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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Congratulations to Renegade CEO, Matthew Turcotte, CEO of North Shore Web Development. He was the first place winner at the Jefferson Community College Business Plan Competition. He won $1,000 and further kudos since he is still in high school, WHOOOOP!

Deets on the entrants and the events here.

Beauty Was in the Eye of the Beholder….Until a Teen Developed an iPhone App to Prove Otherwise

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Teen Entrepreneur Ben Lang (@entrepreneurpro) on Twitter has recently announced a new contest on his blog. It is quite easy to enter and the prizes are great (several which are sponsored by the Renegade CEO’s).

1. Enter the contest via his blog. This is actually the direct link to the post.

2.  Win Great Prizes! The groovy prizes that can be found in his prize vault are:

• An $18 gift card to Barnes and Noble
• A copy of the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Book ($27/value)
• A copy of Nintendo Brain Puzzles Game (Courtesy of @kidcriticreview)
• A DVD of the YES Movie (Young Entrepreneur Society, 29.95 value)
• A one year subscription to Inc. Magazine ($19.95 value)

There will be one winner for each prize (so that’s 5 chances to win)!!! The drawing will take place this weekend and will be done by the innocent hand of Ben’s little sister

Good luck to all who enter!

@teenbizcoach