Gilded Then, Gilded Now: Two American Ages of Extreme Wealth

by Allen Esrock
A comparison of the original Gilded Age and its twenty-first century echo Mark Twain...

My Family Business Journey

Growing up in a family business has the same challenges whether you’re in Los Angeles or Lagos, retail or real estate, or running the business and in some cases, running from the business.

The family business also plays a huge role in your childhood because...it’s the family business.  Take a stroll through my family business journey and see if any of it sounds familiar.

Birth

Forget fingers and toes. The only question anybody cares about going is are you going into the Family Business.

First Job

We owned Big Mens Shops in St. Louis, Missouri so our customers were 6' 3" or wore 46” waist pants.  When I was five-years old, I would stand guard at the front door to stop shoplifters during the Christmas shopping season. It was the “Land of the Giants”.

What did I get paid for performing this act of heroism?  The SFBW - Standard Family Business Wage which was, and still is, nothing. I did get lunch.

Next Door Neighbors

Living next door to my cousins was great.  Of course being 24/7 family wasn't so special for my G2 mom and especially her GØ sister-in-law. Eventually, they moved.

Lunch with Dad

For 50-years, my dad would walk to Miss Hullings at 725 Olive Street.  Every day he ordered the Luncheon Special and every night he'd tell us about what was on the Luncheon Special.  I didn't realize there were other places to have lunch in downtown St. Louis until my 20's.

Family Business Rituals

On Christmas Eve, we went to Ruggeri's to celebrate the end of Christmas Shopping season and the beginning of return season.  Santa Clause was one of our customers (Big Men Shops) so we always got extra stockings.

Rejecting It All

Growing up in the world where you're known as the “kid”, "squirt", or "junior" can be overwhelming.  It also comes with great expectations.  Sometimes walking away from it all sounds pretty enticing.

Coming Home

Sure family businesses are crazy, but they’re your crazy. Whether you join the business or not, there's nothing more special than growing up in a family business.