My small group of teen entrepreneurs with BIG DREAMS, BIG HEART and BIG POTENTIAL is at it again and based on what they have scribbled down on the timeline for Q1 2010, things are definitely not slowing down anytime soon. I am ECSTATIC to report that in November 2009 the Top 4 Producing Renegade CEO’s (under my direct care) with an average age of 17.5 were ‘balling big time’ – having grossed nearly $100k combined in their respective businesses. They are igniting the energy and living through their entrepreneurial endeavors which is motivating the others. They represent a variety of traditional, service and technology related businesses and some even had to do the old school handshake big dollar contract get up.  How is that for Keeping It Renegade?

So how did they do it? Same as just about everybody else – They built their “big idea” starting with zero dollars, zero business knowledge and a lot of determination. I would have to say in my experience in collaborating and sharing with these teen entrepreneurs, the difference between them and most people is they LISTENED……………………..to themselves. It’s an art in itself.

And what was my role in all this?

I cared …………and connected with them, oftentimes when nobody else did. Nothing more, nothing less. I ask the same of you and will continue to ask it of others I meet along the way.

Just because the majority of teens do not have money or a recognized name especially when they are trying to launch an idea whether it is business or otherwise, does not mean they don’t have value.

Alas, their life circumstances dictate that they are teens by default . But let it be known, they are Renegade by choice .

Stay tuned as we decide on the best way to introduce them and their respective stories.

@teenbizcoach

Without nay hesitation nor second thought, 2010 is going to be the Year of the TEEN Entrepreneur! You heard it hear first folks. Entrepreneurship for young people is an evolutionary phenomenon that stemmed from the Internet (continue reading to learn how this came about).

Teens are often "lumped in" with another category of people older or younger than them and don’t really identify with either of those groups or they are just mulled over. People have high expectations of them yet give them every road block when they try to move forward- SORRY TEEN, I would love to work with you but the problem is you don’t have enough EDUCATION….MATURITY….EXPERIENCE….Sound familiar?  They have had to take a back seat for far too long and they are tired of being labeled and told they are unmotivated and apathetic. They don’t need >> to calm down, shut up and listen, to hear you tell them what it ‘all’ means. Nor do they want to be spoken of in future tense. They are present now. They are successful now. They are making impact now. They are making contributions now and they need and want to be given credit and recognition NOW.

What can you do NOW? Open the space up for them. How will you know if you have succeeded? They will have a ‘real conversation’ with you and will return to you at some point in the near future and start another one. And if they really love you, they’ll even tell their friends!

Teen Entrepreneurs are claiming their space in the universe and owning it! And it’s about time. It takes about 15 years for a movement to evolve to something much greater than that. So it’s time! There are many a tell tale signs that is built on what has been evolving over the past decade and additionally, the number and types of inquiries we are getting from teens across the globe tells a story in itself. Not to mention, in the month of November three more teens surpassed the $10,000/mo revenue mark….whooop!

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I agree that there are both small and large scale companies, who want to have a strong identity for themselves. However, not all of them have the budget to approach the top logo design agencies to create their logos and that’s the reason they question, why are these top agencies so costly?   

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In case you missed it Teen’s Turn to Summer Startups was featured in this week’s Wall Street Journal. The article talks about how teens have started resorting to getting their entrepreneur groove on since summer work is difficult to come by because the economy is soft and unemployment is so high. Essentially adults are now competing for many of the jobs that were once difficult to fill (think fast food, retail cashiers, etc). Imagine that- starting a teen business is now vogue.

Ok, so what’s wrong with this picture here?

I’m a teen and I need a job. But the jobs are hard to come by because so many people (Translation ADULTS) are out of work. So let me start a feel good ‘hobby’ business where I now have to work even harder to scrape together a few bucks because everybody is going to try and start one and use the same resources to figure their ideas out. And on top of that I am going to try to sell to a CONSUMER (Translation ADULT) who is as broke as me, hence why they took my job in the first place. But never mind any of that, my parents who once thought the idea of me starting a business as a teen was bananas is now going to be totally on the bandwagon because the WSJ said it is all on the ‘okie dokie’ because everybody else’s parents are doing it. Having said that, if you need a micro investment for your business, print the article and show it your parents

So I decided since this summer folks are going to be cuckoo for cocoa puffs and parents are going to be seeking out your favorite haunts and resources, I would share some of my favorite tips of How Renegade Teen Business Owners can break from the rat race and stay in a league all their own.

But before I get to the tips in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month I wanted to give a shout out to Renegade CEO, Danielle Herb, 15, Founder of Drop Your Reins. Her company does ADD/ADHD and Autistic Training Programs through natural horsemanship. This summer she is doing her 1st Annual Level 1 Mastery Certification Course in N. Florida. Only 10 spaces remain and the course costs $3,995 per person for 1 week of Natural Horsemanship Training (and IT WILL SELL OUT). She is also giving away one full scholarship valued at $3,995. If you are a teenager and those numbers are hard for you to wrap your brain around…guess you haven’t been reading my blog posts in full and/or spending enough time with me…I’m just sayin’ there is a reason why I only post once a week ;-)

 
If you want to learn more about Danielle Herb’s Natural Horsemanship course peep her site at: http://www.adhdkidsscholarship.com/ (HURRY! Scholarship Deadline Ends 4/30)

5 Tips How Teens Can Actually Start it Up:

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Does anyone know what the word “help” means? Being that it is overrated and used so freely I am not even sure anymore. So I have been trying very hard not to use it as of recent months. I am eliminating it from my vocabulary.

Help is a sad little pathetic word. It means I have exhausted all resources and I am desperate for anything you have to give me. It puts you, ‘the asker’, in an inferior role. Help is a desperate plea that results in a reactive answer.  Some adults and companies especially those in America have asked for ’help’ and they got ‘help’. Now what are they asking for? Naturally, more help. 

I want you to start being in tuned to people who use that word. How do they use it? How much do they use it? Do you see a pattern with the people who are using that word? Ask them what are they asking for.

I am also requesting (with much gratitude) that the teens and adults in both my personal and professional networks eliminate the word “help” from their vocabulary. And know if you ask me for ‘help’ the answer will be a resounding NO. Start replacing that word with words like: empower, empowerment, inspire, inspiration, motivate, motivation, encourage, encouragement, uplift, uplifting, enable, enabled, assistance, facts, information, advice, assistance. Ask a question with a word that will result in a proactive response vs. a reactive one. Renegade Mom Marianne St. Clair says it best – “when you eliminate the broad term help, it forces you to think about what you are asking for and craft your request in such a way that you specifically ask for what you want”.

So if you are in need of my guidance and support, tell me what you need (what is a necessity) and what you have to work with. Not what you want or what you don’t have. If you are having a difficult time or a brain cramp do you need inspiration to create new ideas? Do you need information to make a well-informed decision? Do you need encouragement to get through a challenging time? Do you need assistance in connecting with someone to evolve a project that you are working on? I am always willing to give you the support and resources to those requests and in abundance!

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Routinely, across the globe, teenagers are brainstorming radical business ideas and niche businesses. The 365 Infinite Expedition (www.infiniteexpedition.com) will bring these innnovative thinkers’ ideas and stories to the attention of the public. The 365 Infinite Expedition is centered around the new book by the same title and the accompanying web site that will take online submissions. Both are a follow up to the succesful Book “Teen Entrepreneur Success Secrets” (www.teenceobook.com) and this blog.

Shonika Proctor, creator of 365 Infinite Expedition says to these teens:  “It is the very people who tell you to break the walls around you that are the ones who built them. The only walls to break are the ones within you…and then YOUR Infinite Expedition will begin…”

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Mentoring and Business Funding: Embracing Your Best Odds by Marshall Haas, Teen CEO of inVision Projects

[Note: Like most serial teen entrepreneurs Marshall Haas (http://www.invisionprojects.com) woke up in the middle of the night having a creative moment and wanted to capture his vision in the essence of the moment. So he wrote the following guest post on his beloved iPhone and promptly sent it to me as soon as he finished. So please pardon some of the grammatical errors. And by the way Marshall- you are most welcome and I am very honored to be the second person who got to touch and share your living dream. In the famous words of one of my Renegade CEO's, Matthew Turcotte of Northshore Web Development "One of the best things about being a teen entrepreneur is that adults want to see you succeed."]

Take it away Marshall

Tonight, I realized something very obvious yet very inspiring. Although I try to surround myself with as many like minded entrepreneurs, we are rare. First off obviously there are only so many entrepreneurs out there. Then I thought geez there really aren’t a ton of young entrepreneurs in the overall entrepreneur mix. We are a niche market in and of ourselves. I’ve come to realize in the last few weeks there are several niche organizations seeking out the best young entrepreneurs. If I’m rare, I’ve got great odds at chasing being the best in the world in my niche.

Example:
Yanik Silver and Shonika Proctor only had so many kids apply for the Young Entrepreneur Challenge. I’m sure they had their choices but let’s be honest, it wasn’t like the 100,000,000 to 1 lottery. I’m going to embrace my odds and seek out organizations such as ObsidianLaunch.com (which I just found) I’m figuring out there are several coaching organizations, (Yanik Silvers new “giving back” plan) and investor groups specifically seeking out young entrepreneurs like myself and possibly you if you’ve stumbled upon this article. Learn, embrace, and give yourself the best odds.

The aim of this post was to make kids like myself realize we actually have great odds at succeeding NOW rather than the guy starting his first business in his 30’s and on. The odds are in our favor. I am
realizing this more and more everyday.

Think of the media, parents, and the majority of Americans! We all like to know that a 19 year old adolescent can be great and do what other, wiser, more experienced people sometimes can not. We all love the young pop stars, child actors, the teenage sports prodigies, and yes… The young millionaire CEO’s.

I feel so very blessed with this new opportunity I have been given. February 20th could not come sooner. Thank you Yanik Silver, Shonika Proctor, and the many groups seeking to uplift young people like
myself. I will be seeking you guys out a lot more!

Kind of sounds like a riddle huh? If you want to be exlclusive, then try being inclusive.  Too often I see young entrepreneurs who aspire to be like some certain ’successful & branded’ person or accepted into this certain circle of ‘friends’. Now don’t get me wrong, role models are important and all but what is it about that person that you idolize? Is it their lifestyle? Their fame? Their attention? Their money? All of the above?  

Before many of those people were rich and famous and branded….they were what?

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Matthew Turcotte, Teen CEO and founder of North Shore Web Development and Host North Shore lives in a very progressive small town on the mighty and beautiful St. Lawrence River. He attends the local high school and is a straight A student and accelerated student. Two years ago he acquired the rank of Eagle Scout. [btw, I recently learned that only 2% of all youth who enter Boy Scouts ultimately achieve the honor of Eagle Scout, so congrats to him]. He enjoys mountain climbing in the nearby Adirondack High Peaks region in the spring, summer, and fall. As fate would have it, it seems that the life experiences which dot his past (dating back to first grade) make him the ultimate poster child for his company, North Shore Web Development. His company, a full service web design company, along with his recently launched hosting company, provides web design and online marketing strategies with a strong focus on small towns and the small businesses within those small towns. As Matt grew up in a small town and currently lives in one he is extremely knowledgeable on helping them build a big presence on the webwithout compromising their quaintness and charm. Today’s Innerview covers lessons learned and his experiences as a teen CEO in high school.

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So the TEEN CEO question of the year seems to be: How do I earn some side money during slow times in my business without cutting into my business marketing and work time? Translation- how do I earn quick and easy money without having to work too hard for it?

And the survey says…while I know a number of ways I can’t share all my best secrets at one time… so for starters- write freelance articles for your community newspapers. You soooo didn’t think I was going to say that did you? Well here is the quick run down on the benefits:

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