MOTIVATION
Adam and Matthew Toren are two brothers who set out to write THE book that empowers kids to become entrepreneurs. Why?
Matthew’s daughter was 9 years old at the time and she asked: Daddy, what do you and uncle do for work?
Adam and Matthew had been entrepreneurs all their lives. And she knew that their jobs were a bit different than the typical 9 to 5. Her dad and uncle were at home in their pajamas doing… work?
To explain, the Toren brothers looked for a book or online program but couldn't find anything out there that was suitable for kids 7 to 12 years old.
So they decided to fill the gap. And after a year of focus groups and meeting with kids, parents, and teachers… the result was a book they wished THEY had as kids.
WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?
One of the authors spoke at a 3rd grade classroom and, though everyone knew what a doctor, a teacher and a nurse did, nobody knew what an entrepreneur or small business owner did.
It's really important to know what an entrepreneur does, how a small business works, and get introduced to good money management from an early age.
And the best way to learn these things is through practice. The book teaches kids the fundamentals in a fun, safe and easy way so they’ll feel excited to start a lemonade stand, or a dog walking service, or possibly even selling something they create or make.
WHY IS "KIDPRENEURSHIP" IMPORTANT?
A kid that starts a lemonade stand will learn the importance of confidence, work ethic, and having a positive attitude… You can talk about these things, but when you practice them you’re inspired and empowered. It’s all about setting good habits, goals, and discipline at a young age.
However, you don’t want to put too much pressure on the kids. Make it light and fun. And that’s where the book KIDPRENEURS comes in, helping kids wrap their heads around concepts like budgeting, customer service, advertising and giving back to their community.
Kids don’t need to understand EVERYTHING about entrepreneurship right away. They just need a light taste and they'll learn a ton as they go along.
YOU CAN DO IT!
The key takeaway is that all kids can DO IT! The authors’ kids have read the book. And one is 10 years old and has a home-made organic dog biscuit business that they're selling at a farmer's market.
Entrepreneurship is very rewarding. It's ok to make mistakes, it's ok to ask questions. The important thing is that you try - and you try your best - and that you're able to overcome obstacles. That's all part of the learning experience.
Some say it's never too late… the authors say “it's never to early”, especially to start learning and practicing the basic principles of entrepreneurship.