HOW TO
Run a successful family business
Fraternal twins Tom Wanne ’90 and Theo Wanne are co-owners of Theo Wanne Classic Mouthpieces in Bellingham, Wash. Wanne Inc. is a collaboration of skills shared between the brothers. Theo brings years of experience working in the woodwind mouthpiece industry, and Tom brings his extensive background in business management.
The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family. —Lee Iacocca
Certainly not all families stay steady and work well. But, I think Lee refers to a key aspect of a successful family business—the bond. In my experience, many families are built with decades of experience-laden glue that keeps them together through the toughest of times while providing a tremendous freedom for expression. There is no mystery about everyone’s capabilities, work ethic, or BS level. And, most families have had a plethora of experiences working together on small projects to big projects; many a success and many a failure. It all thickens the glue. I’m not sure if a family business is more likely to
HOW TO
succeed than a non-family business. A lot of the success of a business will certainly be determined by the quality of the individuals. But, I believe, if a family business can find a framework outside the family to facilitate communication, backboard expectations, and measure results, then the positive attributes of a working family can be leveraged for success. Theo, my twin brother and business partner, and I
took advantage of free services from our local college business development center to help guide and facilitate our growth from the very beginning. And, we continue to aggressively work on effective communication. These investments have been invaluable. Of course, being blessed with a wonderfully supportive family goes a long way too.
Prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI)
Brian Bentow ’05 is the author of the “Computer Athlete’s Handbook: Your Guide to a Happier, Healthier Techy Lifestyle.”
Let’s face it. Most people have poor ergonomics at work. People slouch, don’t take breaks, forget to drink water and use poor equipment. Over time, many of these bad habits compound each other and reduce the productivity and motivation of employees and can even put them on disability.
When this happens, they will need to take time off and get physical therapy, which may cause business delays. And, in our current economic conditions, there is very little room for inefficiency. The good news is that there is a lot you can do
to help your co-workers live happier and healthier techy lifestyles. You need to start with budgeting some resources on workstation setup. It is worth spending some extra money up front on ergonomic keyboards, mice and extra monitors. In my experience, few employees will spend their own money on improving their workstation. One of the worst things that people can do is take anti-inflammatories or pain medication when they have repetitive strain injuries. Taking medication may let you work past your normal pain threshold, but that is what
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leads to serious injury or even permanent nerve damage. Sadly, some doctors do more harm than good when they prescribe anti-inflammatories to their patients with RSI. The most cost effective way to prevent RSI is through training. Some quick tips: Consider using two monitors if you must switch between applications often; avoid twisting your wrists when pressing multiple keys; and drink lots of water.
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