Ever since my daughter started going to school she always told me what she wanted to do when she grows up.
And it changes every year. Initially she aspired to be a teacher after volunteering to help one of my close friends set up her classroom. Then a role in a musical came her way, and she has since changed her mind to instead become a performer, whether it be a singer, dancer, or actress. But later on, when she was asked to walk the ramp in a fashion show, she was instantly dazzled by the world of fashion design! And she was serious about this too. She kept notebooks of fashion drawings, was addicted to Project Runway, and even asked my Mom to teach her how to do basic sewing. She also refused to let me shop for her clothes. And to be fair, she did always have her own sense of style, which fortunately did not contradict my idea of tweens' attire.
In the last two years, however, I did notice our conversations about her future aspirations were becoming a bit more serious. She changed her mind about fashion design, and had since thought about becoming an author, a film director, and a pastry chef, consecutively. The last occupation was intriguing as I find my daughter baking at least three times a week and supplying the cakes, cookies, and cupcakes at every family event we attended. The goodies she concocted were delicious and there were a lot of encouragement for her to start up a small baking business. I, on the other hand, became intrigued by the idea.
What if for every interest my daughter pursued I could teach her how to turn her hobby into profit? Wouldn't this be an engaging way of teaching her entrepreneurship and responsibility?
But how do I even begin?
Fortunately I had a chance to read Kenrya Rankin's 'Start It Up: The Complete Teen Business Guide to Turning Your Passions Into Pay'. Although it is definitely a very good resource for teens, Even adults wanting to start their own business can find it an interesting read too. More importantly, I believe it is a good tool for parents to help their younger children understand how a business works and why it can be a fun, creative, and rewarding to hone one's interest. It is also instills in them the values one must have to be successful, such as hard work, dedication, and persistence. Even better, their small business can steer them away from playing video games or watching too much TV!
So will I allow my daughter put up her own bakery business? Surely! But it only be open during the summers and selected week-ends during the school year! Regardless of the limitation, or if she changes her mind and decides to put up a Tween Personal Stylist company, or becomes a freelance photographer/videographer at events, or tries to publish her first novel, at least she will know how to Start It Up!
Title: Start It Up: The Complete Teen Business Guide to Turning Your Passions Into Pay
Author: Kenrya Rankin
Recommended Reading Age: 12 years old and up!
About the Book:
Do you have a passion you want to turn into pay? Or maybe you are looking for a way to make some extra cash in high school? Start It Up shows teens how to turn their hobbies and talents into full-fledged businesses. Inside you'll find comprehensive and fun information on how to know what is the best business for you, pull together a company, and sell your product and let the world know about it! Whether your business is cake baking, dog walking, website design, or house painting, Start It Up offers the A-Z on getting it going and making it successful. Also featured are quotes from other successful teen entrepreneurs who turned their dreams into dollars.
