It is much more difficult to prove yourself to an expectant audience who also happen to be your parents. Also, it can get exasperating that your home environment is the same as that in your office: no issue can be closed and deferred to the next day once the clock hits 5 o’clock and all other previous engagements have to be forgone for work. But these are petty inconveniences that are paid off by the advantages and the privilege of handling your family’s business. I like how my schedule is flexible and knowing that once I have a family of my own, I won’t have to count the number of allowed leaves of absence and strictly schedule my time with my kids. I also love that I’m in such a challenging and diverse field. My love for learning cannot possibly be exhausted.

But being a woman is still a disadvantage in the industry I’m in. Currently male-dominated, it is quite hard to be taken seriously, much more considered credible. But in little steps, I’m working hard to overcome these issues. It also helps that the local environment now is much more empowered and that women are establishing themselves in corporate and professional arenas, as men are humbly giving way. Although discrimination still ensues, it is more industry-specific

It remains that an enterprise is a creation of the 1st generation and obligation by the 2nd generation entrepreneurs is borne out of respect and awe at what had been established. But passion can also be discovered in many other ways. My own curiosity and interest has led me to respect my father’s profession and I am taking it as a challenge to overcome all technical drawbacks.

My advice for those being coerced (as is the usual case) to join the family business: Consider the possibilities and the alternatives. It’s not necessary to weigh pros and cons but try to picture where you gladly see yourself in the future. But do remember to think first of the possibilities, because here you can also think of alternatives you can pursue later on. Being obliged to carry on with your parent’s business is not as easy as acquiring an active checkbook, you have to pour your heart and soul into it. Being entrepreneurs, the work doesn’t stop at all, sometimes it goes on for days with very few sleep and you have to be ready and willing, without a trace of annoyance. Make sure to start very low into the corporate ladder, as this is the best way to ease yourself into the business. By eagerly doing the most simple of tasks, you get the employees respect by proving yourself available as well as capable. For smaller and growing businesses, you might even be forced a number of designations, as I have, and here you’ll find that there’s no limit to your work load and you just have to be exactly what they need at the time, even just to prove yourself competent.

With the strain and challenges involved, being a second generation entrepreneur is not a simple matter of privilege but an issue of responsibility. It is not the faith of all the sons and daughters of entrepreneurs, but it is the honor given to those who prove themselves worthy.

About the Author:
Caren Resurreccion is the Asst. Vice President for Finance and the Treasurer of Maxitech Manufacturing, Inc. & CRML Enterprises, Inc. She has a Master in Entrepreneurship degree from the Asian Institute of Management and is currently studying to get a LET Diploma in Lighting in London.

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