Amidst all the recent chatter about how our nations’ youth are failing to meet core standards in the public school system, there is one thing that Americans do well, and that is entrepreneurship.  It has been the cornerstone of the country’s economic achievements, from early innovators and entrepreneurs like Ford and Franklin to current successes such as Gates and Zuckerberg.

At some point in time, most kids experience the brief joys entrepreneurship as they cart their lemonade stand supplies to the edge of the driveway in an early pursuit of the American dream.  Yet, there is more to youth entrepreneurship than your occasional lemonade stand that occupies little Jimmy’s time for a few weekend hours.  Of course it’s adorable watching him craft his stand and overly sweeten the lemonade that will make his customer’s thirstier than when they arrived; but in those few hours, he’s learning some very valuable lessons that he’ll take with him the rest of his life.

What most kids experience with that lemonade stand is pure ownership, something that is rare in childhood.  Sure, you may be teaching your kid about responsibility and financial management through delegating chores, but chores are a micro-managed activity.  There’s not a whole lot of creativity in emptying a dishwasher, making a bed or folding the laundry and putting it away.  They are tasks that are dictated on performance and time.  Though chores are necessary and an excellent way to teach important skill sets, they are not activities that a kid has complete control over.  With entrepreneurship, there are numerous ways to solve problems.  There is no one right answer and one wrong, simply success and failures.  With failures come chances for do-overs; the most important lesson and opportunity that entrepreneurship provides.

Part of what is so enticing about entrepreneurship is ownership – ownership over ideas and actions and the ability to make decisions.  It’s about freedom to call the shots and build something out of nothing.  Over 700,000 people each year in the US take a stab at starting a business, partly due to the desire to be one’s own boss.  A sense of ownership doesn’t begin at age 18 or after college; it’s a powerful force than transcends all ages, genders and socio-economic backgrounds.

There’s nothing quite like true ownership.  It builds self-esteem and self-awareness.  From that sense of ownership, mixed with youth entrepreneurship, we find other life-long benefits emerge.  That lemonade stand teaches financial literacy, decision-making, strategic-planning, creativity, mathematics, innovation, communications, accountability, risk-taking, teamwork and delegation.  All this from mixing up some sugar and lemons and sitting on the sidewalk waiting for people to stop by.  Your child may not bring in a six figure income from his venture yet, but he did something significant all on his own.

Like most parents we want our kids to enjoy their childhood as much as possible and be free of the responsibilities of adulthood because they will spend plenty of time fussing over the realities of life once they fly the coop.  The limited time your kid has to enjoy his childhood is undoubtedly valued; he likely won’t see this carefree time in his life until he retires.  Yet, the bulk of his life will be spent making his way through the world, independently taking care of himself and his family.  All of the lessons learned from his childhood, including those days spent behind his lemonade stand, will carry over into adulthood and help steer him towards who he will become.

While as parents we don’t know with certainty what our kids will become professionally, but we do know what they will need to know to get ahead and be competitive.  And that’s part of our job to teach them.

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

Emily and Robin: It was never really about making money or even business in the beginning. We tried to foster creativity in the children and thinking outside the box, and let their interests and ideas lead us.

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

Emily and Robin: As we followed the progression of their ideas down the path of actually creating a business, there were different areas that were not in our skill sets. This was usually the point we would look for help, or mentors, that the kids could direct their inquiry to.

Sarah: Are you or your spouse in business and if so – do you think that has given you an edge in raising  CEO Kids?

Emily and Robin: We are both attorneys and have always tried to steer the kids toward following their passions and being their own boss, instead of working for someone else. Early in our careers, in an effort for one of us to always be home with the kids, we started several businesses Emily could run from home. The kids would often tag along to meetings or help out.

Emily and Robin: We try not to put too much pressure on the kids, but let them grow into the business at their own speed. We also let them continue the other things they love like hanging out with their friends, riding bikes, etc. Our goal was never to create a big business, but to let their interests organically find a productive outlet.

Sarah: What roles besides that of parent do you play in their business ventures?

Emily and Robin: We basically served as their advisors and legal team. They were too young to enter into contracts, open business accounts, get loans, form corporations, or apply for patents. We had to steer the ship and make sure that what they didn’t yet know wouldn’t hurt them. It was truly a family endeavor.

Sarah: What were some of the challenges that you all faced in helping them become the success they are today?

Emily and Robin : One of the biggest challenges was our lack of knowledge about the toy industry and how difficult it is to get distribution. The kids had no idea regarding the intricacies of manufacturing and distribution and we couldn’t really help them. The same is true for the Flipoutz web 2.0 community. Our challenge was to learn quickly so that we could teach them.

Emily and Robin:If we had it to do over, we would retain experts earlier in the process and probably try to license the idea without taking on the expense and time of creating the product and manufacturing it ourselves. The kids would have learned just as much without the large investment.

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

Emily and Robin:

1. Don’t be afraid to listen to your kid’s ideas and take them seriously.
2. Teach kids from an early age WHY you are getting up and going to work so they know that their lifestyle doesn’t just happen. It takes hard work that doesn’t have to be work if you love what you do.
3. Play creative games. Embrace and reward creative thinking and creative problem-solving.
4. Share work experiences and lessons.
5. Encourage your children’s passions at every level of development so that career choices will naturally flow from what they love to do and where they excel.

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

Emily and Robin: A beginner’s (very elementary) guide to business that explains concepts that are difficult for kids to understand (supply and demand, how loans work, insurance, margins, etc.)

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

Kimberly: Khalil began taking an interest in being a business person in 2005. When I released my first book, he asked if he could help me by signing his autograph, too. He felt that since his picture was on the cover, that he had a right. I remember how he would greet the guest when they came to the table, shake their hand, and say, “Please buy my mom’s book. It’s about me and my brother and it’s really good!” He did the same thing for my second book and, pretty soon, he’ll be doing it for himself with the release of his first book.

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

Kimberly: My husband and I have a very large extended family and are blessed to have so many supportive people in our lives. We didn’t have to really look for mentors. They were already there. That’s exactly what my son’s book is about. All the great men who are playing an important role in their lives!

Sarah: Are you or your spouse in business and if so – do you think that has given you an edge in raising a CEO Kid?

Kimberly: I have had a business of some sort since I was seven. I started selling ice cups (i.e., frozen juice) from my kitchen window. I made very good money. Not long after that, my mother bought me my first manual typewriter. That’s when I began writing. I would create poems, but never sold them because I liked them so much. From there, I began babysitting for mother’s in my community and running errands for my neighbors. Along the way, I was a seamstress, gift basket designer, hair stylist, professional organizer, tutor, dance instructor, technical writer, financial advisor, insurance broker, real estate investor, and ran a jewelry business. I really love being of service! Throughout all of that, the one constant has been writing. I’ve always been a writer! So now, my focus is totally on building my publishing company, Writing Momma Publishing.

Sarah: Wow! You have done a lot of things! What did you do to support him along the way?

Kimberly: The most important contribution I believe my husband and I make to all of our children is instilling a since a self-awareness in them. I truly believe that when you know who you are and the greatness of your history, there is absolutely nothing you cannot achieve! My children know first and foremost that they are children of God and that he loves and care for them no matter what. They each know the meaning of their name and we hold them accountable to live up to that meaning. We make sure that we instill a great appreciation for Black History in them as well because there are so many who have paved the way and it help them to realize that their dreams are attainable. Additionally, we expose them to as much relevant information as possible. We realize that they are still children and we have to protect their innocence, but when we sense they are ready we impart the necessary information.

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

Kimberly: I will not have an over-scheduled child! Understanding priorities is crucial for me. Their main “business” is getting the best education they can get. God has placed my husband and me in their lives to train, rear, and guide them according to His will. There are times when we miss the mark because we are human. However, we make sure that we spend lots of family time together. Although I am building a great publishing company, I monitor my schedule closely. I do not attend every event and I am not away from my children every weekend. I still have to be their cheerleader at the basketball games, volunteer at their school, and spend time with them individually and collectively all while still working a nine to five job in the field of education. The best part of the day for us is having breakfast and dinner together. It’s during either of those times that we read a Black History fact. The children are always so fascinated with what they learn.

Sarah: What role besides that of parent do you/did you play in Khalil business?

Kimberly: I’m the Manager, if you will. My role keeps me more in the forefront of helping Khalil develop his business. My husband is the behind-the-scenes support that keeps the business “engine” running.

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

Kimberly: You know, because we are still in our infancy stages, there has not been very many challenges. A prevailing thought is where we will host the tutoring sessions. I’m very protective of my personal space and truly believe that you can not open your home to everyone. So, the main decision we’ll have to make is whether or not we will rent space or barter services for space with a local business.

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

Kimberly: I would have pumped the brakes on trying to be perfect and mellowed out on being a stickler for time. I’ve always been a very methodical person and it became a bit extreme. Khalil is a bit like that. I know organization and time management has its place, but even with that there has to be balance.

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

Kimberly:

1. Affirm your child’s self worth. It helps when there are naysayers trying to defer their dreams.
2. Say something positive to your child everyday! Never let them lose sight of their greatness!
3. Cut a little bit of the apron string daily. A self-sufficient child makes for a great contributor to society.
4. Make sure that they always have time to be a child. Balance is the key.
5. Teach them the Law of Reciprocity. When you give, you truly, truly receive. Charity begins at home and extends abroad so teach your child to give.

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

Jake Johnson: Born in 1999, Jake is a sixth grader but is learning the business fast. His passions are Flipoutz, sports (soccer and cross country running), music and acting. At age 7 Jake appeared in the movie “Talladega Nights – the Ballad of Ricky Bobby” as the young Ricky Bobby and he can currently be seen in Lifetime’s “Army Wives” as Lucas Moran. While he has been known to “Eat, Sleep, Play Soccer” to distraction, these days his favorite coins may be “I’m with the band” or “Dance Fever.”  Jake’s contribution to the creation of Flipoutz was the game aspect and website that includes the trading and tracking of the coins.  He continues to develop ideas for the website and coin art, as well as serving as a company spokesperson.

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

Jake: Our business, Flipoutz, got started on a long car ride home from Myrtle Beach. Along the way, our mom asked us what kind of toys we like, or would like to see on the market (which was really an attempt for peace in the backseat). We then all started talking about what we liked about toys, so we each put our own part into Flipoutz. My oldest sister Erin liked self expression in toys, so we made the coins with positive messages. My middle sister Lachlan liked fashionable toys, so we made the Flipoutz wristband. And I liked online games and toys, so we added the Flipoutz website with trading and tracking ability. The website is one of the places that people can buy Flipoutz, and can learn more about the product. We also have a Facebook (Flipoutz) and Twitter account (@Flipoutz).

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?

Jake: When we realized we had a good idea, we wanted to try to see how far we could go in the process of making and selling it. Our parents fully supported us in doing so because they thought it would be (and still is) a great learning experience.

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

Jake: When we first started to make the product and started to sell it, we had no idea how successful the product would be, or how the public would like it. We had done some research while making the first prototypes to see what kind of bracelet shapes and colors tweens liked, but those were only focus groups, not a whole world of tweens. We also worked with the experts at Enventys to try and find out what the trends were and if we could fit in the market somewhere.

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

Jake: One very important skill that was useful in getting started, was knowing how to confidently speak to adults. This helped because whenever we would be at a toy fair, people would always ask us what the product was, and how we got started. Speaking confidently and knowing our subject always gave us a little credibility that sometimes our ages didn’t.

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

Jake: One of the biggest obstacles we faced while getting the business started, was getting the word out about Flipoutz. Once we had the product, and we had the website just the way we wanted it, it was very hard to get people to know about the product, and what it was. We tried multiple tactics, such as giving it free to our whole school (we go to a very small school), and getting it in some of the smaller stores in our town. But finally we applied to the TV show Shark Tank, and they gave us the lucky break we were looking for by letting us on the show.

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

Jake: When we first started the business I was eight years old, I am now twelve. Age has not affected us in that many ways, besides the fact that us “kids” couldn’t pay for making the original product and we often missed meetings due to school!

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

Jake: Right now I am only twelve, so I am not completely sure where I would like to go, but I surely know that I would like to go to college.  I am very interested in marine biology and acting (and business, of course)!

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?

Jake: One of the main start up costs was getting the website up and running, not to mention all the prototypes of the bracelets, and the coins, the manufacturing, and advertising, and…the list is long. And this was out of my parents’ wallets, so I would like to say thanks again to them for supporting us throughout this journey.

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

Jake: One very big surprise about the company is how much the public likes the product and the story behind it. When we first started, to be honest, I never thought we would  (or could) get this far with a business we started on a 4 hour car trip home, and yet here we are.

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?

Jake: We try to do as much as we can by ourselves in the business, but sometimes we just don’t have the resources or knowledge to do what we are hoping to. In the beginning, we got help from Enventys, a business that helps inventors.  Enventys helped us come up with all the prototypes for the coins, bracelets, and then helped get the website going. And now three years later, we have partnered with a business called Wild Creations, an existing toy company that is partnering with us to take Flipoutz to the world!

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?

Jake: Some ways that we tried to get the word out about Flipoutz were free giveaways to our school, newspaper and magazine articles, tradeshows, and we got it in some stores around our town.  What worked best was applying to be on the show Shark Tank, and luckily they liked our product and let us on the show.

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

Jake: Personally I do not find it that hard to balance Flipoutz, and being a kid because I treat Flipoutz like a hobby, just like sports or just hanging out with friends. It’s really fun too. Not to mention that we have been working on this for so long, that it has just become a part of our lives now.

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

Jake: One of the best tips I could give to young entrepreneurs is to never be afraid to go after your dreams. This may sound cheesy, but I can’t tell you how true it is. My dad always says “go big or stay home!” And it’s OK if it doesn’t work out perfectly because at least you know you gave it a shot. Without this tip, there would be no Flipoutz, and I never would have learned all of the valuable lessons along the way.

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

Lizzie: I’ve been cooking since I was two years old. My family makes homemade applesauce each fall, when I was little my mom would sit me on the counter and let me stir the pot and add spices. As the years passed, my interest in cooking continued to grow. When I was six years old, I really liked horseback riding. I asked my parents if I could take horseback riding lessons.

My parents agreed and I then asked if I could pay for the lessons myself. My mom and dad looked at each other and then asked, “How are you going to get the money to pay for the lessons?” I thought about it and replied that I could sell my homemade baked goods. My parents let me know that lots of people sell brownies and cookies and such. They asked me what was unique about my cooking. I told them that my cooking was healthy.

I made my homemade baked goods every Saturday morning and sold them at a local farmer’s market. After doing that for about a year and a half, I asked my dad to make me a website. My dad and I designed www.LizzieMarieCuisine.com. Ever since then, I’ve been posting videos of me cooking healthy foods on my website.

Because of Lizzie Marie Cuisine, I’ve been able to be a spokesperson for the American Heart Association speaking at events for their Go Red for Women campaign. For the past 2 years I have worked with the NFL Atlanta Falcons for their First Down for Fitness program which teaches elementary students the importance of eating healthy and exercising. I’ve also been able to cook on stage at the Taste of Atlanta event, which is an event where restaurants have booths with food samples and famous chefs cook on stage. Recently, I appeared on the Rachael Ray show and participated in the Kindness Challenge, a challenge that was dedicated to showing people that you’re never too young to do what you love. I also filmed a series of 12 online cooking videos for WebMD which were released in March of this year.

To get more information on some of my most recent projects, please check out my website, www.LizzieMarieCuisine.com. I am also on Twitter @TheLizzieMarie and www.facebook.com/LizzieMarieCuisine.

Sarah: So AWESOME Lizzie!  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?

Lizzie: As I mentioned earlier it all started when I was 6 years old and wanted to help pay for my own horseback riding lessons. After I asked my parents if I could sell my homemade baked goods at a local farmer’s market, my mom and I picked out some recipes to sell. We decided to sell Apple Dapple bread, banana bread and Espresso Chocolate Chip cookies. A lot of people said they enjoyed my treats, and I realized that I really enjoyed sharing my passion of healthy cooking with other people. I wanted to try and share my passion of healthy cooking with everyone! I thought about how I could do this, and I then came up with the idea of a website. A lot of people would be able to access my website, and people all over the world could see how fun and easy it is to eat healthy. Without my website, I wouldn’t be able to teach as many people as I do now.

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

Lizzie: There are lots of skills that help when running a business. I think the most important skill is passion. Without passion, you have nothing. If I didn’t have a passion for cooking, I wouldn’t have been able to meet Rachael Ray or start my own business at the age of 6. My advice is to figure out what you love to do, and use that a stepping stone for your business. If you like to knit, sell your homemade knitwear at a local arts and crafts market. Maybe you like to take pictures. Turn your pictures into cards and start selling them! The point is, no matter what you like to do, or how old you are, you can always do something. Another important skill is communication. Even if you have an idea, you need to know how to tell other people what your idea is and what you plan to do with it. Without communication, you’ll have a hard time achieving your goals.

Sarah: Your absolutely right, passion for what you are doing certainly helps and communication is always critical to success. What were the biggest obstacles, problems you had in getting started in business?

Lizzie: One of the biggest challenges I had to face in starting my business was finding a place to sell my homemade baked goods. Most farmers’ markets require you to pay for a booth. I wanted to pay for everything by myself, but I didn’t have the money to pay for a booth every week. My parents and I continued to research farmers’ markets, and eventually we found one that allowed us to sell our items for free. Even though I was discouraged at first, I didn’t give up, because I knew that somehow I was going to be able show people how to cook healthy.

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

Lizzie: I was six years old when I officially started Lizzie Marie Cuisine. I am now eleven years old. Being eleven definitely helps my success in teaching people the importance of healthy eating. If a kid hears their parent telling them, ‘You have to eat healthy!’ they’ll think eating healthy is a chore and that it isn’t fun. However, when someone their age shows them how to cook healthy, they’ll think it’s a lot of fun! Being eleven also helps because if a kid or a parent sees a young person eating healthy and making a difference in the world, they’ll think, ‘Wow, if an eleven year old can do it, then what’s my excuse?’

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

Lizzie:I do plan to attend college when I’m older, but I don’t think I’ll go to a cooking school. Even though I love cooking now, and I do want to have a restaurant and a cooking show, I don’t think cooking will be my full-time career. I have lots of other interests, like science and archery. I’m not saying that I’m going to completely give up cooking at a certain age; I’m just saying that I might want to put cooking on the back burner for a bit in the future.

Sarah: It’s good that you are thinking of all the possibilities! 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?

Lizzie: A lot of people think that running a business costs lots of money, but it really doesn’t have to. The only major costs I had to deal with were buying ingredients and supplies for my cooking classes, and buying a business license. The main reason I applied for a grant was because I didn’t want to be borrowing money from my parents all the time. If you don’t want to borrow money all the time, or if you need some money to start your business, research different companies that give away grants.

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

Lizzie:So many great things have happened in my life because of Lizzie Marie Cuisine. The greatest surprise to me is how supportive people are of my business. I wasn’t sure how people would react to an eleven year old teaching people about eating healthy, but a lot of people were really excited about Lizzie Marie Cuisine. People were always telling me when I was younger that a lot of cool things were going to happen because of my business. They were right!

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?

Lizzie: I don’t have any employees that work for me or for Lizzie Marie Cuisine. Lizzie Marie Cuisine is run solely by me, my parents and my manager. My mom helps schedule different events in Atlanta and get in contact with people who might want me to make an appearance at an event. My dad edits the videos I post on my site, and he helps proofread my blogs. My manager finds different opportunities for me to take part in, whether that is interviews or projects out of state. I can’t thank all the people involved with Lizzie Marie Cuisine enough; without everyone’s support and guidance, Lizzie Marie Cuisine would merely be a website with videos and blogs.

In 2009, my manager contacted me saying he had seen my videos and thought I had a lot of potential. My family and I were ecstatic; we were new to the business world and needed some guidance. Since my manager is based in Los Angeles, California, he flew to Atlanta, Georgia to meet me. My manager has helped me a lot in helping Lizzie Marie Cuisine grow.

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?

Lizzie: Whenever I have a chance to tell someone about Lizzie Marie Cuisine, I do. I’ll tell the mailman, the cashier at our grocery store or even the pizza delivery guy (but we rarely order pizza so that doesn’t happen very often…) I have a lot of help from my business colleagues as well. For instance, if I do an event with one company, they might suggest me to another company. My manager also helps immensely in spreading the word about Lizzie Marie Cuisine. My mom is also a great help; she contacts a lot of local businesses to tell them about what I do.

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

Lizzie: A lot of people think that if you’re a young business owner that you don’t have time to do anything fun. For me, Lizzie Marie Cuisine is a lot of fun, but I do enjoy just being a kid sometimes. I have lots of friends who keep me grounded. I still have time to have sleepovers and hang out with friends and all the fun things that are a part of being a teen. Even though Lizzie Marie Cuisine is a big part of my life, it’s important to me and my family that I still have the experience of just being a kid and enjoying life.

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

Lizzie: To all you young business owners/entrepreneurs out there: do what you love, no matter how old you are. If you really love doing something, talk to your parents or a guidance counselor about it. There are a lot of great resources for young business owners nowadays. Lizzie Marie Cuisine would not be the business it is today without all the guidance I have received from my manager, my family and all the business and organizations I’ve worked with. It’s not hard to start a business if you have the right tools and the right attitude. Don’t be afraid to take advice, or to ask for it. Remember: doing what you love is all you can do.

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!

I love what Stephen said to me in one of the emails he sent about being a CEO Kid:

“I am calling myself a Chief Everything Officer”!

After reading Stephen’s interview you will absolutely agree with that statement!

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

Stephen: People can find out everything I do at http://stephenou.com, or if they want to hear about my opinionated opinions, feel free to follow http://twitter.com/stephenou

Let me tell you little about what I have made:

OneExtraLap – A social quizzing community that allows you to compete with friends on quizzes. http://oneextralap.com

iTunes Instant - A super fast iTunes search engine, considered a better alternative for native iTunes search. Made in 3 hours, literally. http://labs.stephenou.com/itunes

TwtRoulette – A mashup that let you share Twitter home timeline. It’s a great way to discover new content. Made in 7 days with Shervin Pishevar, an silicon valley investor. http://twtroulette.com

OhBoard – A $3.99 whiteboard application on Chrome Web Store. Many folks use it to replace their physical whiteboards. http://ohboard.com

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

Stephen: It was November of 2009, I’ve been following major tech blogs like TechCrunch and Mashable, I was fascinated by how technology changed the way we live and work. I thought why not gave it a try? So during Thanksgiving break of 2009, I started a web app called OneExtraLap as a total experiment.

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?

Stephen: Let’s talk about OhBoard, my digital whiteboard software. I used to own a physical whiteboard, but I ran into many problems. First, I had to erase before adding new stuff. Second, I always lost my marker. Third, if I wanted to share it with friends, I literally had to take a picture and send via email. Fourth, it was freakin’ expensive, an OK whiteboard at Office Depot costs $10-$20.

OhBoard solves all of these problems. You can have unlimited drawings, and they are saved automatically as you draw! It doesn’t need a marker, just your mouse is enough. It has a one-click export and share feature, your drawing will be on your co-worker’s inbox in 5 seconds. It is just $3.99 which is five times cheaper than those physical whiteboards!

I asked many folks I am close with, since most of them had this exact pain point, I figured out many people will be interested in something like this. So, I made OhBoard!

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

Stephen: I honestly can’t judge which one is the most important. It’s a combination of many things. Determination is needed to keep trying when bad moments come, especially at the beginning. Creativity is needed to come up with things that set myself and my software apart. Responsibility is needed to recognize mistakes, share lessons after messing up, especially when my products are consumer driven. Nothing would work without the combination of them.

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

Stephen: Time! I only have 4-5 hours on every weekday to work, and I have many software to take care of. So I have to prioritize as much as I can. I have to do what matters the most to users, such as fixing bugs and marketing to find new customers. It sometimes can turn into a problem. I usually like setting deadlines and making promises, but some ended up really bad, when I didn’t deliver what was promised.

Sarah: Thanks for being honest about some of the challenges Stephen.  Promising too much is often a hard thing for entrepreneurs. How old were you when you started and how old are you now? How does your age affect your business success?

Stephen: I was 14 when I initially started (end of 2009), and I am 16 now. My age actually has an advantage that I didn’t intend to have. People pay more attention to my apps because of the headline effect. I never want “xx-year-old” to be the attention grabber, but that’s how reporters write stories.

Sarah:  So true!  The media loves young entrepreneurs! What about college? Are you planning on going?

Stephen: I think so. I know a lot of people are criticizing the lack of curriculum renovation in college. While I totally agree, I think college can be a great place to meet like-minded folks. They can be
your life-long friends or business partners.

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?

Stephen: I’m extremely conservative when it comes to spending money. I only spend money on things considered “required”, such as hosting and domains. And things that can make more money, such as $100 on AdWords that brings me $250 revenue. Since I do freelancing/consulting on the side, I can bootstrap whatever I’m doing. No need for any venture capital (I think that will just “force” people to spend money, instead of making money).

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

Stephen: I found out recently, you don’t have to be big to be successful. The common notion is you are successful if you have a $xx millions company with #xxx employees. But that’s not true. I will totally consider myself successful if I can make $10k/month from a simple one-man lifestyle business.

Sarah:  That is a great goal and I am sure you will get there really fast! Do you do EVERYTHING by yourself or do you have people on your team that work with you?

Stephen: I am pretty independent, so I do 95% of the stuff myself, I don’t want to manage people all day long. Another reason is I want to learn as much as I can from every aspect of a business- development, design, marketing, etc.

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?

Stephen: Make something wonderful enough that people will talk about. This is really powerful!  When I made iTunes Instant, because people enjoyed it so much, they told their friends and blogged about it. From that kind of word of mouth, it became insanely popular.

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

Stephen: Nothing needs to be balanced. I’m just doing what I love just like HS basketball players do what they love. I haven’t considered myself as a kid for a long time, I’m in high school and I’m very close to adulthood already, just few years away.

Sarah:  That is so true Stephen and you can tell you are passionate about what you are doing and love it which helps to make life enjoyable even if it does get intense sometimes. What is the best advice or tips you would like to share with young entrepreneurs?

Stephen: Think small, start small. Many others say think big, start small. But I believe thinking big will give you unrealistic goals, and let you do unrealistic things. If you fail (likely to be the case if you think big), you will be discouraged. But if you do it stage by stage, hit easy-to-reach goals one-by-one, your time will be a lot easier. If you think about becoming the next Facebook or being acquired by Google, I recommend you to change into make your first $1000 or get your first 100 customers.

I won’t dare let my kids read this article because then they will be begging for a dog like Larry was! (OK – they will likely keep begging for a dog regardless of reading the article!)

Not only did Larry get a dog but he turned his experience of washing his dog into a business!

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

Larry: When I was 7 I got my first dog and gave him a bath. I liked giving him a bath so much that I decided to start a Doggie Wash service.  I knew it was a good idea because dogs like baths and my mom said I loved dogs so much I would like doing it.

You can me and my book find on Facebook!

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

Larry: It helps to have my mom helping me!

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

Larry: My mom and dad says school is good so I will go to college and play sports.

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?

Larry: My mom took me to the store to get a dog tub and shampoo for my business and mom says it costs money to put gas in the car so that was an expense too.

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

Larry: My mom writing a book about me and my Doggie Wash and getting to be on the news.

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

Larry: My mom helps me a lot.  She lets me play when I want to unless I have homework to do.

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

Larry:  Have fun!

Sarah: How did you get started Khalil?

Khalil: Last summer, I attended summer camp at The Fishing School in Washington, DC. This was a really fun camp because they had classes like math, reading, social studies, and art as well as a dance class and an entrepreneur class. One day in the entrepreneur class, we were asked to share our ideas about the type of business we would like to start. I told them that since I have attended a French Immersion School since I was in kindergarten and that I enjoy teaching other children how to speak and read French, that I would start a French tutoring program. That’s when I got the idea for “French with Friends”.

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

Khalil: When I was seven, my mom began talking to me about making money by doing things that I like to do. I enjoy drawing, so I would tell my mom ideas about selling my artwork. The only thing was that I liked my artwork so much that I didn’t want to sell them. So, she began talking to me about writing a book. She hired me and my God brother in 2007 to help her with her second book “I Am Somebody!” We translated it into French for her. When I saw how easy it was to make money by doing what I liked, she purchased a “write and publish your own book” kit for me and a book that showed children how to start their own business. This summer, my brother Kalonji and I will release our first book, “In the Midst of Greatness: Celebrating the Men Who Impact My Life.” About one year later, Kalonji and I started a business we set up at our church called The Rite Bite. We make smoothies. It’s through our youth department. Usually on fifth Sunday’s the youth department opens “The Youth Market” in the fellowship hall and we sell our product.

Sarah:  So awesome Khalil!  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?

Khalil: I remember when my mother was looking for a French tutor for me about three years ago. The people she contacted were either priced very high or lived too far away from us. So she called a local high school and got permission to hire an AP native French student to help me. He lived in my community. He really enjoyed what he was doing and he did not charge us as much as the others were going to charge us. I remembered how easy it was for him to get the job as my tutor. I felt I could easily start a business doing the same thing.

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

Khalil: Well, it helps to know how to speak French. Since I will work with young people age four to eight, I have to really like helping children, and I am patient. As the oldest child at home, I have lots of patience with my younger brother and sister most of the time. I will also have to know how to have fun and think of really cool French games to play. This will keep their attention during their 30 minute lesson.

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

Khalil: I have not experienced any obstacles or problems at this point and I hope that it stays this way. I do have to really think about the time of day the lessons will take place because I still want to do the things I like to do and also go to camp again. The other thought I still have is where the tutoring will take place. I know I will not have trouble getting students because parents at my school are always looking for French lessons for their children during the summer. That way when school starts again, they will not have forgotten how to speak French.

Sarah: How old were you when you started and how old are you now?

Khalil I started thinking about starting my own business when I was seven years old. I actually started my first business with my brother when I was nine years old. Now, I’m 12 years and three months old.

Sarah:  How does your age affect your business success?

Khalil: Well, it really doesn’t. There are some of my classmates who do not think about starting a business at this age, so when I talk to them about what I’ve done and what I am doing they don’t really seem interested. The adults in my life are very supportive and even encourage me to start young. My parents believe in teaching me while I’m young so I can be ahead when I get older. I already know how to cook on the stove, iron my own clothes, shop for groceries, and travel abroad without them. I don’t feel age make a difference at all because I really believe in myself and know that I speak French pretty good. Since I have really supportive parents who love me and care for me and pray that I do well, I don’t worry about what other people think all the time.

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

Khalil: Oh yes! I want to be a Law Enforcement Engineer. My parents are both educators and are very serious about me getting a great education. They don’t play when it comes to being my best. I’ve already begun attending college tours with my Dad. There are always so many people there trying to get future students and giving information about what their college offers. I have been encouraged to attend the Naval Academy, Morehouse College, Harvard, and MIT, but have not decided on a college yet. Right now, I’m thinking about what high school I will attend. I have to do more research with my parents.

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?

Khalil: With the Rite Bite, our start up costs was small. Kalonji and I had to purchase a blender and all of the ingredients for the smoothies. We also purchased small bags of trail mix we sold. My parents gave us the start up money. We paid the start up money back to them and saved the rest from the profit we made. The start up costs with French with Friends has not been that great, either. I have all the materials from classes I took when I was younger. We are working on our fliers right now that we will print from home and will use our Facebook business page for now to market our services. Also, I’m going to create a CD and workbook with the French lessons I will teach. That will probably be the biggest expense in addition to renting space if we decide to do that.

Sarah:  Sounds like you have really thought things through!  What have been the best surprises that you found in starting your business?

Khalil: Since really sharing with people that I am starting my own business, the best surprise has been seeing how supportive they are. Sometimes children are not taken seriously and are pushed to the side. But, with my parent’s big support, they are making sure that I am respected as a young business owner and also making sure that I give back to the community. They really believe in “paying it forward”, as my mom says all the time.

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?

Khalil: My team is made up of myself, my younger brother Kalonji who speaks French also and will help me with the tutoring, my parents, and my extended family. They really keep me grounded and make sure that I still have fun as a child. As French with Friends grows, I will think about bringing on more French speaking students from my school to help tutor.

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?

Khalil: Whenever we are out and my mom sees someone speaking French, she has me introduce myself in French. The people are always very impressed! Also, when we shop at different stores and the people working there speak French, she has me place her orders or ask for help in French. The people remember who I am the next time we come and they tell other people in the store. I know Facebook will really help and the fliers will, too. Also, I have a very large extended family, so they will tell people, too. With the help of my parents, they will send out emails and even share it on Facebook and Twitter. I’m working on a website that, for now, I will probably use through Weebly.com. My parents want to see how well I will maintain the site before they invest in a site I own.

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

Khalil: I have a very full schedule with school, church, basketball, music lessons, and chores. My parents make sure that we have family time everyday and that I also play the games I like to play. My mom is always saying that she will not have an overscheduled child so she really makes sure that we are always balanced. Now that I’m getting older, I know that I have to be focused and organized. I’m getting pretty good at it, but still have more to learn.

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

Khalil: Always believe in yourself because you can do anything you set your mind to do, know who you are, stay away from mean people, hang around cool people, keep trying, and never give up!