How do I raise an Entrepreneur?

turbolapp

turbolapp

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Aug 10, 2007
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I was not raised with ANY direction and only came to the realization fairly later (after college) that my personality best fit entrepreneurship. It's in my blood as my whole mothers side of the family (minus my mother) have their own business or practices. Unfortunately she nor my father did which is probably why going to college, working the 9-5 so I can retire at 65 was ingrained in me for so long. I don't want to make that mistake with my kids. I would like to raise them with the entrepreneurial spirit but not sure how to go about it. Public schools almost discourage any type of independent thinking that would help develop their business ideas. Any suggestions? (Also I want to get away from the idea of my kid doing anything that requires coercion of neighbors and friends into buying something. (ie lemonade stands, candybars and cookie dough) Don't get me started on the politics of PTA fundraising!
 


Step 1. Make sure he reads the stickies on WF. esp. the Treasure Trove
Step 2. He should know that dickrolling is a good thing
Step 3. Tell him that while slinging berries is a good thing. Whoring ebooks is not.

That should atleast get him started.
 
I was doing online shit since like 13/14, dad used to give me his credit to do shit. Never lost thousands, but never made thousands till few yars ago. He wasn't rich or anything, but just trusted me.

Didn't get pocket money or anything so I kinda had to make my own money, and I think that helped me learn the value of money too. One year I spent all my earnings which kinda helped me to learn not to just flush it down the toilet :p
 
I started a disc jockey business at 15...my dad even had to drive me to the gigs cuz I wasn't old enough yet. Unfortunately it only lasted for about 9 months, but it was a heck of a lot of fun and definitely helped me learn some invaluable things.

I would say determine what their passion(s) are and build something around that. As I'm sure you know most kids have a short attention span to begin with, so it's best to find something they already enjoy and go from there.
 
I believe you should never spoil them too much and make them work for everything. I've noticed that a lot of my spoiled friends aren't very determined as the ones that work as teenagers.

Start teaching them about business at a young age. Read them the news, wall street journal, economist, etc. That's just what I'm planning on doing with my kids.
 
Take them across the border into Mexico and give them $1.50 in rolled-up pennies, a pack of Big Red gum, a survival knife with a compass, a clean pair of underwear and a half-gallon of Sunny-D.

Drop them off and say it's a game; if they can get back home by the end of the week, then they win.
 
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i dont know if entrepreneurship is something that you are born with or something that you grow into, if you believe it is something that they can grow into than my suggestion is this:

1) Show them how you make money
2) Show them at an early stage the value of money, I dont mean turn your kid into greedly lil rugrats but let them know the more money we have the nicer/shinier things we can get
3) Encourage them in everything they try to do.

When I was a kid I was buying a box of airheads and selling them for a $1 a piece in school, i invested that money in a cd burner when no one else had them and started selling cd's. You might not want him selling cd's but the candy one made me alot of change and quickly teaches you about profit/loss/breakeven.

You have to be very careful though because the smarter ones put 2+2 together and start slinging crack.
 
jryan21 said:
Take them across the border into Mexico and give them $1.50 in rolled-up pennies, a pack of Big Red gum, a survival knife with a compass, a clean pair of underwear and a half-gallon of Sunny-D.

Drop them off and say it's a game; if they can get back home by the end of the week, then they win.
Click to expand...

Thats sounds like what Bear Gryll's mom did to him, he seems to be doing okay for himself though.
 
Make sure they go to a school that teaches them 'how' to solve a problem instead of them memorizing equations. I've been to schools that do both, and the difference is incredible.

However don't force it down their throats. If you are coordinating them starting a lemonade stand, a website, or a business, then you are being the entrepreneur, not them. In this case you are simply assigning them tasks which is the equivalent of them working for someone else (which is quite the opposite of being an entrepreneur).

Simply being around entrepreneurs and being exposed to the concept should be enough influence for them. They will see it as a viable career/lifestyle choice. So if they fit the same personality type that you do, they will naturally gravitate towards it.
 
jryan21 said:
Take them across the border into Mexico and give them $1.50 in rolled-up pennies, a pack of Big Red gum, a survival knife with a compass, a clean pair of underwear and a half-gallon of Sunny-D.

Drop them off and say it's a game; if they can get back home by the end of the week, then they win.
Click to expand...

That actually sounds like fun.
 
I would say just teach your kids the good stuff. If you approach them in such a way so they enjoy learning, then they'll see the opportunities themselves.
 
if someone comes up and asks your kid for advice ever, make sure he shows them gay porno put to music and tells them to fuck off
 
parrot head said:
I would say determine what their passion(s) are and build something around that. As I'm sure you know most kids have a short attention span to begin with, so it's best to find something they already enjoy and go from there.
Click to expand...

I so agree with this. I sold my first computer when I was 13. Took most of my savings to buy a second hand 8 bit, but I just knew I'd be able to turn a profit on it, and I did. I scrubbed it with a toothbrush for a whole day.

Having a passion to build a business around is good.
 
I know what i'm planning on is very radical , yet I've known several to do it with great success.

I'm giving my children each allowances, and on regular occasions letting/making them make choices on what to buy. I know several very sucucessful individuals who have raised kids who they NEVER bought clothes , food ,ect for but allowed them to make that choice (With some guidance).
 
My parents took me to work on weekends from when I was 6 or 7. I swept floors and lifted empty boxes for a small hourly wage, they made me punch the clock and everything.

We increasingly treat kids like they are babies well into their early 20s. Ben Franklin dropped out of school when he was 10. There are cultures where boys were men at the age of 13, and started their own families.

So I would say, don't be afraid to ask your children to do work around the house, and compensate them for it. Don't give them something for nothing. Let them know that being productive leads to rewards. Teach them the right incentives.

Also, another thing my cousin does, which I think is really impressive, is that she talks to her son like he is an adult, even though he is 8. She asks his input on decisions, she doesn't yell or threaten. She asks him WHY, instead of waiting for him to ask WHY. This is the socratic method, and it's a great way of teaching anyone, young or old. People can spot answers in their own observations, if they stop to think for themselves. The socratic method pushes that.

I read somewhere that it takes 3 generations to lose wealth. The first generation earns it, the second generation manages it, and the third generation squanders it. Those families who persist in their wealth and success (old money), train their children how to manage and increase their wealth. They don't assume that they will discover it on their own with trial and error.
 
Ah! Turbo. I see you do have a capitalistic bone in your body after all.

Soon you will be consumed with it and only then will you join us conservatives on the dark side!

648_darth_vader_400x300.jpg
 
The most important aspect to raising an entrepreneur is to instill a sense of self-efficacy. Being treated like a child, talked to in a condescending manner, and never being allowed to develop any skills for self-sufficiency are the norm for teenagers these days. These things are immensely harmful to young adults, but the majority of parents seem to enjoy masturbating to the power trip that these insults allow them to indulge in.

If you treat a teenager like an adult, respect them, let them make choices, support their choices, and guide them rather than coerce them, you will produce a person with an independent spirit. An independent spirit is the most important prerequisite for entrepreneurship.
 
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