Awesome Article by Julene Fleurmond, Founder of Envibrance Studios & www.DreamerENT.com
There’s nothing like being able to do what you love while helping people around you. To me, that’s what entrepreneurship is all about – matching a passion you have with an idea to serve others, and then putting your plan into action. Young people can do amazing things that affect and inspire the lives of others when they take their entrepreneurial ideas into flight; here’s my journey as a young CEO and social venturer.
The entrepreneurial bug first bit me when I was in elementary school. My passion was and still is pursuing all things creative: art, writing and any kind of storytelling. I began selling custom greeting cards, calendars and a homemade magazine I created to friends, teachers and family. As a shy little girl the responses of my teachers and peers encouraged me to keep creating and thinking of product ideas. I didn’t begin to get serious about starting a business until I was in high school and took part in a NFTE camp. There I learned how to create a business plan, manage money and market my business.
At age 15 I founded my current business Envibrance Studios. Envibrance is a multimedia company that includes a graphic design studio and an inspiring apparel and stationery product line through the website www.envibrance.com. When I’m designing invitations or new t-shirt designs it never feels like work because of how much I love to be creative. I am now in graduate school studying public health and am still running the same company – which shows how powerful entrepreneurship can be when you start young.
Envibrance also became a motivational company when people began to ask me to do speaking engagements for youth. That’s also when I founded my first community service project Art for Humanity to inspire other young people. I grew up in the inner city neighborhoods of Miami, FL, and Boston, MA, and I and so many children and teens there experienced poverty and negative influences. Because other mentors inspired me to reach for my dreams, I decided to do the same. I began creating art contests and toy drives at my local library to inspire the youth to realize that there was hope, people who cared and purpose for them beyond what they saw each day – the possibilities are endless if one puts willpower and persistence toward a dream.
Fast-forward to college, which is when I founded the organization called Young Dreamer Enterprises that continued the vision of inspiring young people to dream. The organization teaches preteens and teens about entrepreneurship, college preparation, life development and self-esteem through workshops and a mentoring program.
The website www.DreamerENT.com features dreamers, doers and change-makers like young entrepreneurs and all types of artists who share their stories of how they got started in their businesses or careers. There are interviews with young actors and actresses, social venturers, and soon we’ll be featuring a series with adults who have cool and creative jobs who will give a behind the scenes look at what goes on in those fields and how to prepare for them. The site is aimed at showing young people that you don’t have to wait until you’re older to follow your dreams – whether it is starting a business, community service organization, or learning about the career path that interests you – you can do great things now while you are young!
Running a business, community program and webzine is so very enjoyable because I get to do what I love – but it is not always easy. I have had ideas that didn’t work out and times when I needed to take a break to plan and start again. There’s a lot of time and effort that needs to be spent in bringing your dream to fruition – doing research, finding materials, resources, volunteers, sponsors, customers and anything else needed to run the business successfully. In running DreamerENT.com sometimes it is hard balancing my schoolwork with planning events and researching, designing and writing articles, but in the end I am always motivated to keep going when I remember why I created the site – to inspire young people to see the potential in life.
When times do get hard, it is great to remember that you’re not alone. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a young entrepreneur is that it is ok to ask for help. Don’t worry, you aren’t expected to run the whole business by yourself! I am naturally an introvert and was sometimes scared to tell people when I needed help. Asking others to lend a hand makes the business more enjoyable and your business can reach so many more people if you collaborate with others. It is so fulfilling to create relationships with people who have a similar vision or who have talents and strengths that compliment yours.
Focusing beyond the extra money in your pocket is also important when creating your business. Think about issues you really care about – maybe it’s battered animals or helping people affect by a natural disaster. Find creative a way to bring together others and give back to the community through your talents. Through my various ventures I feel empowered to share what I have learned. I’ve been able to speak to other teens from rough neighborhoods similar to mine about being an entrepreneur and going to college, and it is great to hear them get excited about their own futures.
Entrepreneurship is an amazing opportunity for you to make a difference in the world right where you are. I especially encourage young people – whether you are a kid or teen – to try out entrepreneurship while you’re young because there are so many opportunities and benefits available for you. Not only will you create a profit, have access to grants and various entrepreneurship programs, and the support of parents, teachers and other adults, you will also learn things many grown-ups wish they had learned earlier. It’s like getting a head-start on your future!
Most of all through entrepreneurship you get to solve a problem for someone and show others what’s possible when young people put their mind to doing something great. I dare you to not only dream, but to jump to action and soar boldly toward your aspirations –you have the ability to impact the world.
Thanks for an interesting article. I really appreciate your emphasis on matching a passion with an idea to help others.
What more fulfilling way is there to make a living than to find ways to help others?
Thanks for your comment Jeff! There really is no better way to make a living than to follow our passions!