Teen Entrepreneurs
After noting the recent increase in unemployment and how it can easily be explained by the government-mandated increases in the minimum wage AND the flood of high school and college students looking for summer employment, it dawned on me that the most logical solution for those youths is to go into business for themselves!
By starting their own businesses, these young Americans could not only make money (perhaps more than they would have at a traditional job) but would also learn some valuable lessons about our economic system and the role of business in our great nation.
When I was in junior high and high school, I did yard work for many people and earned pretty good money. Mowing lawns and tending flower gardens provided quite a bit of spending money… I usually had much more than my friends. My small enterprise was subsidized by my dad, who let me use our lawn mower and edge trimmer at no cost (I did have to buy my own gasoline) but I had to mow our lawn for free… a good trade-off. Originally, I went door to door to find new customers and, because I did good work, almost all became regular customers… some wanted their lawns mowed every two weeks, some twice a month, some wanted gardens tended, and I picked up the occasional fence painting and other odd jobs. Most stayed with me from one year to the next.
I learned that, while you might have to sweat in the summer heat, it was gratifying to get paid for your effort. I also learned that, if you planned it right and performed certain tasks more efficiently, you could get the job done in a shorter period of time and, since I charged based on the job and not the hour, I earned more. Valuable productivity lessons were drilled into me.
I can’t remember the last time anyone came to my door and asked if they could mow my lawn! Honestly, if someone did, I’d be inclined to give them a chance. I think most adults are receptive to younger people looking for honest work.
Are teens today too lazy? Or have they just not thought they could run their own business?
When life deals you lemons (no jobs to be had), make lemonade (start your own business). Take the initiative and think of some way you can make money on your own: whether mowing lawns or baby-sitting… or some young people are more technically oriented and there are opportunities in that arena: create a website or design flyers for local businesses or sell things on eBay. There ARE opportunities!
While anyone should be able to brainstorm on their own, here are a few websites that might kick-start the process:
- SBA Teen Business Link
- Entrepreneur.com
- AOL Small Business
- When summer’s over, students should look into Junior Achievement at school
Be warned, though. Running your own business is not easy… it’s a lot of work…. but it can be very rewarding, in many more ways than just financial. When YOU are the boss, YOU must be the one to make things happen. Success won’t just come to you… you’ll have to go to it.
Don’t go on “parent welfare” for the summer! If you can’t find a job, go into business for yourself!! Who knows.. you might never work for anyone else again.
