Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did

by Margot Machol Bisnow, Elliott Bisnow (Foreword), Austin Bisnow (Foreword)

Learn how successful entrepreneurs were raised! Could your children start a company that disrupts existing industries? Or a non-profit that helps people around the world? Or follow their passion as an artist or activist? And most important, lead a life of joy and purpose, to be happy and fulfilled? Margot Machol Bisnow, mother of two thriving entrepreneurs, reveals how to raise creative, confident, resilient, fearless kids who achieve their dreams, through 99 stories of families who did it.

Read stories from 70 families who raised true game changers. See family photos of these thriving entrepreneurs, both when they were young and today, and learn the secrets of how they were raised. The entrepreneurs film director Jon Chu; YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki; method products co-founder Eric Ryan; Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley; Under Armour founder Kevin Plank; Chef Nyesha Arrington; Life is Good co-founder Bert Jacobs; TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie; actor Emmanuelle Chriqui; League of Legends gamemaker Thomas Vu; sweetgreen co-founder Jonathan Neman; Mama Hope founder Nyla Rodgers; Blue Bottle Coffee CEO Bryan Meehan; Grammy-winning songwriter Benny Blanco; Aviator Nation founder Paige Mycoskie; film director Unjoo Moon; founder Scott Harrison; supermodel Karolina Kurkova; Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg; Daybreaker co-founder Radha Agrawal; Union Heritage Capital CMO Nia Batts; breakthrough coach Quddus; Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink; FEED Projects co-founder Ellen Gustafson; Qey Capital co-founder Dhani Jones; TV host Tommy McFly; Hello Alice co-founder Elizabeth McGee Gore; Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner; Modo Yoga co-founder Deena Robertson; designer Breegan Jane.

Genres: Parenting, Childrens

400 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2022

About the author

Margot Machol Bisnow is a writer, wife, and mom from Washington, DC. She spent twenty years in government, including as an FTC Commissioner and Chief of Staff of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, and eight years writing a popular daily online social newsletter. Her son Austin has written successful pop songs and started the popular band Magic Giant. Her son Elliott founded Summit Series, a noted international conference series for millennial entrepreneurs, and led the purchase and development of Powder Mountain ski resort in Utah as a permanent home for their community. Her husband, Mark Bisnow, founded a national newsletter company, Bisnow Media, which was acquired in 2016. Their dog is the only one in the family who gets enough sleep.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Start a non-profit.
I felt the majority of examples were someone who started some charity or non-profit.
Each story became more tedious as it was nearly the same points over and over ad nauseam.

Help kids understand that failure is normal. Help them find their passion. Be supportive. Be compassionate, for them to emulate. If you don’t know something, mentors can be wonderful. Build confidence.

The gist of it all. Be there for your child(ren). No matter your implied station in life, they can succeed.

[Caleb O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising an Entrepreneur is an inspiring and thought-provoking exploration of how families can nurture children who grow into creative, resilient, and purpose-driven adults.

What I appreciated most is that Margot Machol Bisnow never suggests there is a single blueprint for raising successful children. Instead, through dozens of engaging family stories, she reveals common principles that encourage curiosity, confidence, perseverance, and the courage to pursue meaningful work. The emphasis is less on creating entrepreneurs for the sake of business success and more on raising young people who are willing to think independently and contribute something valuable to the world.

Another strength of the book is its diversity of examples. The featured entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, and leaders come from many different industries and backgrounds, demonstrating that extraordinary achievement often begins with parents who encourage exploration, embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, and support their children's unique interests.

At its heart, Raising an Entrepreneur is a book about possibility. It reminds parents that one of the greatest gifts they can offer their children is the freedom to discover who they are, develop resilience through experience, and pursue lives driven by purpose rather than fear.

An insightful and encouraging read for parents, educators, mentors, and anyone interested in helping young people develop the confidence and creativity to build meaningful lives.

[Martyn Beeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising an Entrepreneur is an inspiring and practical guide that challenges traditional ideas about parenting and success. Through 99 engaging stories, Margot Machol Bisnow highlights the habits, values, and environments that help children develop creativity, resilience, confidence, and purpose.

Rather than offering a one size fits all formula, the book provides real life examples that encourage parents to nurture each child's unique potential. It's an uplifting resource for families, educators, and anyone passionate about helping young people thrive.

[Nopadol Rompho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good and helpful book, especially for those of you who want to raise your kids to become an entrepreneur.