Dear Queenie,
A while ago I started my own business. My parents gave me a little money to help me start my business, but most of the financing came from my savings and a loan I got from a finance company that I have been paying off regularly and on time.
My father has worked in a similar business all his life and in the beginning he expressed interest in becoming my partner. However, I have my own ideas about running my business that I got from a workshop I took and from talking to other people my own age who have their own businesses and he is not interested anymore.
The problem is my parents don’t agree with my ideas and part of why my father wanted to be my partner was to show me how I should be doing things, but it seemed to me that his ideas were old-fashioned and completely out of date, but he still keeps giving me advice that I just do not take.
Queenie, how do I refuse his ideas without wrecking my relationship with my parents?—In a Predicament
Dear Predicament,
As long as your parents are not giving you any more money, you have no obligation to discuss your business with them, especially if the money they gave you was clearly intended to be a gift, or if you have already paid them back.
Listen to your father’s ideas politely and then (quietly) do as you think best. Your best answer to any comments they make will be the success of your business
