What Family Taught Me About Business: Lessons From Home and Holidays 

Childhood Easters: Chocolate, Church, and Family Chaos

Growing up, holidays like Easter were a big deal in our house, and the way we celebrated back then still makes me smile. Before I turned 12, Easter morning always meant waking up to find our baskets—brimming with chocolate bunnies, malted milk eggs, and a slew of jelly beans (mom was the only one who’d eat the black ones). Sometimes, the baskets were hidden (you had to hunt for them), and there were always the dyed eggs, painstakingly colored in our kitchens with those classic PAAS kits.

But beyond the sugar rush and the hunt, Easter mornings were about togetherness. The whole family—siblings, parents, and sometimes grandparents and cousins—would gather for breakfast, swap stories, and simply be present. We didn’t have much; there was a lot more jellybeans than Starbursts back then, and our baskets were reused every year. Yet, what stands out is the feeling of consistency, reliability, and just plain being there for each other—a theme that would, surprisingly, inform how we handled business together as adults.

Shirley’s Rules for Life and Business

My mom, Shirley, is the undisputed heart and backbone of both our family and businesses. If there’s one thing she instilled in us, it’s that “showing up matters.” Her rules were simple, clear, and non-negotiable—be five minutes early to work, stay until the job’s truly done, and treat every customer and teammate with respect.

As a kid, I heard it so often: “If you’ve got time to lean, you've got time to clean.” The idea was simple—don’t just stand around waiting for something to happen; be proactive and take pride in your space and your work. Shirley’s standards weren’t just words, though. She modeled them every day, doing the books for our car wash, handling hiring for our grocery stores, and knowing almost instinctively who’d make a good staff addition (though, as my sister reminded us, she was a bit too soft-hearted with prospective tenants!).

What I learned from Shirley wasn’t some abstract ideal—it was about showing up with your very best, even when nobody’s watching or when you’d rather be home with family.

Business as a Family Sport

Looking back, the lines between “family” and “business” in our world have always been blurry—in the best way possible. Our childhood Easters, with their ordered chaos and everyone pitching in, felt a lot like launching a new family business. The practical lessons—dividing up duties, communicating openly, and trusting one another’s strengths—translated directly into our entrepreneurial ventures.

If Dad was the gas pedal for bold new ideas, Mom was the brake, protecting us from biting off more than we could chew. It worked because it was a partnership: Dad’s drive, Mom’s pragmatism, everybody contributing according to their strengths. Whether we ran the car wash or the cookie route or managed the grocery store, it was understood—if someone was out sick or the customers needed something after hours, you stepped in and did what had to be done.

And let’s not forget how our parents trusted us early, letting us run the ice cream shop at 12 or 13 years old. It taught responsibility, leadership, and a confidence that’s carried through to every job and company since.

Evolving Lessons, Timeless Values

One of Shirley’s most invaluable pieces of wisdom is her advice to reevaluate your life goals every ten years. At 30, 50, 80—what you want and what you can offer changes. The constant, though, is showing up for each other—family, team, and community.

As our businesses and lives have grown, we’ve built on these early lessons of reliability, kindness, and tenacity. Staff who stuck with us became extended family. Customers weren’t just transactions—they were neighbors. And no matter the decade, those who worked hard, showed up early, and put people first always seemed to make it.

The Heart Behind Success

Whether we’re hiding Easter baskets for our kids or running payroll for a multi-location business, the fundamentals don’t really change. Family comes first, work hard, be there when you’re needed, and treat everyone with the same respect, because sometimes your best hire shows up needing a new coat or shoes—and ends up leaving as family.

If you want to mix family and business successfully, take it from Shirley: Be early, be consistent, and never be too proud to do the dirty work yourself—or to share a chocolate bunny on Easter morning.

—Brian

Make sure to listen to the full episode here!