LesSONS Learned by Working with my Logical Son

“Mom, keep it simple, enough with decorating the job tickets!@#$% You are wasting time!”

So, it comes down to this between my first-born son, Jason, and my creative leanings. He just doesn’t get me. He certainly doesn’t appreciate me! Can’t he just lighten up?

I silently pout and continue decorating the job tickets I’m making for our mailing business. Each new project gets a folder assigned and I’m numbering them. 10205. 10206. 10207. I’m compelled to spice it up a bit and use different colored markers, fancy numbers, anything to keep the boring-ness of office work at bay!

I didn’t aspire to own a business. I married into it. My degree is in journalism. I am a writer at heart. When you join a small business, it comes with the demands of pitching in when and where needed. Sure, I got to do the marketing, which is actually how I met my second husband; but for the next decade I also did the everyday office work — because that’s where I was needed. Invoicing…accounting…record keeping…Oh, my! Invoicing….accounting…record keeping…How dry! I made my own way with the A to Z of office work, utilizing creative paths to get there.

Jason, my oldest son from my first union, joined us as a machine operator and advanced to sales. The business continued. The marriage didn’t. The ex retired. Jason’s work ethic and natural business acumen made him the perfect partner for me; but what about me being his perfect partner? I wish I could say I was Jason’s Denise Illitch or Ivanka Trump. Oh, dear, that would make him the parent and me, the child …

I s-l-o-w-l-y began to realize his frustration was (gasp) warranted. Truth be told, it was time for me to listen to my logical son and recognize that it wasn’t about me and my stifled creativity. It was about building a successful business together.

It helped to understand that I use the right side of my brain, not the more logical left side. Right-brained individuals prefer to use their intuition. We know the answer, but not necessarily how we got to that answer. We tend to skip over steps, or combine them in our minds, without giving any thought to the fact that we are doing so. We right-brained people make sure it feels right.

On the other hand, left-brained people prefer logic. They look at something, examine it, and follow it to its natural conclusion. They take each problem step-by-step until it’s complete. They prefer their answers to be derived in a linear, sequential, and logical way. Obviously, Jason is a left-brained person with a Donald Trump gene!

Business is business. It’s not warm and fuzzy. It’s hard work, punctuated with a need for strong, professional leadership. The lights came on just in time for the challenges presented by the economy. I am following in my son’s footsteps these days and have little time for glitter and scented markers. Now the weekends, that’s another story.

Janice Will, President, Main Office Mailers, 41113 Koppernick, Canton

Ready to start a mailing project?  Call MOM First!

Phone: 734-455-9810 ~