For the last ten years, I've had a front-row seat to watching hundreds of kids start businesses.
Our Grand Rapids Children's Business Fair started because it was our favorite annual event to attend when Matt and I were early married in Austin, TX.
So naturally, when we returned home to West Michigan, we began discussing starting one here. As I reflect on our early years attending, it was the ownership of the young people that drew us in and tugged on our hearts.
This was a place that they had the opportunity to create; it was their ideas, their making, their conversations. They had to talk to strangers about what they’d made. And encourage them to buy it. We were watching learning happen IN REAL TIME.
And it was pure joy. It was inspirational. You see, many young people live their lives believing that they are failing or not good enough. Didn’t get a passing grade - failure. Got a B and not an A - not good enough. Got an A- this time, why?
But the real world is FULL of failure. And I believe it’s one of our best learning opportunities.
In year one of our Grand Rapids Children’s Business Fair, we had a six-year-old girl who had a DIY craft table. She brought all of her crafting supplies from home and allowed her customers to make a brown-bag puppet.
What did she charge you, ask? $.50.
A couple of years later, we hosted her on a panel discussion for other kids in preparation for the fair, and she shared, “I don’t remember how much money I lost, but it was a lot.” “$.50 seemed like a good idea, but it wasn’t.”
It’s a cute, funny story today, but it was such a real learning opportunity and was never taught through the lens of failure. She simply learned that in order for that business to succeed, she needed to raise her price. And yet, she still had fun.
Talk to real people. Get real experience.
Currently, our two boys are helping to support a project my husband is working on. They have been part of the ideation phase, connecting with people, helping to share the message. They are part of the team; these opportunities are normal for them. It doesn’t phase them one bit that typically these are “adult jobs,” and they don’t belong at the table.
Because they DO belong at the table, and their learning is exponential, they are doing the work, not simply hearing about the work.
So I wonder - what other opportunities might support our kids with real-world experiences? I’m sure over time I’ll share more about our philosophy and execution of these ideas.
But for now, as far as our kids are concerned, I’ll leave you with this:
What have you been given? And what are you doing with it?