YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Adolescence brings with it many challenges - for both parents
and kids. Young people, still new to the world, are embarking on
a journey to discover their passions, joys, and authentic
self-images. More often than not, however, their journey more
closely resembles an elongated stampede of enraged elephants
than it does an innocent soul-searching endeavor. But no one
said growing up would be easy.
And there are young entrepreneurs out there who see the world in
a truly positive light. Sure, they have their ups and downs like
most teenagers, but they are motivated, focused, and want to
make a difference.
Who are these kids? How were they raised? What do they have in
common with one another? At the risk of making some sweeping
generalizations, I will paint the picture of the young,
confident entrepreneur - with the knowledge that this
over-idealized portrait often comes in many colors and hues.
While entrepreneurship was never common in my family, many young
entrepreneurs had experiences early on in life that lead them
towards an entrepreneurial path. In general, there are two
possible ways young people feel compelled towards
entrepreneurship: inspiration and avoidance. Both can act as
powerful catalysts for taking action.
In the case of inspired action, the young entrepreneur most
likely grew up in an environment where individuality,
responsibility, and financial literacy were encouraged. Even if
the parent made little money to support his or her child, the
underlying message often centered around taking initiative and
following one's own path.
On the other hand, in the instances where avoidance is the
primary motivator, the child usually wants to avoid becoming
like their primary caregiver, who was most likely a negative
influence. Friends of mind who have exhibited this type of
motivation often have a very strong drive to succeed, yet, in
part, base their motivation on what they don't want to become -
and must overcome even greater adversity in life.
In order to facilitate the spirit of entrepreneurship in your
family, there are many steps you can take. While these steps are
particularly geared towards entrepreneurship, they apply toward
creating any harmonious relationship between parent and child:
-Teach your child in creative, 'outside-the-box' ways. In a
recent article with 19 year-old CEO Cameron Johnson, he told a
story about how his parents gave him stocks - literally, shares
in a company - in his stockings for Christmas. There are many
ways you can teach your child about financial literacy,
entrepreneurship, and individuality.
-Make self-awareness and wealth consciousness the highest
priorities. This entails a significant amount of soul-searching.
And while many adults are adverse to the concept of change,
often letting go of fear and facing your demons can be the most
inspirational model for your child. I have a friend who, after
years of living in a fear-based reality, she learned to let go
and allow herself to forgive and love others. She has never
enjoyed better relationships with her children.
-If your kid acts up, stand in your truth. Don't beat around the
bush or overreact. Of course, you want to be sensitive to your
child's feelings and come from a place of authentic compassion.
But when it comes down to it, tell it like it is - they'll
appreciate it in the end.
-Give your child ample opportunity to discover independence for
him or herself. It's critically important that your child learns
the process of creating one's own experience of reality from a
first-hand perspective. Sometimes this requires being more firm
or lenient than one would like. Yet remember that you grew
through making mistakes and so will your child.
If you see your child exhibiting entrepreneurial behaviors, make
sure you show your support throughout his or her growth process.
And if your kid is struggling to find motivation, don't worry -
as long as you follow the guidelines above, you will instill the
characteristics of greatness and, in due time, inspire the
leader within.