SEPTEMBER 2007

$2.50 US

In This Issue
Different Strokes
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation

An Excellent Proposal
DECA, Inc.

Hair Today…
Salon Tomorrow
NFTE

Lacie Carter
of NFIB YEF
Have An Invention?
PROTECT IT!

www.YoungInventorsHub.com
 September 2007

In This Issue… Celebrating Future CEO Stars!

The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education has been providing leadership for
4 A Summer Well Spent
YEABiz/Utah State Office of Education
over 25 years. Our primary focus has been assisting instructors, which has been
quite successful, but we still felt something was missing…and that something was
5 Entrepreneurial Magic direct communication with the students.
Marketplace for Kids
Knowing that “experience is the best teacher”, we decided that who better to com-
7 An Excellent Proposal municate with potential young entrepreneurs than young entrepreneurs themselves!
DECA, Inc. Thus, Future CEO Stars was born.
8 An Honest Structure Our mission is to create a monthly publication that features successful young
entrepreneurs from Consortium member organizations…designed to generate the
9 Hair Today…Salon Tomorrow entrepreneurial mind-set!
NFTE
Each issue has feature articles dedicated to stories written by students that tell
10 Feeding Success the secrets of their entrepreneurial success. Our hope is that this magazine will
National Museum of Education motivate, educate, and stimulate young people to follow their examples and chase
their own dream.
11 Stop-N-Learn
Prominent Youth, Inc.
Founder of National Entrepreneurship
13 Planning in Action Week, the Consortium for Entrepre-
National Council on Economic Education Published by The Consortium for
neurship Education is a non-profit
Entrepreneurship Education
14 Ask GoVenture collaborative representing 90+ mem- 1601 W Fifth Ave. #199
MediaSpark ber organizations from national, state Columbus, OH 43212
and local levels. Together we repre- www.entre-ed.org
15 Business Ventures sent over 40,000 teachers and more mashmore@entre-ed.org
Home Builder’s Institute than two million students.
Publisher: Dr. Cathy Ashmore
16 How Big Is Your Neighborhood? Our common bond is the philosophy Editor: Michael Ashmore
that “to be successful in the emer- Graphic Design: MediaSpark Inc.
18 Networking Toward Net Worth gence of a new global marketplace, Graphic Artist: Jeff MacNeil
University of Florida entrepreneurship education should
be a critical component of the overall Publishing Advisors:
19 Class Projects in the Real World Soorena Salari, Young Inventors Hub
NY REAL
education experience as a lifelong
learning process.” Al Abney, Consortium Advisory Council
20 Change Adds Up to Dollars We invite readers to meet the Annual Subscription Available - $25.00
Consortium members at: Contact: mashmore@entre-ed.org
21 Emily’s Advice
www.entre-ed.org/_contact
23 Starting Young
Learn about the Young Inventors Hub
25 Different Strokes at:
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation
www.younginventorshub.com
26 Entrepreneurs Solving Social Problems
Join us!
27 A Different Perspective
Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas

29 A Dream Into Action

IL Institute for Entrepreneurship Education

30 NEW Opportunities
National Entrepreneurship Week 2008

31 Our Sponsors
 A Summer Well Spent
BY TYLER TOLBERT
©iStockphoto.com, Duncan Walker

At first I thought those two criteria would be difficult to meet.

Let’s face it, $100 doesn’t go very far. The problem wasn’t the
amount of money though, it was the way I was thinking about
it. Every business in existence today had to start somewhere.
Very few of them started with huge amounts of cash out of the
gate. As long as I could make that $100 work for me through-
out the summer, I soon would have a lot more.
Tyler Tolbert, Age 17 My mentor, Bill Aho, founder of ClearPlay, gave me some
great feedback. We talked about keeping my business simple.
I was told that I needed to dedicate a minimum of 30 hours

B ecoming a teenage entrepreneur, in Riverton Utah, was defi-

nitely an eye opening experience for me. In some ways it
was easier than I had imagined but in others it was far more
per week toward it in order to get it running. I can’t say
too much about how valuable it was to have someone with
experience helping me out. He had some great ideas that
difficult. Over the past few years I had thought about starting my I hadn’t thought of yet. He also had already learned from
own business. I liked the idea of being my own boss. My only experience that some of my ideas might not work as easily as I had
problem now was figuring out what my business would be. imagined. If you have an opportunity to learn from someone
who has been there, do it.
Last December, I went to a Conference put on by Young Entre-
preneurs of America. With over 650 other high school students, I’m really glad that I took the opportunity to get involved with
I spent the whole day talking to 40 to 50 actual entrepreneurs, Young Entrepreneurs of America. They helped me pick an idea
venture capitalists, business professionals and investors. The and gave me a lot of resources that I didn’t know were out
director of this conference then went on to tell us about a new there. In less than 10 days I was able to establish my business,
summer program. I knew this was going to be my big chance. find a great mentor, and start building my future. The business
It was exactly the push I needed to get me moving toward starting I am in today is creating custom-designed metal artwork for
my own business. YEA was going to help with my idea, provide vehicles, homes or gardens. I create my originals using a plasma
an experienced mentor and help me with start-up capital to get cutter. I already have several very satisfied clients who, through
my business going. I applied online at www.yeabiz.com and word of mouth, bring me more business everyday.
waited and waited and waited.
You can learn more about me and follow my struggles and
They say good things come to those who wait and in May it successes at www.blog.yeabiz.com.
finally came. I learned that I had been chosen to participate in
This article sponsored by the Utah State Office of Education.
this year’s Summer Startup program. The program started with
having several meetings to discuss our business ideas and learn
more specifics about finances and marketing. Then, over the
course of ten days, we refined our ideas down to an actual busi-
ness plan. I really struggled over which business idea I should
start with. Then YEA Founder, Brian Acord, told us that we could
start any business provided it met two main criteria. 1) We had
to be able to get a paying client within 7 days, and. 2) Our
business had to be able to be started for $100 or less.

Future CEO Stars September 2007

4
Entrepreneurial Magic
BY ANDREW YOUNG
M y name is Andrew Young and I’m
a magician. It seems I have always
been destined to do something different.
I am the kind of person who does my
own thing. When my friends were play-
ing with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
I played with Batman. When my family
was watching a movie, I was building
a fort. Making my own decisions has
worked well for me.
When I was eight years old my mom
showed me a magic book she had
checked out from the library. From that
point on, I was hooked. I checked that
book out so many times that the library
eventually donated the book to me. Magic
continued to be my passion. I would
entertain my friends and family with
new tricks all the time. In 2003, when
I was 13, I was asked to perform my
first show for a senior citizens home. At
that moment I discovered what I wanted
to do in life. I also knew that I could
make it happen.
I learned the “tricks” I needed to turn
my love of magic into money early on.
Andrew Giving Back
Future CEO Stars September 2007
Andrew at Education Days
with his friend, Rachel.
In elementary school I took part in the
Marketplace for Kids program that
was offered to my class. It showcased
innovation and creativity, and introduced
me to the concept of entrepreneurship as
a career option. This early introduction
to owning my own business gave me
the confidence I needed to make my
own career instead of depending on a
company to hire me.
Like I said, I have always done my
own thing, so being an Entrepreneur
is a natural fit. In the 4 years since that
first performance, I have turned my love
for magic into a successful business.
I perform and speak at business meetings,
schools, and workshops. There are not
a lot of magicians in North Dakota, so
currently I am doing a pretty good
amount of traveling. It all comes with
owning my own business. This is a pretty
good trick considering I am only 17.
This year I got the chance to give back
to the program that sparked my interest
in creating a business. I was invited to
showcase my business at several of the
2007 Marketplace for Kids “Education
Days” held throughout North Dakota.
During my presentation, called “The
Magic of Young,” I discussed how I
started my business, the value of lead-
ership and teamwork, as well as the
importance of believing in your dreams.
It may seem that I have made creating my
own career sound easy, but I have faced
many challenges throughout the years.
My business has been very comparable
to my favorite quote, “The road to success
is often dotted with many parking places.”
In every business there are challenges and
obstacles, and I have certainly faced mine.
It all comes with the job. I believe that
my love for seeing how different people
enjoy magic drives me to continue what I
love which makes the inevitable business
challenges seem small.
Some of the secrets to my success include
support from family and friends and their
belief in me, planning, organization, and
most importantly, love and passion for what
I am doing. All this, and a little magic, and
you can be an entrepreneur too!
5
 What’s Your Idea?
Do you want to get your
story in this magazine?
How about a chance
to WIN FREE STUFF?
We know that sometimes
students make the best teachers.
Gaining knowledge off another’s experience is so much
better than trying to learn from reading a boring old text
book. And that’s why we want to hear your stories!! Do
you have a product, invention, or business idea that you
know the world needs? Or a story of pure success?
Well…let us hear it!

We want to print your stories in this magazine! For your

effort you could win prizes including magazine subscrip-
tions, cash, or even the Grand Prize of a trip for two
to the ‘08 National Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education Forum (location to be determined in November
07) to receiverecognition for your achievement.
Sound Good?
What are you waiting for? No idea is too big, or too crazy!
Big Dreams Lead To Big Results! We look forward to read-
All we need is 300 to 500 words telling ing and sharing your future success story, so get started!
your story. Here’s some of the information
we’re looking for: Also remember that all submissions could be printed so
don’t share anything that you want to keep to yourself.
* What is your GREAT Business Idea? Our goal is to help make your plan a reality, not to spoil
your competitive edge. If you want to keep it secret,
* How do you plan to tell the world keep it to yourself until you have a patent, copyright, or
about it (Marketing Plan)? trademark.

* What problem are you solving?
* How do you plan to get the money
you need to make it happen?
* Would there be any problems in
making it happen?
Send your story, name, grade, school, and home ad-
dress to Mike Ashmore, editor of “Future CEO Stars” at
mashmore@entre-ed.org (please use the words “Student
Submission” in the subject line) or mail it to Consortium
for Entrepreneurship Education,
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199, Columbus, OH 43212.
 An Excellent Proposal
BY JOE WITTNEBEN

A s
children, our parents
option to link with the Web site
to allow customers online order-
ing, catering, and reservation options.
in Boston. Matt plans on majoring in
biological engineering with a business
major at Cornell University. When com-
often encourage us to get down and Restaurants choosing these service plans menting on how this experience sharp-
dirty if we want to make money. Go will have an order management system ened their skills, Mike shared through
shovel snow. Go pull weeds. Go clean! installed in their his involvement and
It can be discouraging knowing that all store that both participation in role
of our youthful creativity is being wasted processes and plays he learned about
on mowing lawns and dog sitting. organizes online e-commerce and net-
Just because we’re young, it does not orders/reser va- working. “It fueled in-
mean we can’t have professional (and tions, and makes terest and enthusiasm.
successful) businesses. restaurant function- DECA put me on the
ing more efficient. right path. Without it
Enter the Internet. For most of us, the
I would probably be
Internet has been around since childhood Their project,
going to college with
and unlike parents and adults before us, designed as a
an undeclared major.”
we have been growing right along with proposal for a
Matt responded,
the World Wide Web. Ten years ago, $250,000 Small
“DECA has helped me
the Internet was said to be “the next big Business Asso-
learn to work better
thing,” and ten years later, it still is. DECA, ciation (SBA) 7(a)
with others to accom-
An Association of Marketing Students, loan, covered all
plish a task, and has
spotted the trend of online businesses by of the bases. With
improved my personal
designing a competitive event around the the startup capital
relations skills as well;
subject. Immensely popular among stu- they could get from Mike Abbene and Matt Giambrone and, of course we
dents, the event gives members the option savings and family, with their first place trophy.
learned a ton about
to create a business plan for any potential CC would begin as
what it takes to be in
area of online business. a Limited Liability
business. We now realize the incredible
Company (LLC) and undergo an
Last year’s first place winners, Mike amount of time and effort it takes to plan
extensive 11-month development period.
Abbene and Matt Giambrone from Walt a business that realistically has a shot at
During this time of testing layouts,
Whitman High School in New York functioning successfully and being profit-
mechanics, and restaurant feedback,
created a business plan for an online able.” It is likely that after college they
time would accrue for employees to im-
service like no other. Convenient Cuisines will put Convenient Cuisines in action.
plement advertising, generate demand,
(CC) was their entrepreneurial startup,
and prove the service’s functionality. The DECA is not just about dreaming big.
“an online interface between food
increased awareness reduced the slow Realistic visions fare the best. While
establishments and the public.” By har-
start new businesses often have. This DECA cannot give loans to members’
nessing the power and mass commu-
business plan accurately factored in the outstanding business proposals, it did
nication available through the Internet,
product development period, included give them the red stamp approval and a
Mike and Matt systematically laid out
all possible expenses, and had a finan- first-place international title, quite a good
the step-by-step process of gathering and
cial buffer to allow for unforeseen events. endorsement for when they do go in for
arranging restaurant information through-
All said, the predicted three-year profits their first business loan.
out New York City and the Long Island
amount to $401,380.
area. Free to the general public, the
investment relies on any number of the Both Mike and Matt are attending college
20,000 regional restaurants to register now. Mike is majoring in business
with CC to be seen or featured on their administration with a concentration in en-
site. Additionally, restaurants had the trepreneurship at Northeastern University
Future CEO Stars September 2007
7
 W hat is integrity? When describing a piece of steel, integrity
refers to its purity, strength and consistency. In building
a bridge or sky scraper you can imagine the critical nature of
working with materials of the highest integrity possible. When
people’s lives depend on it, there is not a lot of room for error. So
how does this differ from the level of integrity a person uses when
they build their reputation? Is it important to be honest with your
customers even when it would be easier to lie? Not if you have
an endless source of new customers who don’t talk to each other,
but for most businesses that simply isn’t the case. For long term
success, honesty is truly the best policy.
With regard to integrity, our culture cuts a
lot of slack for young people. We tend to
be quick to forgiv e as long as you prom-
ise to “not do it again”. Then the infraction
An Honest Structure
occurs again and once more, with the right words, all is forgiven.
©iStockphoto.com, Chi Photo

This doesn’t do anyone any favors. It reinforces acceptance of

a lack of integrity. Nothing is changed, nothing is learned, and
bad behavior consistently survives to strike another day. In con-
trast, tell one of your auto detailing customers “I don’t know what
happened to your car, I guess my dog ate it” and see how long
you stay in business, let alone out of court. Of course, this is a
ridiculous example but it drives home the point that the behavior
is completely unacceptable.
Meaning what you say and saying what you mean are important
cornerstones to developing a reputation of having good integrity.
Consistency is critical. So if you consistently miss deadlines, and
consistently give excuses, you probably will be consistently out
of work. That’s not the type of consistency that does much good.
Customers count on being able to depend on what they are told.
Of course, things happen that are unpreventable. As long as
the problem is communicated promptly and accurately, without
excuses, customers are more likely to be okay with it. In fact,
handling problems in the correct manner can actually go a long
way in strengthening one’s integrity, as long as it is there in the
first place.
If you have ever been caught in a traffic jam because a stop
light has failed, you know what happens when the integrity of
a system has been compromised. Fault isn’t an issue. All that
matters is fixing the problem and getting back on the schedule
you counted on. If a cop promptly shows up and starts directing
traffic, the system is restored and the problem is solved with its
integrity intact. On the other hand, if the cop spends all his time
going from car to car blaming the problem on the electric com-
pany, has anything been solved? Actions define good integrity,
not words.
Many businesses advertise having good integrity. If their actions
don’t match their words, they tend to not advertise anything for
very long. Customer goodwill is critical for long term success in
most entrepreneurial ventures. Without integrity, customer good-
will simply does not exist. Just like the steel used to build a bridge
or skyscraper, it is very important to use the highest grade of
integrity possible. A business’s life depends on the word of the
people who build it. It needs to be as strong as steel.

Future CEO Stars September 2007

8
Hair Today ... Salon Tomorrow
BY ANNTWINETTE MARTIN

M y name is Anntwinette Martin and

I am a licensed cosmetologist from
Cleveland, Ohio. My business, Urban
In fact, after becoming involved with this
program, I have been able to teach my
brothers a thing or two.
In the end I decided to stay home,
continue my education at Cuyahoga
Community College, work at the salon,
Beauty, is currently a booth that I rent and build my start up capital. I made this
In following my plan I have had to make
out of a salon called Distinctive Images, decision based on how I wanted my life
decisions that affected my goals, and in
where I provide hair services for women, to be in the end. I knew that I had worked
turn, have reflected on my future. Some-
men, and children. My plan is to open hard in high school to receive my cosme-
times plans change. After high school I
my own shop and then develop that into tology license. I also knew that I wanted
started to attend the University of Akron.
a chain of salons. to acquire a business degree and open
In doing this I dis-
a hair salon. With those goals in mind
Ever since I was a covered that lots
I chose my own course appropriately. I
young girl I have of loans were
didn’t let others tell me that I would fail
been passionate available to me.
because, in reality, they aren’t me. Their
about designing Although a tra-
opinions are based on their experience,
hair. I would play ditional college
skills and level of motivation, not mine.
“hair salon” and education would
dreamed of work- be very helpful, I So, where am I today? Well, I have had
ing in the industry. felt that my money the opportunity with NFTE and ECITY to
In taking my dream could be better be one of NFTE’s 2007 Young Entre-
to reality, I was in- used toward preneurs of the year. I was honored at
spired by my broth- opening a salon. three award banquets, spoke at my city’s
ers who are both I had to make a public library, and was recognized on
entrepreneurs them- big decision. the front page of the business section of
selves. One owns The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Currently, I
Some people said
a barber shop, have completed my work at Cuyahoga
that I wouldn’t
and the other used Community College and will transfer to
finish school at
to own an auto Tiffin University in the spring of 2008 to
home, and that I
detailing business. Anntwinette Martin finish my Bachelor degree in Business.
couldn’t get what
They have been
I needed from My future is bright and right on track.
very helpful by
community college. Although I have made some adjustments
passing on their experiences,
I thought about the entrepreneurs that I along the way, I am achieving my goals.
both good and bad. Learning from others
have met with my involvement with ECITY. My advice to anyone is stay focused on
mistakes is definitely less expensive and
Many spoke about their loved ones who the end result you want to achieve and fol-
less painful than making them yourself.
told them that they shouldn’t start a busi- low the path that best takes you there.
I decided to go to cosmetology school ness. They feared that it wouldn’t work,
during high school, attend college, and that they were too young, or that they
then open my business. In high school I couldn’t become rich from their dreams.
also started attending the NFTE program Armed with my positive attitude, I made
at ECITY. This program provides me with my decision and stuck with it.
a lot of the basics of business ownership.

Future CEO Stars August 2007

9

Feeding Success
BY GAY EVANS
T he National Museum of Education is
always finding new and innovative
ways to promote entrepreneurship and
innovation. This year they have taken
the cake, well actually, made the burger.
They partnered with the Burton Mor-
gan Foundation to sponsor the first-ever
“Entrepreneur Challenge” taking place
at Menches Restaurant, specializing in
hamburgers.
On July 16, 2007, a group of high school
seniors from Garfield and Tallmadge High
Schools, members of the “Destination
College” program, gathered in Akron,
Ohio for an interesting challenge. These
select twelve young adults were divided
into 3 teams and charged with creating
a unique burger platter. Loosely based on
the concept of the television show “The
Apprentice”, without “The Donald” firing
anyone, they were put to work. Their
specific mission was they had 3 days to
create an originally designed hamburger
platter and develop a marketing strategy
that would out sell their peers. The three
teams were definitely up to the challenge.
Using materials graciously provided by
Menches Restaurant, a landmark in the
Akron community for over 120 years, and
a budget of $25 for ancillary materials,
they went to task.
Their work produced some amazing
results. The first team, “Team Tastie” came
up with the “Mench Munch” burger. It
featured a star shaped hamburger,
10
Team Tastie’s Mench-Munch Burger
french fries used as stripes and a side
dish of a cored apple filled with apple
bits, blueberries and grapes. The second
team, “The Condiment Crew” not to be
out done created the “Tropical Paradise Condiment Crew’s Tropical Paradise Burger
Burger”. This Polynesian Paradise platter
consisted of a burger glazed with pine-
apple barbeque sauce and a side dish
of tropical fruits including mangoes,
papayas, grapes and berries served in
half of an orange. Last but certainly not
least was team “Burger Buddies” who
stuck with Akron’s rubber and automotive
history. Their entry, Akronite Burger Bites,
featured a NASCAR theme using stop
light colors created with cheese and pep-
pers to adorn their bacon cheeseburger.
With fliers in hand and the event a
day away, the students hit the streets. Burger Buddies’ Akronite Burger Bites
Promoting both the overall event and
their specific entry, they worked very
hard to get the citizens of Akron to
participate. And participate they did!
On the day of the challenge, both with
carry out orders and lunch time dining,
Menches was jumping.
In the end it was a very successful
event. Although Team Tastie technically
sold the most burgers, everybody who
participated won. The students all gained
a new perspective on marketing, product
design, promotion and competition.
Menches gained a huge lunch crowd
and the patrons satisfied their appetite in
a unique and original way.
Future CEO Stars September 2007
Stop-N-Learn
BY ERIK ODEGARD
P icture the typical teenager. They just
float through high school, making their
grades, playing sports, spending time
with friends and possibly earning a little
spending money with a part-time job. As
for me, Erik Odegard, I guess I’m not that
typical. Although I do play varsity soccer
and football in the fall season, I also am
a co-owner of a small business called
StopNShop. Through Prominent Youth,
Inc., I and some other high school
students in the Kansas City metro area have
the opportunity to own and run a small
business and get paid in the process.
StopNShop is basically a resale retail
shop. We sell, on consignment, products
for customers who want a better profit
than what they could earn themselves
by having a garage sale. This is how it
works. We contact a potential customer
and sell them on the idea. We then
receive their items, research how best
to market them, then promote and sell
them. Although we do run an actual
retail outlet, currently a lot of our sales are
also through eBay. Once an item is sold,
we take our 25% of the final sale price
and then send a check for the other 75%
to the original owner. We have been
running since the summer of 2005 and
currently move over a $1,000 worth of
product every month.
Owning a business, in many ways, is
great. I get a real sense of accomplish-
ment from profiting directly through my
own efforts. It does take a lot of my
time though, and not just in ways you
would expect. In fact, the only aspect
Future CEO Stars September 2007
StopNShop merchandise
that I dislike about owning a business
is that I can’t clock out, leave my job
and forget about it. When working fast
food or other part time jobs, you go in,
work a few hours, leave and it’s over.
You don’t constantly worry about who is
making the fries. When owning a small
business, your mind is always thinking
about what needs to be done. In a very
real sense, it is never over. If that is the
price to pay for the freedom that comes
with being my own boss, in my mind it is
definitely worth it.
The secret to our success at StopNShop,
and my tip for any teen starting a small
business, is be organized. I know it
sounds boring and it is often over-
looked, but if we weren’t running a tight
ship at our shop it would have sunk a
long time ago. It is the main part of the
“value added” service we provide. If we
didn’t know exactly where each product
was in our sales process things would be
lost, shipped to the wrong people, not Inside an eBay Office.
paid for and forgotten. When dealing
with customers as suppliers, if they are
not satisfied, they will lose interest in
letting us help them. Without their
products we are out of business.
Taking part in StopNShop has been
invaluable to me. What I’ve learned
goes way beyond anything I could have
picked up from a book. I am now a
senior in high school and soon will be
moving on with my life. I am sure that
my experiences with Prominent Youth
and StopNShop will be helping me all
the way.
11
 Does your class
need money?

Is your teacher looking for

an effective way to raise
funding for a class project?
©iStockphoto.com, Scott Hancock

Are you tired of selling cookies

or candy?

Do you want to avoid the hassle

of having to deliver what you sell?

We have your solution!

For more information have your
teacher contact The Consortium
for Entrepreneurship Education:
fundraiser@entre-ed.org

The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is a qualified

501(c3) non profit corporation and, therefore follows all rules,
laws, and requirements pertaining to maintaining this status.
 Cole Adams
Planning in Action
BY COLE ADAMS
M y name is Cole Adams, I live in
Rye, New Hampshire and I am an
aspiring entrepreneur. It’s in my blood,
I think, as I come from a family full of
them. My grandfather, Walt Cheney,
has started more than 30 different com-
panies in his lifetime, (primarily for real
estate development and management)
and he is in the process of teaching
me how to do the same. I go to Phillips
Exeter Academy, so my school year is
pretty much booked solid, but for the
past few summers I have been working
with him. I’ve been doing things such as
site planning, accounting, and working
with town officials to put together Zoning
and Planning Board applications. He
has taught me a lot about what it takes
to run a successful business and I take
any opportunity I can to apply those
lessons to my life.
This summer I took a week off from work
to attend a camp called Entreprep that
proved to be one of those opportuni-
ties. It’s a camp for young entrepreneurs
that helps them come up with business
ideas, and then provides them with the
resources necessary to plan and run their
businesses for one day as a test run.
I devoted the whole week to creating a
Future CEO Stars September 2007
complete business plan that I could use to
actually start a real company.
I came to understand that for my company
to be a real possibility, I needed to find
some hard evidence to prove that it would
My company, PlanCommand Inc., is
be both feasible and profitable. I needed
one-stop shopping for your Zoning Board
real world proof. To get this I put together
or Adjustment/Planning Board approval
questionnaires to send out to town Board
needs. The company would utilize the
members and sent a business summary to
combined real estate expertise and
the Town Planner of New Market, New
experience of my grandfather and other
Hampshire. I also compiled a yearly
members of my family. Whether for indi-
history of all the Planning and Zoning
viduals or multi-million dollar real estate
activity for the town.
concerns, we can secure all necessary
approvals. While the idea is a good one It was hard work, but definitely worth it,
for me, putting it down on paper and and with all the information I found I was
strategizing about the plan was far more able to put together a financial summary
difficult than I thought it would be. that looked very promising and backed
up by hard evidence. Overall I am
When I began writing my business
more confident now about my business
plan, I realized that I had no idea what
being a great success than ever before.
should be in it, so I started small. First I
In writing my business plan I realized that
wrote up a short pitch and a few quick
the planning process was more important
reasons why I thought the idea was solid
and most useful than I realized. It is defi-
and had potential. I found that the more
nitely an exercise well worth doing.
I wrote, the more questions I had, and
all those questions need answers. For
example, what kind of company would
it be? How would the employees be
paid? And the big one, how is this com-
pany going to make money? So, with
the help and guidance of some of the
mentors that the camp provided, I went
about answering them.
13
 ?
Ask GoVenture
“ I have trouble finding
good, potential customers.
What do I need to know
to find good sales prospects?
Know the Color of Their Underwear!
Well, that may be a bit more informa-
tion than you need — unless, of course,
you sell underwear! But the more you
know about your prospects, the more
likely you are to make a sale. To find
out the key information you need, you
must prepare to ask for it. Here’s what
you should try to obtain and record in
your prospecting database:
Need/Pain
High | Med | Low | None | Unknown
What level of need or pain does the
prospect have for a product such as
yours?
Funds
Yes | Likely | Unlikely | No | Unknown
Does the prospect have the funds to pur-
chase your product?
GoVenture Activity
Word Scramble — Marketing
ARKMET
ARNDB
SATDIVERGIN
CPRIE
CODRPUT
MINOPORTO
CAPEL
14
FAST FACTS
Birth story of Wrigley’s
In 1891, 29-year old William Wrigley Jr.
”
arrived in Chicago with $32. He began
selling baking powder and came up with
the idea of offering two free packages of
chewing gum with each can. People were
more interested in the chewing gum, so
Wrigley began to market gum under his
Desire own name. He introduced Juicy Fruit in
1893 and Spearmint a year later. Today,
High | Med | Low | None | Unknown the Wrigley Co. operates 14 factories
Does the prospect actually want your around the world.
product? Source: “The Branding of America.” Library
of Congress American Memory Collection
Type
Decision Maker | Influencer
Is this person a decision maker or
influencer? About GoVenture
Status GoVenture is a line of award-winning
Hot | Warm | Cool | Cold | Unknown educational games and simulations,
including software, board games,
What is the likelihood that the prospect
might purchase sometime in the future? mobile games, website, books, and more.
You should also make note of any specific GoVenture educational games and simula-
likes and objections the prospect may tions offer the fastest, most effective and fun
have, as well as the specific value your learning experiences ever!
product can provide. Once you have all Similar to how pilots train using flight
this information at your disposal, use it simulators, highly visual and realistic
wisely and you are sure to improve your GoVenture programs enable youth and
success rate. adults to gain years of business, money
and life experience in minutes.
Become the CEO of a virtual business,
a stockbroker trading on a virtual
exchange, or navigate your way through
the next 50 virtual years of your financial
future.
More than just fun and learning,
GoVenture provides an experience that
enables you to realize your potential,
both in terms of what is possible and the
RCAHERES wisdom of how to make it happen.
GoVenture is used in homes, schools,
MEGSNET universities, and businesses throughout
North America and around the world.
ROCENSUM Visit the GoVenture website
for many more free resources!
GOOL
DETTNYII
Research, Segment, Consumer, Logo, Identity
Answers:
Market, Brand, Advertising, Price, Product, Promotion, Place,
www.goventure.net
Future CEO Stars September 2007
 Business Ventures in the
Residential Construction Industry
It’s Exciting! It’s Fun! It’s Challenging!

Prizes! Prizes! Prizes!

through F and win a fun prize!
Submit your answers to questions A
your name and grade; (2) your
One entr y per student. Provide: (1)
name, address and phone
teacher’s name and subject; (3) the
your answers for questions A
number of your school; and (4)
il to buildacareer@hbi.org or
through F. Submit your entr y via ema
fax to 202-266-8999.
end with a plan!
Start with a good business ethic and
is a good business ethic?
A. Learning What Matters – What

©iStockphoto.com, Alex Slobodkin

r product?
B. Know Your Business – What is you
name?
C. Making It Special – What’s in a
reach your customers?
D. Corner The Market – How will you
s – Where does it grow?
E. If Money Doesn’t Grow On Tree
you need a business plan?
F. Getting Down To Business – Do

Custom home builders generally:

Win a bonus prize!
Are you up for the challenge? Test your knowledge!
What type of building company do you want – custom or
production? Do you know the difference? Answer all the ques- Production home builders generally:
tions correctly for the following two categories by placing the
number next to the type of builder that the statement describes.
Answer to bonus questions will appear in the next issue.

1. A site-specific home built from a unique set of plans for a 7. Build one-of-a-kind houses.
specific client.
8. Build single-family homes.
2. Are generally small-volume builders (those that build 25 or
9. Generally build for all price points — entry level, move
fewer homes a year).
up, luxury, etc.
3. Are large-volume builders (those that build more than 25
10. Builders also build on land they own.
homes a year).
11. Builders may offer design/build services.
4. Build all types of housing — single-family, condos, town
houses, and rental properties. 12. Tend to build high-end homes.
5. Build on land they own. 13. Tend to use stock plans.
6. Build on land you own. 14. Usually offer a variety of plan choices and options.
Information provided by the National Association of Home Builders.

Remember to ask your teacher to order your house plans today. Build! Build! Build!
For details contact C. Deanna Lewis via email at buildacareer@hbi.org or phone at 202-266-8927.

Future CEO Stars September 2007

15
 AK

YT
How Big Is NU

Your Neighborhood?
Have you ever thought about the market
for your business? BC
AB
What opportunities are specific to your state?
What opportunities do other areas have to offer?
Is your business idea limited by its location? WA
MT
What areas have the most potential for growth?
OR
What areas are economically depressed? ID

Where do you want to leave your mark?

NV
UT
CA

AZ
HI

Future CEO Stars September 2007

16
 ©iStockphoto.com, Malcolm Romain
NT

NL
SK QC
MB
ON PE
NB NS
ND ME
MN NH
VT
SD WI MI NY MA
WY RI
PA CT
NE IA NJ
OH
IL IN DE
CO WV MD
KS VA
MO KY DC
TN NC
OK SC
NM AR
MS AL GA
LA Now…look at a GLOBE!
TX

WA
Future CEO Stars September 2007
17
©iStockphoto.com, Andrei Tchernov
W hile growing up I was always
taught to see opportunities where
most others only saw obstacles. It is in
my nature to take on challenges with
determination and see them through to
the end. I am currently an Integrative Bio- I also found myself surrounded by students
logy major in the honors
program at the University
of Florida. I also have a
passion for technology
and medicine. This com-
bination has driven me to
find opportunities that inte-
grated both fields. Sounds
easy right? Of course, I am
kidding. If you choose a
specialized field, let alone
two, your options for career
related networking are
definitely narrowed.
I started during my freshman
year by looking for groups Abhi Lokesh
that embraced similar
academic and innovative
interests to my own. After taking a class
in Social Entrepreneurship and listening to
lectures from professors at CEI (Center for
Entrepreneurship and Innovation), I knew
that I had found what I was looking for.
Over the past year and a half I have been
one of their student ambassadors. With-
out a doubt, I can truly say that CEI has
played a crucial role in making me who
I am today.
CEI provided me with opportunities I
didn’t know existed. Through their Break-
fast Speaker Series, I have had a
chance to meet with prominent
18
Networking
Toward Net Worth BY ABHI LOKESH
entrepreneurs and converse with them
individually about their beginnings, chal-
lenges, inspirations, and future goals.
students to work with real companies
located in the Gainesville Technology
Incubator. For a semester, students put their
These people’s stories motivated me skills into practice in a real world situation
toward becoming a real-life entrepreneur. and learn from prominent local business
leaders. My internship with a local seed-
with a similar passion. It stage neuroscience company furthered
didn’t take long for three my passion for medical technology and
of us to get together and led to a paid research position.
create our own nonprofit
This year also marked the creation of CEI
organization, swaziAID,
and UF’s new high school summer pro-
dedicated to helping the
gram, Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership
people of Swaziland
and Change (YELC). Focusing on social
(www.swaziaid.org).
entrepreneurship, YELC students take
We were semifinalists in
college level courses, engage in com-
UF’s 2006-07 collegiate
munity service, and participate in various
business plan competi-
events around campus. I was fortunate
tion. In only a year we
to be chosen as a staff member for this
have managed to grow
program.
tremendously in the
community. Each step With my sights set on going to medical
of the way, CEI has pro- school and eventually creating my own
vided us with beneficial biotechnology company, I feel like I have
guidance and insight. had an enriching experience here at CEI
and UF that few students are privileged to
The unique feature of CEI comes not from
have or even know about. The education
their interest in simply teaching students
that I have received from entrepreneurship
the fastest way to financial success, but
has provided me with invaluable skills that
their emphasis on community service and
will undoubtedly set me apart. I encourage
their focus on the entrepreneurial mindset.
every student to apply an entrepreneurial
We conducted a high school mentoring
outlook to life and see what it really takes
program, where we partnered with
to make aspirations into realities.
Buchholz High School’s entrepreneurship
program and helped their students with
their own business plans and ventures.
I came away truly impressed at their level
of commitment at such a young age.
CEI also created the GTEC Consultancy Pro-
gram, which allows University of Florida’s
Future CEO Stars September 2007
Class Projects
in the REAL World
BY ASHLEY POWELL

Back Row left to right: Zack Storms, Tony Sliski, Branden McLaughlin, Anthony Ford
Front row left to right: Kody Haney, Lindsey Perry, Erica Carlin, Ashley Powell

I n the fall of 2005 I was a member of NYREAL group that

had the opportunity to partake in an entrepreneurship com-
petition. The challenge required us to design and produce
plan for Appalachian Arms of Scio, NY. Tracy Schmitt, owner
of Appalachian Arms, asked my Entrepreneur class to create a
marketing plan that could help expand his market and hopefully
a marketing plan, including a marketing theme and related increase his sales. We worked with Mr. Schmitt throughout the
materials, and a basic layout of a proposed water park being year and successfully created a marketing plan that we believe
planned for construction near Interstate 86 at Belmont, NY. Our will help expand his business. We took our work to a
team created a theme centered on New York Oasis (NYO). competition held at St. Bonaventure University in April 2007.
Part of the team designed and constructed a concept model of We received an award for ethics at the competition.
a portion of the park. My part of the team created marketing
These entrepreneurship challenges helped everyone in our
materials including a PowerPoint presentation, a website, and
class learn useful workplace skills. Because Mr. Schmitt owned
billboard displays. In April, 2006, we presented our ideas to
his own business and actually asked us to help him, it put a
a panel of judges at Houghton College.
REAL world task into our school
The water park challenge taught our class valuable team build- experience. Knowing that a
ing and networking skills. We learned that everyone needs businessman put his trust into
to have input on a project of this scale. One person can not my class to help him with his
run the whole show. Opinions need to be considered, and business was a definite moti-
others’ voices need to be heard. Being in a high school class vator to get the job done, and
and learning these things first hand helped me immensely. In a done right. Mr. Schmitt believes
way, we taught ourselves these skills. Learning from experience in our advice and suggestions
is one of the most powerful ways to gain REAL understanding. and has promised to use them
to help strengthen his business.
The next fall our class was presented with another entrepreneur-
NYREAL is a program of the
ship challenge. This time we were asked to create a business
Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES
plan for a new business, or marketing plan for an existing busi-
in Olean, NY.
ness, in our local community. We chose to develop a marketing

Future CEO Stars September 2007

19
©iStockphoto.com, Erik Hanson
Change Adds Up to Dollars
O ne of the only constants in the universe is change.
At one point or another during their professional careers,
most entrepreneurs have to deal with it. It doesn’t matter how
good your product, price or service is, if you can’t adapt to
your environment you are at a serious disadvantage. Even
the best buggy whip manufacturer in the world was basically
put out of business by Henry Ford’s Model T. This has always
been a reality for private business owners, but with the rapid
advancement of today’s technology, it is even more so than
ever before. For instance, advancement in technology trends
has created warehouses full of useless cassette tapes, record
players, video game systems, and Walkmans.
Fortunately most entrepreneurs are quite adaptable and very
aware of their competitive environment, at least in the beginning.
In fact, that is how most of them became entrepreneurs in the
first place. A problem for many of them, however, is that after
they become successful, they lose their insight. They start a
business and do a fantastic job of satisfying a current need.
Before they know it they are hiring lots of people and open-
ing branches all over the place. They get very comfortable in
their success and so engrained in how they do business that
they can’t even see their death blow coming. Do you think
the founder of Buggy Whips Inc. looked at the Model T as
anything more than a passing fad? Being aware and staying
that way are two different things. For long term success it’s best
to be both.
Change can also be environmentally based. Let’s look at
one of the most horrendous catastrophes mankind has
20
ever faced. In the 14th century the planet was hit with the
Bubonic Plague pandemic. It is estimated that in the 1340’s
the death toll reached over 75 million worldwide. Europe
alone lost between one and two thirds of its population to this
disease. Definitely a major disaster, but did anything good
come out of it?
Prior to the plague there was a thriving business community
built around the reproduction of books. People who basically
hand wrote copies, known as scribes, were as common then
as computer programmers are today. All of a sudden, the work
force was greatly diminished. Wages skyrocketed because
demand far exceeded supply. Due to the disaster, there was
also a major increase in demand for spiritual comfort in the
form of Bibles. Manufacturers found themselves in an unusual
dilemma. They had too many orders and no way to fill them.
One enterprising entrepreneur came up with a solution. He
created a machine that could mass produce books, more spe-
cifically, Bibles. Not only did his business survive, he secured
his place in history. He ushered in the modern age with one
of the most important inventions mankind has created. This
entrepreneur was Johannes Gutenberg and his invention was
the moveable type printing press. His surviving Bibles are
among the most valuable books in existence today.
Change is neither good nor bad, it just “is”. How it’s dealt
with determines its quality. Disaster or opportunity is up to the
individual. The point is, staying alert is critical for long term
success. Be aware or beware.
Future CEO Stars September 2007
 Emily’s Advice
E
Q&A
mily actually represents a group of entrepreneurs and educators who are willing to answer
your business related questions. What do you want to know? What haven’t you been able to
discover on your own? Emily is up to the challenge and wants to share her experience with you.
Put Emily to the test. She is here for you!
Submit your questions to AskEmily@entre-ed.org

Q Dear Emily:
I think I want to be an entrepreneur, but don’t know if I am cut
out for it. What traits do I need to have to become successful?
Sincerely,
“Iwanna B.”

A Dear Iwanna:
Is there a particular personality characteristic that defines the ultimate entrepre-
neur? Probably not. Some common ones do include being confident, positive,
open minded, quick thinking and willing to take risks. Entrepreneurs need to
be able to see opportunities through what others perceive as problems. They
also need to be ready, willing and able to act on them accordingly. To do
this takes an almost intuitive sense that some feel you must be born with but I
believe can be developed through education and experiences.
If one trait stands out more than most it would have to be self motivation. It is
essential for an entrepreneur, to become and remain successful, to be highly
self-motivated. Motivation can come in many forms. From passion for your
chosen profession to fear of going out of business, you have to have a lot of
internal “hustle”.
Since I mentioned ‘fear” it might be good to point out that although some
believe entrepreneurs are “fearless”, it simply is not the case. The difference
between an entrepreneur who does their own thing and someone who works
at a job they hate is their “response” to fear. An entrepreneur channels their
fear into motivation toward a solution. In contrast, the non-entrepreneur is
paralyzed by it and won’t take risks.
Above all else, believe in yourself and have faith in your ability. You will do it
if you really want to!

Sincerely,
Emily the Entrepreneur

Future CEO Stars May 2009

26

g Young
Startin
H ow young is too young to start a
business? Well apparently 6 isn’t,
at least not for Mary Kay Hill of Sacra-
mento, CA. It seems she isn’t alone in
her thinking either. Mary Kay secured
her start up capital for her retail outlet
through Umpqua Bank. So what
business is this aspiring entrepreneur
undertaking? Why a lemonade
stand, of course! Umpqua Bank’s
program, designed to encourage
entrepreneurial thinking, provided
$10 allocations for Sacramento’s
elementary school students to start their
own lemonade stands.
According to Ray Davis, president and
chief executive of Umpqua Bank, a sub-
sidiary of Umpqua Holdings, “Umpqua
Future CEO Stars September 2007
is always looking
for ways to recognize
and support the entrepreneurial
spirit that drives community growth.
Giving kids lemonade stand supplies
and start-up capital is a fun and
unexpected way to express our
support of small business and
community.”1 Umpqua’s project is just
one of many examples of the help avail-
able for young people who want to start
an entrepreneurial venture.
Entrepreneurship Education has histori-
cally been reserved for young people
who are at least old enough to spell
it, but times are definitely changing.
According to Hank Kopcial, executive
director of the National Federation of
Independent Business’ Young Entre-
preneurs Foundation, “Young people
are expressing interest in going into
business in larger numbers than five
years ago.”
Astute organizations are encouraging
this thinking because they under-
stand that entrepreneurship is a
viable option to America’s challenge
in finding its position in the emerg-
ing world economy. In fact last year
alone NFIB YEF awarded over 400
scholarships, worth $480,000, to help
young people who have demonstrated
interest in entrepreneurship continue their
education. Hank Kopcial points out
“there is tremendous growth in the
number of programs being offered at
both the high school and college levels
that encourage entrepreneurship. Our
scholarships quite often allow young
people to get into those programs. “
Today’s small business is
definitely redefined from busi-
nesses of the past. The traditional limi-
tations of having large amounts of start
up capital to set up a store front have
been overcome with the availability
of high speed internet access. “With
the internet many young people are
starting multinational businesses from
the desk in their bedroom” points out
Kopcial. Today’s world offers business
options that are basically only limited
by a person’s imagination. With the
encouragement and support available
through such organizations as NFIB
YEF there is no reason not to try.
Finding the resources, support, and
information necessary to get a busi-
ness from “a good idea” to an actual
entrepreneurial undertaking is a big
challenge. As Mary Kay discovered at
the age of 6, it is definitely out there.
With today’s technology it is even
more accessible than ever before.
A good place to start is doing an
internet word search on “Entrepre-
neurial Education”. Even if you don’t
spell it right your search engine will
probably correct you and take you to
your future.
1
borrowed from The New York Times July 16th, 2007
“The Lemonade Stand That Umpqua Bank Built”
26
THE NFIB YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FOUNDATION
The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation provides FREE
programs that allow teachers to equip students with the
information they need to know to start their own companies.

Help ENTREPRENEUR-IN-THE-CLASSROOM CURRICULUM

Brings real-life stories of entrepreneurs into your

kids
classroom, letting students learn firsthand about
the risks and rewards of operating a small business.
TAKE TIME TO TEACH MENTORING PROGRAM

get it. The T3 program allows our NFIB members to share

their wisdom with your students through real-world
experience.

JOHNNY MONEY - COMING SOON!

This online simulation game lets kids expolore the risks
and rewards of business ownership in an engaging
platform perfect for class and homework assignments.

To download this FREE CURRICULUM or for more information, visit www.NFIB.com/eitc

(800) 552-6342

Future CEO Stars September 2007

24
Different Strokes
BY LACIE CARTER

I n 2nd grade I joined the local year-

round swim team in my home town of
Lake Charles, LA. Since we have a pool,
As with every small business, I have
encountered problems along the way.
Fortunately, I am also a member of a
chapter in my life. I started my fresh-
man year at Henderson State University
in Arkansas. I am pursuing a double
my parents thought it would be a good non-professional swim team called US major in Park & Recreation Manage-
idea for me to be a strong swimmer. Swimming. Through this affiliation I ment and Travel & Tourism with a minor
I am thankful they did, because it has found a mentor to help me out by the in Business Administration. With this
been an integral part of my life ever name of Dave Thomas. Dave’s advice course load I am also continuing my
since. For the past 10 has been invaluable and own swimming career as a member of
years, learning to keep I am eternally grateful for Red Wave Women’s Swim Team.
my head above water, having it. The growth of
My experience operating my small-
master the strokes and my business brings new
business helped me to obtain a $1,000
swim fast have been complications. Dave has
National Federation of Independent
an important part of been there with each
Business Young Entrepreneur Award,
my education. In fact, new challenge, helping
sponsored by the NFIB Young Entrepre-
they are lessons I apply me to figure out a
neur Foundation. This award is given
both in and out of the solution.
to encourage young entrepreneurs to
water.
I have had to hire em- continue pursuing their small-business
After starting high ployees, do a lot of endeavors which is exactly what I plan
school, instead of find- dreaded paperwork and to do. I am considering taking over
ing a low-level summer deal with rescheduling one of the city’s recreation pool sites
job to earn some extra because of rain outs, to as an additional venue. In attempting
spending money, I put name a few. It is hard to this I will certainly seek the advice of
my own resources to Lacie Carter juggle the office end of others who have gone before me. It is
work. With my knowl- the business and remain my dream to come full circle and own
edge, experience and an instructor on the pool an indoor competitive pool to launch
an available pool, I focused my efforts deck. My name and reputation built my my own year-round United States Swim
toward being able to teach swimming business, and it is important that I re- Club someday. Although it sometimes
lessons. I obtained all my Red Cross main visible to protect it. My solution, at seems like I am swimming upstream, I
certifications and placed a flyer at a least with regard to rescheduling, is my know I am on my way.
local summer day care. That was four web site that I am launching very soon.
years ago. Since that meager beginning It will help with some of this hassle, but
my small business has grown in a big in reality a lot of people still want the
way. That first year I started with only personal contact of a phone call.
24 swimmers; I now have over 140!
With the end of another season I have
Not only has my business grown,
hung my “temporarily closed” sign up
but through these efforts I have also
once again. Next year may be a bit
earned my USA Swimming Coach
different because I am entering a new
Credentials.

Future CEO Stars September 2007

25
 Entrepreneurs
Solving
Social
Problems
“S ocial entrepreneurship” is a hot
topic these days, but what does it
mean and how does it affect you and me?
Technically speaking it is recognizing a
social problem and using entrepreneurial
principles to correct it or cause a positive
change. Social Entrepreneurs typically
work through civic organizations or non
profit groups, but can also work in private-
for-profit or even governmental sectors.
A current example of this concept in
action is the big movement, by large
companies and small, to solve our current
gas situation. The focus on moving to-
ward becoming environmentally friendly
with the solution, while at the same time
being successful in business, is definitely
social entrepreneurship at its best. This
movement has a very positive impact
for people, society, and our planet as
a whole. Social Entrepreneurs can be
found wherever a problem needs to be
solved. From improving health care to
helping the economically challenged,
these insightful people are definitely
making a difference.
26
This socially-conscious practice dispels
the idea that business is only concerned
about money and that “Capitalism” is a
bad word. This myth has historic begin-
nings. In the past some big entrepreneurs,
like Andrew Carnegie, solved a current
problem but didn’t look at the long-term
effect of their solution. Carnegie made a
lot of steel when our country desperately
needed it. Unfortunately, environmental
concerns were not a big issue in his day.
They didn’t look at the total impact of
their solution and actually created new
problems in the process. Today’s Entre-
preneurs tend to view the world in a
different way.
For a modern day example let’s look at
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Bill Gates
gives 58% of his income toward solving
the planet’s problems. Granted this may
seem like charity except for the fact that
Mr. Gates is very selective about what
his foundation supports. His money
doesn’t go for just treating the symptom
of any given problem. His focus is on
creating workable, long-term solutions.
©iStockphoto.com, Bluestocking
Warren Buffett was so impressed with
Gates’ work that he donated 30 billion
dollars to the cause. Although Buffett’s
actions were purely charity, it seems that
the social entrepreneurship element was
a motivating factor.
According to Wikipedia, “youth social
entrepreneurship is an increasingly
common approach to engaging youth
voice in solving social problems.” They
go on to say that youth organizations
such as the International Youth Foundation
(www.iyfnet.org), and YouthActionNet
(www.youthactionnet.org) promote social
entrepreneurial efforts through a variety
of incentives.
Are there opportunities available in your
community to put your social entrepreneur-
ial spirit in action? Odds are pretty good
that there are plenty of socially sound
solutions ready to be found. Regardless
of whether your goal is to make a profit
or just solve a problem, the business skills
needed to be successful are the same in
the end. Put yours to work!
Future CEO Stars September 2007

©iStockphoto.com, Joe Cicak
D uring the spring of 1997 I partici-
pated in the Youth Entrepreneurs of
Kansas course at North High School
in Wichita, Kansas. My story is some-
what non-traditional when paired with
the typical definition of an entrepreneur.
I do not own my own business; I work for
Paul Wemmer
‘the man’. I have been doing so for
almost five years but I absolutely still
consider myself a successful entrepre-
neur. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about
an individual who organizes a business
assuming the risk for sake of profit.
In truth, it is also a way of thinking.
I began my career with a business plan
to sell new and used fishing equipment.
Future CEO Stars September 2007
A Different
Perspective
BY PAUL WEMMER
The idea came from the simple fact that entrepreneurial thinking has helped me
fishing is my favorite hobby. This choice with a number of my experiences. My
handed me the opportunity to try new creative mindset gives me a different
rods and reels. The core of my plan was perspective about traveling, making
to provide better service than my compe- business decisions, employee issues,
tition, which included local and national overseas manufacturers and competing
sporting goods stores. I competed by with direct sourcing. Again, challenges
catering to consumers, listening to what are just problems without solutions and
they wanted, providing personal knowl- it is your way of thinking which allows
edge and advice, but most importantly,
I cared. I cared about my customers
and they knew it. As I grew older and • Always treat a company’s money
enrolled in college courses I realized as you would your own.
this business venture was not going to
• Don’t sweat anything; with effort
make me rich. This being the case, I
everything works out over time.
decided to put it on hold and find a
position in an existing company.
• Surround yourself with positive
As I have progressed through my and successful people.
career working for other people, the
mindset I acquired while in my actual • Competition is healthy if it is
entrepreneurial venture has helped honest.
me to advance at a fast pace. The • Embrace every opportunity
principles of giving a customer what
you can and don’t think you
they want and genuinely caring can
be easily applied when dealing with
are above any job.
a company, a boss, a co-worker or a
client. Again, I feel that entrepreneur-
you to overcome them. The future is
ship is not only being an independent
always uncertain and my goal remains
business owner but also is a state of
to someday own my own company; one
mind. It is the way you carry yourself
with employees who are entrepreneurs
and the way you present to others.
as well.
In five years I have become a National
Sales Manager with The Hayes Company
in Wichita, Kansas. We are a global
manufacturer of creative lawn and gar-
den décor (think shepherd hooks, wind
chimes, bird feeders and gnomes).
I now have employees who report to
me. I call on many accounts ranging
from large national retailers to smaller
regional ones.
This amazing company has afforded me
some very unique opportunities; however,
it hasn’t been easy as challenges rarely
are. I could write a book about how my
27
The
Entrepreneur
You pursue newly
discovered, fleeting
opportunities.
You seek freedom,
financial reward,
creativity, and control
of your own future.
You are clever and
resourceful.
Your supporters depend
upon you and cheer
your success, often as
bystanders, but
sometimes with an
offer of a hand up.
Meanwhile, the
naysayers anticipate
your failure, yet you
remain one step ahead.
In the distance are
visions of victory and
cries of defeat from
fellow entrepreneurs.
Against the odds, you
remain determined
and focused. You’ve
invested your heart,
energy, and savings to
achieve your goal.
The risks and sacrifices
are many. So are the
rewards. You are an
entrepreneur!

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A Dream Into Action
BY TRAVIS WOLFE
O ne thing I have learned in life is,
be careful about what you start.
Actually I am kidding; I did, in fact, take
part in starting something, but in reality, I
hope it goes on for a long, long time.
It started out two years ago in the middle
of my Introduction to Business class. My
teacher, Mr. Dan Boynton, was talking
about his dream of one day starting an
entrepreneurship class. Well my mother
is an executive at the Illinois Department
of Opportunity Returns. They give various
grants to organizations throughout the
state and can be influential in making
things like Entrepreneurship classes hap-
pen. With a lot of additional help from
the Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship
Education, one thing led to another and
a year later Mr. Boynton had his class.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the
23 seniors who, along with 5 juniors,
were members of the first Entrepreneur-
ship class at St. Teresa Catholic School
in Decatur, Illinois. Our mission, as Mr.
Boynton saw it, was to plan, design and
run a successful school-based business.
Lots of students are involved with similar
projects but few get to be involved from
the beginning.
We started, of course, with learning a
lot of the fundamentals of entrepreneur-
ship. Hitting the books hard, we were
determined to gather all the information
we could to make our business work.
The first actual step in moving toward
our goal was to come up with a viable
business plan. To do this we split up into
four teams, each creating a plan for
our business, which was decided upon
as an in-school coffee shop. Our class
met in the old cafeteria/kitchen, which
became available after the opening
of our school’s new wing, so it was a
perfect fit. After creating our plans,
instead of just choosing one, we all
worked together to compile the best parts
of each into one. Our perfect plan!
Future CEO Stars September 2007
With our plan in hand
a big empty room with a
kitchen, it was time to
nd and
o get to
work. A partial list of what we
accomplished is:
eate
• Built a wall to create
n-
the shop, which in-
cluded cutting and
moving counters/
cabinets.
• Painted the walls of the entire
lower hallway.
• Obtained 10 tables and 40 chairs,
and recovered all the chairs.
• Installed a laminate wood floor in the
order area of the shop.
• Created relationships with vendors.
• Obtained the following equipment
at no charge from our vendors:
large cooler with sliding glass doors
for our cold drinks, coffee grinder,
coffee maker, iced tea brewer, slush
puppie® and cappuccino machines.
• Researched suppliers of our food items
and other necessary products such as
paper products, coffee cups, etc.
• Created a menu.
• Established a system of accounting
using QuickBooks Pro® Software. A great first day!
It was a lot of work and well worth it.
Our grand opening was in March dur-
ing our school’ `s recognition of The
Feast of St. Joseph. We were a big hit
selling over 300 dollars worth of product
the first day alone! The K-9 Kafe became
an institution at St Teresa’s and now it is
up to the next Entrepreneurship class to
make it grow.
Starting things, in my book, is well worth
it. You never know, until you try, what
will come of it. It started with one man
voicing his dream and those around him
made it happen!
29
“What’s NE W?”
Do You Recognize Opportunities?
Entrepreneurs typically see opportunities where others
see only problems.
Through creative thinking and a positive outlook they
see beyond the problem and focus on the solution.
Fred Smith disliked the fact that shipping products
across the country was a slow and inefficient process.
Fred saw an opportunity and, even though everyone
told him “it couldn’t be done”, today you know it as
Federal Express.
Entrpreneurs goals aren’t constrained by negative
thinking, limited available resources, or others’ opinions.
A cook in Kentucky discovered that people really liked
one of his recipes. He saw an opportunity to make some
money by sharing it. He didn’t have any capital to start
a restaurant so he began by selling his chicken recipe
door-to-door. He then franchised it to restaurants until
he finally licensed it exclusively to the one who did it
best. This man’s image, Colonel Harlan Sanders, is still
the trademark for Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Opportunities are simply solutions in action.
Capitalizing on an opportunity, after seeing through
the problem, involves creating a step by step plan that
leads to the solution.
Pierre Omidyar, in a conversation with his fiancée,
learned how hard it was to find collectables. Seeing
an opportunity to put modern technology to work he
created an on-line platform to make this easier. Yes,
you guessed it, eBay was born!
One person’s problem is another’s successful
opportunity. Just like The Colonel going door-to-
door, will you recognize it when it knocks?
Take advantage of the opportunity to get
involved with National Entrepreneurship Week
in your area TODAY! For more information go to:
www.nationalEweek.com
Feb 23 to Mar 1, 2008
 Our Sponsors
W e would like to thank the sponsors of Future CEO Stars whose forward thinking, support, and
generous contributions made this publication possible. It is organizations like these that keep your
education focused, moving forward, challenging, and potentially profitable. To learn more about what they
have to offer please feel free to visit their websites listed below.

When an organization really cares,

it shows!!!
Appalachian Regional Commission www.arc.gov
Buchholz High School www.bhs.sbac.edu
The Coleman Foundation www.colemanfoundation.org
DECA, Inc. www.deca.org
Home Builders Institute www.hbi.org
Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education www.iiee.org
Marketplace for Kids www.marketplaceforkids.org
MediaSpark www.mediaspark.com
National Council on Economic Education www.ncee.net
National Museum of Education www.nmoe.org
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation www.nfib.com/yef
NFTE www.nfte.com
NY REAL www.nyreal.org
Prominent Youth, Inc. www.prominentyouth.com
The University of Florida www.cei.ufl.edu
Utah State Office of Education www.schools.utah.gov
Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas www.yeks.org
Yourhomework.com www.yourhomework.com

Future CEO Stars September 2007

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