As a budding entrepreneurial city, we celebrate entrepreneurship of all shapes and sizes. From the startup, high-growth, high-potential enterprises in operation at Launch Fishers to the food truck operator or local boutique owner, all roads lead to organic economic growth and development in our community.
That said, entrepreneurship is not an adults-only endeavor. I’m proud to see so many of our local children running with entrepreneurial ideas of their own, including HSE schools student Maddy Corbin, who runs Luxury 45, a line of all natural, handmade bath and body products available online and in several local boutiques.
Just last month, lemonade stands were up all over the city as local students participated in Lemonade Day, which teaches kids how to start, own and operate their own business. By participating in Lemonade Day, kids get hands-on lessons in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, philanthropy, customer service and more.
This year, Launch Fishers took hands-on entrepreneurial learning to another level with the Launch Fishers High School Fellowship program. The program is open to HSE schools juniors and seniors with the goal of discovering and developing future entrepreneurs. After a weeklong boot camp, 10 students were selected to interview for a paid summer internship with a Launch Fishers company. Throughout the summer these students will receive mentoring and exposure to multiple areas within their host company. I’m excited to see what lies ahead for these students; we hope that they add to the entrepreneurial activity in Fishers by starting their future entrepreneurial endeavors right here in our community.
Exposing our children to entrepreneurship has long lasting benefits, both for them and our community. Through entrepreneurial endeavors, our children learn:
- Effective problem solving skills. As young entrepreneurs they learn to analyze problems and brainstorm solutions.
- Decision-making skills. Decisions are required by entrepreneurs daily. Through entrepreneurial endeavors, children learn to make informed decisions and deal with the effect of their outcomes.
- Leadership skills. Entrepreneurship builds leadership skills as children learn to chart their own course and persuade others to buy in to their vision.
- Communication skills. We all know the frustration that results from poor communication. Entrepreneurship provides a great way for children to improve their communication skills as they learn to interact with all kinds of people, not just their peers. Regular interaction with people of all ages helps children to learn to communicate with confidence.
- Responsibility. We’ve all come in contact with young adults who had little to no responsibility growing up and the struggles they have trying to become accustomed to the many responsibilities all adults must juggle. Engaging in entrepreneurial endeavors teaches children the value of responsibility and the benefit of being committed to the tasks required of them to be successful in business.
It’s never too early for a child to begin their entrepreneurial journey. Encourage your children, and all those you influence, to think big. Expose them to the entrepreneurial activity happening right here in our city. Maybe they’ll be the next Launch Fishers High School fellows, startup founders or boutique owners. As a community, we’re committed to supporting our entrepreneurs – of all shapes and sizes.