Leaving the corporate world for the family business
What's it like walking away from a corporate job to help out in the family business? Athena Han shares her insights into how to balance between working with the family and pursuing her passion.
There are many stories of family businesses that fade into the sunset because there’s no one to take over. On the other hand, many young people do decide to follow in their parent’s footsteps and join the family trade.
I spoke to Athena Han to understand more about why she left her corporate job to go into the family business, how it’s different from working “outside”, and how she juggles between this and pursuing her passion.
Q. You’re currently helping out in your family business. Could you share a bit more about what you’re doing?
We are in the motor vehicle industry doing all kinds of vehicle repairs and body works. My responsibilities are mainly in administrative work. I am in my eleventh year with the family business.
Q. You didn’t go into the family business immediately after graduating. What did you do at first and for how long?
After graduating, I’d been working for an IT distribution firm, also in sales administration managing a small admin department. I stayed for a good 14 years.
Q. How did you arrive at the decision to leave your job and go into the family business? Was it a difficult choice?
Whilst I was happy for the company to have grown bigger and better throughout the years, the environment had also, unfortunately, grown toxic. It was moving towards a ‘bullying’ culture of sorts. And I really wanted to have more time and freedom to enjoy things I really enjoy doing, away from the hellish long hours all year.
It was a rather difficult decision for me as it meant moving out of my comfort zone and into a completely different industry that I was unfamiliar with, even though I grew up knowing what my family’s business was about.
Q. How different was it to work in the family business? Did you have challenges adjusting at first?
I don’t think that there was a significant difference between working ‘outside’ and working for the family. At the end of the day, we are all trying to make a living. However, to differentiate between debating as a family member or as a colleague/employee was something that I had to get accustomed to.
For example, you get home, and your boss, who can be your dad/mom/brother/sister, starts discussing something about work. Do you speak your mind as an employee or as a family member giving advice?
Q. How did you draw the line between home and work then? Any tips for others who’re working together with friends and family?
I try not to talk about work after work hours to my family. It’s a bit tough. If I have to (talk about work after hours), I’ll throw in some other funny stuff that happened at work to end the conversation so that the conversation will end in a better way and we go to sleep not having any leftover bad thoughts.
I try not to talk about work after work hours to my family...If I have to (talk about work after hours), I’ll throw in some other funny stuff that happened at work to end the conversation so that the conversation will end in a better way and we go to sleep not having any leftover bad thoughts.
Q. Did you have specific career dreams when you were younger? How did that change with time and did the fact that there was a family business waiting to be continued influence how your career aspirations may have changed?
I’ve always been the crafty kind of person since when I was young. Hence, I’ve always wanted to be able to do something related to what I love. It didn’t veer much away from this, even up till now. But I didn’t have the luxury to pursue my passion in my previous job due to the time limitations. I was unable to explore that aspect of my life.
Now that I have more flexibility with my time, I can finally start a little of what I had aspired to do. Hence, despite the responsibilities of continuing the business, I believe that there’s a glimpse of hope that I can possibly retire doing what I love.
Q. How’re you juggling your main job and your passion project today? Do you think you’ll ever go full-time into a craft-related business?
I can only work on my passion after working hours but because it’s a passion, it’s also a stress reliever, which kind of balances everything in the long run. Of course, I don’t force myself to work on my passion if I am feeling too tired.
This brings me to my next point. I don’t think I can fully go into a craft-related business unless I have retired. The craft community in my country is small and niche. The mindset of people here isn’t wired to appreciate handmade items and hence they aren’t able to fully comprehend the value of a handmade item. So pricing has always fallen into a conundrum. And so, I don’t think I can survive on my passion full-time.
Q. Do you miss working outside of the family business? Why?
I miss being able to meet people like I was able to when I worked outside of my family business but I am also tired of having to entertain colleagues and superiors and forcing myself to fit into cliques.
Then again, I am not a social butterfly to start with. And the ugly side of people I had seen made me thankful I was able to leave all that without turning into one of those people that I hated working with. I was thankful I left before I succumbed to the toxicity.
I miss being able to meet people like I was able to when I worked outside of my family business but I am also tired of having to entertain colleagues and superiors and forcing myself to fit into cliques.
Many thanks to Athena for taking time to share her story! You can check out her lovely handcrafted items on Instagram @miyabicritters