The businesswoman talks about her family
My older brother Darren and I were brought up with one of the best ingredients you can give children ? self-esteem and confidence. My Irish father, Terry, was a self-made millionaire, who owned a printing business. He showed me that nothing compensates for hard work. My Italian mum, Rita, was a housewife. They both came from large families. We were an incredibly close family because we knew we could trust them and vice versa. They let us be, but there were boundaries you knew not to cross. Dad was the bad cop ? one look and Darren and I would run for dear life!
Mum and dad listened to me and gave me independence. I was to choose a path and get on with it ? then I could always go back and do something else if I changed my mind. It's a simple but powerful message. I meet a lot of young people who want to work for me but who don't seem to have that genuine enthusiasm and confidence that's very important in business.
I was entrepreneurial as a child. Darren and I used to have these money-making schemes: we would run car washes. I put posters up in my bedroom window when I was six or seven, saying: "Call in for manicures, pedicures and massages." Men would come to the door asking for a massage. My poor mother! We were a handful. Darren and I fought like cat and dog because we were competitive. But we made up quickly.
Doing it all means having two personalities ? a home personality and a work one. The trick is not to allow either to drain the life out of you, and to do only the things you want. You have to be very organised and have a clear divide about who you are. My kids don't want me to be their boss, they want me to be their mum. My staff don't want me to be their mum. However, it's impossible when you get to a certain level to only work set hours.
I almost died by putting everyone else first. I was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm in 2006, but I was busy with meetings and wanted to put off seeing a specialist. Their response? I was told I could die crossing the road and that it was a miracle I'd survived giving birth to my kids, so no, it couldn't wait. But old habits die hard and I made the two specialists pitch to each other the options they were recommending, and I'd go with the one they decided upon unanimously. I was scared I wouldn't be around to see my kids grow up and when I pulled through, I knew I had to have better balance. Without my health, I had nothing.
Being able to switch off is a must, not an option. I like looking after my house, I'm a keen housewife. On Sunday mornings, my son plays football and, come rain or shine, I watch him, which I love. My daughter and I try to do something together each week, whether it's going for a coffee or making a cake. Once a week the family has a night where we all eat together and watch a film. We have a little book to write whose turn it is to cook the meal.
My husband, Paul, and I respect each other enormously. For a busy couple to succeed, rather than just muddle along, you have to agree on what you want out of life. Our top priority is our kids, Sophia, 14, and Paulo, 12. The biggest lesson my kids have taught me is to find the joy in little things, along with a healthy dose of patience.
Karren Brady is supporting Bupa's Helping You Find Healthy campaign. Visit bupa.co.uk/findhealthy to discover your health age.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/13/karren-brady-my-family-values
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