EPISODE 21: The Manuscript is DONE!

The Unexpected Joys & Challenges of Writing Our Book

Hello everyone, Kim here!

If you've been following along with our podcast, Mr. & Mrs. CEO, you'll know that Darren & I recently finished the manuscript for our first book. This journey, much like our life together, has been filled with unexpected twists, profound insights, and a generous dose of humor. Writing this book was an eye-opener in many ways, not just about our businesses, but about ourselves.

From our early days, family has been the cornerstone of our ventures. It's been a mixed bag of successes, failures, and everything in between. Over the years, we've started, stumbled, and soared in multiple family businesses, each teaching us invaluable lessons about relationships, resilience, and the real essence of entrepreneurship.

One of the biggest surprises came when we decided to put our experiences on paper. Initially, we thought we were writing a business handbook — something that would sit on a shelf alongside other scholarly works. However, as the pages filled up, it became clear that our book was less about business tactics and more about the personal stories and challenges that shaped us into who we are today.

Our manuscript turned out to be an honest reflection of our life in business with family. It's not scholarly, but it's real. It's about the laughter that follows a heated argument at a board meeting, the silent agreements made over coffee in the morning, and the understanding glances exchanged across a crowded room during family gatherings.

As we shared our draft with friends and family, the feedback was a mix of laughter and awe. They could see themselves in our stories, relate to the mishaps, and appreciate the successes. This was exactly what we had hoped for — a book that resonated with not just us, but also with anyone who's ever been part of a family business.

Throughout this process, I've learned that writing authentically about life and business means embracing imperfection. Our book may not be a step-by-step guide to business success, but it's a heartfelt narrative of navigating the complex waters of family dynamics in business settings. It's about finding joy in the journey and learning from each misstep.

In our podcast and through this book, officially titled ‘Awkward Family Dinners’, we hope to inspire others to look at their family businesses not just as enterprises, but as ecosystems of relationships that need care, understanding, and sometimes, a little bit of humor to thrive. After all, at the end of the day, it's not just about profitability and legacy, but about creating a fulfilling life with the ones we love.

We are eager to share more with you in the coming months as we move towards publication.

Stay tuned, and perhaps, find a little bit of your own story in ours.