This weekend, many of our graduates came out to another great event where they could set up their businesses and practice their skills while earning real money. (Earn while you Learn is a great motto to live by)
Everyone arrived and was given direction on where their tables were and started setting up. As it so happens, this event spread out into two areas: Outdoors with the music and festivities, and inside, around the corner and up a very long set of stairs to an unmarked location. Half of our graduates ended up outside, the others were inside upstairs along with a few other KidPreneur Businesses.
It was hard to tell what traffic was going to be like on the day in both areas. Would it get so hot that everyone went inside, or didn’t come out at all? Or would they just stick to the sunshine and the businesses upstairs would get lighter traffic than the rest. Here’s the thing. As an entrepreneur, you make your own success. That’s it. Period.
Over the years consulting with assorted business owners, understanding that success is in their hands is a concept they believe in the good times, but, when it get’s tough, their commentary can change to all sorts of justifying or complaining. My competitor is poaching my clients. Customers don’t understand why my products are so good. The stores wont return my calls and buy my product. My Sales Reps wont do what I tell them to.
And the list goes on.
But for the ones who get it, their mind is always in solution mode. Is there a vendor outside who didn’t show up? Can I move my business out there? Yes? No? It never hurts to ask. What about making your own signs? Posting them up to direct customers up to your table? Or best of all, what if you bring yourself, to them!
Well that is what two of these KidPreneurs did! One of our graduates, Tiaga, was selling Snowcones. An amazing ideas that would be sure to sell well on a hot day like it was. What did he do? He took 2 of his posters downstairs and posted them with arrows on the doors downstairs to lead people up. Then he took a 3rd sign and walked around with it until a customer wanted what he was selling. He would walk with him upstairs, make his order and then do it all over again!
Another Kid Vendor was selling bubble tea. He decided to make 4 orders in assorted flavours and then walk downstairs to sell them directly to customers. Once sold out, he came back up stairs, made some more and did it all over again.
There were so many comments from the adult vendors about these kids who were business savvy well beyond their years. They were excited about their businesses and couldn’t wait to make the day work for them. On top of that, a portion of all of Tiaga’s profits always go to the Children’s Hospital.
So today, as you sit at your desk and wish that you had more customers, or more calls coming in, or whatever it is, be Tiaga. How can you force results, rather than wishing it would work the way we see it in the movies. We are so proud and can’t wait to see what these kids go onto do next!
Tiaga attended our Summer Camp & Fall Semester Programming. Both are open for registration now.
