Teen Entrepreneurship-The gift that keeps on giving!

When I was growing up, one of the things I remember my mom telling me was “one of the best things I can do as a parent, besides loving you and keeping you healthy and safe, is to teach you how to be independent.” Back then, I really didn’t appreciate those words the way I do today. Funny thing, I use those same words on my son today!

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my son and I would imagine that holds true for you and your kids as well. But, in that desire to ‘give everything’ to our kids, we oftentimes do a disservice to them. Teaching our kids how to be independent, especially financially, can be a gift of empowerment and confidence.

So where should we start when it comes to teaching them how to stand on their own two feet? It depends on the age, of course, but begin with something. As a money coach, I’ll focus on the financial aspect for this article.

Start with teaching them how to create their own income. Inspire them by introducing the world of entrepreneurship. This concept can be taught to them as early as elementary school! Imagine how your child would feel, knowing that he or she was able to make their own money! Imagine how you will feel, knowing the foundation was being laid for a solid and prosperous future for your children.

Sit with your kids and have them identify their skills, loves and talents. Brainstorm together and come up with various ways to take those gifts and create a small business. Start with something simple, like mowing lawns, walking dogs or taking the neighbors trash cans out. Teens can detail cars, run errands or wash windows. Once they get a taste of having their own cash, the motivation will kick in to do more. Especially if they know the Bank of Mom and Dad is no longer available.

Once the cash is in hand, you can teach them how to manage that money wisely to create even more money. Now the real fun begins!

If you have teens and would love to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit, I have an upcoming event your teens won’t want to miss. A Millionaire in the Making, The Biz Building Boot Camp for Teens is a 3 hour workshop being held Thursday, April 29th. Teens will learn how to build a business, market that business, create flyers, business cards and learn about designing a website. Money management skills and strategies will also be taught to assure they keep the money they work so hard for! The workshop is designed specifically for teens, age 13-18. Dinner will also be served. To learn more and register, visit http://teenscashcoach.com/upcoming-events. Seating is very limited, as I keep the workshop small, so be sure to sign up today!

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