Entrepreneurship, for Ghanaian business mogul Dr. Daniel McKorley, is not just a personal pursuit of profit or growth, but rather it’s a way of life deeply intertwined with family.
In a heartfelt reflection on social media, the founder and CEO of the McDan Group shared how his journey as an entrepreneur has also become a hands-on classroom for his children, teaching them lessons no textbook could offer.
The renowned business mogul says one of the greatest privileges of being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to shape not only his own future, but also the environment in which his children grow up.
He maintains that the idea that business and family must operate in separate worlds is a myth. To him, both can, and should, coexist.
Children as Active Participants, Not Bystanders
Dr. McKorley revealed that his children have been part of his entrepreneurial journey from a very young age. He further revealed that his children have been attending board meetings, investment discussions, and even international business conferences. Far from being mere spectators, they actively engage with what they see and hear.
“I ask for their opinions. I encourage them to challenge my thinking,” he noted. “Sometimes their ideas are simple, sometimes wildly ambitious, but they are always honest.”
He notes that the children possess fresh, fearless perspectives that adults often lose along the way. They haven’t yet built the mental walls of doubt, fear, or self-censorship, and that makes their ideas invaluable.
A Different Kind of Education
The boardroom, he says, can be just as important a classroom as the traditional school room. The business magnate maintains that allowing children to observe and participate in decision-making teaches them lessons in resilience, leadership, and balance.
These qualities no textbook can fully instill. They learn resilience by seeing it, they learn leadership by practicing it, and they learn balance by experiencing it firsthand.
He believes that involving children early in real-life business experiences nurtures confidence, emotional intelligence, and a sense of belonging. These are qualities that can prepare them for any path they eventually choose.
“For me, raising my children while running businesses has never been about “juggling” two separate worlds; it’s about blending them. My children are not an interruption to my business journey; they’re part of it. They learn resilience by seeing it, they learn leadership by practicing it, and they learn balance by experiencing it firsthand,” he noted.
Building Confidence Beyond the Balance Sheet
The businessman is convinced that the goal of parenting goes beyond financial security or academic success. True success, he argues, is raising children who believe in their own voice and have the confidence to express it in any room.
He adds that the best gift entrepreneurs can give our kids is confidence in their own voice. Whether they become entrepreneurs, leaders, or pursue other paths, he says they’ll carry with them the belief that their ideas matter.
“I believe the best gift we can give our kids is not just financial security or education, but confidence in their own voice. Whether they become entrepreneurs, leaders, or pursue entirely different paths, they’ll carry with them the belief that their ideas matter and that they belong in any room,” he noted.
The Lesson for Entrepreneurs
Dr. McKorley insists that this is a call to action for entrepreneurs everywhere. By bringing their children into the world of business early, parents can demystify entrepreneurship and turn it from something intimidating into something inspiring.
In an age where the next generation must navigate uncertainty, the greatest legacy an entrepreneur can leave isn’t only a thriving company, it’s confident, grounded children who believe they, too, can shape the future.
