Are You the Ancestor the Future Needs?

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I’ve been thinking a lot about this question, originally posed by Ari Wallach. Am I the ancestor the future needs? (To refresh your memory or understand my journey with this question, look back to this article.)

As an economic developer by day who is increasingly influenced by local history and narratives that challenge our mental frameworks, I want to look at a comment I hear frequently when someone starts a new business in our area. I often hear, “Well, they wouldn’t be able to even open that business, let alone make it, if it weren’t for [enter relative of choice here: Mom, Dad, rich long-lost uncle who is a prince].”

That’s an aggravating comment for a few reasons.

First, entrepreneurs can’t win. Keep in mind, it’s also common to hear the public say things like, “I wish someone would open X kind of business,” or “I wish someone local would preserve that building.” But when Someone steps up and does it, the public then diminishes what they are doing.

Second, that’s how this country was built! Family helping family. Community helping community. In previous articles I’ve talked about James Caldwell, the man who opened the first store in Belmont County in 1801. When he died, his will mentioned that he was not leaving anymore money to two of his sons, because he had already given them money to start their own businesses in St. Louis. Creighton University in Nebraska never would have existed if Edward Creighton (born in Belmont County) had not gotten his start in business when his father bought him a cart to help build the National Road. Edward then went on to help complete the trans-continental telegraph, start a bank in Omaha, and subsequently left money and the dream of a college being built after his death.

Our country moves ahead when we believe in others and help them reach their goals.

I see too often how our local economy is stifled by people who own property, whether land or buildings, but put the rental price so high that there is no way a small business can afford it (yet the property is too small for a big business to use it). I’ve watched people buy a property and immediately raise the rent so high that the long-term tenants have to move elsewhere. I’ve heard landlords say they would rather the property sit empty than rent it at a lower rate. In other words, the property owner is only interested in their own pocketbook, not what is better for the community. If they would take a couple hundred dollars less or work with a small business in some way, the ripple effect on the community could be large. But, no.

The third reason this comment bugs me is that those same people will also say, “Give some incentives for that company [enter any big company name here] to come here! They’ll create jobs!” OK. So you’re okay with using your tax money as an incentive to bring an outside company here, but you’re not okay with a relative helping a relative? Why aren’t you saying about that big company, “Well, they wouldn’t be able to even open that business, let alone make it, if it weren’t for our tax break and incentive.”

Am I the only one that sees all of this as a bit ironic?

That brings me back to my original questions. Are you the type of ancestor that the future needs? I’d say that the family member helping the person start a business is that type of ancestor.

I’m not saying throw your money at every business idea every relative has. I have relatives I would never back in business, but I have friends I certainly would.

So here’s my idea.

Be the ancestor the future needs.

Instead of buying elaborate gifts for kids in your family or community for every birthday and holiday, start an account. Buy a smaller present for the holiday if you must, and put the difference of what you would have spent into an account. That account can be given to them in the future if and when they want to open their own business. Help build the future. Be the ancestor the future needs.

I started doing something similar several years ago for a child. Part of it was selfish, I admit. I am not up on all the current toys, and I don’t want to be. I hated buying gifts that wouldn’t interest her or were lost in the sea of presents she received. It felt like a waste. So, I started a savings account. Every birthday and holiday I add the money I would have spent on a present. I then send her the total that is in the account.

I’ve never given her the reasons why I might release the money. Now I’m thinking it has to be tied to one of her long-term goals that would not only help her but also her community in some way. In other words, I won’t release the money for some big Spring Break trip!

I hope this gives you something to ponder. As we start a new week, is there something you can do this week to be the kind of ancestor our future needs?

Thanks for joining me at The Creighton Cabin as I slowly help rural Appalachian communities unlock their economic potential by challenging and changing the stories they tell themselves. I use local history and genealogy to help communities recognize their strengths and envision a brighter tomorrow. Think of it as community development powered by DNA, not just dollars.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash