Assuming responsibility for the family business—It’s not that simple

Stack of parts waiting to be put on the welding robot.

Much has happened this year that has affected our work. Work and day-to-day life have their ups and downs. As some of you know, I am the boss’s son in a family business. I speak of this often as a double-edged sword. A lot of people ask me if I am ready to take over the business. My simple answer is no.

Over the past few months, our family has overcome a few hurdles. My Grandma Martin broke her hip, and my dad had to leave the shop immediately to fly back home to Michigan. I understood and knew that I could handle the shop for a few days. Around the same time, my dad was complaining about his arm hurting; he felt like he had a pinched nerve. He slowly began losing mobility in his arm, and we told him to go to the doctor

After he returned home from visiting my grandma, he had an MRI and was to meet with a specialist as soon as possible to discuss the results. That following Sunday, my grandma passed away and arrangements were made for the funeral to take place that Thursday. We both ended up traveling up to Michigan for the quick trip. I left a day later so I could hold the fort down at the shop and make sure things were rolling.

After we got back from Michigan, we worked a festival selling our fire pits and other things. We didn’t have much time to breathe with everything happening consecutively. The following week dad met with the doctor and learned that he needed to undergo emergency surgery a couple of days later to repair C4 and C5 vertebrae. He was going to miss another week or more of work, and I likely was going to have to be his chauffeur when he was ready to return to work. “Driving Mr. Daisy” was mentioned a few times.

My dad, aka my boss, missed three to four weeks of work in a short time period. I was thrown into the fire with a few rude awakenings of running a business. I read articles about people taking over businesses at a young age and thriving. I respect that, but every business has a different dynamic.

I learned quite a bit in those few weeks. I also learned that I wish some of this fire training had started several years earlier. A lot of people knew the boss was away from the shop, so they often asked how I was doing. They always said, “I bet you are busier than (several expletives).” I was receiving emails from people that I never get emails from, constantly being asked where their parts were and if they were still going to be delivered on time.

I couldn’t walk through the office without getting asked questions I didn’t know the answer to. A wall of people, questions, and phone calls held me back from doing everything I was supposed to be doing.

Work was busier than ever, and we were on track to nearly double our normal monthly work output. So, as you could imagine, all of these events came together with great timing. I learned that maybe my dad does too much and some things need to be delegated more often. There was no way to train for what I was doing; I had to get thrown in the deep end and learn how to tread water.

A few people reading this probably are laughing at me right now. Maybe they have been in my shoes before, and maybe I should just suck it up and not vent about it. I just know that a lot of businesses out there that are run like ours. You have to wear many hats to succeed.

I talked to my dad about some things I learned and others we needed to improve on. I think he listened, but he still gave typical boss responses to some of my statements.

Laser-cut square holes to accept cage nuts.

He was getting coffee one morning after he was back to work, and I said “This place is still here isn’t it?” He replied, “Yeah, but y’all still made a bunch of the same damn mistakes.” I thought he was trying to be funny, but he wasn’t.

No matter what you do, when you work for your father, you should have done it a little bit different, because it will never be his way—the right way. Dad needs to take a little time off every now and then so that I can learn more. He may also learn more about where our business can improve and reflect on what he needs to focus on.

The biggest thing I learned during these tough times is never take your family for granted. They may be gone with the blink of an eye, and you may wish you had asked them a few more questions or, most important in a family business, that you had learned the ins and outs of what it takes to succeed. I know I have a lot more to learn if I am ever in control of the reins. On the other hand, I am looking forward to the adventure leading up to it.

All images courtesy of Barnes MetalCrafters Inc.