Many of us look at our jobs as something that we do to earn our keep. It is something that we do because we need to- but we look for fulfillment and satisfaction elsewhere.

But for many entrepreneurs, the business is more than that. Beyond just something to earn money, it is where you find your friends, it is where you find your identity, it is where you find your fulfillment. Many familes, especially Asian ones, led a truly bizdrivenlife – the business is where the family rotates, and patriarchs find identity and place in society because of their business, and the overwhelming objective is to find a small business that you can give to your children. More often than not, the topics at the dinner table rotates on business.

Here is a Chinese folk story about a true blue entrepreneur:

A Chinese merchant lay on his death bed. He has spent 50 years of his life minding his little store, and it has been a successful life. He coughs a little, and asks, ” where is eldest son?”

” I am here, father”, says his son, weeping.

” where is second son? “, he queried.

” I am here, father, ” , says his second son.

” Where is third son?”, he asks further.

” I am here, father, “, says his third son.

” Then, “, he started to raise his voice and working to get upset, ” If you are all here, who is minding the store?”