Mixing Family and Business

Learning by Example: The Value of Work Ethic in Family Businesses

Brian Hahn

Published on: 09/12/2025

How our family’s journey in entrepreneurship taught us work ethic, responsibility, and the importance of letting kids earn their place. In this week's blog post, I’m digging into the real-life lessons our family learned from running multiple businesses together. Drawing from our recent podcast discussion with Tom, Shirley, and Kim, I’ll share stories about growing up in busy households, working in family-owned stores and restaurants, and teaching kids how to be responsible adults. Whether you’re considering involving your children in your business, want to understand the value of a strong work ethic, or just love real family stories, these insights might help you shape your own family's journey in entrepreneurship.

Mixing Family and Business

Navigating the Best and Worst Advice We Ever Got

Brian Hahn

Published on: 02/12/2025

In this episode, I sat down with Shirley, Kim, and Tom to peel back the layers of our early school days and the ways advice, good and bad, has shaped our lives and businesses. From cramped school buses in rural Iowa to the kitchen tables where pivotal business decisions were made, these stories highlight just how much our upbringing informs our approach to problem-solving and dealing with uncertainty. Here, I’ll dig deeper into those themes, sharing some personal reflections and expanding on approaches to seeking (and filtering) advice that have worked for me.

Mixing Family and Business

Lessons from the Trenches: Real Advice for Mixing Family and Business

Brian Hahn

Published on: 25/11/2025

On episode 66 of the “Mixing Family and Business” podcast, I sat down with Tom, Kim, and Shirley to reflect on what we’ve learned from running businesses as a family, often more than one at a time. From the bold decisions of our younger days to the hard-won insights gained through mistakes, we pulled back the curtain on our own journeys. Here, I share a deeper dive into our conversation, focusing on what we’d tell our younger selves, smart investing, dealing with setbacks, and how to decide when to take the plunge.

Mixing Family and Business

Lessons from the Family Table: How Communication, Competition, and Curiosity Shape Our Family Businesses

Brian Hahn

Published on: 18/11/2025

Every family business faces crossroads, moments where honesty, adaptability, and teamwork are put to the test. In this blog, I break down the most impactful lessons we’ve learned about communication, learning from competitors, and staying curious. Our stories come straight from the heart of our multi-generational team, and I hope they spark ideas (and reassurance) for fellow business owners navigating their own journeys.

Mixing Family and Business