^{As a family business advisor, I have a unique background that provides an opportunity to influence and relate to family members of the next generation. I grew up in a pastor’s home, and believe me; I understand the life, stress, privileges, and pressures of growing up under a microscope. I know firsthand what it’s like to be watched and judged (which is never deserved) by anyone who even had a remote idea of my family background. I’m reminded of the words of a client’s son,}

^{“I just want to be my own person without everything I do being scrutinized. I want to be able to go fishing without everybody knowing where I am.  I want to be able to go on a date without everybody thinking I’m living an immoral lifestyle. Man, I can’t even go to the bathroom without everybody knowing it.”}

^{As the child of a family business owner, you undoubtedly live in a fishbowl. The good things you do are  seen as standard protocol and often overlooked and  the bad things you do, are  magnified way out of proportion. It is a reality that is not fair, but it is what it is. So what do you do?  The first step to surviving the fishbowl is – Acknowledging the reality - you live under a microscope. Acknowledging “your reality” will help you determine whether you have what it takes to rise to the challenge of maximizing your privileges and minimizing the pressures. Ask yourself,}

<sup>* Is it okay with you that the bar for your performance in the business is artificially higher than it is for everyone else? 
* Is it comfortable for you to realize that your life and behavior outside of work will be more scrutinized than your behavior at work? 
* Can you accept that your behavior, like it or not, will be seen by others as a direct reflection on your parents? 
* Can you accept that your behavior should never be an embarrassment to your family or reflect negatively on the family business?</sup>

^{If you can answer in the affirmative to these questions, you may have the character and intestinal fortitude to deal with the challenges of working in the family business.  These questions don’t suggest that you must be perfect, after all you are human therefore, imperfect like the rest of us.  Having the character to deal with the negative perception of outsiders, no matter what good you do or if they should have a voice or not, is essential to being able to survive the fishbowl.}

Check out my next post titled - "Surviving the Fishbowl - Find Out What Makes You Tick"