A parent's business career and family interest often conflict. In entrepreneurial families, the competition between business and family can become severe.
When Heather Blease started Envisionet (to provide teds support and customer ser-
vice for clients' Web sites) in Brunswidc Maine, she still found time for her sons. She at-
tended their sporting events and volunteered at kindergarten. Then the business grew.
With 1,000 employees and $12 million in revenues, it became more difficult to
squeeze out family time. The business seemed to dominate her life. Blease tried to reserve
evenings and weekends for her kids, but it was still a struggle. At times, she heard the
plaintive query of her seven-year-old son—a cry that haunts many parents: "Mammy, do
you love your company more than me?" Of course, Blase, like every other entrepreneur,
wished that question had never had to be asked. (Envisionet was later sold to Microdyne
Outsouning.)