Helping Kids Become Entrepreneurs

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By Hannah Cho
The Dallas Morning News.

How do you encourage children to be entrepreneurial?

Educator Susan Jackson offers tips on inspiring kids to start a business.

Jackson, a faculty member at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, spent many years as a corporate technology trainer. She teaches an honors technology class focused on entrepreneurship at TCA’s Upper School.

Love it
Do you have a passion for something or a hobby you love? Channel that passion into a business. If you love what you do, success and customers are more likely to follow, but don’t allow your passion to deafen you. Listen to wise counsel from those you know believe in you like your parents, teachers or a role model. They can help you take those first steps to launching a business.

Be original
Create something different that will stand out above the rest. Take the time to learn what other similar products or businesses are already in the market and then determine how your business is different. What will you offer that your competitors don’t?

Take a risk
Don’t wait to start your business. Being young gives you an advantage because typically you don’t have much to lose at this point in your life. Youth have a knack for determining what’s hot and what’s not. Being a young entrepreneur can help you stand out among the competition.

Set realistic goals and be committed
As any entrepreneur knows, setting realistic goals is the key to accountability and staying on track. As a “kidpreneur,” it is important to envision yourself at the end. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish and then write it down. Go over your goals with a parent or teacher to help you outline a realistic timeline of achieving your goal.

Take one step at a time
In the end, the little steps you’ve taken will come together and prove their significance. Don’t be discouraged. Building a business and revenue takes time. Continue pushing your idea until your idea starts pushing you.