Hide and Seek
mtan@theguidon.com
Having been exposed to the family business at an early age, it was almost always understood that I, together with my brothers, would handle the company on our own after we were through with studying. Growing up, relatives would often reiterate that I was lucky enough to have an automatic job I could land in immediately after graduation: COO, Child Of Owner.
It was definitely a pleasing offer–imagine not having to be so scared of being rejected by potential employers, since getting into our business would make me a definite shoo-in anyway. However, it had me thinking otherwise at all costs. Although I loved helping out my parents in any way I could, there were just too many other opportunities not to pass up, and other areas where I feel I could learn more from.
Other than the fact that the kind of job I am looking for is something that can only be found outside my family’s line of work, I believe that the true experiences of independence and discipline may only be achieved when working outside the boundaries of familiarity.
While it does not directly suggest such, I feel that serving one’s family business straight after college, and it being one’s first job, is a form of apathy. Despite the presence of company policies which are required on every other employee, there is always the exception to the rule–in this case, the owner and his family members working in the same company. In the absence of time cards lie practices that one can easily get away with, such as prolonged lunch breaks, late mornings, and the extended “vacation leaves.”
No matter how strict the rules may be set, there is always room for veering away from certain company policies that the privileged one may get away with. If not, then special treatment from regular employees will still prevail, even if structurally speaking, the owner’s position is just at par or even inferior to the one who is treating him like a king. At the end of the day, there is a clear form of disparity, one that does not promote learning from scratch. Rising up from the ranks is not on the list as well, since automatic promotion is achieved upon entry to the organization.
I have plans to help out in the family business in the future, yet I feel that there is still so much more to learn from the “outside world.” Ironically, I believe that the training I will receive from external forces will turn me into a better worker who can follow and lead well enough to consider myself worthy of being in our own business. I would rather situate myself in a place where no one knows of my background, and thereafter be treated like any other normal employee would be.
These days, the option “to have it the easier way” is offered to us in more ways than one. When faced with decisions, we are often caught up with choosing the faster alternative, without thinking twice about the consequences or possibilities it can bring about. The longer route may as well be tougher, yet it gives us the option to learn more given the length of time it would take. Would things be better for me if I take the shorter route, that is, immediately venturing into the family business? I guess I’d rather take the longer road, get the real feel of the boss-employee relationship, and hopefully learn as much from it.
