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Give Your Kids the Biz — Of Their Own, That Is

By Bryan Tutt




Most parents want their children to have the initiative, intelligence, and leadership skills it takes to run a business or succeed in a career. But how can parents teach children these intangible traits? Bob and Kim Gollick of Denver, CO may have a good answer. They have two daughters, Melissa and Mallory, who are in business for themselves.

It Comes Naturally Bob and Kim Gollick didn’t go out of their way to teach their daughters to be entrepreneurs, but they did set a good example. Both parents own their own businesses. Kim, a registered dietician, owns a nutrition consulting business. Bob is a real estate consultant. While they are very proud of their daughters’ accomplishments, they do not take any of the credit. Both girls got the inspiration to go into business on their own — all Bob and Kim did was supply advice and encouragement.

Mallory Gollick,  Mallory Gollick's Jungle Beans

At a young age, Melissa started using her father’s graphics software for fun. One day she overheard one of her father’s clients mention a need for a property location map. Melissa offered to create the map on her computer, and he became her first client. By doing top-quality work, she has now developed a loyal clientele that counts on her to do all their map work.

Mallory got the idea for her coffee business while the family was on vacation in Costa Rica. When she visited a coffee shop and learned that the owners were also from Denver, she decided there might be a market for gourmet coffee among families in her neighborhood. She brought home 20 kilos and advertised by printed flyers and word-of-mouth. It wasn’t instant coffee — it was instant success!

Support, Advice, Permission to Fail
Going into business at such a young age, the girls often turned to their parents for advice. “I was just nine years old, so I didn’t know much about running a business. I needed a lot of guidance,” Melissa explains. “Since they both run their own businesses, they were very helpful.”

Kim and Bob also encouraged the girls to pursue their business ideas. “Don’t tell your kids their ideas won’t work,” Bob advises. “Let them try it. If it fails, it fails.”

Support from their parents has helped Melissa and Mallory succeed in other areas as well. They both play volleyball and lacrosse, and Mallory is on the school swim team as well.

What lessons can parents learn from the Gollick family? Parents who want their children to succeed in business (or in other endeavors) should set a good example and be available to offer advice and support. Most of all, parents should encourage their kids to pursue their dreams. As Bob says, “The only thing they’re investing is their time.”