25 years ago I walked into a classroom of 15 year-olds and I gave them my pitch
of 15 year-olds and I gave them my pitch
of 15 year-olds and I gave them my pitch I offered to help them start a business
I offered to help them start a business
I offered to help them start a business but there was one condition
but there was one condition
but there was one condition they all had to agree to work with me
they all had to agree to work with me
they all had to agree to work with me and it had to be a unanimous decision
and it had to be a unanimous decision
and it had to be a unanimous decision now I have no idea how this would play
now I have no idea how this would play
now I have no idea how this would play out you see this was an experiment for
out you see this was an experiment for
out you see this was an experiment for me and right here in the middle of the
me and right here in the middle of the
me and right here in the middle of the room there was a boy and he was sitting
room there was a boy and he was sitting
room there was a boy and he was sitting there and he was slouched down he was
there and he was slouched down he was
there and he was slouched down he was clearly not interested in what I had to
clearly not interested in what I had to
clearly not interested in what I had to say in fact at one point he sat there
say in fact at one point he sat there
say in fact at one point he sat there and he said this is a waste of time why
and he said this is a waste of time why
and he said this is a waste of time why bother
bother
bother so I addressed him right head-on and I
so I addressed him right head-on and I
so I addressed him right head-on and I said hey you know what this is a real
said hey you know what this is a real
said hey you know what this is a real business you guys get to be totally in
business you guys get to be totally in
business you guys get to be totally in charge
charge
charge you’re the decision-makers you get to
you’re the decision-makers you get to
you’re the decision-makers you get to set your own goals and at the end you
set your own goals and at the end you
set your own goals and at the end you get to keep the profits well with that
get to keep the profits well with that
get to keep the profits well with that he sat up and I knew he was on board and
he sat up and I knew he was on board and
he sat up and I knew he was on board and a week later when I came back he was
a week later when I came back he was
a week later when I came back he was actually standing in front of the group
actually standing in front of the group
actually standing in front of the group and he had the entire class
and he had the entire class
and he had the entire class brainstorming they were coming up with
brainstorming they were coming up with
brainstorming they were coming up with different marketing ideas and he was
different marketing ideas and he was
different marketing ideas and he was leading the whole thing at the end he
leading the whole thing at the end he
leading the whole thing at the end he had the highest profit now what was so
had the highest profit now what was so
had the highest profit now what was so interesting was when I sat down later to
interesting was when I sat down later to
interesting was when I sat down later to do a debriefing with the principal and
do a debriefing with the principal and
do a debriefing with the principal and the teacher and they shared with me that
the teacher and they shared with me that
the teacher and they shared with me that this was a boy that typically did not
this was a boy that typically did not
this was a boy that typically did not participate in school in fact he rarely
participate in school in fact he rarely
participate in school in fact he rarely passed in homework assignments he
passed in homework assignments he
passed in homework assignments he frequently skipped classes and yet they
frequently skipped classes and yet they
frequently skipped classes and yet they were fascinated by his level of
were fascinated by his level of
were fascinated by his level of engagement and they wanted to know what
engagement and they wanted to know what
engagement and they wanted to know what it was about this project that captured
it was about this project that captured
it was about this project that captured his imagination entrepreneurial skills
his imagination entrepreneurial skills
his imagination entrepreneurial skills when we think about what people need
when we think about what people need
when we think about what people need today they need a strong set of
today they need a strong set of
today they need a strong set of entrepreneurial skills and what I mean
entrepreneurial skills and what I mean
entrepreneurial skills and what I mean by that is creativity critical thinking
by that is creativity critical thinking
by that is creativity critical thinking problem-solving and communications and
problem-solving and communications and
problem-solving and communications and but they’re not enough skills are no
but they’re not enough skills are no
but they’re not enough skills are no longer and we have to help people
longer and we have to help people
longer and we have to help people develop young people develop an
develop young people develop an
develop young people develop an entrepreneurial mindset now when we
entrepreneurial mindset now when we
entrepreneurial mindset now when we think about the future it’s really
think about the future it’s really
think about the future it’s really important that kids today that they
important that kids today that they
important that kids today that they they’re flexible
they’re flexible
they’re flexible and they’re adaptable need to be able to
and they’re adaptable need to be able to
and they’re adaptable need to be able to see change before it happens they need
see change before it happens they need
see change before it happens they need to be able to identify opportunities and
to be able to identify opportunities and
to be able to identify opportunities and have the confidence to move foot towards
have the confidence to move foot towards
have the confidence to move foot towards them really what it’s all about
them really what it’s all about
them really what it’s all about is actually being able to be constantly
is actually being able to be constantly
is actually being able to be constantly focused on growing and developing and
focused on growing and developing and
focused on growing and developing and improving you see and I want to point
improving you see and I want to point
improving you see and I want to point out right from the very beginning that
out right from the very beginning that
out right from the very beginning that I’m not talking I’m not suggesting in
I’m not talking I’m not suggesting in
I’m not talking I’m not suggesting in any way that everybody needs to be
any way that everybody needs to be
any way that everybody needs to be entrepreneur what I am saying is that
entrepreneur what I am saying is that
entrepreneur what I am saying is that young people today regardless of whether
young people today regardless of whether
young people today regardless of whether they work for themselves and start a
they work for themselves and start a
they work for themselves and start a business or if they work for an employer
business or if they work for an employer
business or if they work for an employer what they need is a strong set an
what they need is a strong set an
what they need is a strong set an entrepreneurial mindset that’s going to
entrepreneurial mindset that’s going to
entrepreneurial mindset that’s going to enable them to be successful an
enable them to be successful an
enable them to be successful an entrepreneurial mindset is actually
entrepreneurial mindset is actually
entrepreneurial mindset is actually critical to success in our rapidly
critical to success in our rapidly
critical to success in our rapidly changing world so that brings us to an
changing world so that brings us to an
changing world so that brings us to an important question and the question is
important question and the question is
important question and the question is can an entrepreneurial mindset be
can an entrepreneurial mindset be
can an entrepreneurial mindset be nurtured absolutely in fact as I started
nurtured absolutely in fact as I started
nurtured absolutely in fact as I started specializing this area I realized very
specializing this area I realized very
specializing this area I realized very early on that not only can it be
early on that not only can it be
early on that not only can it be nurtured but it’s important to start
nurtured but it’s important to start
nurtured but it’s important to start young so I created a program and it’s an
young so I created a program and it’s an
young so I created a program and it’s an entrepreneur project for elementary kids
entrepreneur project for elementary kids
entrepreneur project for elementary kids and for students between the ages of
and for students between the ages of
and for students between the ages of nine and twelve to start their
nine and twelve to start their
nine and twelve to start their businesses and they actually develop an
businesses and they actually develop an
businesses and they actually develop an entrepreneurial mindset by launching a
entrepreneurial mindset by launching a
entrepreneurial mindset by launching a business venture so they have to create
business venture so they have to create
business venture so they have to create business plans they develop products and
business plans they develop products and
business plans they develop products and marketing materials and at the end they
marketing materials and at the end they
marketing materials and at the end they participate in a real-life event called
participate in a real-life event called
participate in a real-life event called the young entrepreneur show it’s like a
the young entrepreneur show it’s like a
the young entrepreneur show it’s like a trade show they get to interact with
trade show they get to interact with
trade show they get to interact with customers and they earn real money the
customers and they earn real money the
customers and they earn real money the program is facilitated which i think is
program is facilitated which i think is
program is facilitated which i think is the most powerful piece is that it’s
the most powerful piece is that it’s
the most powerful piece is that it’s facilitated by the classroom teacher and
facilitated by the classroom teacher and
facilitated by the classroom teacher and it makes topics like math and English
it makes topics like math and English
it makes topics like math and English language arts and social studies more
language arts and social studies more
language arts and social studies more meaningful and relevant for kids it’s
meaningful and relevant for kids it’s
meaningful and relevant for kids it’s already reached about 40,000 kids and
already reached about 40,000 kids and
already reached about 40,000 kids and I’m really excited to be able to share
I’m really excited to be able to share
I’m really excited to be able to share some of their stories with you here
some of their stories with you here
some of their stories with you here today now the idea of coming up with a
today now the idea of coming up with a
today now the idea of coming up with a product to sell for real to customers is
product to sell for real to customers is
product to sell for real to customers is incredibly exciting for kids and in fact
incredibly exciting for kids and in fact
incredibly exciting for kids and in fact they take it very very seriously
they take it very very seriously
they take it very very seriously sometimes the students will create
sometimes the students will create
sometimes the students will create products that you know people enjoy
products that you know people enjoy
products that you know people enjoy other times they go a little bit deeper
other times they go a little bit deeper
other times they go a little bit deeper and they think you know what can i how
and they think you know what can i how
and they think you know what can i how can i solve a problem or
can i solve a problem or
can i solve a problem or how can I make a difference in the world
how can I make a difference in the world
how can I make a difference in the world by creating a product Mimi is one of our
by creating a product Mimi is one of our
by creating a product Mimi is one of our students that decided to come up with
students that decided to come up with
students that decided to come up with this cat toy and a toy that looked like
this cat toy and a toy that looked like
this cat toy and a toy that looked like a cat I should say and she took this two
a cat I should say and she took this two
a cat I should say and she took this two materials a mock suede and a mock fur
materials a mock suede and a mock fur
materials a mock suede and a mock fur she cut strips sew them together and had
she cut strips sew them together and had
she cut strips sew them together and had a cat face at the front and a tail and
a cat face at the front and a tail and
a cat face at the front and a tail and she really wanted to have a fun name for
she really wanted to have a fun name for
she really wanted to have a fun name for this so she called them roadkill kitties
this so she called them roadkill kitties
this so she called them roadkill kitties and if that wasn’t enough she took a big
and if that wasn’t enough she took a big
and if that wasn’t enough she took a big branch that had fallen from a tree in
branch that had fallen from a tree in
branch that had fallen from a tree in her garden she mounted it on top of the
her garden she mounted it on top of the
her garden she mounted it on top of the table and then she had all the products
table and then she had all the products
table and then she had all the products hanging up here so as you walk by all
hanging up here so as you walk by all
hanging up here so as you walk by all you could see are these feline creatures
you could see are these feline creatures
you could see are these feline creatures like in dad at you and then she’d take
like in dad at you and then she’d take
like in dad at you and then she’d take them down she was all about showmanship
them down she was all about showmanship
them down she was all about showmanship so she’d take them down and lay one on
so she’d take them down and lay one on
so she’d take them down and lay one on the arms customers would come up and the
the arms customers would come up and the
the arms customers would come up and the customers would smooth it down and it
customers would smooth it down and it
customers would smooth it down and it would roll up and Mimi’s product came
would roll up and Mimi’s product came
would roll up and Mimi’s product came alive the roadkill Kitty came alive
alive the roadkill Kitty came alive
alive the roadkill Kitty came alive Mimi’s business came alive and Mimi came
Mimi’s business came alive and Mimi came
Mimi’s business came alive and Mimi came alive you see Mimi wasn’t strong she
alive you see Mimi wasn’t strong she
alive you see Mimi wasn’t strong she wasn’t a strong academic student and yet
wasn’t a strong academic student and yet
wasn’t a strong academic student and yet had perhaps the most successful business
had perhaps the most successful business
had perhaps the most successful business in her class and what was so exciting
in her class and what was so exciting
in her class and what was so exciting was that she was able to achieve that
was that she was able to achieve that
was that she was able to achieve that success by showcasing her
success by showcasing her
success by showcasing her entrepreneurial and her artistic flair
entrepreneurial and her artistic flair
entrepreneurial and her artistic flair the product development stage is also
the product development stage is also
the product development stage is also very powerful because students starting
very powerful because students starting
very powerful because students starting to come up with an idea but then they
to come up with an idea but then they
to come up with an idea but then they have to use market research they do
have to use market research they do
have to use market research they do prototyping and then they get into
prototyping and then they get into
prototyping and then they get into production so it’s very rich with
production so it’s very rich with
production so it’s very rich with learning opportunities Tyler was very
learning opportunities Tyler was very
learning opportunities Tyler was very determined that he wanted to create the
determined that he wanted to create the
determined that he wanted to create the sock puppet and he is just market
sock puppet and he is just market
sock puppet and he is just market research to really perfect the design so
research to really perfect the design so
research to really perfect the design so when he asked the question what color
when he asked the question what color
when he asked the question what color would you like everybody see him teal
would you like everybody see him teal
would you like everybody see him teal one of the options was tie-dye and
one of the options was tie-dye and
one of the options was tie-dye and everybody seemed to pick that choice so
everybody seemed to pick that choice so
everybody seemed to pick that choice so it was an obvious design decision the
it was an obvious design decision the
it was an obvious design decision the problem he had though was when it came
problem he had though was when it came
problem he had though was when it came time to pick the the hair at the top and
time to pick the the hair at the top and
time to pick the the hair at the top and the tongue inside and there didn’t seem
the tongue inside and there didn’t seem
the tongue inside and there didn’t seem to be a general consensus in his survey
to be a general consensus in his survey
to be a general consensus in his survey data so he really was unsure what to do
data so he really was unsure what to do
data so he really was unsure what to do now he immediately went right to the
now he immediately went right to the
now he immediately went right to the teacher and said hey what do I do about
teacher and said hey what do I do about
teacher and said hey what do I do about this and the teacher handled
this and the teacher handled
this and the teacher handled beautifully the teacher said you know
beautifully the teacher said you know
beautifully the teacher said you know what toilet this is your business you
what toilet this is your business you
what toilet this is your business you have to make that decision yourself and
have to make that decision yourself and
have to make that decision yourself and you’ve got great creative and critical
you’ve got great creative and critical
you’ve got great creative and critical thinking abilities so can’t wait to see
thinking abilities so can’t wait to see
thinking abilities so can’t wait to see what you come up with so Tyler left and
what you come up with so Tyler left and
what you come up with so Tyler left and we weren’t really sure how this would
we weren’t really sure how this would
we weren’t really sure how this would play out and a couple of days later he
play out and a couple of days later he
play out and a couple of days later he came back and he had a solution he
came back and he had a solution he
came back and he had a solution he actually put a snap up here on the head
actually put a snap up here on the head
actually put a snap up here on the head and a snap inside the mouth so these
and a snap inside the mouth so these
and a snap inside the mouth so these pieces could be removed and then he made
pieces could be removed and then he made
pieces could be removed and then he made a bunch of extra design so people could
a bunch of extra design so people could
a bunch of extra design so people could come up to the table and customize their
come up to the table and customize their
come up to the table and customize their puppets and he didn’t stop there he
puppets and he didn’t stop there he
puppets and he didn’t stop there he actually made a bunch of extras and sold
actually made a bunch of extras and sold
actually made a bunch of extras and sold them as accessories and was able to
them as accessories and was able to
them as accessories and was able to increase his profits substantially as a
increase his profits substantially as a
increase his profits substantially as a result of his creativity what we’ve been
result of his creativity what we’ve been
result of his creativity what we’ve been looking at here really is is some key
looking at here really is is some key
looking at here really is is some key features and and the entrepreneur show
features and and the entrepreneur show
features and and the entrepreneur show is what they’re working towards so this
is what they’re working towards so this
is what they’re working towards so this is the final sales event where they they
is the final sales event where they they
is the final sales event where they they interact with the customers and it’s an
interact with the customers and it’s an
interact with the customers and it’s an incredibly dynamic so it gives the
incredibly dynamic so it gives the
incredibly dynamic so it gives the students an opportunity to think on
students an opportunity to think on
students an opportunity to think on their feet and even solve problems along
their feet and even solve problems along
their feet and even solve problems along the way as they’re you know using the
the way as they’re you know using the
the way as they’re you know using the communication skills to kind of pitch
communication skills to kind of pitch
communication skills to kind of pitch and talk to customers now is that an
and talk to customers now is that an
and talk to customers now is that an event just a few weeks ago before the
event just a few weeks ago before the
event just a few weeks ago before the holidays and there was a boy there and
holidays and there was a boy there and
holidays and there was a boy there and he was struggling because he had a
he was struggling because he had a
he was struggling because he had a really great product he made this really
really great product he made this really
really great product he made this really cool Christmas ornament out of twigs and
cool Christmas ornament out of twigs and
cool Christmas ornament out of twigs and string it was just beautiful but he had
string it was just beautiful but he had
string it was just beautiful but he had them hanging on a tree
them hanging on a tree
them hanging on a tree and they weren’t selling so he came out
and they weren’t selling so he came out
and they weren’t selling so he came out with me and he said you know I’m having
with me and he said you know I’m having
with me and he said you know I’m having a problem and and I swell to step back
a problem and and I swell to step back
a problem and and I swell to step back and just look at what your customers are
and just look at what your customers are
and just look at what your customers are seeing and what he came up with was that
seeing and what he came up with was that
seeing and what he came up with was that maybe the problem was that the
maybe the problem was that the
maybe the problem was that the decorations were part of the tree and
decorations were part of the tree and
decorations were part of the tree and they weren’t actually for sale so he
they weren’t actually for sale so he
they weren’t actually for sale so he decided to take one down and then he
decided to take one down and then he
decided to take one down and then he just stood here talking to customers and
just stood here talking to customers and
just stood here talking to customers and he said then I can bring him over and
he said then I can bring him over and
he said then I can bring him over and show them the different designs I said
show them the different designs I said
show them the different designs I said great give it a try so I walked around
great give it a try so I walked around
great give it a try so I walked around the gym and as I was coming around the
the gym and as I was coming around the
the gym and as I was coming around the corner and Luke says bill I’ve already
corner and Luke says bill I’ve already
corner and Luke says bill I’ve already sold three and it’s all they’ve been 10
sold three and it’s all they’ve been 10
sold three and it’s all they’ve been 10 minutes as I saw you now I am not
minutes as I saw you now I am not
minutes as I saw you now I am not exaggerating it was that level of
exaggerating it was that level of
exaggerating it was that level of intensity and what was so interesting to
intensity and what was so interesting to
intensity and what was so interesting to be is as I was watching his face I had a
be is as I was watching his face I had a
be is as I was watching his face I had a flash of a conversation I recently had
flash of a conversation I recently had
flash of a conversation I recently had with a teacher and she said that if you
with a teacher and she said that if you
with a teacher and she said that if you can’t teach
can’t teach
can’t teach pride with a textbook but you could
pride with a textbook but you could
pride with a textbook but you could certainly see pride on Luke’s face that
certainly see pride on Luke’s face that
certainly see pride on Luke’s face that day what we’ve been looking at is the
day what we’ve been looking at is the
day what we’ve been looking at is the process of learning and the idea of the
process of learning and the idea of the
process of learning and the idea of the process of learning is so important here
process of learning is so important here
process of learning is so important here and when we think back to that original
and when we think back to that original
and when we think back to that original experiment that I had what was the
experiment that I had what was the
experiment that I had what was the driving force there was truly the fact
driving force there was truly the fact
driving force there was truly the fact that the kids were in charge they get to
that the kids were in charge they get to
that the kids were in charge they get to make their own decisions and they’re
make their own decisions and they’re
make their own decisions and they’re learning or something that’s real to
learning or something that’s real to
learning or something that’s real to them and meaningful and that’s really in
them and meaningful and that’s really in
them and meaningful and that’s really in essence the whole driving force with
essence the whole driving force with
essence the whole driving force with this project but what’s ultimately
this project but what’s ultimately
this project but what’s ultimately important is the fact that the kids are
important is the fact that the kids are
important is the fact that the kids are actively developing core competencies
actively developing core competencies
actively developing core competencies and these entrepreneurial skills that I
and these entrepreneurial skills that I
and these entrepreneurial skills that I mentioned up front they’re actively
mentioned up front they’re actively
mentioned up front they’re actively developing them in order to achieve
developing them in order to achieve
developing them in order to achieve success with their projects and in order
success with their projects and in order
success with their projects and in order for all of this to work there’s two key
for all of this to work there’s two key
for all of this to work there’s two key features and the why first one is that
features and the why first one is that
features and the why first one is that the students have to have a freedom to
the students have to have a freedom to
the students have to have a freedom to make mistakes and so when we think about
make mistakes and so when we think about
make mistakes and so when we think about entrepreneurship entrepreneurship is
entrepreneurship entrepreneurship is
entrepreneurship entrepreneurship is actually messy there’s no one path or
actually messy there’s no one path or
actually messy there’s no one path or right answer so it’s really important
right answer so it’s really important
right answer so it’s really important that the students have the freedom to
that the students have the freedom to
that the students have the freedom to explore and experiment and treat
explore and experiment and treat
explore and experiment and treat mistakes simply as learning
mistakes simply as learning
mistakes simply as learning opportunities the second is that
opportunities the second is that
opportunities the second is that students need to have the chance to
students need to have the chance to
students need to have the chance to really reflect on their experiences and
really reflect on their experiences and
really reflect on their experiences and be able to identify and internalize you
be able to identify and internalize you
be able to identify and internalize you know what they’re learning so as an
know what they’re learning so as an
know what they’re learning so as an example they start a business they know
example they start a business they know
example they start a business they know they can say I am a business owner or I
they can say I am a business owner or I
they can say I am a business owner or I am an entrepreneur because I did it or I
am an entrepreneur because I did it or I
am an entrepreneur because I did it or I am creative because I solve that problem
am creative because I solve that problem
am creative because I solve that problem so that self reflection stage is really
so that self reflection stage is really
so that self reflection stage is really key because it gets them a chance to
key because it gets them a chance to
key because it gets them a chance to really define who they are as
really define who they are as
really define who they are as individuals so I want to give you a
individuals so I want to give you a
individuals so I want to give you a couple of examples of how they reflect
couple of examples of how they reflect
couple of examples of how they reflect on on their experiences so when asked
on on their experiences so when asked
on on their experiences so when asked what did you discover about yourself
what did you discover about yourself
what did you discover about yourself this young boy said I learned that I’m
this young boy said I learned that I’m
this young boy said I learned that I’m far more creative than I thought it was
far more creative than I thought it was
far more creative than I thought it was when asked what did you learn this young
when asked what did you learn this young
when asked what did you learn this young lady said I learned that if you take
lady said I learned that if you take
lady said I learned that if you take risk you will succeed and taking risk
risk you will succeed and taking risk
risk you will succeed and taking risk means thinking outside the box so words
means thinking outside the box so words
means thinking outside the box so words of wisdom from a 10 year old now the
of wisdom from a 10 year old now the
of wisdom from a 10 year old now the next one is purely for fun and it’s a
next one is purely for fun and it’s a
next one is purely for fun and it’s a question we always ask and we get some
question we always ask and we get some
question we always ask and we get some serious answers
serious answers
serious answers and in this case what tip would you have
and in this case what tip would you have
and in this case what tip would you have for other young entrepreneurs that are
for other young entrepreneurs that are
for other young entrepreneurs that are just getting started and this young boy
just getting started and this young boy
just getting started and this young boy said wear deodorant the actual statement
said wear deodorant the actual statement
said wear deodorant the actual statement was wear deodorant the young
was wear deodorant the young
was wear deodorant the young entrepreneurs get nervous the room gets
entrepreneurs get nervous the room gets
entrepreneurs get nervous the room gets warm and you don’t want to be stinky so
warm and you don’t want to be stinky so
warm and you don’t want to be stinky so we’ve looked at the really the value of
we’ve looked at the really the value of
we’ve looked at the really the value of the process of learning and now I’d like
the process of learning and now I’d like
the process of learning and now I’d like to look into some broader benefits of
to look into some broader benefits of
to look into some broader benefits of this entrepreneurial experience and the
this entrepreneurial experience and the
this entrepreneurial experience and the first it set of shifts culture and I
first it set of shifts culture and I
first it set of shifts culture and I really this really became clear to me
really this really became clear to me
really this really became clear to me one year when I’m working one of the
one year when I’m working one of the
one year when I’m working one of the teachers reached the 10 year mark and I
teachers reached the 10 year mark and I
teachers reached the 10 year mark and I asked her I said what’s the difference
asked her I said what’s the difference
asked her I said what’s the difference between one year one and now and she
between one year one and now and she
between one year one and now and she said in year one I asked my kids how
said in year one I asked my kids how
said in year one I asked my kids how many of you think he can have a Bastardo
many of you think he can have a Bastardo
many of you think he can have a Bastardo business and one or two hands went up in
business and one or two hands went up in
business and one or two hands went up in your ched she asked the same question
your ched she asked the same question
your ched she asked the same question and every hand went up now when she
and every hand went up now when she
and every hand went up now when she asked them why they all agreed but one
asked them why they all agreed but one
asked them why they all agreed but one of the students captured it best and she
of the students captured it best and she
of the students captured it best and she said I went to my first entrepreneur
said I went to my first entrepreneur
said I went to my first entrepreneur show in kindergarten and I’ve been
show in kindergarten and I’ve been
show in kindergarten and I’ve been thinking about my products ever since
thinking about my products ever since
thinking about my products ever since so the entrepreneurial experience it not
so the entrepreneurial experience it not
so the entrepreneurial experience it not only helps them discover that
only helps them discover that
only helps them discover that entrepreneurship is a possible career
entrepreneurship is a possible career
entrepreneurship is a possible career option it also helps them realize that
option it also helps them realize that
option it also helps them realize that there’s more potential for them as young
there’s more potential for them as young
there’s more potential for them as young people they can do things that maybe
people they can do things that maybe
people they can do things that maybe they didn’t realize they could before
they didn’t realize they could before
they didn’t realize they could before the second benefit is that it is really
the second benefit is that it is really
the second benefit is that it is really about unleashing potential and one year
about unleashing potential and one year
about unleashing potential and one year I was working with the students in this
I was working with the students in this
I was working with the students in this particular case this student I walked in
particular case this student I walked in
particular case this student I walked in it was about two years ago and and his
it was about two years ago and and his
it was about two years ago and and his name was Keegan and Keegan had what we
name was Keegan and Keegan had what we
name was Keegan and Keegan had what we call we call him a soap guy actually
call we call him a soap guy actually
call we call him a soap guy actually because he had this really cool soap
because he had this really cool soap
because he had this really cool soap product and he was standing with poise
product and he was standing with poise
product and he was standing with poise and confidence interacting with
and confidence interacting with
and confidence interacting with customers and so on and when I asked him
customers and so on and when I asked him
customers and so on and when I asked him why it was fun he said it’s fun because
why it was fun he said it’s fun because
why it was fun he said it’s fun because I get to be me and I looked over at his
I get to be me and I looked over at his
I get to be me and I looked over at his mom and she was crying and I realized
mom and she was crying and I realized
mom and she was crying and I realized wow there’s more to this so when a few
wow there’s more to this so when a few
wow there’s more to this so when a few months later he was actually giving a
months later he was actually giving a
months later he was actually giving a presentation in front of a group of
presentation in front of a group of
presentation in front of a group of educators and as he was standing there
educators and as he was standing there
educators and as he was standing there he said school isn’t easy for everyone
he said school isn’t easy for everyone
he said school isn’t easy for everyone and he went on to explain that he has
and he went on to explain that he has
and he went on to explain that he has learning disabilities and often
learning disabilities and often
learning disabilities and often struggled with school so with this
struggled with school so with this
struggled with school so with this project he said he could think outside
project he said he could think outside
project he said he could think outside the box
the box
the box and he discovered that
and he discovered that
and he discovered that he was far more creative and he had more
he was far more creative and he had more
he was far more creative and he had more talent than he realized before and he
talent than he realized before and he
talent than he realized before and he was able to discover things and it gave
was able to discover things and it gave
was able to discover things and it gave him high hopes high hopes think about
him high hopes high hopes think about
him high hopes high hopes think about how many kids out there feel anxiety
how many kids out there feel anxiety
how many kids out there feel anxiety about the future this project really in
about the future this project really in
about the future this project really in helps them or this type of project
helps them or this type of project
helps them or this type of project really helps them discover new potential
really helps them discover new potential
really helps them discover new potential the entrepreneurial mindset also helps
the entrepreneurial mindset also helps
the entrepreneurial mindset also helps kids spark leadership and really one of
kids spark leadership and really one of
kids spark leadership and really one of the students this really I got a call
the students this really I got a call
the students this really I got a call one day from on a Friday afternoon and
one day from on a Friday afternoon and
one day from on a Friday afternoon and this was about a boy that had social
this was about a boy that had social
this was about a boy that had social performance anxiety and mild autism and
performance anxiety and mild autism and
performance anxiety and mild autism and he had a real challenge with speaking in
he had a real challenge with speaking in
he had a real challenge with speaking in front of groups and in fact he had to
front of groups and in fact he had to
front of groups and in fact he had to always give presentations one-on-one but
always give presentations one-on-one but
always give presentations one-on-one but yet at his entrepreneur show he was
yet at his entrepreneur show he was
yet at his entrepreneur show he was standing there calling people over and
standing there calling people over and
standing there calling people over and he ended up selling out his product and
he ended up selling out his product and
he ended up selling out his product and did tremendously well at the end of the
did tremendously well at the end of the
did tremendously well at the end of the project his mom and mom said he was in
project his mom and mom said he was in
project his mom and mom said he was in it to win it and what was so cool was
it to win it and what was so cool was
it to win it and what was so cool was that he was able to really sell his
that he was able to really sell his
that he was able to really sell his products and and interact with customers
products and and interact with customers
products and and interact with customers and he definitely had a win with that
and he definitely had a win with that
and he definitely had a win with that program one of the features that I
program one of the features that I
program one of the features that I haven’t told you about is that the
haven’t told you about is that the
haven’t told you about is that the students donate 10% to charity and and
students donate 10% to charity and and
students donate 10% to charity and and his class wanted to donate to the SPCA
his class wanted to donate to the SPCA
his class wanted to donate to the SPCA but in his situation what he did was he
but in his situation what he did was he
but in his situation what he did was he wanted to donate to a mental facility
wanted to donate to a mental facility
wanted to donate to a mental facility that was just opening up it was a wing
that was just opening up it was a wing
that was just opening up it was a wing of a hospital that was going to support
of a hospital that was going to support
of a hospital that was going to support these kids with anxiety and so he went
these kids with anxiety and so he went
these kids with anxiety and so he went in there and he stood up in front and he
in there and he stood up in front and he
in there and he stood up in front and he asked if he could speak in front of the
asked if he could speak in front of the
asked if he could speak in front of the audience now this is a boy with social
audience now this is a boy with social
audience now this is a boy with social anxiety and he stood in front of the
anxiety and he stood in front of the
anxiety and he stood in front of the group and he said he talked about his
group and he said he talked about his
group and he said he talked about his entrepreneurial experience and he talked
entrepreneurial experience and he talked
entrepreneurial experience and he talked about why this organization was
about why this organization was
about why this organization was important to him and then he announced
important to him and then he announced
important to him and then he announced he was donating 50 percent to charity
he was donating 50 percent to charity
he was donating 50 percent to charity really when we look at this
really when we look at this
really when we look at this entrepreneurial experience an
entrepreneurial experience an
entrepreneurial experience an entrepreneurial mindset helps kids
entrepreneurial mindset helps kids
entrepreneurial mindset helps kids discover that they can make the world a
discover that they can make the world a
discover that they can make the world a better place it really helps them
better place it really helps them
better place it really helps them discover that they can have careers that
discover that they can have careers that
discover that they can have careers that are fulfilling a meaningful and and even
are fulfilling a meaningful and and even
are fulfilling a meaningful and and even and be self-reliant it helps them to
and be self-reliant it helps them to
and be self-reliant it helps them to discover their passions and their
discover their passions and their
discover their passions and their talents and their interest and it helps
talents and their interest and it helps
talents and their interest and it helps them discover that they can actually
them discover that they can actually
them discover that they can actually achieve success not only in the future
achieve success not only in the future
achieve success not only in the future but in school today one of our
but in school today one of our
but in school today one of our entrepreneur
entrepreneur
entrepreneur he had the severe behavioral problems
he had the severe behavioral problems
he had the severe behavioral problems and would blow up every day in class he
and would blow up every day in class he
and would blow up every day in class he would scream and shout and leave the
would scream and shout and leave the
would scream and shout and leave the room and and so on and at the end of the
room and and so on and at the end of the
room and and so on and at the end of the program he flourished and a year later
program he flourished and a year later
program he flourished and a year later he came back and he had a gift for me
he came back and he had a gift for me
he came back and he had a gift for me and he said what do you see and I said
and he said what do you see and I said
and he said what do you see and I said there’s three stones and they’re smooth
there’s three stones and they’re smooth
there’s three stones and they’re smooth or colorful and they’re special and he
or colorful and they’re special and he
or colorful and they’re special and he said I’m special too and that’s how I
said I’m special too and that’s how I
said I’m special too and that’s how I want you to remember me let’s get out
want you to remember me let’s get out
want you to remember me let’s get out there and help kids develop an
there and help kids develop an
there and help kids develop an entrepreneurial mindset and let’s help
entrepreneurial mindset and let’s help
entrepreneurial mindset and let’s help them use their special talents to put
them use their special talents to put
them use their special talents to put their mark on the world thank you very
their mark on the world thank you very
their mark on the world thank you very much
”
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