simultaneous – одновременный;

to exert – напрягать (силы), оказывать влияние;

diligence – прилежание, усердие старание;

to counsel – давать совет, рекомендовать;

to perplex – ставить в тупик, запутывать, усложнять;

integral – неотъемлемый, существенный, целый;

to eclipse – затмевать, заслонять;

to dissipate – расточать, растрачивать (время, силы);

zest – интерес, энергия, живость;

strain – напряжение;

collaboration – сотрудничество, совместная работа;

to groom for – готовить к определенной деятельности, карьере;

aptitude – склонность, пригодность, способности;

bent – склонность, наклонность;

aspiration – стремление, сильное желание (достичь ч. –л.)

mould (AmE mold) – форма, лекало, шаблон; характер;

self-esteem – чувство собственного достоинства, самоуважение;

on one’s own – самостоятельно, по собственной инициативе.

Mom or Dad, the Founder

A common figure in family businesses is the man or woman who founded the firm and plans to pass it on to a son or a daughter. In most cases, the business and the family grow simultaneously. Some founders achieve a delicate balance between their business and family responsibilities. Others must exert great diligence to squeeze out time for weekends and vacations with the children.

Entrepreneurs who have children typically think in terms of passing the business on to the next generation. Parental concerns involved in this process include the following:

– Does my son or daughter possess the temperament and ability necessary for business leadership?

– How can I, the founder, motivate my son or daughter to take an interest in the business?

– What type of education and experience will be most helpful in preparing my son or daughter for leadership?

– What timetable should I follow in employing and promoting my son or daughter?

– How can I avoid favoritism in managing and developing my son or daughter?

– How can I prevent the business relationship from damaging or destroying the parent-child relationship?

Of all the relationships in a family business, the parent-child relationship has been the most troublesome. The problem has been recognized informally for generations. In more recent years, counseling has developed, seminars have been created, and books have been written about such relationships. In spite of this extensive attention, however, the parentchild relationship continues to perplex numerous families involved in family businesses.

Couples in Business

Some family businesses are owned and managed by husband-wife teams. Their roles may vary depending on their backgrounds and expertise. In some cases, the husband serves as general manager and the wife runs the office. In other cases, the wife functions as operations manager and the husband keeps the books. Whatever the arrangement, both parties are an integral part of the business.

A potential advantage of the husband-wife team is the opportunity it affords a couple to share more of their lives. For some couples, however, the potential benefits become eclipsed by problems related to the business. Differences of opinion about business matters may carry over into family life. And the energies of both parties may be so dissipated by their work in a struggling company that little zest remains for a strong family life.

Adele Bihn and Murray P. Heinrich of San Jose, California have experienced both the joys and strains of working together as business partners. After 12 years of marriage and collaboration in their business, Data Marketing, Inc., they are described as "still blissfully happy." Adele, mother of their four children, owns 50 percent of the company and serves as president. Murray owns the other 50 percent and heads up product research. To maintain their happiness, they must deal with strains imposed by the business. They have worked together to resolve these pressures by using a variety of methods, including semiannual visits with a marriage counselor, annual away-fromwork business strategy sessions, Saturday morning breakfast dates without the children, and annual separate vacations. Their experience shows that entrepreneurial couples can maintain good marriages, but it also shows that such couples must devote special effort to both business and family concerns.