What is your background?

[Cornish Steve]

In a recent post, someone pointed out that Sir Alan Sugar was born and raised in humble surroundings. I would guess that most aspiring entrepreneurs share similar lowly origins, but I thought it would be interesting to find out.

There are many definitions of class in Britain, so I felt at liberty to create my own. :? I realise this is an issue that not everyone will feel comfortable discussing, so I've asked the question in the form of a poll. That way, we can each answer the question anonymously.

[MinuWeb]

I would come under the catagory of "other" :D

My father had a good income, which was fine (financially) for the family until parents divorced and I was brought up by my mother who was not working with very little financial help from my father.

So about 7 years of class II followed by class III

[Rob Holmes]

I would come under the catagory of "other" :D

My father had a good income, which was fine (financially) for the family until parents divorced and I was brought up by my mother who was not working with very little financial help from my father.

So about 7 years of class II followed by class III

snap :)

Rob

[MinuWeb]

snap :)

Rob

Must be a requirement for running a web hosting biz :D

[Jayne]

Hi,

I grew up on a council estate, my dad left us when I was 4 yrs old for another woman. My Grandad died when I was 8 yrs old, so I was brought up by my Gran and my Mam. Guess I was bottom of the pile as class goes :lol: My Gran is a great woman and has always pushed me to learn and plan for the future, she's a very strong woman.

I learned to look after myself and if you wanted something, you had to get it yourself (money was tight), so I got my first job at 14 yrs old and have worked ever since.

At 37 yrs old I own my own home, have two cars and a caravan, two businesses, a lovely husband and my best mate (my dog). What more could you ask for :D

Jayne

[Jayne]

Steve,

Couldn't do the pole as I was bottom of the pile, but my Mam wasn't uneducated, she had lots of qualifications and was learning to be an accountant. My Gran won a place at grammer school (big thing in here days)

So I didn't fit in any :D

Jayne

[Cornish Steve]

Steve,

Couldn't do the pole as I was bottom of the pile, but my Mam wasn't uneducated, she had lots of qualifications and was learning to be an accountant. My Gran won a place at grammer school (big thing in here days)

So I didn't fit in any :D

Jayne

I suppose this is why today there are so many definitions around of class. Maybe the third option can read uneducated or unskilled.

If you fall into more than one category, maybe it's best to select the one that most influenced your childhood.

[JoyDivision]

My parents both had decent jobs and lived (and still do) in a decent area so there is now a small fortune in the house but we never had much money.

We had holodays and Pontins and my dad had a car (a Lada) so we never starved, we just never had flash cars or holidays abroad.

We have certainly had our hardships in recent years though, I don't want to go into details but my parents nearly lost everything but it was all sorted out.

My mum was from a decent council estate (i.e not the rough ones you here about, just a normal estate which happened to be council), my dad is one of the original Sloaneys but certainly is not well off. (he drives a £1000 car).

My mums got FE qualifcations and my dad has got HE qualifications. Education was certainly apart of the culture in our house.

[mumper]

Both of my parents came to the UK from Ireland just over fifty years ago. My father did all sorts of jobs mainly on building sites and in later years joined a maintenance team in a factory, a job he held for nearly twenty seven years.
My mother was a nurse all her life. Both were extremely hard working and came from a generation, country and time where further education was very rare.

My character is very similar where work is concerned whereas I'm not happy if I'm idle.

[Cornish Steve]

From the results of the poll, my starting assumption has been shown to be invalid. More forums members come from a well-to-do background than from a working-class background, while a majority grew up in a traditional middle-class environment. Statistically, that probably means that family background has little bearing on whether or not someone chooses to become an entrepreneur. It must be in the genes.

[JoyDivision]

From the results of the poll, my starting assumption has been shown to be invalid. More forums members come from a well-to-do background than from a working-class background, while a majority grew up in a traditional middle-class environment. Statistically, that probably means that family background has little bearing on whether or not someone chooses to become an entrepreneur. It must be in the genes.

Thats pretty much what we taught in entreprenuerial management. What makes them good is their traits not their background. However must of these people probably have somthing unusual about their past which makes them want to suceed more than others would.

Like me for example most 23 year olds would be turned of at the prospect of running a ltd company where as love the challange.

[fastfences]

Hi Steve.
Whilst my parents were of good 'stock' (Father a journalist with the daily Telegraph) I was absolutely hopeless at school - lack of application, etc. I was consistently told I would end up no better than a 'garbageman'. What better motivator could one have? (All due respect offered to garbagemen/dustmen and the like)
Cheers, Nigel

[MorethanWords]

Guess I'm a typical brit (which is awfully shocking as I've always thought I wasn't) as my parents both had pretty good jobs.

We had two foreign holidays a year, nice cars etc. I guess we were what is commonly known as 'comfortable'. But my parents originally came from council house backgrounds, so I guess they had a desire to change their lives in response.

This, I can only imagine, has driven my desire to do well in life and have a similar way of life for my family. Or something.

[Jayne]

Well Steve, you just cannot read a book by it's cover :lol:

Jayne

[Ravenfire]

I come from a Naval background. My dad was in the navy for 40 years and my mum stayed at home to look after us until she felt we were old enough for her to go back to work where she was a manager of a very large Naafi..lol..where does that place me, I put typical Brit!

[DuaneJackson]

I grew up in an East London council estate with a single mum, 1 brother and 1 sister.

Ages 11-16 I was in childrens homes / foster care, and didn't really settle down and get on with life properly until i was 24.

[Jayne]

Hi Duane,

Your background is almost identical to my husbands, he left home and homes at 15 (not going into it too much, he never tells anyone). I think that's where he gets his drive to do well from. My background was rosey compared to his. I think hardship makes you thankful for what you've got too and makes you want more :D

Jayne

[Top Hat]

Born with a silver spoon, what, what