Building a Family Legacy Through Entrepreneurship: How Parenthood Changed My Approach to Brand Design
This past weekend, myself and my 2-year-old daughter were home sick, something that’s not unfamiliar in a household with a germy toddler. But the time and space to slow down led my mind astray, thinking about how your priorities change when you become a parent.
Before becoming a parent, really since the age of 12, I was enamored by the glitz and glam of working in the fashion and beauty industries. Designing brands, for me, was about building iconic identities and well-known reputations for my clients. It was about helping my clients get on store shelves, catch the attention of press, be worn by the next hottest influencer, and achieve everything they have had on their brand bucket list.
I’m not saying that those accomplishments and desires became less important in the last few years - it’s just become so much deeper than that.
Going Deeper with Our Clients
Recently, I had a discovery call with a father who was leaving his highly respected government job (think CIA, FBI, etc.) to start a clothing brand for girls his daughter’s age with his wife. To him, it’s not about the fashion, the recognition, or reputation within the industry - it’s about building a legacy for his daughters and his family. It’s about allowing his daughters to not only be part of the creative process and experience building something from such a young age, but it’s also about building something as a family that can sustain them into the next chapter of their lives. Something that he and his wife can do together to set an example for their kids - something I’m sure their kids will never forget.
I am a fourth-generation entrepreneur. A fact that I only recently came to know just a few years ago. Before my late grandfather passed, he shared how his father owned a tassle factory in the Garment District of New York City. My grandfather himself owned an envelope business for most of his life, back when corporate companies relied heavily on ‘snail mail.’ My father has owned a contracting business for my entire life. I remember so vividly running around his flip houses in awe of what he was able to do with each one and getting lost in what felt like a mansion to a 10-year-old.
Growing up, I never planned on becoming an entrepreneur - in fact, entrepreneurship fell in my lap in the midst of a huge, unexpected life change (which you can listen to more about on our podcast - If I Hadn’t Said Yes…) But I can’t help thinking that experiencing the freedom, flexibility, creativity, and legacy that my father, and the generations before him were afforded through entrepreneurship had some effect on my belief that I could also step into that role, and create not just a business for myself, but continue writing the story within my family - a story that became so much more important the second I had a child of my own.
The Luxury of Entrepreneurship
Right now, my daughter thinks that my job is to just type on the computer - something she often imitates on her own toy keyboard. But one day, she’ll grow to know everything that her parents’ entrepreneurship has afforded her in her life - not just financially, but through things like the amount of time she’s able to spend with both of her parents, a luxury not all kids have. My daughter will grow up seeing not just her mom & dad’s entrepreneurship journey, but her grandfather’s on both sides - something I will never take for granted and am forever grateful for instilling in my child.
You’re Invited to The Messy Middle
All of that to say, building brands and businesses for my clients has become about so much more than reputation and recognition. When you’re in the messy middle of parenthood, you’re able to be more vulnerable, because there's more at stake. And it’s in that messy middle - where my clients don’t bat an eyelash at my daughter hopping on a work call, or encourage me to end the day early to spend time with her - that true connection happens, from one parent to another, knowing that each is building something far deeper than a brand - but building a legacy for their family.
This is my invitation for you to step into my messy middle, whether you’re currently in a corporate role hoping to build a brand that will allow you to build something meaningful for your family, or if you’ve already made the leap and need a more structured plan to achieve longevity. Let’s build your legacy together.