By Kimberly McGee
If you had told me a few years ago that some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs I’d ever meet would be under four feet tall and fueled by Taki’s, determination and a dream, I probably would’ve thought you drank too much curbside lemonade. But here we are, now the longest running monthly Kidpreneur Market and I can say with absolute certainty, these kids have completely reshaped the way I view entrepreneurship, courage and community.
They come in to our markets a little nervous, a little excited and a whole lot of gumption. They bring a line of makeup they have perfected, crocheted designs and animals, paintings and, of course, lemonade, only better than you expect. And then, the magic happens. Every time. The moment they make that first sale, their whole face shifts. They stand taller, smile wider, and suddenly realize they did this.
They created something and someone saw their talent, their vision. And we get to be a part of that. Every time.
Over this last year, we’ve seen stories unfold that I’ll remember forever.
We watched a shy little artist who barely spoke at her first market transform into a confident young entrepreneur who now pitches her products like a pro, and teaches other kids how to display their booths.
We watched siblings who usually argue over snack choices come together to run a button business so well that they had a line snaking around the corner. (Apparently, nothing heals sibling rivalry faster than profit-sharing.)
We watched a kidpreneur earn enough money to buy gifts for the senior she “adopted” at one of our charity drives, reminding all of us that entrepreneurship is most powerful when it lifts others.
We watched kids mentor each other without even realizing it, offering new ways to market their product, say their pitch, design their logo. These behind-the-scenes moments are the true gifts the kids bring to each market.
And now, as we head into our final market of the year, Dec. 13, our Winter Wonderland Kidpreneur Market at Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet, I’m more convinced than ever that this is so much bigger than entrepreneurship. It’s confidence. It’s creativity. It’s community. It’s kids learning that their ideas matter and that hard work pays off. It’s our local community seeing kids and our future in a brand-new light.
These kids have made me slower to dismiss “small ideas,” quicker to celebrate effort, and endlessly hopeful about the future these young entrepreneurs are building.
I can’t wait to see what unfolds next.
Kimberley McGee is a twin mom, award-winning journalist and publisher of Vegas Kids Zone Media. Visit the website at www.. vegaskidszone.com