YOUTH IN BUSINESS SAVING THE PLANET and
Turning a Profit
Meet Ollie Forsyth
RICHARD BRANSON
THE RISE TO SUCCESS
FREE TWO DAY EVENT
HOW TO CREATE A
SUCCESSFUL KIDS BUSINESS
The Life Changing & Inspirational 2 Day Event Every Young Person Needs, Plus It’s 100% Free… Want Your Kids To.... • Learn Real Business Skills • Earn and Manage Thier Own Money • Start A Successful Business • Develop the Skillset Of An Entrepreneur Most parents we talk to say that there is limited options for teaching young people real life business concepts and skills to empower them at a young age However, an under ground movement of parents have broken the mould and seek quality training to open their kids minds to a bright future in business.
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Gold Coast 27 - 28 July 2019 Sydney 10 - 11 August 2019 Manchester UK - 5 - 6 October 2019 London UK - 12 - 13 October 2019
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF B E N
A N D
S H E R I
J O N E S
Welcome to the first issue of Youth In Business Magazine. This magazine was created to inspire, educate and share real stories, information and tips to support you on your entrepreneurial journey! In our own journey as entrepreneurs and when working with our youth entrepreneurs in our programs we know that at times it can be a tough ride. That is why we wanted to create this magazine - to help share stories and advice to make this crazy ride of an entrepreneur a little less stressful. When we put together the content for the magazine we wanted it to be a mix of tips to help you on your way, and stories that will inspire you.
Make sure you take a look at the page we like to call Youth In Business TV where you can hear from the teens as they share their journey with you! We are always so amazed by the hundreds of teens we work with that take the entrepreneurial plunge and do so with an enormous amount of gusto and enthusiasm. If you have your own story you would like to share with us and the Youth In Business tribe please make sure to visit www.youthinbusinessmagazine.com
and our editorial team will be in touch. We hope you enjoy turning every page.
Ben And Sheri Jones youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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Richard Branson: Childhood Challenges To Billionaire
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J.K. Rowling’s Rise To Riches: Potter Gold
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Adventures Of A Jam Boy
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10 Ways Your Child Can Make Money This Weekend
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Mums In Business Association
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by READ PUBLISHING. Links outside of this publication are provided for user convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by READ PUBLISHING. The publisher or any of the editors, writers or contributors will not accept responsibility or liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owners risk and while every care will be taken the publisher does not accept liability for loss or damage. No person, organization or party can copy or re-produce the content on this site and or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the editors’ panel and the author if the content, as applicable. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work.
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Saving The Planet And Turning A Profit
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Top UK Entrepreneurs Under 25
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ADHD And Dyslexia: An Entrepreneurial Advantage
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How To Launch A Big Idea For Free
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Ollie Forsyth: From Bullied Schoolboy To Teenage Entrepreneur
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Big Life Journal: Life Lessons For Kids
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Teens Have The Key To Success
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101 Great Kids B U S I N ESS I D E AS
Yes I want this! www.youthinbusiness.com/101-ideas
Is your child ready to kick off a business using their skills and talents? There are literally dozens of ideas in • • • • • • • • • • • •
Arts & Crafts Food Production & Cooking Household Items & Products Personal Services Pet Services Childcare IT & Technology Education Home Services Entertainment Writing Film & Photography
To make it easy for you to unlock your child’s potential, we have created 101 Great Kids Business Ideas.
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CONTRIBUTORS OLLIE FORSYTH
Ollie Forsyth left school at 16 without qualifications but always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Diagnosed with dyslexia, Ollie has learnt from failure, learnt the hard way, and then achieved much more than many people would expect to achieve in a lifetime. He started his first business at 13, Ollie’s Shop, an online gift shop for teenagers. Since then, he has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines including, Forbes, The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Express, Entrepreneur.com, Fortune Magazine, Billionaire Australia, The Huffington Post, Uni’s Not For Me and many more. He has most recently founded The Budding Entrepreneur Magazine and The Makers and has plans to build an entrepreneurs incubator and an entrepreneurs centre in India. Ned Heaton, the budding kid-preneur, founded his first company, The Turtle Tribe, at just 11 years old. He has created a business that saves the planet, turns a profit and supports a charity. And he’s not even in high school yet! He has just been named “2019 Changemaker of the Year” in the global ‘Be the Change’ Awards. At the gala awards ceremony in London this week, Ned was awarded the title by a panel of expert judges out of just five finalists worldwide. He was recognised for his ambitious plan to ban plastic toothbrushes and help reduce ocean pollution.
NED HEATON
Fraser Doherty is the founder of SuperJam, Envelope Coffee, and co-founder of Beer52. He is also director of the registered Scottish charity, The SuperJam Tea Parties.
FRASER DOHERTY
ALEXANDRA EIDENS Big Life Journal
Doherty, through SuperJam, has invested in various charitable projects. The SuperJam Tea Parties, which runs tea parties for lonely elderly people who live alone or in care homes, was established by Doherty in 2008. He published his first book in 2010, The SuperJam Cookbook, which is full of recipes for making jams, cakes and desserts. His second book, SuperBusiness is a guide to starting a business, based on SuperJam’s journey from village fetes in Scotland to supermarket shelves around the world and, “48-Hour Start-up: From idea to launch in 1 weekend” is his most recent book. Doherty also won the 2007 Global Student Entrepreneur of the Year, Alexandra Eidens is the co-founder of Big Life Journal. Big Life Journal began in 2017 Alexandra and her husband, Scott decided to create child-friendly resources to develop a growth mindset. They are on a mission to help children be more resilient, believe in themselves, and know they can achieve anything they want out of life. When children become stuck in negative self-talk or can’t push through their fear of failure, it’s hard to know how to help them. Big Life Journal creates engaging resources to help kids develop a growth and resilient mindset so they can face life’s challenges with confidence. Today, Big Life Journal resources are used in hundreds of thousands of homes and schools around the world and the community has grown to over 500,000 parents and educators. Leona Burton and Estelle Keeber, The Mums in Business Association (MIBA) is one of the fastest growing business networks for mums in the world. Formed in 2017, the network has grown to an astonishing 32,000 members worldwide, and they are continuing to grow at a fast pace.
LEONA BURTON AND ESTELLE KEEBER Mums In Business Association
MIBA was started by sisters Leona Burton and Estelle Keeber who had a vision to create a safe hub online where mothers could access the vital information they need to start and grow their business. The dynamic duo have 7 children between them, and they are familiar with the struggles faced by mothers: lack of affordable child care, trying to juggle work with collecting children from school, and working around the clock both at work in the home, in order to provide for their children. Estelle and Leona wanted to turn this on it’s head, by showing mothers that it’s possible to take control of your own economy and make money, without burnout. youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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When we think of entrepreneurs who have disrupted major business industries, Richard Branson and the Virgin brand are at the forefront of our minds. While large and powerful enough to literally go out of this world with Virgin Galactic, Branson’s huge empire came from humble beginnings. When Richard Branson left school at 16, his headteacher predicted he would end up either in prison or a millionaire. While he spotted something special about Branson, unfortunately school did not encourage or harness his talents. Branson was dyslexic and struggled with school – unfortunately in the 1960’s, there wasn’t the recognition or support that schools provide today. It’s quite ironic then, and reflective of Branson’s character, that his first business venture at age 16 would be a magazine, “Student”. 8
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At 16, Branson was close enough to his customers to know what they would be interested in, and his next business, selling records, was created from his own passion for music, and marketed to fellow music lovers through Student Magazine. He knew that students wanted a cheaper way to access music than the high street stores, and creatively found solutions to make that happen. As exciting and controversial bands hit the music scene in the 1970’s, Branson created his own record label to ensure their music reached the wider public. All of Branson’s business ventures start with a frustration with an industry, usually around pricing, and an almost childlike belief that he can change it. Virgin Records and Virgin Music disrupted the music industry before the term was even invented. Branson saw multiple industries that were ripping
customers off, and that the big corporations made huge profits, while the regular person was denied access to ordinary goods such as entertainment. Like a toddler being told “don’t touch”, Branson kept poking at every industry; “What happens if I try this?” As each venture succeeded and capital resources grew, he looked for more industries to break into – trains, mobile phones, credit cards. Each company looked for customer frustration and brought an innovative low-cost solution. The Virgin brand became associated with value and honesty. Famously, Branson’s entry into the airline industry came from his own frustration as a customer – his flight from Puerto Rico was cancelled. And like a teenager calling Dad for a ride home, he just chartered his own plane and offered a ride to the rest of the stranded passengers for a small fee to cover costs. His ventures have not been without failure or scandal – he has had several failed businesses (Virgin Cola, Virgin Cars, Virgin Publishing) as well as an abandoned attempt to cross the globe in a balloon. He’s also had some occasions where he’s been closer to prison than millionaire – for
tax evasion, price fixing and near bankruptcy in the earlier years. But with a childlike optimism, Branson’s view of mistakes is: “I suppose the secret to bouncing back is not only to be unafraid of failures but to use them as motivational and learning tools... There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you don’t make the same ones over and over again.” As fast as his wealth accumulates, Branson finds ways to share it, with countless humanitarian initiatives founded over the decades. He is also a huge supporter of young entrepreneurs – an invitation to a retreat at Necker Island is every entrepreneur’s dream. Part of Branson’s success is his ability to see the obvious. He looks for the problem, the frustration, and a better way to do things. He isn’t an inventor, but finds better, simpler, cheaper ways to do everyday things. His goal seems to be simple - give more people more access to more things, whether that be through charities and foundations, or giving customers what they want. Branson is living proof no matter how young you are, or what your challenges may be, you can succeed in whatever you put your mind to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeG_Dw4IuKo
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J.K. ROWLING
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J.K. Rowling’s Rise To Riches
“I have not forgotten what it feels like to worry whether I’ll have enough money to pay the bills.” ne long train ride from Manchester to London, the characters Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger came into the mind of a young lady named Joanne Rowling.
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Over the next six years, Joanne would map out all seven books of the series, writing mostly in longhand on odd scraps of paper. She would eventually assume the pen name J.K. Rowling, publish Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and her series would eventually sell more than 450 million copies, win innumerable awards and be made into Hollywood films. In a classic rags to riches tale, Rowling came from humble beginnings. When she began Harry Potter, she was a single mother, impoverished, and depressed. Still, she managed to push through and chase her dreams. Born in Bristol in 1965, Joanne grew up surrounded by literature, saying “I lived for books. I was your basic common or garden variety bookworm, complete with freckles and National Health spectacles.” On her website she wrote that she had always known she would be a book author. “As soon as I knew what
writers were, I wanted to be one. I’ve got the perfect temperament for a writer; perfectly happy alone in a room, making things up.” She wrote her first book about a rabbit, called ‘Rabbit’. At just eleven, she wrote her first novel – about seven cursed diamonds and the people who owned them. When her mother praised her work, she says she “stood there and thought, well, get it published then.” Her teenage years were unhappy with a complicated home life due to her mother being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and a strained relationship with her father. She describes the most traumatising moment in her life as the day her mother died. It was New Year’s Day in 1991 when Rowling was 25, about six months after she began writing Harry Potter. The loss of her mother would eventually lead Rowling to make Harry Potter suffer the death of his parents. “My books are largely about death,” she told the Telegraph in 2006, referencing the death of Harry’s parents and villain Voldemort’s obsession with immortality. “I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We’re all frightened of it,” she said.
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“An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless … By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.” After the death of her mother, Joanne moved to Portugal, to teach English where she began writing. She met Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes, who she married and had a child with. However, the rocky marriage only lasted a year. Joanne and her daughter, Jessica returned to Scotland with the beginnings of Harry Potter in her suitcase. Living in a cramped apartment with her daughter, jobless and penniless, Rowling fell into a deep depression and hit rock bottom. Forced to rely on state benefits and spending much of her time writing Harry Potter in cafés with Jessica sleeping in the pram next to her, Rowling was in a rut. “An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless … By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew,” Rowling said during a 2008 Harvard University commencement speech. After finishing the first manuscript, Joanne endured another long process of rejections from publishers. FInally, in 1997, Bloomsbury, a publishing house in London, gave Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone the green light. Although they were interested in publishing the book, Rowling was advised to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money, but soon after this, she received an £8,000 grant from to enable her to continue writing. Philosopher's Stone was published with an initial print run of 1,000 copies, 500 of which were distributed to libraries. Five months later, the book won its first award.
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Rowling said that she "nearly died" when she heard the news and the following year, began on the next book in what would become the series of seven. In 1998, Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to the first two novels and by 2004, Forbes had named Rowling as the first person to become a US-dollar billionaire by writing books. She remains on its lists of the most powerful celebrities and the world’s topearning authors.
The very best thing her wealth has given her, she wrote on her website, is the absence of worry. “I have not forgotten what it feels like to worry whether you’ll have enough money to pay the bills. Not to have to think about that anymore is the biggest luxury in the world,� she said. Before Harry Potter, people loved to read, and even after Harry Potter ended people loved to read, but this series did something truly special to an entire
generation of kids - it turned them into lifelong readers. It inspired little girls and boys to become writers. It sparked imaginations and will continue to inspire for generations to come. Through personal battles and multiple rejections, Joanne Rowling never gave up on Harry Potter or her dreams. She showed her fans how determination and faith can pull you through just about anything, and that hard work really can pay off.
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ADVENTURES OF A JAM BOY
FRASER DOHERTY
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNF7S67Wd0c
Fraser Doherty started his incredible business career at the age of just fourteen. After being taught how to make jam in his Grandmother’s kitchen in Scotland, he came up with a way of making jam 100% from fruit. At sixteen, he presented his brand, SuperJam, to Waitrose and went on to become the youngest ever supplier to a major supermarket. SuperJam has since grown into a company that has sold many millions of jars through thousands of supermarkets around the world. As well as being a commercial success, the business has invested in successful charitable projects - running hundreds of free tea parties for the elderly and setting up hundreds of community beekeeping projects.
Fraser has been commended by the Prime Minister at Downing Street, by HRH Prince Charles and was recently awarded a medal (MBE) “for services to business” by The Queen. He has shared his incredible story at more than 500+ conferences in 27 countries around the world, as well as in his best-selling books SuperBusiness - published in UK, US, Australia, Korea and Japan, 48 Hour Startup – published in the UK, US, Netherlands and Korea and The SuperJam Cookbook. He is also the co-founder of Beer52; the world’s largest craft beer club and one of Scotland’s fastest-growing startup companies with more than 200,000 customers, shipping 50,000+ cases of beer a month and producing the UK’s No. 1 craft beer magazine, Ferment. fraserdoher ty.com @superjamuk @fraserdoher ty youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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10 WAYS YOUR CHILD CAN MAKE MONEY THIS WEEKEND Many parents give their children an allowance for helping around the house with chores. While this is a good start to teaching your kids about money management, it’s not the only way for them to make a little pocket change. Limiting a child’s experience with money to an at-home allowance can stifle creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit; allowing them to have a stream of “income” outside of the home helps kids learn how to make money in other ways than from their parents. We’ve come up with a list of ten ways your child can make money this weekend and how you can help them develop useful skills, a creative spirit, and fun memories.
1. Change to Making Jewellery Design and sell your own earrings, bracelets, necklaces & other fun accessories. Experiment with various mediums including beads, leather, feathers and glass.
2. Host a Garage Sale Collect items people are giving away for free on Gumtree or Craigslist and on-sell it by holding a garage sale from home. You know what they say, someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure. There are also plenty of bargains going online that you can make a few extra dollars on. 16
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3. Become a Dog Walker
7. Babysitting
Does your child love animals? Ask the neighbors with dogs if they need a walker. Scheduled jobs like dog walking will teach your children an amazingly large number skills surrounding time management, preparedness, and holding themselves to a scheduled commitment.
If your teenager is great with younger kids and enjoys the responsibility of looking after them, why not encourage them to offer their babysitting services to friends, family and neighbors? Professional babysitters charge a bucket load, so your teen can offer competitive rates, which are still fantastic earnings for them. Once they have some experience and can show references, they can expand to advertising on the school Facebook page or start up a little local letterbox drop.
Make sure your child tracks the days and times they’re supposed to walk the dog and show up on time each day with any supplies needed like an extra leash, water bottle, and poop bags.
4. Candle Making Homemade Candles Create the mood in your client’s home, with your range of scented candles.
5. Teach Others To Use Social Media Most kids know more about social media and electronics than the average adult. If your child is tech savvy, helping neighbors set up new accounts or electronics would be a fun and rewarding job. And don’t limit this job to your big kids either; younger children who know their way around gadgets and the Internet tend to explain these concepts very matter of fact, which could be even more beneficial for person they’re teaching.
6. Car Cleaning/Detailing Everyone loves a clean and polished car, but not many people have the time to maintain their car themselves. Give your child the opportunity to earn some pocket money this weekend by giving your car a good clean up, both inside and out. This is a good one for young kids to learn (don’t expect perfection with the little ones) or teens, who can give it a really thorough detailing, saving you big dollars at the car wash.
8. Selling Delicious Treats Does your child love to get in the kitchen? Satisfy people’s sweet tooth cravings by selling a variety of homemade goodies; chocolates, truffles or pralines. Bake cookies (e.g. choc chip), or your own original flavour combination and package in cute cellophane wrapping. Or, try to remember all those treats Grandma used to bake? Muffins, fudge, cakes and slices are all family favourites.
9. Music Lessons If your child plays a particular instrument well, they could get paid to share their knowledge and skills with someone who would like to learn. Music lessons from a professional are costly, so offering beginner lessons at a reasonable cost is a great way to earn money. As they gain confidence and experience in teaching, they can charge more and create quite a solid, little part-time business.
10. Making Lip Balm - Lip Balms, Soaps and Cosmetics Create your own range of natural skin care including exfoliants, masks and moisturisers. This could be tailored to a specific niche such as eczema or sensitive skin.
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BECOME A WELL BALANCED ENTREPRENEUR WITH LEONA BURTON AND ESTELLE KEEBER
“With the right amount of passion, hard work and dedication ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.” Wonderful, wise words from two incredible ladies who have proven their mantra right. Meet sisters Leona Burton and Estelle Keeber who, in 2017, put their heads together to create the highly successful online group, Mums In Business Association, or MIBA. As female entrepreneurs and mothers, the duo discovered what it’s like to juggle two separate facets of their lives and the struggles many others similarly faced in melding family life, education and running a business. They became tired and frustrated with the constant push to successfully maintain being a career women and a mother. They realised that so many women doing this juggle simply end up losing themselves, working 20
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around the clock and burning out. So, with passion, hard work and dedication in spades, the sisters found a way forward and set about showing others that it is possible to perfectly meld two lives and not end up overwhelmed, tired and resentful of either. “Our purpose in MIBA is to provide female entrepreneurs with a safe space to grow their businesses whilst still being able to be present for their families, which we understand isn’t easy at times,” Leona said. “Estelle and I had discussed many times the frustrations of being female entrepreneurs who also had children. There were things we knew women weren’t talking openly about and we know a problem shared is a problem halved.” In just two years, the group has grown to 41
thousand members and has a following of around 100,000 globally. It has become the go-to for female entrepreneurs around the world to seek out support, resources and understanding of the dayto-day juggle.
“Young people today have the ability to make money unlike generations before them. The internet is a powerful resource. You have an incredible asset at your fingertips. Go play with it and figure out what works best for you.”
Youth in Business magazine asked Leona and Estelle their top advice for young people looking to start their own business while juggling other commitments; be that education, family commitments, sport or any other important facet of their lives.
Don’t be scared to evolve
Mix business with pleasure The number one tip for young entrepreneurs is to have fun, but balanced with a little bit of sacrifice. “Fun is so important whilst growing a business. Go party, just not every night! Sacrifice is something that all successful entrepreneurs have to do. It can be hard and frustrating but totally worthwhile. Stay focused,” Leona said.
Invest in yourself YOU are your business’ greatest asset! Take a few moments to list down your strengths and what you can build on, then seek out an online course, book or audible that will help you upskill. From marketing, to design, grant writing, customer relationships, finances and more – there is a course out there for you.
The world of business is fast-paced and ever changing, so the reality is that every successful business must move quickly or get left behind. Leona and Estelle advise any business owner not to let their enterprise become too stable. Take every opportunity you can to tweak your processes, learn a new and improved system or implement a new protocol that will boost sales and keep your customers happy.
ALWAYS, do what you love “Lastly, we want to encourage each and every single reader to go out into the world today and follow their passion. Whether that be selling Pokémoncards or flipping houses. Do what you love, and if you fall out of love with it, then change…Work hard and, most importantly, have fun!” mumsinbusinessassociation.com facebook.com/groups/Mumsinbusinessassociation/ @mumsinbusinessassociation
“Never stop learning, you can never have enough knowledge.”
Be a social butterfly There has never been a time to be in business like right now. The ether is exploding with resources, opportunities and the ability to reach a vast number of people in literally seconds. Use this to your advantage! “We wished we had understood the power of social media in our previous businesses, it has enabled us to create an income of £250,000 in our first year of business. No paid ads. No paid marketing. Social media used correctly can be your biggest asset in business,” Leona said. youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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SAVING THE PLANET AND TURNING A PROFIT Young employees want face to face interaction, flexibility, transparency, and to feel like they are making a positive difference in the world— including working toward bettering the planet. So how can our eco-conscious teens save the planet
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and make money in the process? Well, 11 year old Ned Heaton has it all figured out, and has just taken out the 2019 Change-maker Of The Year award for his green company The Turtle Tribe.
Young entrepreneur Ned Heaton is only 11 years old and is already half way through a year-long youth entrepreneur business program. Ned founded “The Turtle Tribe”, and has just been announced as a 2019 winner in the International BE THE CHANGE Awards, named as The Change-Maker Of The Year! He was recognised for his ambitious plan to ban plastic toothbrushes and help reduce ocean pollution. Ned, was sick of seeing plastic washed up on his holiday beach, including toothbrushes. He decided to start his own eco-business, selling biodegradable toothbrushes. Spreading the word about plastic toothbrushes being a massive contributor to the world plastic problem, Ned offers the toothbrushes for free on his website (simply pay postage) www.theturtletribe.com.au. “I give away a free toothbrush to every customer to help the planet and then extra toothbrush sales keep me in business,” he said.
Neds parents advised him that being able to run a business would give him more opportunities to have a positive impact in the world and be in control of his own destiny. He says that the best thing about owning a business is that he gets to meet cool people and make a difference in the world. Eventually, he hopes it’ll bring some financial rewards too, but that’s not his focus at the moment. Neds advice to teenagers who are starting up their own business is to have mentors. He suggests finding something you’re passionate about and that helps people or the planet, so you’re part of the solution, not the problem. Learn from others. Share your story. Build a network. Learn how to use marketing, especially online marketing. Business is easier for kids because everyone is happy to help and support you. Go for it! thetur tletribe.com.au @Ned Heaton
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=595345437544770
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TOP UK ENTREPRENEURS UNDER 25 W
hen you’re working hard to become a teen entrepreneur, it’s important to stay focused on your goals and direction. However, it also helps to look at other kidpreneurs and young business people for inspiration when you’re feeling discouraged by a knock back or tired because of how busy you are. In the United Kingdom, the list of entrepreneurs under 25 years of age is long and fascinating. Read on for some of the top names you need to know about.
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Karina Sudenyte @karina-sudenyte
Karina Sudenyte is the co-founder, along with her partner Maciek Kacprzyk, of Welsh social enterprise Wonky Drinks. The pair’s company is known for its juice brand, Get Wonky, which creates drinks from ugly yet edible fruit that would otherwise be thrown away. The juices are sold in recyclable glass bottles, too. The business helps to reduce food and plastic waste, and since opening in 2017, it has saved more than 175 tonnes of fruit from landfill. Plus, it also helps 17 disadvantaged growers to sell fruit they’d otherwise get no return on. In addition, the business regularly donates drinks to charity. Aged 23 now, Sudenyte has long had a taste for entrepreneurial life. She helped her mother to sell household goods from a young age. This no doubt helped her and her business partner to land big-name clients such as Merrill Lynch, KPMG, Bank of America and HSBC over the years. The business has been profitable from the start, too, and the duo took home the Young Entrepreneur of the Year trophy at the 2017 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Ollie Forsyth @ollieforsyth
A bit of a business wonderkid, Ollie Forsyth, now aged 20, launched his first business at the tender age of 13. While he was bullied at school for being dyslexic, Forsyth didn’t let this hold him back. He looked for inspiration to billionaire Richard Branson, also dyslexic, and like Branson left school with no qualifications but lots of entrepreneurial fire. After his first business, “Ollie’s Shop”, an online store selling products targeted to teenagers proved a success (it turned over $GBP13,000 in its first year alone), Ollie went on to co-found another business, this one an online exchange enabling students to buy and sell products at university campuses. Since then he has invested in multiple other ventures, launched his own magazine for entrepreneurs, started speaking around the country, and even launched his own networking organisation for business people, called The Budding Entrepreneur Club. Forsyth has been featured by many prominent publications, including Fortune.com and Startups.co.uk, and he was voted the 3rd Most Influential Teen by The Times Magazine.
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Rose Dyson @missrosedyson
While Kylie Jenner was recently confirmed as the youngest self-made billionaire ever, in the UK another young lady is working to build her name in the cosmetics industry. Rose Dyson founded Pura Cosmetics, a cruelty-free vegan lip care venture, at just 15 years old when she was frustrated by the expense of quality beauty products. She recognised a gap in the market for ethical cosmetics which were available at affordable prices, and started the business on a shoestring budget. Now 19, the youth continues to run Pura and has been able to get the brand stocked by a range of department stores, gift shops, salons and beauty subscription boxes. Her achievements over the years have been recognised in numerous ways. She is the youngest recipient of the Jacqueline Gold CBE Women in Business #WOW Award, as well as the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award. Plus, in 2017 she was named the UK Young Market Trader of the Year.
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Nick D’Aloisio @nickdaloisio
This 23 year old is a millionaire who founded a news-summarising app, Summly, when he was just 15 years of age. D’Aloisio went on to sell the app to Yahoo for $US30 million when he was 17. He is believed to be the youngest person in the world to have received venture capital, and while he’s studying philosophy and computer science at the University of Oxford currently, he also continues on with his business interests, and is an investor in multiple projects.
Jordan Daykin @jordandaykin95
If you watch the UK version of Dragon’s Den, you might already know the name Jordan Daykin. The 23-year-old was the youngest ever successful contestant on the TV show, and secured $GBP80,000 from Deborah Meaden. This cash injection was used to launch his company GripIt Fixings, which sells his grandfather’s invention, the GripIt. This tool helps people to hang pictures and TVs, and revolutionised the DIY market in the United Kingdom. Today Daykin is a serial entrepreneur, a fundraiser, and a motivational speaker.
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ADHD AND DYSLEXIA A N E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L A D VA N TA G E What do Richard Branson (Virgin Airlines), Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA), and David Neeleman (Jet Blue Airways) have in common? Not only are these three men incredibly successful CEOs and entrepreneurs, they also all have ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. There are many famous people with dyslexia and countless success stories; each an inspiration, a personal triumph. We can’t all be Tom Cruise or Richard Branson, two hyper successful dyslexics, but success is not measured in just dollars and fame. Success is to find your place, self confidence and overcoming challenges, something every dyslexic person can achieve! These out-of-the-box thinkers have not only overcome the challenges of dyslexia, but have excelled beyond their own and others’ expectations. They are scientists, artists, political leaders, writers, lawyers, professional athletes, doctors, journalists and actors. Branson’s secret to overcoming dyslexia? Discovering his ability to connect with others and the support of his family. Each success story is a testament to the incredible power of the dyslexic mind to navigate around obstacles, come up with creative solutions and serve our society in meaningful ways, and, as it turns out you may have the skills that naturally give you a competitive edge in the world of entrepreneurship. Recent research might prove those with learning disabilities might be successful in entrepreneurship not in spite of the disability, but because of it.
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And the research might be onto something. Healthcare professionals are quick to prescribe stimulants like Ritalin, especially to rambunctious children, to medicate the symptoms of ADHD out of existence, but it’s worth noting some of those common symptoms are, in fact, strengths when put to good use in the right way. Creativity, multi-tasking, risk-taking, high energy, and resilience are common characteristics of successful entrepreneurs; they are also characteristics of ADHD. Instead of working against your ADHD, you might want to try embracing it and learning to leverage it in a way that benefits you. Having dyslexia makes reading, and sometimes other skills, more difficult to acquire, but having dyslexia is not necessarily a barrier to success. In fact, many individuals with dyslexia have not only been successful, they have changed the world. Research has shown that wiring in the brains of people with dyslexia is different, and many believe that this different wiring of the brain causes people with dyslexia to see problems in different ways that can support innovation and success. Whether or not you consider dyslexia a gift, clearly dyslexia is no barrier to success. Those with ADHD in prehistoric times were constantly looking for new hunting grounds, water supplies, and new sites for settlements. Village life made them restless, and the same can be said for those with ADHD in the 21 century. They become restless and inquisitive, which make for great entrepreneurs who are constantly looking for new technologies, systems, and procedures.
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And, great entrepreneurship skills don’t only stem from hyperactive disorders. Dyslexia is often correlated with less intelligence and slow work, but those with dyslexia could actually be considered powerhouses when it comes to communication and collaboration in a work setting. They are able to communicate in ways outside of verbal communication. Dyslexic employees can communicate a vision by painting a picture to visualize off the page so people can follow easily. But the real superpower comes in regard to building successful teams. Successful teams are created when every member feels they are respected, listened to, understood, and needed. Dyslexic leaders are people-centric and can build great teams and work environments because they typically have strong empathy and listening skills. While dyslexia can sometimes feel like a struggle, remember that it can also give you qualities not everyone possesses, like creativity, the ability to multi-task and see the world from a different perspective, and the urge to shake up the status quo. These qualities are what businesses look for in an employee and can help you before they can hurt you. Learn to control them and leverage them in a way that brings you success. There’s only one you, and if you have a diagnosis for a learning disability, well, that only makes you more unique. If you or a loved one need advice or support with Dyslexia please contact: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk www.dyslexia.uk.net www.dyslexia-help.org dyslexialondon.org
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HOW TO LAUNCH A BIG IDEA FOR FREE
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here are plenty of business ideas that let kids express their imagination, wonder and skills. We live in an exciting time where the entrepreneurial spirit is accepted and praised and starting a business provides an invaluable life experience for kids. There are so many benefits to children starting out on their business journey; it develops very practical skills like organization, problem solving and communication. It’s also a great way for them to learn responsibility and the value of a dollar. So when your child shows an entrepreneurial streak at a young age, you should take their ideas seriously and let them play out naturally. Parents can often get in the way of their children’s success. It’s important that your child is passionate about what he or she is doing. You want them to enjoy the experience and not lose interest. Support your children’s business plans in a couple of ways, the first being to come up with an action plan that you and child can both fill out.
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Resist the urge to say things won’t work or that no one would pay for their idea. This process is a learning experience; the end result doesn’t necessarily matter. If your child doesn’t already have a specific business idea in mind, get them to make a list of their favorite things to do.
HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE IDEAS: • If they love animals, they could start a pet-walking or pet-sitting business • Make candles and sell them on Etsy • Hold an acting workshop for younger kids in the neighborhood • Teach music lessons • Babysitting and pet sitting • Lawn care • Cleaning service • A tutoring business • Computer work (creating flyers, social media) • Make jewellery & crafts to sell on Etsy
Crowdfunding Over the last few years crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular option for both entrepreneurs and investors. Financially speaking, starting up a business doesn’t have to mean going through the tedious process of nailing down traditional funding. The ever-growing crowdfunding option is a real game-changer for small startups. Via platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, it’s possible to source the funding you need, plus some. It is often a quick and convenient process, where you can learn what the public think and build a fan base before your child kicks off their business.
Crowdfunded Entrepreneurs
16-year-old surfer Josh Apitz was so sick and tired of slipping off his surfboard because he was wearing sunscreen that he came up with this innovative solution — and it’s helped him make a tidy profit.vHis product, Seagull Milk is both nonslip and 100-percent natural. Part of the proceeds of every tube of Seagull Milk goes to Australian beach cleanup organization Take3ForTheSea. Josh wants to help contribute to solving the skin cancer epidemic and also plastic pollution.
Set a goal and make a plan
When Parkinson’s caused her grandfather to spill his drinks, 11 year old Lily Born decided to do something about it. So, she came up with the revolutionary 3-legged Kangaroo Cup. The ceramic mug was financially funded from Kickstarter and she raised just over the £3,540 she needed for production in 30 days. Not only was her cup more stable, but it stacked easily, needed no coaster and didn’t splash when carried around, thanks to the rim gently curving inwards.
Let your child think about all the nuts and bolts needed to turn their idea into a reality. What kind of equipment, supplies or training do they need? If they’ll be mowing lawns, what do they need? A lawn mower, gas for the lawn mower, etc. If they’ll be babysitting, should they take a CPR or first aid course beforehand? They should write down their goals for the business, including both financial goals and anything else they want to achieve.
The Bottom Line Even if it doesn't turn out as planned, you can show them that adversity is a part of life, and that failure is an opportunity to retool an idea or a door to a new opportunity. The work experience also looks great when it comes time to apply for college and scholarship opportunities. It doesn’t matter if they want to make a website with Fortnite hacks or making and selling slime, finding something they want to learn about and helping them find things to read about sets a natural path to turning that knowledge into a business. youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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Ollie Forsyth: From Bullied Schoolboy To Teenage Entrepreneur B
usiness is tough, so it might come as a surprise to many that we are seeing a new trend of youngsters taking on the corporate world. Increasingly, we are seeing a breed of young entrepreneurs (some as young as 12) coming through the ranks and proving that age is no barrier when it comes to entrepreneurship. Ollie Forsyth has already well and truly earned his stripes in the business world. This impressive young man from Northamptonshire in the UK began his tenure into the world of business when he was just 13 years old. Inspired by his hero Richard Branson, this gutsy young man was determined not to let his dyslexia or the fact that he was regularly bullied by his peers stop him from achieving success. Ollie has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and from a very young age was driven by a desire to earn money. As a young boy, Ollie would regularly create “businesses” within the family home, earning an income from making his parent’s tea or coffee, cutting the grass or walking the family dog. This entrepreneurial spirit really grew in his teenage years when he learnt about how his hero Richard Branson had been able to turn his “disadvantage”, his dyslexia, and a challenge that Ollie knew so very well, into an advantage. This light bulb moment for Ollie set the foundations for his first foray into the business world and the launch of his online shop known simply as Ollie’s Shop. He was only 13 years old at the time
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“Inspired by his hero Richard Branson, this gutsy young man was determined not to let his dyslexia or the fact that he was regularly bullied by his peers stop him from achieving success.”
but not afraid of hard work and he was determined to use this opportunity to prove to all the schoolyard bullies that he was capable of great things. Ollie’s shop was an online boutique selling a range of gifts from on trend bracelets, to cufflinks, belts and a variety of other “perfect prezzies” which he sourced from China and stored at his family home. From its conception, Ollie’s Shop was profitable primarily due to the unique products on offer as well as the prompt delivery and good customer service – a result of Ollie’s commitment to driving and growing his business. That success grew and grew and now at the ripe old age of 16, Ollie has opened his second online shop, Charmou. This new business is a fashion focused ecommerce site featuring over 23 of the most up and coming apparel brands with over 250 products from all over the globe already on offer and many more due to come in the future. Ollie has shown a fighting spirit from the start and dreams of becoming a millionaire in the next few years and if his past record is anything to go by then he is right on track to achieving his goal. Here he shares his top three tips for young entrepreneurs dreaming of setting up their own business:
Tip #1 Do your market research and develop a full business plan so you know exactly who your competitors are
Tip #2 Find a market with HUGE profit margins.
Tip #3 Work seriously hard. Ollie works from 5am-10pm everyday, as he wants to be better than the competition. Like many young entrepreneurs of his generation, Ollie believes that giving back to the community is an important part of sharing his success and he volunteers for a range of charities including East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice and the Army Benevolent Fund’s The Soldiers Charity. He has also used his own money to establish a charity to help young entrepreneurs realise their dreams of establishing their own businesses whilst they are still at school. Ollie Forsyth is a young man to watch! themakers.global @Ollie Forsyth youthinbusinessmagazine.com
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A BIG LIFE AHEAD “Perseverance, as with any skill, can be learned and strengthened.”
Heading full speed into the world business is an exciting time for young entrepreneurs. There are a host of opportunities out there for those willing and able to put in the effort, but the lessons along the way can be challenging. While there is plenty of wonderful support for business start-ups and entrepreneurship, let’s not forget the ‘inner’ stuff that can sometimes hold back potential. We are talking about what makes each individual the strong, capable, on-fire business owner they dream of becoming; this includes self-esteem, confidence, resilience, conflict resolution and a growth mindset. These traits are the core to success in ANYTHING. This is where Big Life Journal steps in, offering a magical kit of resources to help kids and young adults navigate the ups and downs of their own minds. Alexandra and her husband, Scott, created the materials after hunting for something similar for their own son to use. The couple longed to build a business that truly resonated with them personally.
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“Like many entrepreneurs, we (my husband and I) weren’t happy in our corporate jobs. We didn’t feel like we were making the difference in the world that we both wanted to. We knew we wanted to create a business that improved the lives of others, in a meaningful way,” Alexandra said. “We were looking for materials to teach our son what we had learned from successful people, but ultimately couldn’t find anything suitable, so, we decided to create it ourselves.”
Entrepreneurship 101: Learning perseverance Life lessons come thick and fast as children grow through the teenage years and into adulthood. The trick is to embrace every opportunity and never give up on business or personal goals. From Alexandra’s experience, it is this perseverance that will ultimately deliver
young entrepreneurs the success they are chasing. Big things rarely come overnight, but as the saying goes - ‘all good things come to those who wait’! “Perseverance has to be the number one lesson or characteristic that someone needs in order to be successful as an entrepreneur. It’s an uncharted and challenging road to follow. There will be setbacks, roadblocks, and other obstacles that prevent you from moving forward. The key to success then is to keep trying, try some different tactics or approaches, and keep moving forward,” she said. “Perseverance, as with any skill, can be learned and strengthened.”
Learning growth and accepting failure The other piece of sound advice Big Life Journal has for young business owners is to be open to new ideas. This comes with having what is known as a ‘growth mindset’, where an individual is embracing challenges, motivated to learn, and is inspired by wisdom around them. As Alexandra points out:
overcome obstacles. These skills are paramount to perseverance and, in turn, success.
How to help your kid-preneur
With these vital skills on board, our young entrepreneurs will have the best chance at kicking goals and thriving in the business world, no matter where they decide to head. Whether they end up as a company owner, in a partnership, or working for someone else altogether, an entrepreneurial spirit will excel in any field with these ‘inner’ skills mastered.
So, how do young people learn perseverance and open their minds to growth? Alexandra recommends parents help their children laugh and learn from their mistakes and failures.
Big Life Journal similarly plans to grow as Alexandra and Scott open their minds to opportunities and respond to the community’s needs.
“Our generation, and generations past, grew up avoiding failure. Parents can help break that cycle by helping kids see that failures are to be accepted, acknowledged, and then learned from. It’s the surest way to help a child find success as an entrepreneur.”
“It’s been fun to look back and see how far we’ve come but more exciting to think about where we’re going. Supporting children and young adults live big lives will always be at the core of what we do”
“Virtually all successful entrepreneurs didn’t become successful in the first business they ever launched. Trying lots of things is a phenomenal way to learn what works and what doesn’t, as well as practice for overcoming future obstacles (which are inevitable).”
Big Life Journal also offers a Resilience Kit for young people, a printable collection of resources and activities that helps kids learn how to cope despite setbacks, welcome mistakes, and
www.biglifejournal.com @bigligejournal @biglifejournal
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TEENS HAVE THE KEY TO SUCCESS
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he debate on what is the optimal age to start a business is divided between those who believe that in your 30s, 40s, and 50s you’ve gained enough knowledge, contacts and capital to make it a success, and those who believe twenty-somethings have the energy, passion and lack of external commitments to pull it off; but, what about teenagers? Could they be the key to entrepreneurial success? Teens with an entrepreneurial spirit have qualities older generations generally don’t. Gone are the days where you need a little
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black book of contacts to open doors. Internet and technology advancements make the world smaller, with resources and networking opportunities available to us anywhere, anytime. There’s so much information, advice, and support out there from people with loads of experience and knowledge; teens can access seminars, advice clinics, and business events that can help them create successful businesses all from their iPhone.
“Teenagers naturally have an open mind and increased drive to take risks.”
All of this access allows teens to learn from other people’s’ mistakes, instead of having to make their own. They are social media savvy and know how to start a business utilising all the online tools to gain reach, momentum and branding - skills that most of us are struggling to get our heads around. Teenagers have a lot less to lose than any other generation when it comes to starting a business from the ground up. Start-ups no longer require a hefty initial cost; we don’t need millions of dollars to get a company off of the ground. Your teenager can start a business online, from their bedrooms with minimal financial investment. With just a camera and an idea or opinion to share online, they are ready to work on building an audience, become a social media influencer or a youtuber. There is the potential for big earnings if they find their niche. Teens and young adults need the ability to be creative and experiment but also need instruction; this is why education is a great place to start. There are plenty of courses available on entrepreneurship, which can help them to grasp which route to take and learn about leadership, time management, and communication, as well as connect them to mentors, leaders, and networks.
Teenagers naturally have an open mind and increased drive to take risks. They thrive on pushing limits, and because of where they are developmentally, teens aren’t usually affected by “knowing better.” They are more likely to try new things without a fear of failure. In fact, failing early on may make them more successful in the long run; studies have shown that even if a teen’s initial venture fails, they have the tenacity to try again, increasing the odds of success. When it comes to business, not taking risks is even riskier for success. Fear and avoidance of risk taking can be the greatest roadblock to innovation, creativity, growth, and business success. Taking calculated, well researched and informed risks can lead to innovation and success, so a teenagers ability to comfortably risk-take could be their most important asset. If your teen comes to you with an entrepreneurial idea, don’t dismiss them; ask questions, pose scenarios, and get their minds working. You never know what success your child may find on their journey with the right support and encouragement surrounding them.
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