Youth Entrepreneurship: You Can “Be the E”

Steve Henness 4-H Center for Youth Development

Love It! Plan It! Do It!

Standing Poll (Vote with Your Feet)

Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements?

• “As a place to live, my community is getting better all the time.”

• “My community won’t be the place I choose to live in ten years.”

• “I would like to open my own business some day.”

• “If I decided to open a business tomorrow, adults in my community would help me start it and grow it into a success.”

• “I will stay and live in my community if I have the opportunity to do so.”

Survey Results Show…

70% of high school students would like to own a business some day.-Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

70% of high school students would like to stay in their home communities.-Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

In most rural communities, the message young people are hearing from adults is:

In most rural communities, the message young people are hearing from adults is:

“You have to leave this town if you want to find opportunity

and be successful in life.”

Does That Make Sense?

Young People in Missouri Have the Potential to Be Home Grown

Entrepreneurs

What is an Entrepreneur?

“An entrepreneur is a person who has the insight to see an opportunity and seize it. I think successful entrepreneurs are strong leaders, have high integrity, and are willing to take a risk to achieve success in business.”

-Paul Haarstick, age 16PaulNet Communications, Vergas, MN

What is an Entrepreneur?

”Although an entrepreneur is classified as one who starts his/her own business, there is a lot more involved. It requires time, effort, hard work, and dedication. I didn’t plan to be an entrepreneur – it was a spontaneous response to seeing an opportunity.”

-Lacey Kleckner, age 16Cool Strings Jewelry, Allentown, PA

Entrepreneurship is About…

• Loving It• Planning It• Doing It

Examples of Young Entrepreneurs at Work

Manure Gourmet

Coy Funk, 14, and Skylar Schipper, 13

Stillwater, OK

Skinny Dipper Apples

Dustin Beck, age 19Beverly Hills, CA

Deaton’s Corn MazeKelsey Deaton, age 17

Troy, OH

Now It’s Your Turn!

Picture Yourself in Business!

• Who would you involve?• What would you sell?• When would your business be open?• Where would your business be located?• How would you market your product or

service?• Why is this a good choice of business

over others?

Main Street MCB(Youth Business Idea Competition)

Create a Business Card for Your Business!

What Goes in a Business Card?

• Business name• Logo• Brief description of product or

service• Business owner name• Address, phone number, email,

web

Main Street MCB – Part 1

1. Be sure your business card includes your name and email address.

2. Pick up some startup money from one of our bankers.

3. Pick out a location for your business.

Main Street MCB – Part 2

4. Vote for one or more of your favorite business ideas by placing your money under the business cards on the grid.

5. Think about which ideas are the most creative, and stand the best chance to succeed. (Hint: which products or services would you actually buy?)

6. You may only vote for other business cards (not your own).

Main Street MCB – Part 3

7. Results will be posted on the MCB website after the conference.

8. An electronic photo of your business card will be e-mailed to you.

9. We will add your name to a statewide database of young people interested in entrepreneurship.

Go For It!

In Conclusion…

What Gift Do You Want from Your Community at High

School Graduation?

• Keys to a sports car? :-D

• A suit case? (the message: you have to move away in order to be successful.)

• Or a mail box? (the message: you have an “address for success” right here…think about staying, or coming back!)

The End!

“Be the E” curriculumhttp://www.4hccsprojects.com/entrepreneur/

Steve Henness 4-H Center for Youth Development

803 Clark HallUniversity of MissouriColumbia, MO 65211

Tel: 573/884-6618Email: hennesss@umsystem.edu

Web: http://4h.missouri.edu