Your Kids Are Horrible Business Partners, But Incredible Advisors

Feb 8

For a children’s book, at least

5 min read

I recently took one of the silly stories I told my kids and turned it into a children’s book called CinderToot. I used the writing, publishing, and marketing of CinderToot to teach my four young kids about starting a business, being an entrepreneur, and executing an idea.

My dream was to work with my young kids in every phase of the process. My oldest is 10 years old, and the youngest is 3. However, while writing and creating the book, I realized that my kids are horrible business partners. Here’s why.

Horrible Business Partners

1. No follow-through

No matter how many times I remind them, they never follow through on what needs to be done. I had to do everything: write every draft, contact advisors, hire an editor, work with the editor, hire an illustrator, proof the layout, and all the marketing. Even when I asked for help, they flaked out on me.

2. Unrealistic expectations about money

No one wants to be in business with a partner who is unrealistic about the success of the project. At the beginning of the project, I told the kids that we were going to give away a percentage of any money that we made to a local charity. That question immediately led to the logical follow-up question — what were we going to do with the rest of the money?

First, one kid wanted to get another house. Then, the others wanted to go to Disney World. The Lego Death Star was mentioned. A zoo animal may also have been discussed in the excitement.

I calmly said that we would decide together on what to do, but saving for college seemed like a better solution. Actually, recouping all the money I already spent seemed like the best solution. Then maybe working on another book. It’s tough to be in business with people who don’t have realistic expectations about money.

3. None of them can type (well)

If you’re the only one who can type in a partnership, you will do all the typing. And the writing. And pretty much everything else. That was me.

Incredible Advisors

Even though my kids were horrible business partners, they ended up being the best advisors any children’s book author could have.

Kids are hilarious

My two oldest children were the first audience for CinderToot. It started as a funny bedtime story. The kids laughed so much they demanded to hear the story the next night. The demands continued for months. My kids loved the story so much they came up with their own versions. They dreamed up hilarious smells for the book, some of which ended up in the actual book.

The super fun “toot” montage from CinderToot, illustrations by Kate Cosgrove (inspired by late-night jokes with my kids)

My own kids were the test market for CinderToot. Just like any great advisor, they showed me what kids would find funny.

Fun and memories

No one had as much fun as I did writing a book this past year. Our family created so many memories it has become hard to remember them all.

When I read the kids new drafts of CinderToot, they noticed changes as small as a single word. When I asked about who should illustrate the book, we looked through our favorite books and had so much fun scrutinizing illustrators. Before we hired an illustrator, my kids made their own drawings — which will be saved forever.

One day during lunch I tried to teach my kids about marketing. I told them that we needed a sequel that we could release in case people really loved CinderToot. So we spent an hour retelling all the stories that we made up over the years. We went over a dozen or so. But one of my daughters reminded us all of one story that I had only told once. I had forgotten about it. But it is hilarious. Don’t worry — it’s coming out soon. My daughter wanted to share a story that I didn’t even remember. She was exactly right, though. It’s one of the best.

There were countless fits of laughter and silliness when reading the story, deciding on the best version, trying to create our own concoction, having our own inside jokes, and loving every story of other families who are laughing together. It’s all priceless.

The best advisors for CinderToot are the four kids who loved the story before anyone else.

The Lessons

In our house, we link every project to helping other people. The ultimate lesson of CinderToot, for my family, is that being creative isn’t enough. Your creation must help other people. Making people laugh is good, but serving others through our work makes the work great.

That’s why we’re giving away a percentage of any money that we make — straight off the top — to a local charity that helps kids. Not just any kids though. The kids have to be the same age as my own kids. And I’m not going to just write a check, either. We’re giving together. I want my kids to experience what it means to give. I want them to understand that with success comes responsibility.

We’re going to decide together who to serve. The kids are advisors, after all.

I Wasn’t Looking for Partners

Of course, I wasn’t looking for partners. Not yet, at least. I wanted to spend more time with my children and do it in a way that allowed me to teach them. I didn’t want to be the parent who says “do something great” but then tries nothing himself. I wanted to show my kids what entrepreneurship and execution looks like.

You might be wondering if it was worth it. You might wonder if I would do it again. When we received the first printed copy of CinderToot, I saw my daughter Ella open up the book and start reading. The main character shared her name, so she had a special connection to the book. She turned to the dedication page, and I heard her read it aloud carefully.

For Maxwell, Ella, Esme, and Jemma,
Who heard this story a hundred times,
And begged me to share it with you

She didn’t know I was watching her read. When she saw her own name in the dedication, she beamed. “I’m in the book?” she said. I’ll never forget that smile. She was so proud. She asked if she could give her elementary teacher a copy. Of course, I said.

Yes, I would do it again. And yes, I chose the best advisors.

Check out www.CinderToot.com for free updates and fun. :)

John Mashni