Roadmap for Teen Entrepreneurs Finding Their Way

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Me…Myself….and WHY?

Me, Myself and Why?:A Business Roadmap for Determined Teens Who are Making Their Way

Presented By: Shonika Proctor, Co-Founder Renegade CEO’s

February 25, 2010

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2. My Entrepreneurial JourneyMe, Myself and Why?

In 2005…. In 2008….

I started my business. My business started me.

I chose my business because of my circumstances.

My business chose me because I was inspired

by MY WHY!

I had a lot of experience in my industry and I

often struggled.

I had little experience in my industry and I seldom struggle.

I built my business for me.

I built my business for my customer (and they

filled the gaps of my inexperience).

Shonika Proctor at Young Entrepreneur Society Movie

Premiere

with twins Shane and Shawn of

Shane and Shawn Shoes

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3. Presentation Overview Me, Myself and Why?Young people come up with creative and

brilliant ideas everyday. Yet, they are often ‘unsure’ how to pursue their great ideas or turn their concepts into entrepreneurial ventures.

Frequently this is because teens haven’t figured themselves out yet; they don’t realize how their ideas fit into the greater scheme of things; they don’t necessarily understand the direction of their life yet and how much control they have of it; and they don’t fully have a grasp of how things go together.

The process that they undergo to discover themselves and understand how they fully connect with their environment is what I call their ‘WHY’.

Danielle Herb, 16, provides equine therapy for ADD/ADHD and Autistic kids through the use of natural horsemanship. She started her company when she was 13.

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4. Topic Relevance to Teen EntrepreneursMe, Myself and Why?Everything and everyone around you is a

tool to your success and not an obstacle to it. The most accomplished entrepreneurs are those who understand this and have been able to create opportunities where other people saw problems.

It will be easier for you (regardless of your age or experience) to turn problems into opportunities once you know and start connecting with Your WHY…

(photo right) Matthew Turcotte, 17, on the cover of Absolutely Business Magazine (NY, Nov 2009). His company, North Shore Web Development, designs websites for small towns all over the U.S. because Matt realized a lot of web design companies were too expensive for businesses in small towns like the one he lives in. He just finished publishing a book, from Main Street to Mainstream and is the only entrepreneur in his high school.

Matthew Turcotte, 17, CEO of North Shore Web Development

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5. My WHY!?Me, Myself and Why?

My WHY: I am PROMPTING THE EMERGING VOICE because I believe we all have a story to tell and it is our own to tell in its right time.

For teens ‘their voice’ is often taken from them…. because people believe they are not ‘ready’. Yet, they give them the responsibility to fix our ‘future’. It is something that is challenging yet inspiring for me when I

collaborate and create with teens in their world and hear them for the first time confidently and fearlessly ‘sharing their powerful story’.

“How to go about finding your WHY”

•What fulfills and inspires you?•What do you think and talk about all the time?•What magazines and websites do you like?

Perhaps you may not think of certain things that you like to do as being a business. But that is the beauty and fun of business, there are no rules on what you can choose or create.

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6. Discovering Your WHY! Me, Myself and Why?YOUR WHY….is one of the most

critical things that you need to discover in the early stages of your business….yet it is something that you are not going to be able to read about in a book, find on the internet or learn in a class. It’s also something that teens find a little embarrassing to talk about in general conversation.

On the following slide are some important ‘WHY’ questions I often answer for teens on what it means to ‘turn problems into opportunities’ and thus being able to discover their WHY.

Discovering Your Why is a process that everyone must go through regardless of age and whether you choose to work for yourself or someone else.

(photo courtesy: Fractal Artist on Flickr)

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7. Discovering Your WHY! Me, Myself and Why?

Today we will be covering the answers to these questions:

• are you unsure about starting your business?

• does it seem that everybody you know has a ‘Master Plan’ for your life EXCEPT YOU?

• are the people closest to you often the ones who most try to discourage you from pursuing entrepreneurship?

• would adults be willing to work with you/give you the time of day?

• don’t people take you seriously about being a business owner?

• don’t I know my WHY?

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8. Step 1.Me, Myself and Why?Why are you unsure about starting your

business?

A. You don’t know where to begin or what’s the first stepA. You don’t know who would be willing to support you (for

free)A. You don’t have enough [money, experience, time etc]

Step 1: Recognize and appreciate your value.

Just because you don’t have business experience and you don’t have money

doesn’t mean you don’t have value or that you are inferior.

AzureRae Turner, 13, model, actress and creator of Dream

Azure Fragrance Line. She also hosts self esteem workshops for

tween and teen Girls.

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9. Step 2.Me, Myself and Why?

Why does everybody you know seem to have a ‘Master Plan’ for you….EXCEPT YOU?

A. You are not being clear and confident on what you want. It’s more important to say what you want, not what you don’t want. Stay in tune to the goal (dream) not on the process/how.

Step 2: Follow and further explore the things that makes your heart

sing.

Passion is a defining point for many in

discovering their why. Unfortunately, it is often confused as

being what your good at… but in reality it’s

what’s good for you!

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Why are the adults in your life afraid of entrepreneurship and/or you starting a business? •They deeply care about you and don’t want to see you ‘fail’ or ‘alone’.

•They don’t understand entrepreneurship so it is intimidating for them.

•They have run businesses before and were not ‘successful’. This causes further concern by those who care about you.

Step 3: Spend MORE time with friends and family…doing the things you enjoy!

It is so easy to get lost and disconnected from your personal life because of your business. Remember your WHY and stay connected to those most important in your life. Your best ideas and solutions will come to you when you are NOT thinking about your business or deeply immersed in it.

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11. Step 4. Me, Myself and Why?Why would business people/adults be

willing to work with you and give you the time of day?

A. Because your enthusiasm and passion for what you do is contagious (get in front of people).

Step 4: Let your love for your ‘dreams’ shine through!

Having fun in your business is mandatory. When you are on ‘a mission’ all types of people will show up to support you because they care about you. People (in general) who care about you and your well-being will want to share in your success.

Patricio Quezada, 18, Tony Hsieh, Founder of Zappos.com and Marshall Haas, 19

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12. Step 5. Me, Myself and Why?

Why don’t people take me seriously?

A. It’s not about what you will do. It’s about what you have (or have not) done. The answers to your future are hidden in your past.

Step 5: Find strength and inspiration in the trials and tribulations in your life because other people will do the

same.

While you cannot rewrite your story from the beginning, you can write a new ending starting from today.

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WHY don’t I know my WHY?

A. Because you do not yet fully trust your own advice. It will come in time as you go out and create more experiences and relationships.

Step 6: ASK family, friends, teachers, faith based and community leaders what types of things they

think you are good at. Then ask yourself if you agree.

You will most likely see patterns and commonalities in regards to what others see in you. Is the person they describe the ‘real’ you or the person you desire to be? In reflecting on your answer (which could take some time but will come), you will discover your WHY.

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WHY am still confused as to what I am supposed to do next? :)

A. Entrepreneurship is creative as it is structured. It is a lot like life – the most important lessons you will learn can’t be taught by a teacher, a textbook or a strange voice talking through your computer.

Step 7: Entrepreneurship - You must LIVE IT to learn it!

Follow your internal compass. It always points Due North so you can never get lost. Like there are no universal instructions for life, the same holds true for starting and running a business. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you because there are way too many variables in your personal situations.

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15. Closing ThoughtsMe, Myself and Why?You may be asking yourself just

now, “Where is the Roadmap” mentioned at the beginning of my presentation. Well, what I have found in coaching teens

through many types of businesses they started is:

Every business has it’s own ‘map to success’. The key to finding your path is in the

strength, passion and determination you put into whatever [ad)venture YOU

create.

Daniel Uribe, 20, attending a ‘board meeting’ :)

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16. Word to the Why’s :)Me, Myself and Why?

Here’s my advice for young people starting a business….

Understand that you have the power to create your own world and do whatever you want NOW and TODAY. Look to those who:

•Open doors to new opportunities for you

•Reinforce the notion that ALL is possible

•Offer guidance and ideas when you reach an obstacle

•Encourage perseverance

•Allow trial and error

•Always demonstrate love, compassion and support

All these things equate to empowering others to find their WHY and create their own roadmap to success in life.

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17. Thank YouMe, Myself and Why?

I appreciate YOU(th)! Thanks so much for your support.

•Need additional support or have questions?

•Want to speak directly to a successful teen entrepreneur?

•Share feedback?

•Just want to say Hi!

web: www.TeenEntrepreneurBlog.com

phone: 202.580.8336 (TEEN)

A true Renegade CEO challenges not the limits of society, but the limits of oneself. – Shonika Proctor