This is Ryan right before he left to go on his first interview for a busboy position at the local sandwich shop. He was nervous. Very nervous. I knew he would be, so a few days before the interview we began role-playing. I wanted him to feel comfortable and confident that he was qualified for the job.

Although it’s always hard to know exactly what questions are going to be asked during an interview, there tend to be some standard ones.

We started with those questions:

■Why are you interested in this job?
■What makes you qualified for the job?
■What is your greatest strength/weakness?
■When can you start?

Then I tried to get creative. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on an interview, but here are the questions I aksed him:

■How would you handle these scenarios? A customer is upset because they feel their order was not handled properly. Or Your shift is over but your replacement hasn’t shown up. What do you do?
■How do you describe good customer service?
■What are your expectations for this job?

To build his confidence I reminded him of all the work experience he had. It’s hard to toot our own horn but sometimes we simply need to do it. Besides, unlike a lot of kids his age, he’s been working since he was eleven years old. First it was his once-a-week paper route which he kept for five years. When he was 13, he began reffing soccer in the fall. And then there was all the in-between stuff like doing yard work for our neighbor or cat-sitting for weeks at a time. All of that shows initiative, responsibility, and commitment. Employers like that. So mention it!

I also told him that if he was asked to describe what sets him apart from the others, he should talk about the times he went above-and-beyond in his responsibilities. Like when he decided to run the newspapers up to the doorstep of his subscribers. Or when he stayed to ref the next soccer game when the scheduled ref didn’t show. This shows you’re willing to put in the work…and then some.

I told him, they’re going to learn a lot about you even before you answer that first question. Did you arrive on time? How are you dressed? How did you introduce yourself? Did you offer a nice, firm handshake? How was your eye contact? All of these are clues to who you are as a person. And how you relate to everyone you meet is an indication of your inter-personal skills. Those are very important to an employer.

We role-played until he felt like he was ready. And although he was still nervous, he was less so knowing that he had prepared.

As he drove off that afternoon to learn more about how the world works, I was hoping that one lesson that day was learning that 5 minutes before you leave for the interview is not a good time to discover that you’ve misplaced your dress pants and that your shirt needs to be ironed.

Today’s interview is with mompreneur Phillis Stacy-Brooks:
Phillis has 14 year of experience and a wide range of design styles. She has designed identities, collateral, packaging and websites for clients such as: Walt Disney Studios, Healthnet, Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Oakland Athletics, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc., University of California- Los Angeles, and Universal Studios. Phillis is an award winning designer with timeless, creative, and innovative concepts.

Sarah: When did you notice that your son was interested in making money and being in business?

Phillis: When I saw how great his drawings were.  I immediately thought they should be on t-shirts.

Sarah: How did you go about introducing him to mentors?

Phillis: Right now we are so new to in our business he has no mentors. We’re mentoring each other.

Sarah: I know you are in business, do you think that has given you an edge in raising a CEO Kid?

Phillis: I have my own graphics business which I love. Dylan definitely see the pros and the cons of having your own business first hand. He see how hard I work.

Sarah: What did you to do support him along the way?

Phillis: We’ve worked on every aspect of his business together.

Sarah: How do you help your CEO Kid stay balanced in all the other things they are doing in life?

Phillis: We only work on SkatePunkz one or two hours a day. He has to do his homework first.

Sarah: What role besides that of parent do you play in his/her business?

Phillis: I guess I’m his sounding board, his go-to person when he needs help.

Sarah: What were some of the challenges that you all faced in helping him become the success he is today?

Phillis: Hmmm, tying to get him to understand that I could not front all the money at one time. We had to take baby steps. And that he could not give all the t-shirts away to his friends! Other than that he’s been pretty understanding.

Sarah: Is there anything you would have done differently that you would be willing to share with other parents of CEO Kids?

Phillis: It’s happened so fast that’s hard to say. So far we’ve happy with our progress.

Sarah: Share your TOP 3 – 5 tips that every parent of a CEO Kid should implement

Phillis:

1. Take advantage of local resources. We have a local resource that help new business set up a business plan, and offers advise on just about anything you need to start and run a business. It was a great find.
2. Homework comes first, always. Give back to the community. Dylan has decided to give 5% to 10% of every shirt sale to the Brittany Foundation.

Sarah: If you could have had resources available to helping you in raising entrepreneur kids what would you have wanted?

Phillis: To be able to have the chance to talk to other kids and parents who have started a business. Learn from their experiences both good and bad.

Sarah: Please tell me how you got started and where CEO Kids and parents can find out more info about you.

James: My interest as a CEO kid started at 8 years old after I was awarded my black belt in Taekwondo. It helped triple my confidence and I realized I was inspiring and helping kids and parents. I am now 9 ½ years and want to be a CEO for real.

www.inspiringkidstoday.com
www.thetaekwondokid.com

Sarah: When did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur and why did you want to start?

James: My dad has been talking and working with me since I got my Black Belt about business ideas. We founded Inspiring Kids Today together and I am very active in coming up with great ideas and helping out with planning, etc.

Sarah: Where did you come up with your idea and what investigation did you do to help you know that this would be a great business?

James: I am working on my first product which is something my mom has been doing for me since I was young and think other moms/kids will love it. Beside that, we are active at Inspiring Kids Today in developing a number of projects that we are excited about.

Sarah: What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?

James: I believe I have a winning attitude, people like me, I have great ideas, and believe I am a champion in a lot of ways.

Sarah: What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business?

James: My dad has been a great help. Really understanding what a CEO is and what a CEO does, plus balance it with school, activities etc because I believe it is still important for me to be a kid and have a balance.

Sarah: How old were you when you started and how old are you now? How does your age affect your business success?

James: I was 8 when I started and am now 9 ½. We have come a long way in such a short period of time.

Sarah: What kind of expenses or start-up costs did you have when you started your business and where did you find the money or capital to start?

James: My dad is teaching me the value of trading services in exchange for other services which has made start up really really cheap.

Sarah: What have been the best surprises that you found in starting your business?

James: How much work it is but the rewards are worth it. Setting and meeting goals feels great. It has been great, just like getting my Black Belt in Taekwondo. I look forward to publishing my first book “The Taekwondo Kid…Inspiring Kids and parents to be the best they can be.”

Sarah: Do you do EVERYTHING by yourself or do you have people on your team that work with you? If so – how did you find people to help you along the way?

James: My dad is the best (and my mom and sister too) and has put together a great team of people to help in many ways. I am learning about all the different services that are available to a CEO.

Sarah: What ideas and approaches do you use to market your business and what do you find works best for you in getting the word out about who you are and what you are doing?

James: I have my own facebook which I was using quite often, not as much anymore because I have been reading more about CEO’s and looking over the www.raisingceokids.com website (which is great by the way ).

Sarah: How do you balance it all? Do you find that you still have time to be a kid?

James: This is the most important part to me. I tell my dad honestly, if you want to be my partner I have to play and have fun. He is cool and agrees. He teaches me that working can have its rewards like the PS3I want to get and I am working on projects to make this happen. I agree when he says its okay to be rewarded for our hard work and I know by setting my goals I can do anything, with a plan. We have a great 3 year plan we are working on.

Sarah: What is the best advice or tips you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?

James: Have an idea, develop a plan, and sell sell sell!

Sarah: Please tell me how you got started and where CEO Kids and parents can find out more info about you.

Asya: As I flip through my old drawings and sketches I see that I’ve always had it in me to draw but I really got started with Stinky Feet Gurlz when my mom showed me her childhood doodle of a girl with big red lips and pin curls. There was a story behind it though. She said when she and her sister and cousin were little, they were super cute but they played hard and when they’d come in to watch TV, they’d take off their shoes and their grandma would come in and shoo them out because their feet were stinky so they were the original Stinky Feet Gurlz. I loved that! That was apart of my mom’s childhood and I thought, “I could totally tweak this up a bit!” When I did, my mom loved the way it looked and said I gave life to her vision. My mom is not very artistic. She writes children’s books but can’t illustrate them. I get my artistic ability from both my grandparents and my aunt. I loved the first girl so much I drew more and that’s when I asked my mom if she thought these would look good on a t-shirt and that’s how Stinky Feet Gurlz was launched!

Our website is www.stinkyfeetgurlz.com and you can also follow us at

www.facebook.com/stinkyfeetgurlz

www.twitter.com/stinkyfeetgurlz

www.youtube.com/stinkyfeetgurlz

Sarah:  When did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur and why did you want to start?

Asya: Well, ever since I was very young I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer and make my own clothes that were unique and stylish. This definitely is going to help me launch my dreams faster.

Sarah: Where did you come up with your idea and what investigation did you do to help you know that this would be a great business?

Asya: My mom had connections with a local printer and after we had a test shirt done, she and my dad asked random people what they thought of the shirt and they would say, “Oh, this is so adorable!” so we knew it would be a great business.

Sarah:  What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?

Asya: Thankfully I’ve already been gifted in drawing and they eye for design. Those skills alone help me take what is already in my imagination and put it onto paper. Oh! That’s another skill! Imagination!

Sarah: What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business

Asya: A big obstacle is money. It takes money to buy the shirts, to pay the people who print them and so on. But my parents helped me out a little but really it’s up to me to sell these shirts to make the money to keep it going. Another obstacle was the fear of not knowing if I was going to draw something people liked. I liked it, but would other people? Now that we’ve had great feedback, I’m over that fear and I put my talents in God’s hands and trust that my gifts can be used to make a difference.

Sarah: How old were you when you started and how old are you now? How does your age affect your business success?

Asya: I was 13 when I started this business and now I’m 14. It doesn’t affect me in a way most people might think. My friends are all still the same around me and I still have chores and I’m expected to do well in school. It’s been a positive experience because I’m learning a lot about owning my own business. I think my age helps me because I’ve noticed that adults love to help out kids who are entrepreneurs! They really do!

Sarah: What about college? Are you planning on going?

Asya: I definitely plan on going to college. I am really thinking of going to the L.A Art Institute.

Sarah: What kind of expenses or start-up costs did you have when you started your business and where did you find the money or capital to start?

Asya: The first batch of t-shirts we ordered and printed was around $700. The website was less because my mom designed it herself and I believe for the whole year it was $150. Other costs were buying the name, printing stickers and business cards but I think one of the biggest expenses next to the t-shirts was trade marking the name. My parents cashed in their 401K’s for me. I am very thankful and I really want to pay them back when I sell enough shirts.

Sarah: What have been the best surprises that you found in starting your business?

Asya: I think the biggest surprise is all the support and encouragement I’ve had along the way by my family and friends. You hear about people getting jealous of other people when they do well, which is so sad, but I haven’t had one person treat me any differently.

Sarah:  Do you do EVERYTHING by yourself or do you have people on your team that work with you? If so – how did you find people to help you along the way?

Asya: Oh gosh, I can’t do everything by myself. My mom helps me out a LOT! I bring the drawings to her and she tells me what she thinks I should clean up or add. She also is the one who designed the website but she also would say, “What do you think about this? What do you like or not like about that?” She let me have an opinion.

Sarah:  What ideas and approaches do you use to market your business and what do you find works best for you in getting the word out about who you are and what you are doing?

Asya: Right now we’re using Facebook, Twitter. We do t-shirt or sticker giveaways for participating on our Facebook fan page. We also participate in other company fan pages by donating a prize in their contests. That generates a lot of buzz. We grew by 100 in three days by doing that. We always connect with someone when we’re out and about, handing out my business card, asking if they are on Facebook and telling them that I’m a young entrepreneur with a t-shirt/clothing line. People seem to love to support the youth and I think that’s so great.

Sarah:  How do you balance it all? Do you find that you still have time to be a kid?

Asya: The funny thing is, I have no idea how busy I am until people ask me! (haha) I take a full seven periods at school instead of six because I play the Tenor Saxophone. I also play acoustic guitar and the clarinet. I play sports like volleyball, basketball and softball, I am volunteering at a Senior Center, volunteering with church and yet I have no problems finding time for family and friends…or to just read or draw. I heard my mom once say to a woman who was hinting that I was doing to much say, “Children react to their environment. If you create chaos and a stressful environment, that’s what they’ll know. If it’s peaceful and normal, that’s what they’ll know.” My home is fun, relaxed and normal and I love it.

Sarah: What is the best advice or tips you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?

Asya: My advice is even though you might have your own business, you’re still a kid, enjoy it. Never think you don’t have enough time to have fun, there’s always time. Also, ask for help. If you can’t get it from your parents like I did, ask an uncle or an aunt. Let them know what you are doing and see if they will support you. But just have fun and be willing to learn!

Sarah:  Tell us how you got started and where CEO Kids and parents can find out more info about you.

Dylan: One morning I showed my mom my drawings. The next thing I knew she told me that the drawings were perfect for t-shirts. We sat down together and came up with my name “SkatePunkz”. She scanned in my art and redrew them exactly. We purchased my domain name, bought a Yudu (a silk screening machine). We starting looking for vendors for t-shirts and places to sell the shirt. Right now we are designing the web site, www.skatepunkz.com. The site should be up in a few weeks. The plan is to test the market and see what sells and what doesn’t. We are working on a fan page for facebook and a twitter account. I hope to create a video that will be for Youtube. I hope to donate a portion of every t-shirt I sell to the Brittany Foundation.

Sarah: When did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur and why did you want to start?
Dylan: I thought it would be cool to design and sell t-shirts for kids my age.

Sarah: Where did you come up with your idea and what investigation did you do to help you know that this would be a great business?

Dyaln: My mom and I came up with the idea together. She lets me come up with the ideas and I approve all the art she has traced from my drawings.

Sarah: What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?

Dyaln: I know what kids my age like and I can draw cool faces.

Sarah:  What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business?

Dyaln: Starting the business with little money. Having to go slow and work with a budget. Understanding that sometimes my drawings need to be changed a bit for them to work on shirts.

Sarah: How old were you when you started and how old are you now? How does your age affect your business success?

Dylan: I’m 9 years old.  I am not sure yet how it affects my business but I am pretty sure it is not too different than other people in business.

Sarah: What about college? Are you planning on going?

Dylan: Yes!  The money I make selling shirts is going to help pay for college.

Sarah: What kind of expenses or start-up costs did you have when you started your business and where did you find the money or capital to start?

Dylan: I needed to have my website programmed, a YuDu machine to test the designs, and blank t-shirts. So far we’ve spent about $800. It also costs money to rent a booth at the Farmer’s Market. I borrowed the money from my mom as a “business loan”.

Sarah: What have been the best surprises that you found in starting your business?

Dylan: Having a photo shoot where I’m modeling the shirt and riding my skate board!

Sarah:  Do you do EVERYTHING by yourself or do you have people on your team that work with you? If so – how did you find people to help you along the way?

Dylan: Right now it’s just my mom and me working together. I have an older brother who I ask all sorts of questions. He was a skater too.  My mom sent out a survey and asked a bunch of questions to my friend’s parents. Everyone answered & they gave us some good information which helped a lot.

Sarah: How do you balance it all? Do you find that you still have time to be a kid?

Dylan: I have to do my homework, then I can work with my mom. We discuss where we are and what still needs to be done. Then I can play with my friends.

Sarah: What is the best advice or tips you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?

Dylan: Your business may sound fun, but it’s a lot of work too and a lot of waiting. You have to be really sure you want to start a business cause it can’t just be for the money. I won’t see any money for awhile. You have to believe in what you’re doing because if you don’t it won’t work.

Some kids have the entrepreneur spirit from day one and it other kids have to be inspired to be entrepreneurs. The inspiration for Cole came when he was just 9 year old.

Here’s his story in his own words:

“When I was 9 years old I started working on a farm.  I worked on the farm for two summers. I started out watering plants and picking up cow poo.  It wasn’t so much fun but you have to start somewhere.  After working on the farm for a while I learned how to train horses, ride, saddle them up, and I even went on a cattle drive.  At the end of the time I volunteered on the farm my dad surprised me by paying me $300.00.  He told me that he wanted me to know that when you work, you get paid.  It was on the farm that I learned character, integrity, how to work hard, and my get-it-done attitude.  Now I own a local lawn service business in Steamboat Springs, Colorado called GrassMan Lawn Care.  I also an working on a couple of different inventions.  I am working on creating some unique fly fishing gear.  In fact one of my dad’s friends is going to China next month and he is going to be looking for some different materials to help me make my product.”

Sarah:  What a great story Cole!  I can’t wait to hear about your inventions too!  Why did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur?

Cole: Most kids my age don’t have a business and they rely on mom and dad for everything.  I wanted to have my own money and I thought owning a business at my age would give me a jump start in life.  I am planning on taking a trip to the Gold Coast in Australia in the next year and I need money to purchase my plane ticket.  One day I have a dream of becoming a Marine Biologist and want to go to Australia to learn more about sea life.  My dad encouraged me and we brainstormed that a lawn business would be a good way to get the money for my ticket and other things.

Sarah:  What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?

Cole: I love to laugh at life and not let the small things get me down.  This has been good for me when trying to get lawn accounts and getting 20 no’s in a row.  I am also good socially and this helps in building relationships with people and getting lawn accounts.

Sarah:  So true Cole!  Laughing is so important and keeping the rejection in perspective is really important!  What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business?

Cole: I went through 3 weed eaters this summer and that was a big struggle because I had use my own money to pay to get them fixed.  My first weed-eater was older and it died on me.  I bought a new weed-eater and I broke the gas can on it.  I had to have a new one as soon as possible so I bought a cheaper one at a garage sale and that is the one I’m using now.  The other problem was going door to door to find lawns and nobody would give me a straight answer, I guess because I was a kid and they didn’t want to hurt my feelings. I am working now to ask them to give me a more specific answer.

Sarah:  That must have been hard Cole. Tell me about your age – how does that affect you?

Cole: Although I worked on the farm when I was 9 and 10 I didn’t start my business until I was 11 and there are pros and cons to that.  I don’t have everyday expenses like house payments, electricity bills and water bills so all the money I make goes into my pocket!  Because I am too young to drive, I can’t get as many accounts as I want and I don’t feel like pushing my lawnmower 10 miles so that is a bit of a problem.  My dad has been really great to drive me around to a bunch of my accounts and that helps me a lot.

Sarah:  It sure helps to have supportive parents!  Your dad and mom have been so awesome in supporting you!  What about college?  Are you planning on going?

Cole: Yes, I am planning on going to college.  I want to either go to the University of  Texas and play football or possibly go to the University of Queensland in Australia and get a degree in Marine Biology.  I plan on growing my business by getting more accounts, hiring my friends and selling the business before I go to college.  Then I will take the money from my lawn business and start a new business that I can run while in college.  I may also keep the business and have my dad run it while I am in college.  I have time to think on that.

Sarah:  It’s great to hear that you are thinking about the growth of your business and are making plans for the future!  What kind of expenses or start-up costs did you have when you started your business and where did you find the money or capital to start?

Cole: My dad helped me out by letting me use the family’s lawn equipment, so I didn’t have much start up cost.  Now I have money to reinvest in better equipment and supplies I will need for next summer.

Sarah:  Good thinking to reinvest your money back into your business.  What have been the biggest and best surprises from starting your business?

Cole: I’m always finding money in my pocket!  There are people in my town that are three times my age and I make as much if not more than them and I didn’t think that was possible.

Sarah:  That’s awesome Cole!  It’s such a great feeling to know you are being paid what you are worth!  What ideas and approaches do you use to market your business and what do you find works best for you in getting the word out about who you are and what you are doing?

Cole: I found my best marketing was done door to door, fliers and when I do a good job people spread the world.

Sarah:  So how do you balance all of your activities and your business Cole and what tips would you give to other CEO Kids and entrepreneurs

Cole:  I limit the days I am mowing so that it doesn’t interfere with the other things I am doing but that does require some sacrifices.  What I would tell other kids is that if you want to start a business you have to have the mindset that you can do it.  You have to be willing to work hard, have character and integrity and a belief that you can make it happen.

Awesome Article by Matthew Turcotte, successful teen entrepreneur, published author, and investor. You can find out more about him here: http://www.northshorewebdevelopment.com

I’ve had the great fortune of being able to have fantastic mentors who have been very successful in business and who have been able to teach me many valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, success and life. I believe that it is incredibly important to surround yourself with the best people that you can, people who inspire you and people who you aspire to be like.

Take a moment to think about the top five people who you spend the most time with. Probably your friends will rank as number one, but other than your friends, who are you spending your time with? It may be your parents; it may be the people you work with at your part time job, or maybe someone else. You’d be amazed at how the people you spend time with affect your thinking and how you behave. You cannot underestimate the power of your surroundings and the people with whom you are spending time with. If you really want to be a success, you should try to make time to be around successful people. The more time you spend around successful people, the more you’ll begin to learn how they behave, how they think, how they work and why they are successful.

But you might be thinking…how do I spend time with successful people? I don’t anyone who’s really successful or who I aspire to be like. And that’s fine. Not everybody knows someone like that. But this is where you have to have some courage and try to find people. Where do you find people? Well, the first place you could go is your teachers. Do you have a business department at your school? Take a few minutes after class to spend some time talking to your business teacher and tell him or her that you really want to know more about entrepreneurship and how to run a business. Ask them if they know anyone who you could spend time with who is an entrepreneur. Do your parents know anyone who runs a business? Maybe you have a friend whose parents are entrepreneurs. Don’t be afraid to reach out. When you are talking to this potential mentor for the first time, tell them that you admire what they do, and that you want to be like them and run a business. You could start out asking “I’d just like to spend the afternoon with you sometime after school to learn more about what you do and how you run your business.”

Trust me, there’s nothing more flattering than hearing that compliment from someone young. I’ve had the privilege of being a mentor and it’s a great feeling to be able to help someone learn about entrepreneurship. The worst thing they can say is no. If they do, ask them if they know someone else who might be willing to spend some time with you.

Once you’ve got someone willing to mentor you, pay attention to how they behave. Ask lots of questions and learn as much as you can. I’ve learned so much by spending time with my mentor, for example, having a strong work ethic, being disciplined, staying focused, and loving what you do. You might just develop a great friendship for years to come with your mentor.

If you really try, and you’re unable to find someone to spend time with, here’s the next best thing. Read. I’ve been mentored by some of the best business minds out there, people I didn’t even know personally. How is that? It’s by reading their books. So many successful entrepreneurs have taken the time to write their thoughts, experiences and knowledge down in a book so YOU could read it and learn from it. The best part is, it’s free! You can check out the books from your local library. Just be careful what books you read and who wrote them. Research the people who wrote the books so you know who they are and what their track record is. You want to learn from the best!

All in all, never underestimate the power of learning from an entrepreneur. Whether you spend time with a neighborhood business owner or you spend an afternoon reading a Donald Trump book, you’re learning. You’re learning about how these entrepreneurs think and how they behave. Once you spend more time learning, you’ll begin to develop the mindset of an entrepreneur. And once you have that, you’re well on your way to starting your own successful company.

Matthew Turcotte, 18, is a successful teen entrepreneur, published author, and investor. He started his award winning business, North Shore Web Development, when he was 16 years old. Today, his company has branched out into other ventures and has grown considerably since its inception, assisting clients all over the United States in developing an effective web presence for their business, non-profit organization, or municipality.

Rachele Pavelka is the oldest of 5 CEO Kids!  She is from a VERY entrepreneurial family and it was an absolute joy to talk to her!

Here’s our interview:

Sarah -  So Rachele, why don’t you go ahead and tell us who you are and what your website is and how you began your journey of making money?

Rachele P. -     Okay.  My name is Rachele Pavelka, I’m 14 years old and I started my businesses when I was about 6 years old.  I started, we started doing puppet shows and then we went on to bigger things like I had a dog walking service and then I did babysitting and now I’m selling jewelry. You can find my jewelery at  www.everygirlzdream.webs.com.  We also used to have six paper routes. We had two everyday and on the weekends 6 so we had to get up at 5 a.m. to do those.  We had those for about 18 months and then we moved so we had to get rid of them.  We  also had four routes that we did once a week for about six years.

Sarah – Wow, that’s amazing.  That’s a lot of discipline to get up that early every single weekend.  That’s really, really awesome.  It takes a lot of work to do that.  I know sometimes my own kids get up early for jobs too and they’re tired.  So do you make the jewelry or do you get it from somewhere?  How do you do it?

Rachele Pavelka -     I actually import it from Peru.  I found these people on the Internet and the Incans of the Andes Mountains to make the jewelry.  So yeah.  That’s how they make their money.

Sarah – Wow!  You import it and then you resell it to local shops and things like that?  That’s great.  So how did you find that connection?

Rachele Pavelka-     Through the Internet.  I got a sample pack and I really liked it and it sold really well.  We went to the state fair that weekend that I got it and I like tripled what I paid for it and almost sold everything that I had.  Yep, it’s a good business.

Sarah -  That’s so, so great.  Okay, so what were some of the things that, what do you think are the most important skills to have in helping you grow a business or starting a business?  What are some of the most important skills?

Rachele Pavelka -    Probably keeping an open mind that you can try different things, see if that works.  Accounting skills are important as is leadership.

Sarah -  So were there any problems in starting your businesses?  Were there any obstacles that you had to face to start all the different businesses?

Rachele Pavelka -     In this jewelry company, the language barrier was a problem because they speak Spanish down in Peru and I don’t.  So that was kind of hard, but we finally overcame that.

Sarah -  So how did you work though that?  Did you get a translator or do you have a family member that speaks Spanish?

Rachele Pavelka -     We just spoke through email and we got it translated through email.

Sarah – Okay.  Got it. And so where are some of the places besides your website that you sell your jewelery in?

Rachele Pavelka-     I have some consignment shops that sell for me and I have some people under me that sell jewelry in different parts of Nebraska.  And I sell  at expos and craft fairs and places like that.

Sarah – That’s awesome. So what were some of the expenses that you had to start? Did you have to buy a whole bunch up front or how did it work?

Rachele Pavelka-     No, there’s no minimal order that I had to order. I had that expense of ordering the jewelry and then I had business cards I got and then I had flat stands to hold the jewelry at the fairs.

Sarah – And so do you find all of those resources online then?

Rachele Pavelka -     No, I found them at local stores.

Sarah – That’s good.   So what would be some things that you do on a daily or weekly basis to help grow your business?

Rachele Pavelka-     Update my website.

Sarah – That sounds pretty simple.  So if you could give one tip to help other CEO kids and entrepreneurs, what would you give as that one tip for kids that want to be in business and make money like you do?

Rachele Pavelka-     Just start on something and if it doesn’t work out, you can always try, try again just different things and just keep working at it until it succeeds.

Sarah – Sounds good.  Thank you for example that you are to other young entrepreneurs!

We love YouTube in our family!  I know there is TONS of garbage on there and you really do need to be careful when letting kids spend time here.  On the other hand – my kids and I have learned some amazing things from people sharing videos all over the world.  We have also made some great friends and met some fabulous people supporting awesome causes!  Once of those people is Emily-Anne Rigal.  Here’s the Q & A we did with Emily-Anne!  Enjoy!

Sarah:  Where can people find you online Emily-Anne?

Emily-Anne:  YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/schmiddlebopper and  Twitter: https://twitter.com/schmiddlebopper

Sarah:  So when did when did you start thinking about starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur and why did you want to start?

Emily-Anne:   Becoming an entrepreneur is something I have been interested in since I was very young. I dreamed of starting a charitable nonprofit all throughout my childhood because I was eager to do great things and confident in my abilities. The older I got, the more I craved the experience and valuable lessons I would learn by starting my own program. I currently have a project called WeStopHate, which raises awareness about cyber-bullying through the power of the YouTube community.  This project occurred, as I would say, “naturally.” I say this because I have been making YouTube videos (as a hobby) for over a year, and it is something I really enjoy. Because of this, I was inspired to start a program incorporating the YouTube community.

Sarah:  What do you think are the most important skills you have that help you in business?

Emily-Anne:   I am very ambitious and motivated. I’m not sure if that would be considered a “skill,” but I believe they are traits that are essential in order to succeed.

Sarah:   What do you see as the biggest obstacles or problems in getting started in business?

Emily-Anne: I think in getting started, the biggest obstacle to overcome is simply just starting. It can be incredibly overwhelming, and whenever I feel as if its too much, I say to myself, “it’s just the beginning, everything that I want to happen will happen, but it isn’t all going to happen right this second. One thing at a time.” Remembering that it’s okay to start small, it very important when starting a business.

Sarah:    What is the problem, even or need that your business helps to solve?

Emily-Anne:  The program I am developing is helping to raise awareness for cyber-bulling, an issue I believe needs much more media attention. Cyber-bulling is a serious issue in our society, and yet I believe many people have a very limited understanding of what it actually is.

Sarah:  Where did you come up with your idea?

Emily-Anne:  Having been immersed in the YouTube community for such a long time, the idea to utilize the large followings of my friends and myself just made sense to me, and when I thought of the idea I was very excited about it. I believe it is a great opportunity because what I am doing with the YouTube community has never been done before.

Sarah:  How about your age?  How does that affect you?

Emily-Anne:   I’d like to say my age is an advantage, but my personal belief is that my age can be extremely limiting. I have no doubt that I am capable to doing certain things which an older person can do, but I believe many people refuse to work with high school kids in a professional setting, and so many things I would love to do, are limited because I am “too young.” However, there are some advantages to my age. For example, it can be very impressive when someone finds out I am only sixteen.

Sarah:    What about college?  Are you planning on going?

Emily-Anne:  I am planning on going to college, and I hope to go to a school in an urban setting, preferably New York City.

Sarah:  What were the best SURPRISES you found  in starting your business?

Emily-Anne:     I was pleasantly surprised with all the support I received.

Sarah:  What were your daily or weekly efforts in spreading your brand message and will you share some tips on making connections to grow your business?

Emily-Anne:  As far as making connections, I would say that what’s important is to be genuine. Try to find some common ground with whomever you are reaching out to, because building a relationship with someone is vital. My grandfather once told me, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Also, be grateful whenever someone is helping you and never forget to say thank you.

Sarah:  What advice or tips can you give to other CEO Kids and entrepreneurs?

Emily-Anne:  Try to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. You only live once and in my opinion the most important thing you can be is to be happy, not stressed! Make sure that you ENJOY what you’re doing, rather than starting a business as a way to impress someone, such as your parents, teachers, or college admissions people. Understand that you may not be ready to start a business just yet and that’s okay too. With that being said, if starting a business is something you’re passionate about then by all means jump in with two feet; don’t do it half way, make sure it do your best and give it your all.

Thanks Emily-Anne!  You are such a great example and force for good!  Keep it up!

**I just got this article sent to me by Paul Brindak, father of Juliette Brindak.  Juliette was one of the CEO Kids that I interviewed for the book I am writing.  I was so excited to see that she is going to Russia!!

St. Petersburg, Russia – Old Greenwich, CT, June 15, 2010.  Juliette Brindak, co-Founder of Miss O & Friends®, a lifestyle and socialization brand created and managed by young girls, has been recruited by the Russian Federation to participate in the Youth International Economic Forum (YIEF), St. Petersburg, Russia, June 15 through June 18, 2010.

The Youth International Economic Forum is designed to bring together the best and the brightest social and business entrepreneurs and thought leaders under 30, to provide solutions and fresh ideas regarding Russia’s most important modernization projects.  Participants will work with world famous experts such as John Pepper, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company, and other senior executives from Google, Ernst &Young, Microsoft and many others.

According to Nikita Kroupski, Recruitment Officer, Management Selection Practice at Ward Howell International, Juliette has been selected, “Based on (her) ability to launch and implement projects that produce value for society, as well as (her) unwavering belief in constant self-development and freedom coupled with responsibility.”

Says Brindak,  “Miss O & Friends® is created and co-managed managed by girls who have outgrown Barbie, and are not ready for Britney.  We provide opportunities that are cool, age appropriate and esteem building.  Listening to what girls want and then delivering to their needs produces value in many ways. For example, today girls have the chance to have their original fashion designs produced and sold in retail outlets.  By helping girls establish a sense of self, these girls are more likely to make greater contributions to society.”

About Miss O & Friends® By Girls…For Girls

Cool and age appropriate, our lifestyle and socialization brand fills the void for Tween girls who have outgrown Barbie® and are not ready for Britney.  Ranked #4, global, “Girls Only” websites (Amazon’s Alexa data), Miss O & Friends® is managed by girls for girls, ages 8-14+, reflecting what girls want, helping girls realize their dreams, while building self-esteem. The authenticity created by Miss O’s real girls (Miss O, Juliette, Harlie, Justine and Isabella) and the Miss O & Friends Tween girl community, yield billions of hits, exceeding many other popular websites.

The company’s largest investor is the Procter and Gamble Company’s PGP unit, and features an impressive team with a world class Board, including Maxine Clark, Founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Leonard Lodish, Vice Dean, Wharton School and Gokul Rajaram, founder of Google’s “AdSense.”

About YIEF

The Youth International Economic Forum is attended by CEOs, politicians, and intellectual leaders from all over the world aimed at fostering cooperation between young, successful entrepreneurs who measure success not just in terms of profit, but also the value they create for society.

200 participants from all over the world aged from 18 to 30 are selected by an independent jury based on their accomplishments, experience and life goals.  Participants engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions with government officials, businessmen and scholars to develop recommendations for Russia’s most important modernization projects. Participants have the opportunity to choose the format of the sessions, work in teams with world-famous experts, develop recommendations to real-world project and then implement them if they are approved.