost and family business remains the proven formula.”
    Peter C. Newman
    Legendary Canadian journalist and broadcaster
  • “This second book in the series ought to become the bible for every entrepreneur and budding entrepreneur as it is full of very valuable, helpful, and vital advice. Very cleverly written.”
    Frank Weisinger
    Past national president of the Life Insurance Association (UK)
  • “Dawkins provides sage advice for anyone in a family business, emphasising how important it is to face the issues head-on as rationally as you can and not allow emotion to dominate. The valuable insights will guide you no matter where you are on the entrepreneurial time table.”
    Dr. Elizabeth Stone
    Dean of The Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
  • “Author Fred Dawkins has penned another winner with Family Entrepreneur. The third-party narrative style of storytelling allows for a variety of opinions to be put forward while maintaining an entertaining read. Chocked full of real-life scenarios and challenges that face every business, this book will engage all entrepreneurs from every generation, whether in a family business or not.”
    David Wojcik
    Host and executive producer, BiZ TV Canada.
  • “Fred Dawkins sure can tell a story…. With Family Entrepreneur he gives us a great story and a pleasant read. He provides wisdom, comfort, and learning about entrepreneurship from a family enterprise point of view…. If you are part of a family enterprise, heres a chance to learn from Fred, an accomplished family entrepreneur, and make your life much more effective and rewarding.”
    Brendan Calder
    Entrepreneur in residence and adjunct professor, GettingItDone, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
  • “Fred’s book is thought-provoking and highly entertaining while being truly insightful. Readers are challenged on their own beliefs and characteristics regarding entrepreneurship, mentors, career, and family. At times I was laughing and other times intrigued by the business concepts subtlety being offered. It is full of rich ideas on how to develop and maintain an entrepreneurial mindset and how to build a business the right way, avoiding the issues that have caused others to stumble. As a serial entrepreneur and business coach, I highly recommend Fred’s Family Entrepreneur for those in business or thinking about starting one.”
    Bul Simmel
    CEO and founder, Phoenix ONE Sales, Marketing Management + Communications Inc
  • “In his second book, Family Entrepreneur, Fred Dawkins uses the same intimate discussion format that made his first book, Everyday Entrepreneur, so informative and such a great text for seminars.
    Fred’s experiences as a successful family entrepreneur form the basis of real-life discussion for concepts such as funding through leader. ship and the pitfalls and opportunities of personal issues, entitle-ment, rewards, and succession that have special significance in a family setting…. Whether a beginner, well into an entrepreneurial venture, or a professor of business, this book is a must. It’s great stuff.”
    Dr. Freeman McEwen
    Dean emeritus, University of Guelph.
  • “Reading Fred Dawkinss book is like having an experienced business coach who’s already walked down the same road you’re trav-eling, right there with you. While reading this book you’re bound to sigh with relie as he examines all the mildly crazy things we do as family entrepreneurs. (We are not alone!) You’ll raise your eye-brows, smack yourself on the forehead, and underline text reflecting his simple solutions and powerful observations, and you’ll feel a surge of motivation as you put them into play immediately. So accurate are his examples of family business dynamics that you’ll feel such a familiarity you’ll swear he’s been reading your email.
    Written in a storybook format that’s enjoyably easy to read, you’ll want to take this book along with you on your next vacation. I have a hunch it’s going to be a book I return to and recommend on a very regular basis.”
    Sherri J. Griffin
    Training and development professional.
  • “… Focusing on family business and family dynamics, the Family Entrepreneur will give you the courage to tackle your own situa tion. Family relationships are complicated in the best of circum-stances, and running a company means constantly adapting to changing environments. Dawkins provides sage advice for anyone in a family business, emphasizing how important it is to face the issues head-on as rationally as you can and not to allow emotion to dominate the conversation…. The valuable insights will guide you no matter where you are on the entrepreneurial timetable.”
    Dr. Elizabeth A. Stone
    dean, Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).
    University of Guelph.
  • “In the fast-paced age of corporations and global multi-billion dollar industries, Family Entrepreneur is a riveting road map for all read-ers, regardless of their desire to become an entrepreneur…. Effective and cleverly narrated through the eyes of a young female entrepre-neur, Family Entrepreneur showcases the challenges, rewards, and opportunities within life and family business from varying time-lines. It’s easy to find one’s self and relate to the characters throughout the book. It reads like a novel, but is a sneaky and fun way of
    teaching the tools of the trade of family entrepreneurship.”
    Maryam Latifpoor-Keparoutis
    Senior development manager, College of
    Physical & Engineering Science (CPES), University of Guelph.
  • “Utilizing his exemplary storytelling skills, Fred Dawkins has written an excellent book about entrepreneurship in a family setting environment…. He cleverly exposes how frequently family members butt heads during the running of a family business and how difficult it can be to resolve differences among family members. If you’re a small business or entrepreneur working with your family in your business, I would highly recommend that you read Family Entrepreneur. It will provide you with valuable insights on how you might be better able to deal with the challenges in running a ‘family’ business.”
    ‘family’ business.”
    Jeff Sheehan
    author of HIRED!: Paths to Employment in the Social Media Era.
  • “Fred Dawkins does it again with his second book in the Entrepreneurial Edge series. Family Entrepreneur presents us with yet another set of entrepreneurial everymans (and women) amongst whom every reader can find a kindred soul. Learning through these characters feels like private advice shared over coffee with a dear friend. It’s the kind of advice that sticks with you and the kind of book you will return to. As an entrepreneur currently working alongside family, this is a book I will share with everyone on our team, be they related or not.”
    Laura Brodie
    Manager of marketing and communications, Bridgit; second cohort, Creative Destruction Lab, Rotman School of Management,
    University of Toronto.
  • “Fred Dawkins sure can tell a story. I really enjoyed his previous one: Everyday Entrepreneur. Again with Family Entrepreneur he gives us a great story and a pleasant read. He provides wisdom, comfort, and learning about entrepreneurship from a family enterprise point of view. I kept thinking of those I know in that situation that would have benefited from reading it earlier in their life. Fyou are part of a family enterprise, here’s a chance to learn from Fred, an accomplished family entrepreneur, and make your life much more effective and rewarding.”
    Brendan Calder
    Entrepreneur in residence and adjut presc, GettingItDone, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto