From a humble lemonade stand to a festival food truck to a major beverage company. Anything is possible for young entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship is a valuable skill which can have many positive affects on young children and adults. As more young people are participating in the global marketplace now is the best time to jump in and start that business you always dreamed of as a kid. Of course, there will be challenges along the way. But that is true for any career path.
It is important to encourage young entrepreneurs to participate and keep going when it comes to their business. It may sound cliché, but the youth is our future, and we should pass on any knowledge we can to ensure their success.
Young entrepreneurs typically range from the ages of 10 to 25. This simply shows that it is never to early to start. As mentioned above, there are so many benefits to entrepreneurship. Having this skill encourages other skills such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and discipline. If done correctly, entrepreneurship can secure a better future for your young one. It will teach your young one valuable lessons about how to manage their money, something we know as adults is a very important life skill.
Parents or guardians should be encouraging, and schools should offer lessons which promote growth of entrepreneurship in young ones. Having support from the start will only boost the confidence of a young entrepreneur which could lead to a more successful future business.
One of the many hurdles young entrepreneurs face is initial funding to start up their business. The Government of Canada provides many resources which can help young entrepreneurs start up their business. The Government of Alberta’s website lines out many options for young Calgarians to start achieving their dreams. From small business resources to federal resources and the Innovation Canada Digital platform there are so many ways to encourage young entrepreneurs.
There are also mentorship programs and online curriculums which promote collaboration with fellow entrepreneurs. But more can be done to encourage young entrepreneurs. Current successful business owners should consider volunteering at schools or offer workshops which will boost entrepreneurial knowledge for young ones. Maybe go back to your old school and inspire the future generation with that which you have learned as an experienced entrepreneur. Established entrepreneurs could also offer work experience which will help build a young entrepreneur’s portfolio.
Fostering the growth of young entrepreneurs is a team effort. Parents, teachers, and established entrepreneurs should all come to together to invest in the future by investing in young entrepreneurs.
I leave young entrepreneurs with these closing remarks by Mark Zuckerberg, a former young entrepreneur, as encouragement: “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks”.
