What is it like to work in the family business?

The hit TLC TV show "Cake Boss" follows Buddy Valastro Jr. and his family as they run the family business, Carlo's Bakery. While much of the show focuses on the elaborate cakes and pastries created by Valastro's team, it also gives viewers a peek into the trials and tribulations that Valastro faces while working side-by-side with his mom, sisters, brothers-in-law, cousins and other family members.

Watching the show, you get a sense of what it's like to work in a family business. You're able to work with some of the most important people in your life, which can be satisfying and trying. Family members can be brutally honest and unafraid to tell you what they really think, which can be a good or bad thing. Some people thrive in this environment, while others prefer more anonymity in the workplace.

If you don't have time to catch up on "Cake Boss," read on for personal stories about the opportunities, challenges and lessons learned from working in a family business.

Moving across the world for family
"I emigrated from England to Idaho in 1999. Since then, I started my own successful business. [My] mom and dad immigrated here and have been working for me ever since. Dad had been a successful database technician in England, but due to his age, he couldn't even get a minimum-wage [job] here. Now he's my lead software engineer and our shipping manager. He's fantastic at it. Mom could barely find her email when she first arrived, but ... she now does all our software tech support and purchasing. It's not always easy juggling roles. These two people are both my employees, but also my children's grandparents. But they both tell me all the time that they take more pride in the success of our little business than any other job they've ever had." -- Erin Miller, founder, CookbookPeople.com

A rewarding real-estate experience
"I work for my father's real-estate business along with my brother ... There are many benefits to working with your family. The biggest is trust. Owning and running a business is stressful. There is a lot of competition. It is comforting to work with family, knowing you can rely on them and trust that everyone is looking out for the best interest of the business. It is also nice to work with family in order to keep a business running. When you run your own business, there are no breaks ... But when things happen in your personal life and you need someone to pick up the slack, it is great to have family to rely on ... The flip side of that is when things are difficult, it can strain relationships. Stress creates anxiety, which can lead to arguments. Our family does a pretty good job of communicating when we are upset about something. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and if each person can respect that and communicate and accept it, then problems can be avoided or at least worked out with a nice conversation." -- Erica Walther, office management and sales, Walther Realtors

Brothers in business
"My dream has been to launch and sustain a family business until my children can take it over. This February, I began that journey with my younger brother and our company, Corey Consulting. We are an Internet-marketing solution for small businesses ... I have had other business partners in the past, and now I am in business with my brother. It's the best business decision I ever made. The trust is something that cannot be bought and allows us to focus on our clients totally. There is a feeling of not wanting to let your family down that drives me to work harder and be more open to ideas -- even if they are not my own ... I think some of the challenges may blend with the benefits. Your colleagues know you really well and normal 'BS' will not apply. Some professional courtesies are skipped ... There is certainly more pressure from outside family members. There is certainly more pressure that we put on ourselves." -- Christopher Corey, vice president of sales, Corey Consulting

Positives and pet peeves of a family pet shop
"The positives/negatives of working in the family business: You're among family ... the people who love and support you. When I succeed at my job, I am benefiting both myself and my family. There is a certain level of comfort and trust that exists, allowing me to do my job better and more freely. I am proud to be a part of something that my aunt has worked so hard to grow. I am working with people I love and care about. There is a definite feeling of team effort and accountability because success of one means success for all, [and] when you're family, it is easier to be brutally honest at times because of that level of comfort between family members -- this can actually be a plus or a minus. -- Catherine Laures, e-commerce manager, Animal Outfitters

Source: careerbuilder

Why saying no to your boss can be a good idea

Your manager comes to you in a panic and asks you to fill in for Sharon, who will be out of town all next week. Your first thought is, "Why me?" Yet, despite your frustration, you smile and say, "No problem." Your boss is making the request, after all, so refusal is not an option. Right?

Not necessarily. In some cases, "Sorry, I can't" may be the most appropriate response. Dubious about this claim? Here are some examples of situations in which it might make sense to say no and suggestions for how to turn down the boss diplomatically.

"It looks like Joe can't make the deadline again. Can you handle it?"

The situation: Whenever a colleague falls short on an important assignment, your supervisor looks to you to save the day. Initially, being the go-to person was flattering. But having to constantly step in at the last minute is forcing you to put in extra hours so you can get your own work done.

The solution: If your boss is in a bind and needs your help, stepping up is the right thing to do and can earn you valuable bonus points. Above all, you don't want to leave her hanging. However, if these situations arise regularly, to the point where they begin to interfere with your regular assignments, you may need to start pushing back.

Refusing to lend a hand in a crisis will only make you look bad. Also, keep in mind that your supervisor may not realize how often you've been tapped or how long it takes you to step in and resolve an issue. Rather than a flat no, agree to help, and set the stage for preventing similar fire drills in the future. The next time your boss approaches you seeking emergency assistance, you might say, "Of course I'll help. But, as you know, I've had to cover for others a lot lately, and it's affecting my other work. Once we get through this project, can we talk about how to better accommodate these types of requests in the future?"

"Can you turn this around by [insert unreasonable deadline]?"

The situation: Your supervisor has just asked you to complete something you know you can't deliver in the desired time frame. But you realize you're the best person for the task, and you don't want to disappoint your boss. The gears in your mind start whirring furiously: "Maybe if I push these other assignments to the back burner, skip this afternoon's meeting and work overtime, I could make it happen. At least, I think so."

The solution: Stop. If it will take moving the stars and the moon to meet a deadline, you need to have a conversation with your manager. Tell your manager, "I'm happy to work on this, but I'm worried about the deadline you set. Is there any flexibility there?" Then, explain why you think the timing will be problematic. For example, maybe you already have other pressing deadlines to meet or you know the task will require more effort than your boss assumes.

Ideally, this frank discussion will lead to one of the following outcomes: Your boss will:

• Adjust the deadline.
• Ask another employee to handle it.
• Team you up with a colleague so you can still be involved with, but aren't solely responsible for, the project.

"Sorry, but I'm going to need you to work late again. OK?"

The situation: The boss in "Office Space" asks his employees to work ridiculous hours, and it's a running joke in the film. However, in real life, when your manager has the same expectation, it's not so amusing.

The solution: Most professionals understand that there will be times when they must stay late, come in early or take work home to meet key deadlines and objectives. But when these requests become routine, you should speak up. Putting in extra hours every day can quickly lead to burnout.

However, approach this subject delicately. Even though working longer hours can be tiresome and inconvenient, it may be necessary. Remember, too, that many companies are still working with lean teams. Your boss could be looking to you for extra support because he has no other choice at the moment.

Therefore, you might say to your manager, "I know we're all working a lot of extra time lately. I must be honest, though, and tell you that these hours are becoming difficult for me to maintain. Will we need to keep this pace much longer? If so, could we talk about ways that might help me achieve a better work/life balance during this period?"

It's never easy to say no to your boss. But in some situations it's necessary. Even the best managers can fail to recognize when they're asking too much of their employees. Yes, sometimes you must grin and bear it when asked to do something you don't like. But that doesn't mean you must agree to unreasonable requests without question -- even when they come from the top.

Source: careerbuilder

4 ways your mind may be sabotaging you at work

There may be a bigger roadblock to your workplace productivity than the voice in your head telling you to play solitaire. It's that notion in your brain, called cognitive bias, which makes you confused, uninterested, wrongly informed or ignorant.

A cognitive bias, or a pattern of inaccurate judgment or illogical interpretation, is the result of a distortion in the brain that always leads to the same poor judgment. Every day, your brain plays tricks on you. Sometimes a cognitive bias helps you think faster or preserves your ego, but it usually leads you away from the right answer or the truth.

How can you tell if you're blinded by a cognitive bias at work? Check out this list of common cognitive biases, and learn how to make changes to increase your workplace productivity.

1. Bandwagon effect: The tendency to do or believe things because other people do or believe the same.
How it may affect your work: Although this cognitive bias can affect any work situation, stay especially alert in meetings, when it's easy to agree with an idea that you may not truly agree with or understand.
What you can do: Knowledge is the best way to combat the bandwagon effect. When you understand what's going on around you, you know what you agree with and how to share your opinions. Come to meetings prepared, do follow-up research on ideas discussed during meetings and pass the knowledge on to your clients and co-workers.

2. Confirmation bias: The tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one's preconceived notions.
How it may affect your work: You may feel pressure to agree with your manager, especially if she doesn't accept other opinions.
What you can do: When you're conducting research for a project, be aware of the confirmation bias. Are your sources fair, or are you blinded by the desired outcome? Before you compile your findings and look for an answer, ask yourself whether you've adequately researched both sides of the issue. Simply being aware of your bias is often enough to ensure a fair and honest outcome.

3. Ostrich effect: Ignoring an obviously negative situation.
How it may affect your work: The ostrich effect may make your work life bearable. Ignoring negative situations may help you get through the day, but you may be holding yourself back from your full potential.
What you can do: Honestly assess your day-to-day work life. Do you continuously accept a co-worker's excuses for missing deadlines, making you work twice as hard to manage your workload? Do you take the blame for problems but tell yourself that it's just part of the job? Acknowledge the dysfunctional parts of your role, get your head out of the sand, and start looking for solutions. The ostrich effect disappears once a negative situation has been recognized and handled.

4. Planning fallacy: The tendency to underestimate task-completion times.
How it may affect your work: The planning fallacy may be to blame if you're constantly switching between boredom and stress at work. Do you believe you can do your work quickly, so you allow yourself time to goof off? Do you procrastinate, because you're confident you'll have time later, only to rush through projects at the last minute?
What you can do: Begin each project by estimating how much time the project will take from start to finish. Then, take note of the time, and begin your project. After you finish, note the time again to see how close your estimate was to the actual time needed. Do this for all of your tasks, and you'll start to better manage your time.

Source: careerbuilder