My parents have always encouraged me to be my own boss. I think in a lot of ways they wish that they had been able to start their own business or have their own idea at a young age, so they wanted me brother and I to have a head start with that mindset. We did all the basic stuff, like lemonade stands that turned out a couple dollars that we used to buy toys and the like. The first time I remember trying to start a business was when I started selling "pet rocks". The gist of it was I would go outside, find a nice looking rock, then take a sharpie and draw a face on it, then try to peddle it for 50 cents. That business went under because the board of directors just didn't see things my way. The next time I started a business was a little more refined. I started a newsletter for my neighbors for a dollar a copy, that included birthdays and updates around the neighborhood. That one was actually decent, and I ran a few issues before my little child mind got bored and stopped making them.
My mom owns an embroidery and monogramming business. She is good at what she does, but she is comfortable with where the business is now and doesn't really intend on growing it much more because of all the stress that comes with expanding a business. My dad works for a company, but the go-getter attitude that he's always had allows him to get ahead and get promotion and recognition within the company. He talks a lot about opening a little business, maybe once he retires.
I enrolled in this class because the idea of working to make someone else rich really rubs me the wrong way. If I'm going to be working my tail off anyway, then I'd rather do it in a way that makes me richer instead of my boss. I really can't stand the idea of working at someone else's company for 30 years doing unremarkable work until I either retire or drop dead of heart failure.
Pictured: The logo for my mom's business. If any sorority girls are reading this, she does monograms so go buy a makeup bag or something.
Hi JT,
ReplyDeleteI was laughing reading your entrepreneurship story, I think it's nice that your humor is reflected in your writing. I'm sorry your pet rock business didn't take off, thats unfortunate. I personally have never tried to create a business or anything like it. Your purpose for taking the class is very honest and I completely agree with it. I hope that your assignments continue to be brutally honest and funny because I really enjoyed reading it!
This was just very entertaining to read. I also did the lemonade stand when I was a kid. It is amazing what adults will buy from a couple kids putting up a stand. I see you have very strong feeling about being an entrepreneur, I hope that you come up with something great and do not have to work for the "Man".
ReplyDelete