Becoming an Entrepreneur at Any Age
I am passionate about small business and I'm thrilled when I hear about young kids with the entrepreneurial spirit. I have been starting businesses since I was 9 years old, before I even knew that I was running a business and before I knew what being an entrepreneur meant.
My grandfather, Jim Arnerich, was an entrepreneur and I was always inspired by him. We had a special relationship as the eldest grandchild. Driving around town, we'd see a building for lease and he'd ask me what business we should start there - a taco bar or an ice cream shop? He was always looking for a need he could fill.
In Junior High, my aunt asked me to babysit her twins, my cousins, in the mornings from 9:00-1:00PM while she worked for a few weeks. I figured if I was entertaining two kids all summer, I might as well entertain a bunch of them and make a little money! I called it Mary’s Summer Fun Camp and I had 15-20 kids in my backyard each week with games and activities… making a lot more money in those hours than I could have babysitting all summer!
I ran that camp every summer until I was 18 and made enough money to buy my first car and put half a down payment on a house in college (I convinced my parents to invest in the other half). I rented out rooms to friends, managing the utilities and finances and making a little extra money to cover books and living expenses each month. I was running a business then too, but I didn't even know it.
Fast forward to having kids of my own... I had no idea how incredibly capable they could be. When we moved to the ranch, they needed to do a lot more on their own - and they thrived.
If you're a kid or know a kid who has that entrepreneurial spirit in them - I'm sharing some worksheets for them to explore!
Join us in M5 RANCH SCHOOL if you want to learn more!
