Tag: entrepreneurship
Nov
09
Family Business Ideas From a Family That Lives It!
In my constant search for great resources for homeschool entrepreneurs, I still can’t believe I’ve never come across this website, but better late than never! Written by a homeschool family with eleven children in upstate NY, Michael and Julie Anna Schultz have been booksellers online for over five years now AND they are powersellers on Ebay.
Leaving a lucrative job in corporate America four years ago, Mike is a stay at home father with their book business on Ebay as his primary income. He also travels all over America teaching eBay classes, as well as entrepreneur classes! Mike and Julie Anna’s have caught the ‘Homeschool-Entrepreneur’ vision – uniting families through home entrepreneurship.
On their website, FamilyBusinessIdeas.com, you will find many great ideas for your family business, as well as help on how to get started. They offer a very reasonably priced ebook giving you everything you need to succeed on Ebay selling children’s books, and a book for the WAHM, Cybermoms Home Income Ebook, also available on Ebay.
You can also subscribe to a monthly report that keeps you up to date on the most valuable books that you can be looking for to sell yourself. You may have one or more on your shelf at home!
Visit their bookstore at Book Jewels For Children.com
Aug
27
Are You Teaching This Life Skill?
Recently I read an article on The Open Forum, 101 Tips from Small Business Bloggers and was particularly impressed with a quote from Seth Godin:
“Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead. It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers. It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail. It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo. It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle. If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.”
— Seth Godin, Seth’s Blog
I got to thinking, are we teaching our teens leadership as part of their homeschool? As a part of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset, there are few traits more important than leadership.
According to this definition, if our children are comfortable with being uncomfortable, or at least understand that it’s normal to feel that way in leadership situations, then they will also have the tools to continue to stand for what they believe, long after they’ve left the nest.
Its so easy to get focused on learning all the facts and figures that brings those surreal ACT and SAT scores home, but do they have what it takes to succeed…on their own terms? Or will they end up doing what ever is necessary in life under the popular ‘feel-good’ theology of the day? Hopefully not, but as a parent of 3 grown children, hindsight is definitely best sight. There are so many situations that have presented themselves that this momma thinks, ‘we never talked about that…what if…” that it’s easy to see what I missed – after the fact. Thankfully with my children, so far- so good, and arguably a solid fou
ndation tends to cover a lot of territory, but sometimes the winds blow hard, and really tries those weak spots!
Teaching leadership as a part of your homeschool may not be something you’ve thought of, or maybe you have. It is so much more than simply a good business skill. The ability to take the reins in a situation that requires them to step out of their comfort zone isn’t easy. If they know ahead of time that those uneasy feelings are perfectly normal, and have had the opportunity to practice, even once, to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from pushing through, then they are much more likely to try it again. In this generation that has been raised by the radical baby boomers, chances are there will always be someone else willing to step up, but not always with the desired outcome.
As a part of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset, keep it in the back of your mind to recognize that life event that could provide them with a chance to push through uncomfortable feelings and step up to a challenge that will stretch them. They may need a great deal of encouragement and you may even need to push them, just don’t push them down. If they aren’t ready yet, there will be another time, I guarantee it. Life tends to present more ways to move outside of our comfort zones than we would like!
One way to create an opportunity is to enroll in a Toastmaster’s class for teens. Several years ago my daughter had the opportunity to be in such a situation, and it was great. Communicators for Christ is very similar, and can be found in most areas. However, since some of the best leadership opportunities for a Christian often involves a group of non-Christians, Toastmasters is a good testing ground.
Anyone else know of a situation that taught their teen how to push past those uncomfortable feelings into a leadership role? How did it turn out? What would you have done different?
Aug
19
48 Days To The Work You Love?
Do YOU love your work? I’ve never seen the statistics, although I know they are out there, but I would guess the majority would answer a resounding ‘NO’. I have read that the Amish train up their children to purpose to enjoy their work because it’s what they will spend the majority of their life doing so they might well find fulfillment in it. My children have heard me attempt to impart that wisdom into their hearts many times, but how do you get it from their head to their hearts?
Kids learn best by example. So if they are watching you go through life enduring a job you are miserable at, what is that saying to them? OK, responsibility is also at the top of the list of traits to teach our children and I’m not saying that everything we do needs to be enjoyable. Far from it.
If the Lord gives us the ‘desires of our hearts’, have you ever thought that that business or new profession you dream about might be what you were created to do in the first place? I believe we are all created for a purpose, with a unique set of talents and abilities to carry it out. It can be challenging to make a change midstream, but when it’s the desire of your heart, you’ll find energy you never thought you had. Do it for your kids, do it for yourself, or most of all, do it for your Heavenly Father. What parent doesn’t want to see their child working and succeeding at work they thoroughly enjoy?
I know what you’re saying, that it all sounds great, but HOW do you get from point A to point B? Dan Miller started his company to help people make the transition. He knows you can’t just quit your job and go off doing whatever feels good. It’s a deliberate process and he gives great advice on how to do it. You can sign up for his newsletter at http://www.48days.com/newsletter.php, or find his books on Amazon.
Teaching your children to find their talents and purpose is the fun part of parenting. One of the most enlightening questions you can ask your child is: “If money was not an issue, and you had to spend 8 hours a day working at something productive, what would you want to do?” It’s not only a question that could begin one of those memorable conversations, but you may be surprised at their answer!
Of course, I’d be foolish not to remind you of our 9-week Entrepreneurship 101 course we offer that helps your teen find their life purpose and start a home business from start to finish. See more details and a video tour at http://homeschool-entrepreneur.com/entrepreneur_course.html . We have scholarships available for those that can’t afford it because we believe that everyone needs to ‘think entrepreneurially’ – it’s the backbone of our economy! (that backbone may need an adjustment, though!)
I’d love to hear how your family has started a business, or found the work they love!
We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are. -John Maxwell
Welcome to Homeschool Entrepreneur!
Equip your children with a life skill that will stay and grow in them forever. Business training in the home not only creates a natural learning environment for any age. The "Family Business" draws families together and provides opportunity for discussions you won't find in any book . . and the extra money comes in handy, too!
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