#20 How to Inspire the Next Generation
A story about stoking the young entrepreneurial fire within
As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Whether or not you’re a homeschooling family, we as parents have the opportunity to consciously seed inspiration into our children’s lives laying a solid foundation for the future they will create. Just like meal planning, it takes preparation, time, and intention to implement the seeds on a daily basis, yet the impact is profound.
In our family, my husband shares stories focusing on core values in which we repeat throughout the years so that our daughter commits them to memory. The above ancient proverb is a recent pearl of wisdom my husband added to the collection. Not only do we share these stories, but we have also found that showing her how, then supporting her as she takes flight, has proven to develop a lasting influence. For example, along with other young entrepreneurs, our eight year old daughter began experiencing entrepreneurship by selling her creations at markets this year.
Live painting and selling watercolor art at her booth.
Fostering Entrepreneurship
For us, homeschooling is more than a method of educating our children; it’s a lifestyle—a philosophy of nurturing curiosity, creativity, and confidence in real-life settings. It is an opportunity to cultivate not only academic knowledge, but also practical skills that will equip children for the future. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve come to appreciate is teaching our daughter about entrepreneurship. There is a unique joy that comes from watching her take ideas from concept to creation, and my husband and I seen firsthand how this experience enriches her education and her spirit.
Regardless of whether or not you’re a homeschooling family, fostering entrepreneurship is something you can develop after school and on the weekends. Around all the sports activities and social endeavors, it is possible to squeeze in some time for these projects that also give families valuable time together. So when you next pick up that TV remote control, consider putting it back down, grabbing your kids, some craft supplies, or even just a cardboard box and explore your creativity together.
Our daughter’s recent booth of watercolor art, spider plants, and multi-color crayons.
Why Teach Entrepreneurship?
As entrepreneurs ourselves, my husband and I wanted to expand our daughter’s understanding of the world and her place in it through the lens of those who forge their own path in life. We knew exploring the concept of entrepreneurship was a powerful tool in shaping her character and creativity, as well as, providing her with a glimpse of economics and business savvy at an early age with concepts like cost of goods sold, profit, loss, competition, and marketing.
Entrepreneurship teaches so much more than financial literacy. It nurtures problem-solving skills, resilience, and adaptability. Children learn that failure is a stepping stone, not an obstacle, and that success is often a series of incremental steps rather than a single grand achievement. In a world where innovation is highly valued, the ability to think like an entrepreneur is a gift we can give our children, one that extends beyond the math or economics lessons we might teach from a textbook.
From Concept to Creation
Our daughter is always creating something. We have an obscene amount of craft supplies so that she, at any given moment, can run with an idea. Most recently she created an outfit for her doll all made from bubble and plastic wrap, even developing a hair clip, bracelet, handbag, and shoes (not shown).
There’s something magical about seeing a child’s eyes light up when they realize they are capable of making something tangible—something that someone else might want to buy. My role in this process was more of a facilitator than a teacher. I gave her the space and resources to explore her ideas, and she ran with them, driven by her own enthusiasm and creativity.
From trash to treasure; a new outfit our daughter designed for her doll.
The Power of Setting Up a Booth
From years of setting up booths, I knew the value in doing a mock set up in the garage before the day of the event. Our daughter was so excited she could hardly wait for the actual market day; she was thrilled to test run and decorate her tables in preparation for the big day.
Her excitement on market day was infectious. She beamed with enthusiasm and got straight to work on setting up her tables as soon as we got them out of the car. She clearly took ownership of the space and confidently engaged with potential clients as they explored her booth.
Entrepreneurship has a way of drawing children out of their shells. It gives them a sense of agency—an understanding that their ideas and efforts have value. Our daughter quickly learned the art of conversation, how to gauge interest, and when to encourage a sale. And when she made her first transaction, the look of accomplishment on her face was priceless. She wasn’t just selling artwork and plants; she was experiencing the pride of knowing that her hard work and creativity were appreciated by others.
The tower of colorful molded crayons with hand painted sales signs.
Learning to Communicate and Inspire
One of the most beautiful aspects of teaching entrepreneurship to a child is the way it teaches them to communicate effectively. Our daughter learned that sales aren’t about pushing a product; they’re about connecting with people. She learned to listen to what customers were looking for, to offer suggestions, and to share her story. She would tell them about how she made the crayons, or planted the spider plants, or offered to paint them a water color painting on the spot. That personal touch, that connection, was what often led to a sale.
In a world dominated by screens, teaching a child to communicate face-to-face is a priceless skill. Through these experiences, our daughter has gained confidence not just in herself, but in her ability to engage with others, build rapport, and inspire trust. She has learned to articulate her ideas, to handle rejection with grace, and to celebrate her successes with humility.
October’s Halloween decorated booth with handmade price tags and watercolor art.
Going the Extra Mile
Even though the first few hours were a success, with the almost 100 degree weather on market day, the crowd started to fizzle. With only one hour remaining, all vendors were given the opportunity to pack up early. We had just put our lunch order in and had a number of friends visiting in support of our daughter’s business, so we were in no rush. We found ourselves the sole remaining booth with only a few outdoor restaurant patrons left.
With a spark of genius, my daughter’s visiting friend had a marvel idea. She suggested that the two of them write notes and deliver them to all the people indoor dining in effort to inspire more sales. Sure enough, within the next hour more folks came outside toting their hand written marketing pamphlets and proceeded to shop at my daughter’s booth. The girls’ enthusiasm, authenticity, and courage paid off. They were thrilled. Plus my daughter shared some of her profits with her friend for helping out. It was a win for all!
Spider plants my daughter planted, copper pots she painted, and live art in the booth.
The Delights of Watching Growth
As a parent, there is nothing more fulfilling than witnessing your child grow—not just academically but personally. Entrepreneurship has given our daughter an opportunity to stretch beyond her comfort zone and develop skills that will serve her for a lifetime. It has shown her that she is capable of more than she imagined, that her ideas matter, and that she can create something of value.
The experience of seeing her embrace this entrepreneurial journey has been a joy. I’ve seen her grow more confident, more independent, and more resilient. I’ve watched her delight in the process, from crafting her products to engaging with customers to handling the ups and downs of sales. We saw this intimately as she tackled her emotions and confidence at her booth event earlier this spring.
Entrepreneurship is an experience that goes far beyond just learning how to make money. It’s about empowering our children to take ownership of their ideas, to embrace the creative process, and to understand the value of hard work. For my daughter, it has become a space where learning comes to life—and for my husband and I, as her parents and guides, it is a privilege to watch her bloom.
Listening to an audiobook while making art for the next booth event.
In the end, it’s not just about the sales she makes or the money she earns. It’s about the spark that’s ignited in her—one that I hope will carry her forward in all her future endeavors, whether she’s running her own business or simply navigating the challenges and opportunities that life presents. Entrepreneurship, for her, has been a lesson in courage, creativity, and connection. For us, it’s been a delight to witness and we’re only just getting started.
As I’m sure we all can agree, children grow way too fast and buzzing around in daily life is often overwhelming. However, around our busy schedules, it’s so valuable to intentionally plan, execute ideas, and spend quality time with our children to foster their spirit and seed their future.
To find an event your child may participate in research the internet for local children’s entrepreneur events, like our local Dax & Jade offers, or check out the locations pages for these markets:
With love, health, and knowledge, may you live abundantly. See you again in the next post.
Warmly,
Brit-Simone
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