Bring Your Kids to Work [Any] Day

We celebrate bringing our kids to work. But what is even better about being a niche-industry hidden champion is when I can bring my kids to work – for life. Not just a day.

My dad brought me to work.

He introduced me to the clients.

Now, I do the same.

I take my 2 sons to business conferences. The way we do it in my family is I take one boy on a business trip, and alternate to the other boy on the next business trip. This way they each get to see different parts of the country and hear different speakers.

Most recently I took them on a trip to Germany to visit the home of the Mittelstand and this is where the real power of family business exists. High quality work, incremental changes over long periods of time, owned by the same family. That is a pretty cool thing to be invited into!

Verne Harnish posing with the Schramm family for a photo at the Scaling Up Conference in Dallas Texas 2022

It is the sign of committed man or womanwhen you take your kids to work. People might look down their long noses when you bring a youngster to work. Just do it, and you will all be glad you did.

What happens when I take my child to work?

Fact- most folks enjoy seeing the youngsters around, especially if they are interested, make eye contact and are polite. Most of my customers give a warm welcome to the boys and tell them stories of the war, or thier lives or their business. That is probably better for my boys to hear those real world stories and advice than to sit through an hour of algebra.

Here we are in Switzerland with a third geneartion business owners getting a tour of a Swiss foundry.

Our boys in a cast iron foundry facility in Switzerland. They received an appreciation for Swiss craftsmanship and the powerful process of melting steel into sand castings. And the tour was given by a 3rd generation business owner.

I believe that I pass down to my kids WHO I am when I take them to work. Actions speak louder than words. I share with our kids things about business and personal life, how to interact and not interact. And thus, by simply being present, they learn a trade, a culture, a way of doing things. Just by bringing them to work. I make space for them to participate. There is nearly always something a youngster can do in an office, or a blue collar workspace- from cleaning up trash to washing windows, organizing an un-used desk, sorting papers. There are vans to clean, tools to clean, floors to mop, flyers and brochures to adjust and discard old ones, labeling rarely used contents of boxes… and so forth.

Bring Your Kids to Work Day

What things can you imagine your youngster doing at your office?
I believe that financial planners have things to teach their sons and daughters. I believe computer programmers have space in their work for their offspring. And most easily seen are the service sectors- the electricians, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, concrete finishers, chimney sweeps, and retail store owners. So much to do, so much to learn, and so much to share.

Post your ideas in the thoughts below on bringing your kids to work day.

Byron and his two sons meet an innovator in the UK at a London hotel and hear the pitch.

I would love to hear what you will do with your son or daughter at work! Please include your occupation or training as well so we can benefit from your insights!