Entrepreneurship vs. College: Guiding Kids to Find Their Path

In this episode of Rollin' with the Dolans, Patrick and Tamekia delve into a thought-provoking conversation about guiding their kids through life’s major crossroads—entrepreneurship, college, military service, and beyond. With a focus on their younger teens, they share personal stories about instilling self-motivation, exploring diverse career paths, and balancing constructive feedback with leading by example. They discuss the importance of exposing kids to real-world opportunities, sharing both the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship and education.

Tune in to hear how they navigate parenting in a blended family while fostering independence, dedication, and passion in their children’s unique journeys.

#RollinWithTheDolans #ParentingTeens #Entrepreneurship #BlendedFamily #CollegeDecisions #TeenMotivation #RealTalk #ParentingJourney #MilitaryPath #ConstructiveCriticism #MultiracialCouple #HappilyMarried

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Transcript

Welcome to Rollin' with the Dolans.
I'm Patrick Dolan.
And I'm Tamekia Dolan.

Our podcast focuses on the joys and challenges of blending families, our interracial marriage, parenting children of multiple ages, and the journey of entrepreneurship. We share our daily life experiences with a positive but real perspective.

One of the things we've been talking about is the journey of entrepreneurship and how we share that with our kids.

Patrick: A question I get a lot from clients is: Are your kids going to college? What happens if they want to be entrepreneurs? Do you push them towards it or away from it?

Tamekia: So, where do you want to start? Should we outline all the kids? We’ve probably done that before, but as a reminder, we have seven, right?

Patrick: Yeah. And I guess we can focus on the 12, 14, 14, and 16-year-olds right now.

Tamekia: Yeah.

Patrick: Since I became an entrepreneur, I’ve always tried to involve the kids. As soon as they could walk, I would show them what I was doing—product development, service planning, and conversations with manufacturers—just to give them exposure. That has set the stage for what we’re doing recently.

Tamekia: Elaborate on that a little bit more.

Patrick: One example is when I made products in China. I involved them in a video conference with the manufacturer. They were about six and eight years old. They saw and communicated with the team overseas, demoed a product, and then saw it brought to life. That kind of exposure helps them understand the process.

Tamekia: So, do you think it’s a good idea to push kids toward entrepreneurship or the traditional college route?

Patrick: I think it’s about letting them find their own path. Right now, we have a 7th grader, 8th grader, 9th grader, and 10th grader. The older kids have a sense of direction—college, military, entrepreneurship—but we focus on helping the younger ones figure out what feels right for them.

Tamekia: And you’re flexible about it, right?

Patrick: Absolutely. As long as they’re working hard and advancing themselves, I support whatever they choose—college, military, or entrepreneurship.

Tamekia: That’s true. You’re a good example because you have three degrees, but you’re also an entrepreneur. So, you’ve shown them both worlds.

Patrick: Yeah. It’s about exposing them to the pros and cons of each path and letting them decide.

Tamekia: Okay, let’s break it down. College—pros and cons.

Patrick: College is great, especially if you can finance it without massive debt. It’s a huge time and money investment, but if you have scholarships or funding and know it will lead to a specific career, it’s worth it.

Tamekia: Agreed. For example, Layla is 14 and wants to be an RN and later a pediatric doctor. She has to go the college route. We support that but also stress the importance of scholarships and focus.

Patrick: Exactly. And it’s not just college—it can be trade school too if it aligns with their goals.

Tamekia: What about our 16-year-old? He’s leaning toward the military and entrepreneurship.

Patrick: We lay out the options. He’s already launched a business, built a website, and done the research. He sees the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and knows it takes work.

Tamekia: Right. He’s self-motivated, which makes a difference. But we’re realistic—some kids aren’t into entrepreneurship, and that’s okay too.

Patrick: Definitely. Some people prefer structure and guidance, and that’s fine.

Tamekia: So, we focus on giving them options and leading by example. They see us working hard—whether it’s you preparing orders or me working with clients. They understand the effort involved.

Patrick: Exactly. And that’s the key—showing them rather than telling them.

Tamekia: Any final advice for parents with teenagers?

Patrick: Two things: Encourage them to follow their heart and lead by example.

Tamekia: Agreed. Anything else?

Patrick: No, I think we’ve covered a lot.

Tamekia: Alright, we hope you have an excellent day.

Patrick: And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and all that!

Tamekia: See you next time. Bye!