should i join our family business ?

[FamilyFounded]

There are many many advantages to getting a MBA and if you have the opportunity to do so, it seems that will help you long-term whether you end up in your family's business or not. I would go for it. As far as the family business goes, there are things you can do to increase the chances of setting yourself up for success. For example, make sure you talk to your dad about his expectations, willingness to expand the business and interest in new ideas such as the ones you hope to initiate. Learn what he thinks about your taking over, how much money he believes you can make, what challenges exist in the industry, etc. What is his work style like, his strengths and weaknesses? What are yours? How might those compliment each other or possibly conflict. Do what you can to gather as much information as possible so that you can 1. make a good, well-informed decision and 2. set realistic expectations with your father to build the foundation of a successful working relationship. Plus, with a MBA, if for some reason you decide you don't like working in the family business down the line, you will have more career options if you want to leave and won't be trapped. We just started a new website that supports family business members like yourself and helps people like you get direct feedback from others who have gone through similar experiences. Check out http://www.FamilyFounded.com