Encouraging Kids to Be Entrepreneurs
My son came up with another clever business idea, where he decided to create a comic club that would sell comic strips. He decided that he would recruit his friends, and they would all draw comics and sell comic strips. So they created a series of 8 episodes and were able to sell them to few of the surrounding neighborhood kids.
My 6-year-old daughter saw what was happening, so she and one of her friends started another comic club too. My daughter has been writing books (8 pages long) since she was 4, so she could really crank these out fast! But instead of trying to sell the comic strips to kids, my daughter went after the market segment called “my wife and I” (and the grandparents) as potential buyers. Now there is no way I could turn down my daughter so I bought 6 comic for a quarter a piece. My wife bought some too. All said and done, sa far she has made $4.00 on selling comic strips that she creates. not to bad for a 6-year-old!
I felt bad about my son because he wasn’t make as much, and they put a lot of effort into the comic strips. I was going to ask him if I could buy some, but he beat me to the punch and asked me if I would be interested in buying some. I happily said “yes”.
The beauty of my son’s sales proposition, is that he realized that he was missing a potential market and adjusted his sales techniques. I’m happy because he came to that conclusion by his own thought process instead of me twisting him into thinking that way.
What Did My Son Learn
I’m not sure if he realized it or not, but he learned quite a bit about marketing! If you don’t ask, nobody’s going to come to you for it. He also learn to adjust this sales tactics to reach a broader market.
What Did I Learn From My Daughter
Some times people are just naturals. My daughter knew that her mom and dad were excellent candidates for buying the comics, so she jumped on the opportunity with enthusiasm and determination. She really sounded like a sales person! I was floored again!
Maybe I over-analyze my kids, but they are awesome to watch!
Do you have kids (or have similar relatives) where you have seen the lightbulb go on, extra bright?
-MR
So are you going to sell your MR comics to your parents? 🙂
It is funny how kids are with money. My oldest wants money to fall from trees into his wallet. My daughter tutors people in Geometry and saves like an old miser. My youngest son can’t spend money fast enough. Thank God he can’t drive because he would race to the nearest Target the second he got his allowance every week. I give them all the same financial lessons, and they all have 3 different perspectives. It is kind of funny.
I read an article on Psychology about how birth order effects your personality and how siblings from the same family can develop radically different viewpoints and opinion on their parents and upbringing.
Growing up my parents weren’t rich and, at times, they struggled financially. My sister decided that she was going to give her kids the stuff that she never got to have and they have more toys than Toys R Us, they go on vacations all the time, etc. My brother stresses about money a lot and though he’s the youngest, through saving and investing, probably has the most money of anyone in the family. I wouldn’t say he’s a miser but he’s pretty tight fisted. I am… in the middle. I never felt deprived growing up so I don’t feel the need to compensate but seeing my parents argue about money wasn’t fun and I strive for security.
Hey, that’s a great idea! I’ll mark my comic up to $50 though! No 25 cent deals here!
Reading your first line actually had me laughing out loud in the library! Classic 🙂
If you heard me 6-year-old doing her sales pitch, you’d laugh and think you were watching a very well put together sales pitch at a commission based store.
Kids are funny, I bet you have plenty of stories 🙂
No I don’t have kids, but I was encouraged as a child to be entrepreneurial of sorts. I think it is very worthwhile and have been told that my family got joy when the light bulb went off in my head. It’s great when kids began to understand how things work, and we can share in that excitement!
As a father, it’s great to see my kids pass certain cognative milestones. My son is on schedule and doing great. My daughter scares me a bit though, because I think she’s already smarter than I am (and she’s only 6)… Of course, I’m still very happy when she does her many accomplishments well…
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That’s great! Start ’em while they’re young.
Now if only you could sell more of those comic strips on ebay…
Yeah, wouldn’t that be great. Unfortunately, neither of my kids can draw very well. The comics they create are still fun though!
Hey, I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!
You should have them participate in the Saturday comic series someday!
If they improve there drawing abilities, I might consider that, we’ll see 🙂
I’ll have to check out the Saturday comic series, I’ve never heard of it! Thanks for the lead!!!
Hehehe, I remember selling my homemade bracelets to the “parents” market – even my dad bought a few for a quarter each, lol.
I can see you being clever like that as a child! 🙂
Me, I just did chores and got an allowance…
Sounds like your kids are already on their way to becoming entrepreneurs! If your son and daughter team up in the future, I think they’ll make a powerful duo. 😉
That would be pretty cool, but unfortunately they both operate a bit differently.
I like this story. Kids can amaze you sometimes, especially if they display innate knowledge of selling you on an idea. It looks like your kids did a great job with that.
Different situation – non-business – but my daughter was telling me this evening all about a toy she really wants. She went the route of telling how the great thing is that it would be fun for the two of us to play together. I liked that angle: telling me what’s in it for me! 🙂
Ahhh, she’s using psychology, very clever… and natural at that!
Looks like you are in for some adventures in the future!!! 🙂