David Smith Jr., a.k.a. “The Bullet,” is a human cannonball stuntman with a unique backstory. His father, David Smith Sr., was first a trapeze artist and then a human cannonball stuntman during the 1970s and 1980s. David grew up learning tricks and later carried on the family legacy of shooting through the air at over 70 mph.
The story behind Livingston Communication Inc. is less unexpected: I’m thankful to write alongside my dad for a variety of incredible clients. We don’t hold any world records or have cool nicknames, and we’ve never gone viral on TikTok. However, like the Smith family, we have learned important lessons about working together and building a business that includes multiple generations.
Working closely with another writer or coworker is not an uncommon experience. I hope these lessons resonate with you and help you navigate working with others, regardless of whether you are part of a family-run company or not.
#1 Identifying roles relieves confusion
Many clients are initially confused about our working relationship. Am I an employee? Who does the writing? It helps that we’ve got that figured out on our end. I am technically a subcontractor, but I work directly with clients and manage projects independently. We track who handles what on an internal spreadsheet.
#2 Built-in backup is invaluable
Freelancing can be a lonely gig, but having the support of someone who knows your workload and schedule makes it easier. Working closely with my dad pays off when we have a family emergency, get creative brain-block on a project, or need to take time off. We edit each other’s work and add value during conversations with prospective and current clients.
#3 Family stories get people talking
When I started working with my dad, I worried about people discounting my work. However, I have never come across that as an issue. Prospective clients are usually delighted when they discover we are family. That element of familial closeness warms our conversations with clients and can spark conversations about their personal lives—good fodder for building partnerships instead of transactional relationships.
#4 Limiting “shop talk” can be tough
Restricting work conversations to business hours can be difficult, especially if there is momentum on projects or with new clients. We try not to discuss work during family gatherings, but sometimes it comes up. We’ve found that keeping work conversations to Slack and family conversations to text is a good way to separate the two.
#5 Many keyboards make light(er) work
Although we must find more clients to support two households, we have the advantage of prospecting and networking separately. We can reach more people this way.
We have also found that our different backgrounds and passions provide unique benefits for clients. For example, my dad’s experience working within large medical device companies helps us bond with clients in that world, and my experience with statistics helps enormously with medical writing projects.
I’m thankful to be part of a business that is operated by members of a family, even if it isn’t as cool as popping out of a cannon wearing spandex and a cape. The lessons I’ve learned about the value of individualism within a team environment, clear communication, and relying on the strengths of others carry over into other relationships—work and personal alike.
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