Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs: Burekup Fair Success

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Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs: Burekup Fair Success

Business ideas for young entrepreneurs come alive when children have the chance to prepare products, talk to customers, handle money and experience the excitement of making real sales.

The day of the Burekup Country Fair started with a mad rush. Seven enterprising kids needed to be ready and set up down at the Burekup Country Club grounds by 8.30am. It required four trips with a trailer carrying tables, pram, signs, eskies, TV, banners and all the products we planned on selling.

Amber and Flynn with Fish in a Bottle showing business ideas for young entrepreneurs
Amber and Flynn with their Fish in a Bottle idea.

Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs at the Burekup Fair

On arriving at the Burekup Fair, we discovered that someone else had set up in our designated spot. We milled around waiting until the problem was sorted, and once a new space was allocated, we busied ourselves with setting up.

A very strong easterly wind challenged us with erecting banners and keeping tablecloths on the tables. It was obviously going to be a hot day. Thankfully, the red gum trees overhead would keep us in shade all day.

Bargain hunters were quick to do the rounds of the stalls well before we were ready. While we were still trying to set things up, people were already asking questions and making purchases. We will have to be better prepared for this next time round!

Amber with succulents as one of the kids business ideas at Burekup Fair
Amber and her succulents.
Enterprising kids making a sale at the Burekup Fair
…and making a sale.

The kids’ anticipation and the joyful growing crowd created an air of excitement. It was a real country fair without all the commercial jazz that you see at many fairs today.

Visitors and locals first joined in with the Australia Day barbecue breakfast. Following the brekky, the crowd moved on to all the stalls and activities. There were old machinery displays, a free bouncy castle and water slide, a dunk tank, fairy floss, pat-the-animals, thong-throwing contests, face painting, and people selling their wares — from homemade fudge, plants and toys to live pigs, chickens and crafts.

Other enterprising kids were also selling their toys, bikes, clothes and things they had made. It was the perfect place to see business ideas for young entrepreneurs being tested in a real community setting.

Setting Up Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs at a Kids Market Stall

A market stall is a wonderful way for children to test their ideas in the real world. It gives them the chance to see whether people are interested, practise talking to customers, learn how to display products, and understand that business is about far more than simply having something to sell.

The Australian Government’s business.gov.au page on market stalls explains that a market stall is a temporary structure used to sell products or services, and that stallholders may need to think about registrations, permits, food safety, insurance and other requirements. Read more about setting up a market stall here.

For children, the lesson can start simply:

  • What are we selling?
  • Who might want to buy it?
  • How should we display it?
  • What price should we charge?
  • How do we speak confidently to customers?
  • How do we count money and work out profit?
Kids market stall set up with business ideas for young entrepreneurs at the Burekup Country Fair
All set ready for the customers!

Novelty Products and Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs

Having a novelty product is one of the keys to drawing interest, and we had the perfect product.

Flynn and Amber’s “Fish in a Bottle” were an absolute hit. Kids came from everywhere dragging their parents over to look at the fish. Once at our stall, we were able to show them our other items too.

This was a powerful business lesson. Sometimes one unusual product can bring people closer, start conversations and help customers notice the rest of what is on offer.

Fish in a Bottle products waiting to be sold at a kids market stall
Products waiting to be sold.

Learning to Ask for the Sale

Chayse soon got the hang of it. Whenever a customer wandered past, he would hold up a lolly bag and ask if they would like to buy one.

Many people bought lollies from him simply because he had asked. How can you refuse a little five-year-old?

There was another little boy walking around selling his mum’s homemade fudge. He was not shy in coming forward and asking customers if they would like to make a purchase. Talking to his dad later in the day, he said that his son had sold more fudge walking around than they had sold at their stall.

I guess there is a lesson in that.

For young entrepreneurs, learning to politely ask is powerful. It builds confidence, communication skills and resilience. It also teaches children that customers often need a friendly invitation before they buy.

Customers, Money and Confidence

It was not long before we had customers coming in their droves. Talking with customers, handling money and recording on a pad what was sold all kept the kids on their toes.

Taking turns to man the stall allowed each of us time to catch up with friends and also spend some of the takings at the fair.

Kaitlin's Eye heART display as a creative business idea for young entrepreneurs
Kaitlin’s EYE heART on display.
Customers admiring Kaitlin's artwork at the Burekup Fair
…customers admiring her work!

Our enterprising kids were very happy with their results. Each was able to sell products and make a profit.

Flynn’s Howitt’s Honey was very popular and sold very well. Kit and Chayse sold about half their lolly bags and, due to the hot day, Jai’s icy-poles also sold well. Jai made a profitable sale with his exercise equipment. Amber sold succulents. Kaitlin received commissions for her Eye heART artwork. And, of course, the Fish in a Bottle sold well.

Making Sales Turns Business Ideas for Young Entrepreneurs Into Real Learning

This is where business ideas for young entrepreneurs become real learning.

It is one thing to imagine a business. It is another thing entirely to prepare the product, take it to a fair, display it, speak to customers, handle money, record sales, pay back costs and work out profit.

Those are real lessons.

Jai manning the stall with his exercise equipment at the Burekup Fair
Jai manning the stall with his exercise equipment.
Flynn selling unpasteurised honey as a young entrepreneur
Flynn selling his unpasteurised honey.

Cath and I also had a terrific result with our own stall. This was the first time we had put ourselves out there with our new business in the local community, and it allowed us to develop our own self-efficacy too. We spoke with many interesting people and learned a lot about their lives and interests.

By the end of the day, we were exhausted.

Celebrating Success Builds Self-Efficacy

It was important to celebrate our success because this is vital in fostering self-efficacy around being entrepreneurial kids.

The kids counted the takings and divided the money up. They then paid any debts so they could work out their profits. Each received congratulations and a hug for being successful enterprising kids.

Akaisha enjoying one of Jai's icy poles at the Burekup Fair
Akaisha enjoying one of Jai’s icy-poles, mittens and all!
Cathy speaking with a customer at the Burekup Country Fair
Cathy explaining the health benefits of her product.

Many great lessons around financial education were learned on this day.

It is our hope that our kids continue to develop self-efficacy around being entrepreneurial, as we believe this will give them greater opportunities when they become adults.

Cathy talking with an interested customer at the Burekup Fair
Cathy talking with an interested customer.
Kit and Chayse selling lolly bags as a kids business idea Kit and Chayse selling lolly bags.

Finally, we would like to thank the Burekup Country Club, and in particular Sally and Jason Barnden and their team, for coordinating the fair.

Just as an added note, the day after the fair, five more Fish in a Bottle sold!

Where to Next?

Have your children ever tried a market stall, fair stall or small business idea? We would love to hear what they sold and what they learned along the way.

Marketing Lesson for Kids: Burekup Country Club Heats Up

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Marketing Lesson for Kids: Burekup Country Club Heats Up

Marketing lesson for kids sounds like something that belongs in a classroom, but for our family it came alive through fire, publicity, product preparation and the Burekup Australia Day Fair.

Last week there was both fear and excitement in the small township of Burekup. The Burekup Country Club had been on fire, and for a moment it looked as though the Burekup Australia Day Fair might even be cancelled. Thankfully, the fire crew put the fire out before it caused too much damage or anyone was hurt.

What followed became a very real lesson in marketing, attention and opportunity for our enterprising kids.

Amber showing her product during a marketing lesson for kids at the Burekup Country Fair
Amber showing one of her products ready for the Burekup Country Fair.

A Marketing Lesson for Kids at the Burekup Country Fair

Once a year for Australia Day, Burekup hosts a fun family fair. Everyone in town usually comes along, together with people from the surrounding areas.

This year, the fair had a little more publicity than normal.

The local Burekup Country Club, which helps organise the event, had a fire that threatened to burn down the old wooden clubhouse and town hall. The newspaper heard about the near disaster and ran a story about the fire that almost sabotaged the Burekup Australia Day Fair.

Burekup Country Club hall before the Australia Day Fair marketing lesson for kids
Burekup Country Club Hall.

The story stimulated fear and interest, which in turn created excellent publicity for the Burekup Fair.

Marketing a product, service or brand can be very challenging, especially if you are not naturally marketing savvy. A very good marketing campaign can sell even an ordinary product, while a very good product may not sell easily unless people know about it, understand it and feel interested enough to buy it.

That is why this became such a useful marketing lesson for kids. Our children were not just making products. They were preparing to put those products in front of real people.

What Our Kids Learned About Marketing Their Products

Our enterprising kids have all been challenged with marketing their products and brands. Cathy and I have also been challenged with marketing when promoting events or selling our own products.

The Howitt family booked two stalls for the Burekup Australia Day Fair. One stall was for our enterprising kids to display and sell their products. The other was for Cathy and me to share information about our home business, as well as promote the Enterprise for Kids brand and blog.

Putting ourselves out there in our small community for the first time was a little confronting. Some people knew what we had been up to, but for many it was going to be a surprise.

Despite the challenge, we saw this as a chance to practise in readiness for bigger and better things to come.

Kids Business Ideas Prepared for the Burekup Fair

The fair gave each child a real opportunity to prepare, promote and sell something of their own. That is where a simple family event becomes powerful real-world learning.

Flynn had been preparing his raw, unprocessed honey under his brand, Howitt’s Honey. He had a fresh batch ready to sell, and he had also bought a good set of golf clubs for a very good price, which he intended to resell at the fair.

Flynn showing honey pots for his kids business idea at the Burekup Fair
Flynn showing his honey pots.
Honey jars bottled and ready for labels before the Burekup Country Fair
All bottled awaiting labels!

Kit and Chayse were preparing their lolly bag business. They bought, sorted and bagged lollies to sell. Chayse also had a small fish tank to sell, along with colourful guppies he had bred.

Kit and Chayse sorting lollies for a kids business idea at the Burekup Fair
Kit and Chayse sorting lollies.
Lolly bags ready to sell as part of a kids market stall
Lolly bags all set to be sold!

Amber’s Products and a Creative Marketing Lesson for Kids

Amber had been busy all year collecting succulents from people’s gardens. She artistically potted these up into all kinds of unusual pots, including large seashells, kettles and ceramic plant pots.

Amber watering succulents for her kids business idea at the Burekup Country Fair
Amber watering her succulents ready to be sold.

She and Flynn also planned to sell aquarium fish they had bred. They salvaged and cleaned large glass wine flagons, which made terrific fish bowls. They decided to market this product under the brand name “Fish in a Bottle”.

Fish in a Bottle product prepared for a marketing lesson for kids
Fish in a Bottle.
Fish in a Bottle product showing how kids can create unusual market stall ideas
Can you see the fish?

Amber also planned to sell selected items from her New from Old business, and she was putting together a Lucky Dip.

Jai and Kaitlin Prepare Their Own Enterprise Ideas

Jai was preparing to promote his “Hire a Teenager” service. He already had clients in Burekup who hired him to do work on their properties, such as mowing and window cleaning.

Jai also prepared a batch of frozen juice ice cups on sticks. He came up with some creative ideas to add value to his product. He was also considering promoting “Rent Exercise Equipment”, although this business idea was still in its infancy and may not have been quite ready to run.

Lastly, Kaitlin was preparing to promote her new brand, “Eye heART”. Akaisha was still a little young to have an enterprise of her own, but Kaitlin was ready to share her creative skills.

Being the creative one in the family, Kaitlin planned to sell her skills by painting the eye of clients from a photograph. Around the eye, she would also paint three things dear to them.

Jai showing icy poles prepared for the Burekup Country Fair market stall
Jai showing his icy poles.
Kaitlin's Eye heART creative business idea for kids
Kaitlin’s Eye heART.

This opportunity for us all to market our brands, services and products helped the Howitt clan develop self-efficacy around being entrepreneurial.

What Children Can Learn From a Real Marketing Plan

A good marketing lesson for kids does not need to be complicated. Children can begin by learning that marketing is about understanding who might want your product, why they might want it, and how you can show them its value.

The Australian Government’s business.gov.au marketing planning guidance explains that a marketing plan can help define a target market, choose messages and channels, set goals and evaluate whether marketing activities were successful. That is exactly the kind of thinking children can begin to practise with a simple market stall. Read more about developing a marketing plan here.

For our kids, the Burekup Fair raised practical questions:

  • Who would want to buy this product?
  • How should we display it?
  • What makes it interesting or different?
  • How much should we charge?
  • What story does the product tell?
  • How can we speak confidently to customers?

These questions are useful for any young entrepreneur.

Marketing, Emotion and Real-World Learning

Our mentor, Paul Counsel, had plenty to say about marketing. One of the ideas he shared was that people often respond to emotion before they respond to logic.

In simple terms, customers usually want to move away from a problem and toward a better result. A product, service or experience becomes more interesting when people can clearly see the difference it might make.

For children, this can be taught in a practical and age-appropriate way.

If they are selling honey, they can show that it is fresh, local and real.

If they are selling lolly bags, they can make them colourful, tidy and fun.

If they are selling succulents, they can show how each one has been creatively potted and cared for.

If they are selling a service, they can explain clearly how they can help someone.

This is where marketing becomes much more than advertising. It becomes communication.

A Fire, a Fair and a Marketing Lesson for Kids

Pain Island to Pleasure Island drawing used in a marketing lesson for kids
Just need the right ship to get them there!

Luckily, the fire did not burn down the club or spoil the Burekup Australia Day Fair.

But it certainly woke people up.

The fear that the fair might be cancelled created attention. The newspaper story created discussion. The near disaster gave people another reason to talk about the event. In an unexpected way, it became publicity.

That is not something anyone would wish for, of course. But it did show our kids something important: people pay attention when a story matters to them.

For our family, the fair became more than a day out. It became a real-world lesson in product preparation, branding, confidence, customer communication and marketing.

In our next blog, we will share photos and experiences from the Burekup Australia Day Fair.

Where to Next?

We would love to hear from our readers. What marketing lesson for kids have you seen through a school fair, market stall or family business idea? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Business Plan Ideas for Students: A Success Formula Kids Can Learn

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Business Plan Ideas for Students: A Success Formula Kids Can Learn

Business plan ideas for students do not need to begin with a complicated document, a bank loan or a grown-up business plan. Sometimes they can begin with a simple formula children can understand and apply to a real enterprise project.

In our previous post, we shared Sean Rasmussen’s teachings around developing a healthy self-image. This article follows on from that discussion as we look at one of his valuable lessons about success in business: a simple formula that can help children understand training, tools, teamwork, time and results.

Business plan ideas for students shown with a success baby image
A simple success formula can help children understand business planning, action and results.

Business Plan Ideas for Students: A Simple Success Formula

How would you like to know Sean Rasmussen’s business success formula?

Teaching these understandings to your children can help set them on the path to becoming successful, confident and practical young entrepreneurs. The point is not to make business complicated. The point is to give children a way to understand how effort, systems and support work together.

Sean introduced a simple formula that can help produce results in business:

(Training + Tools + Team) × Time = Results

Business success formula for students learning training tools team time and results
Sean Rasmussen’s simple formula: Training + Tools + Team × Time = Results.

For us, this became one of the clearest business plan ideas for students because it turned business planning into something practical: learn the system, use the right tools, build a team, give it time and then measure the results.

This formula can fit many business models, whether it is a conventional business, an internet-based business, a family enterprise project or a small student business idea. It also fits with what we have read about Robert Kiyosaki and his “business builder” model, where the aim is to build a business system rather than simply create another job for yourself.

In our blog about David Wood, we discovered that he also used this kind of formula for business success and taught how it could apply to network marketing.

For Enterprise for Kids, the real value is this: children can use the same basic thinking when they start small. A child’s enterprise might be honey, lolly bags, artwork, dog walking, plant sales or a market stall. The business may be small, but the planning lessons can be very real.

Why Business Plan Ideas for Students Need a Formula

Students often hear the word “business plan” and imagine something long, formal and boring. But business plan ideas for students can be much simpler than that.

A good plan helps answer practical questions:

  • What am I trying to create or sell?
  • What training or knowledge do I need?
  • What tools will help me do it properly?
  • Who can be part of my team?
  • How much time will I need to put in?
  • What result am I aiming for?

The Australian Government’s business.gov.au guidance explains that a business plan can help give direction, define objectives, map out goals and identify risks. That is a useful idea for students too, even if their first “business plan” is simple and practical. Read more about developing a business plan here.

When children learn to think this way, they are not just playing business. They are learning how ideas become action.

Business builder formula connected to student enterprise and business planning
A business system becomes stronger when training, tools, team and time work together.

Business Plan Ideas for Students: The Success Formula Explained

Here is how Sean Rasmussen’s formula can be explained in a way children and teenagers can understand.

Training

Training means learning what you need to know. That might mean attending a boot camp, joining a program, finding a mentor, watching someone with experience, asking questions, reading books or studying how a business system works.

For students, training might be as simple as learning how to make a product properly, how to speak to customers, how to calculate costs, or how to display a stall so people notice it.

Tools

Tools are the things that help the business work better. In some businesses, the tools might be websites, templates, software, equipment, signs, packaging or scripts. In a child’s enterprise, the tools might be jars, labels, an extractor, a notebook, a calculator, a table, a sign or a money tin.

Sean and David Wood both made the same point in different ways: use the tools that work. Don’t waste all your energy trying to reinvent everything from scratch.

Team

Team means the people who help the business work. In internet marketing, that might include virtual assistants, writers, marketers and technical people. In network marketing, it might include mentors, upline support and business partners.

For children, a team may be much simpler. It might be a grandparent with expertise, a parent who can supervise, a sibling who can help, a friend who can bottle honey, or someone willing to sell the product on consignment.

Time

Time means giving the business enough focused effort to get results.

Many businesses require a lot of effort in the beginning before the rewards appear. This is a very important lesson for children. They need to understand that success is not usually instant. They may need to practise, prepare, improve, sell, try again and keep going.

Results

Results are what come from the combination of training, tools, team and time. In a child’s enterprise, results might include profit, confidence, better communication, practical money lessons, self-belief or a stronger understanding of how business works.

When students can see the connection between effort and results, business becomes much easier to understand.

Teaching Entrepreneurship to Kids With Business Plan Ideas for Students

The business success formula can easily be taught to kids. Firstly, help them get started with an enterprise so they can learn from experience.

For example, our son Flynn learned a huge amount about beekeeping, harvesting and processing honey, bottling it, marketing it and selling it.

Flynn extracting honey as an example of business plan ideas for students
Flynn’s honey enterprise helped him learn how a business formula works in real life.
Flynn with his honey product as a student business idea
Flynn with his honey product after putting training, tools, team and time into action.

Next, teach children how they can make their business easier by using the right tools. In Flynn’s case, this meant borrowing the right extractor equipment and using expert advice from his Grandad. That saved him time and helped him do the job properly.

Then investigate ways of putting a team together to make the process less work and more profitable. Flynn used friends to help bottle the honey. He had people selling his honey on consignment, and he found people who could take his honey to market.

He was not doing all the work himself, and that is one of the important lessons inside this business plan idea for students: a business is stronger when the right people and tools are involved.

Business Plan Ideas for Students and Delayed Gratification

One of the biggest lessons children can learn from enterprise is delayed gratification.

Delayed gratification means putting in the hard yards now for a financial reward later. Once children see a result in their wallet or purse, they begin to understand the formula in a real way.

Flynn realised this through his honey business. He used his own money to buy honey and paid for what he needed to bottle and market it. He understood that he needed to make the business work if he wanted to get his money back with profit.

Once he experienced a result with his first batch of honey, he became much more focused and determined with his second batch. In fact, he invested twice the capital.

That is a powerful money lesson for kids. It teaches them that business involves risk, effort, patience and responsibility.

Three Reasons People Are Not Making Money

Sean Rasmussen also pointed out three reasons why people may not be making money in their chosen enterprise. He emphasised the importance of action, intention and value.

When students use the business success formula and are also clear on action, intention and value, they are much better set up to make progress in a business or enterprise project.

Action

Action is obvious, but it is often where people get stuck.

Take action straight away whenever an idea or opportunity presents itself. As soon as an idea appears, build upon it. Avoid killing the idea with too many “what ifs” before it has even had a chance to grow.

For children, this might mean making the first batch, creating the sign, asking the first customer, setting up the stall, writing down the costs or testing the idea with family and friends.

Intention

To illustrate the point about intention, Sean had us write on a small card what our intent was for the three days at boot camp, then carry the card with us in our pocket.

The idea was to think about our intent and hold it clearly without trying to force the answer or outcome. Amazingly, by the end of the three days, many of the answers to our intentions had appeared.

Intention can also be aligned with having a plan. For students, it might sound like:

  • I intend to sell ten jars of honey this weekend.
  • I intend to learn how to speak confidently to customers.
  • I intend to make enough profit to pay back my costs.
  • I intend to learn from this project, even if everything does not go perfectly.

Value

Sean referred to value as being connected to your highest values. He explained that your highest values dictate what you focus on.

So it is crucial to ensure that what you want — whether it is health, money, family, contribution, freedom or creativity — is high enough on your value list, otherwise it is unlikely to receive your best energy.

Our Money Mastery mentor, Paul Counsel, also helped us understand this distinction. For us, we struggled with putting business ahead of family as our highest value. Our kids have always been our highest value, and consequently they take up our time and energy.

So what we learned was that we needed to align business with our highest value of family. That is part of why this blog exists. Enterprise for Kids allows us to grow our own entrepreneurial mindset while also helping our children learn about business, money, confidence and opportunity.

Business Plan Ideas for Students Should Connect to Values

This is an important point for parents and teachers.

Business plan ideas for students should not only be about making money. They should also connect to what children value. A child who loves animals might enjoy a pet-sitting idea. A child who loves art might create portraits or handmade cards. A child who loves cooking might sell biscuits or preserves with family support. A child who loves nature might grow plants or make garden products.

When business connects to values, children are more likely to stay interested, take ownership and learn deeply from the experience.

That is the heart of teaching entrepreneurship to kids. We are not just teaching them to sell things. We are teaching them to think, plan, act, serve, learn and grow.

Flynn celebrating his business success after applying a business success formula
Flynn celebrating the results of his honey enterprise.

Key Takeaway: Business Plan Ideas for Students Can Start Simple

Key takeaway: Business plan ideas for students can begin with a simple formula: training, tools, team and time lead to results. When children apply this to real enterprise projects, they learn business planning, delayed gratification, action, intention, value and money lessons in a practical way.

Where to Next?

What business plan ideas for students have you tried with your children, class or family enterprise project? We would love to hear how young people are learning through real enterprise.

Positive Self Image: Lessons for Entrepreneurial Kids

Enterprise For KidsTeam Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Positive Self Image: Lessons for Entrepreneurial Kids

Positive self image is one of the most powerful foundations children can develop if we want them to grow into confident, capable and entrepreneurial people.

Our family’s entrepreneurial journey so far has been exhilarating. The more we learn about successful people and what makes them different, the more we understand our own subconscious beliefs, values, habits and mindset — and the more aware we become of what our children may be learning from us.

Sean Rasmussen and Cherie with Cathy and Trevor learning about positive self image at Boot Camp
Sean, Cherie and us at Boot Camp — a weekend that helped us think deeply about self-image, success and mindset.

Positive Self Image and Our Entrepreneurial Journey

Our journey of self-discovery has allowed us to look deeply into our own habits, thoughts and belief systems, as well as the beliefs and behaviours our children may be developing.

What has really inspired us along the way are the people we are becoming friends with. Positive people with energy, motivation, connectedness and drive. These people are becoming part of our reference group, and simply being around them helps us absorb their energy and possibility.

We flew to Surfers Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast to attend a three-day intensive Internet Marketing Boot Camp run by Sean Rasmussen. Sean’s rags-to-riches story was an inspiration. From working as an electrician on a mine site near Karratha in Western Australia, carrying a large debt and working very long hours, he became a wealthy and successful self-taught internet marketer.

He would spend long days working on the mine site, then teach himself internet marketing during the few waking hours he had at home. He made it his highest value to change his family’s economic situation by finding a way to build an online business.

Sean’s focus, persistence and family support paid off. Within a couple of years, he had built a successful business that replaced his income from his job and continued to grow from there.

Sean Rasmussen, Success and Positive Self Image

Our experience over the three-day weekend was mind-blowing. Sean’s knowledge, enthusiasm and sense of humour kept us captivated throughout the event.

We met many fantastic people who inspired us with their commitment, passion and the variety of topics they were blogging about.

Sean Rasmussen and David Wood teaching mindset for success at Boot Camp
Sean and David at our Boot Camp.

Many people had major hurdles to overcome while pursuing their passions. There was Dave, who was 21 and had cerebral palsy. His supportive mum, Lynda, had four other children at home and still took the time to bring Dave to Sean’s Boot Camps because she wanted to expose him to the possibilities available.

There was Dr William — or Dr Bill as he was affectionately known — who was a spritely 80-plus years young. There was Catherine, who dreamed of working from home so she could spend more time with her baby girl. There was Helen, who came along with her husband Alex, and we worked out that Trev had taught her in Year 5 in Geraldton. There was Dale, who was passionate about natural health.

These were just some of the incredible people we met. Being around them reminded us how important environment, reference groups and self-belief are when building a positive self image and a mindset for success.

Connecting With People and Helping Them Find Answers

What we liked about Sean was his down-to-earth approach to life. He carried no airs or graces. He and his family enjoyed many of the same things our family does: a hobby farm, animals, weekend sport, family life and the simple everyday things.

Sean genuinely wanted to help people succeed. He gave value far beyond what you would expect from his training and programs, and he made genuine connections with people.

Sean explained that business is about finding out people’s problems and then providing answers.

This was not the first time we had heard this idea. Many successful people and mentors we have learned from have said the same thing:

Connect with people and help provide them the answers.

Connecting with people at Boot Camp while learning about positive self image and success
Connecting with people at the Boot Camp.

Sean pointed out that everybody is an expert in something. Find what you are passionate about, become that expert, discover what people want to know, and then build a business around your area of expertise.

For our children, this is a powerful lesson. A child does not have to wait until adulthood to notice their interests, practise their skills and begin seeing themselves as someone who can contribute value.

Why Positive Self Image Matters for Children

Self-esteem and self-image are important contributors to success. People must learn to take responsibility for their results in life rather than always looking for fault or blame in others.

Sean pointed out something powerful:

Your dreams already do come true. Make your dreams good ones.

This is where the idea of a positive self image becomes so important. Children tend to act in alignment with how they see themselves. If they see themselves as capable, creative, helpful and resilient, they are more likely to act that way. If they see themselves as failures, troublemakers or not good at anything, they may begin to live from that story too.

That is a heavy responsibility for parents, teachers and mentors.

Maxwell Maltz and Positive Self Image

Maxwell Maltz and positive self image ideas from Psycho-Cybernetics
Maxwell Maltz helped popularise the idea that self-image shapes behaviour and success.

Maxwell Maltz wrote Psycho-Cybernetics, a self-help classic that influenced many later teachers of success and mindset. His work explored the idea that self-image is central to human personality and behaviour. You can read more about Maxwell Maltz here.

Many success teachers, including Tony Robbins, Dr John Demartini, David Wood, Paul Counsel and Sean Rasmussen, have referred to similar ideas about self-image, belief and behaviour.

The idea is simple but powerful:

Change your self-image and you change the person.

Action, results and perception tend to stay consistent with self-image. We often act like the person we perceive ourselves to be, and our experiences often reinforce the way we already see ourselves.

Building a Positive Self Image in Children

We see examples of this every day. People act according to the way they perceive themselves, and these perceptions are often shaped at a young age.

To put it into context, students may fail because they are repeatedly told they are failures by parents, teachers or peers. Babies are born “clean”, and then the world begins shaping their self-image through words, reactions, expectations and experiences.

Success runs in the family — in the mind.

Maxwell Maltz quote about positive self image and success
Success runs in the family — in the mind.

Maltz pointed out that success and defeat can travel through families because patterns of thought and behaviour are carried in the mind. If a person accepts defeat as part of their identity, they are more likely to behave from that place.

Sean explained that you are better off moving in the wrong direction than not moving at all. At least when you are going in the wrong direction, you can alter course and start heading in the right one.

It is important to set goals and move forward rather than live in the past. Negative feedback should not be seen as failure. It can be useful because it helps us correct errors and stay on track.

How to Develop a Healthy Self Image

A healthy self image allows children to search for answers rather than collapse in the face of difficulty. It helps them believe that even if they do not know the answer yet, an answer can be found.

These are some of the ideas we took from Sean Rasmussen’s Boot Camp and the teachings around self-image:

  1. Have a goal that already exists in actual or potential form. Choose something that feels achievable, while still encouraging children to aim high.
  2. Have the end result in mind. The “how” does not always need to be clear at the beginning. Sometimes the path appears once the intention is strong enough.
  3. Do not fear mistakes. Negative feedback is a vital part of learning. It helps children self-correct and stay on course.
  4. Dwell on successes. Children need to remember what worked, not only what went wrong. Success patterns can be strengthened through repetition.
  5. Trust the process. Worry can jam up progress. A clear intention and a healthy self image help children keep looking for solutions.

Rational Thinking and Self-Image

Sean Rasmussen and family connected to healthy self image and family success lessons
Sean and his family showed us that success can still be grounded in everyday family life.

Your subconscious mind has no “will” of its own. It obeys your conscious demands, which are often based around your self-image thoughts.

Through conscious thinking, children can begin to challenge self-imposed limits. They can learn to question the stories they tell themselves, such as “I can’t do this,” “I always fail,” or “I’m not good at anything.”

Instead, we can help them practise more useful thoughts:

  • I can learn this.
  • I can try again.
  • I can ask for help.
  • I can improve with practise.
  • I can solve problems.

This kind of thinking supports a positive self image and builds confidence over time.

Habits and Positive Self Image

It is often said that it takes about twenty-one days for something new to become familiar. Whether or not the exact number is always true, the principle is useful: repeated action begins to create comfort, familiarity and habit.

A simple exercise to test changing a habit is brushing your teeth for twenty-one days using your opposite hand. At first it feels awkward, but gradually it becomes more comfortable.

Children can use this same idea by copying the habits of people they admire. If they want better results, they can observe people who are already achieving those results and practise similar habits.

Napoleon Hill also referred to the importance of studying and developing the habits of successful people in Think and Grow Rich. For entrepreneurial kids, this is a practical way to build a stronger self-image: act like someone who learns, contributes, serves and keeps going.

Tips for Parents of Entrepreneurial Children

Cath and Trevor in Surfers Paradise during their entrepreneurial learning journey
Cath and Trev in Surfers Paradise during our entrepreneurial learning journey.

Why not teach your entrepreneurial kids to develop the habits of successful people?

Start by noticing everyday habits of people around them. Discuss how those habits may have contributed to the results they now have. Encourage your children to read or listen to biographies of successful people. Build your children’s self-image. Encourage them to lead, speak publicly, help with enterprise projects and celebrate their successes.

You can also challenge them with simple exercises that change the way they do things. These small changes help children realise that habits are not fixed. They can be changed, strengthened and improved.

A positive self image is not built through empty praise. It is built through repeated experiences of effort, responsibility, encouragement, courage and growth.

Key Takeaway: A Positive Self Image Shapes Success

Key takeaway: A positive self image helps children see themselves as capable, creative and able to grow. When parents model strong habits, encourage effort and help children reframe mistakes, they give entrepreneurial kids a stronger foundation for success.

Where to Next?

How do you help your children build a positive self image? We would love to hear what has helped your family develop confidence, habits and a stronger mindset for success.

Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds That Build Self Efficacy

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments
Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds That Build Self Efficacy

Business ideas for 6 year olds can be simple, practical and incredibly powerful when they help children build self efficacy, confidence and generosity.

This family enterprise story follows Kit and little Chayse as they teamed up to grow their lolly bag business, give to a meaningful cause, and slowly become more confident young entrepreneurs. It also links strongly with our Candyman series, where Chayse first began learning how to make money through enterprise.

Two young entrepreneurs showing how business ideas for 6 year olds can build self efficacy
Two young entrepreneurs learning confidence, generosity and self efficacy through their lolly business.

Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds That Build Self Efficacy

Kit decided to form a partnership with Chayse in his lolly bag Enterprise for Kids business. He could see how well Chayse’s earlier lolly-selling adventures were going, and he realised that this was one of those business ideas for 6 year olds that was simple enough to begin, but rich enough to teach real-life lessons.

Together they visited the local supermarket and spent their capital on buying large bags of confectionery. This time they were very serious and bought around $230 worth of lollies.

Business ideas for 6 year olds shown through Kit and Chayse’s lolly production line
The production line begins.

Once again, the family pitched in around the dining table to sort and bag all the lollies. Before long, Kit and Chayse were ready to head out to the sporting grounds and sell their product. If you would like to see their production line in action, here is the original video link: Kit and Chayse’s production line.

Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds and the Power of Giving

This round of selling was a little different. Our children had already begun learning that enterprise is not only about making money. It is also about giving, gratitude and growing a generous mindset.

Kit and Chayse chose to donate a small portion of their profits to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This cause felt meaningful to our family because the Flying Doctor had been such a great help to us when Kaitlin was born in the remote Kimberley town of Kalumburu.

Through this small act of giving, the boys were learning that business can be about contribution as well as reward. For children, this is a beautiful way to connect enterprise with compassion and build self efficacy through something bigger than themselves.

Children designing a sign for their lolly business and supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Designing the for-sale sign with RFDS as the beneficiary.
Kids business ideas in action as Kit and Chayse sell lollies at the soccer grounds
All the soccer lads checking out their lollies.

Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds at the Sporting Grounds

The boys did the rounds of the sporting grounds and sold box after box of lollies. They were magnetic — attracting people from all over the place, a bit like a Mr Whippy van at a summer event.

At first, they needed some prompting to approach groups, speak clearly and say thank you. But after a while their confidence began to grow. They became more comfortable speaking with customers, answering questions and explaining that the lolly business was their own, and that some of the money was being donated to the Flying Doctor.

People were more than happy to support them. Some even bought lollies just to stop and chat with the boys. This is why small, supported business ideas for 6 year olds can create such strong learning moments.

Family enterprise story at the soccer fields where the boys sold their lolly bags
Watching Jai in action at the soccer fields.
Self efficacy for kids grows as the boys sell their wares confidently
…whilst the boys sold their wares.

How This Business Idea Built Self Efficacy

One later trip to the sporting fields gave me a big surprise. I suddenly noticed that the box of lollies had disappeared from under my feet and Chayse was nowhere to be seen. I looked around in alarm and spotted some commotion about fifty metres away. There was young Chayse, surrounded by a crowd of people buying his lollies.

I was very proud of the little fella. Through many weeks of shyly putting himself out there with customers, he had gradually built the confidence to go it alone. That was a real sign that he was developing self efficacy.

Self efficacy for kids grows through repeated real-world success
Self efficacy grows when children repeatedly stretch beyond their comfort zone.

If he keeps this up, he will be an awesome young entrepreneur when he grows up.

Cathy and I have been learning the importance of self efficacy in our own lives as well, especially through the teachings of Paul Counsel in our Money Mastery course. He explains that it is very difficult to simply switch and suddenly become an entrepreneur. Instead, we build up to it by stretching our upper limit again and again.

That means doing things that take us beyond our comfort zone, celebrating the success, and then doing it again. Eventually, we become comfortable with being uncomfortable. That, in turn, opens up new possibilities and attracts new opportunities. This is exactly what was happening with Chayse — and in truth, with all of us.

Building self efficacy in children through enterprise and confidence-building experiences
Confidence builds when children try, succeed and repeat.

Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds Can Build Real Confidence

Kit demonstrated his growing confidence only a few days later. He asked if he could take his lolly business down to the local skate park all by himself. We agreed, and Flynn quietly followed at a distance just to make sure everything was alright.

Kit sold a bunch of lolly bags and came back with a big grin, announcing, “A Granny gave me a big cuddle and kiss!” When we asked him what he meant, he explained that she was so happy to see him doing his business that she bought some lollies and then gave him a cuddle.

Moments like this are so powerful. A child does not just remember the sale. They remember the encouragement, the positive response and the feeling that they can do something brave and meaningful in the world. This is the real strength of business ideas for 6 year olds when parents provide safe support and encouragement.

Developing self efficacy through enterprise for young children
Self Efficacy!

Young Entrepreneurs Sharing Their Rewards

Another beautiful part of this family enterprise story was seeing the boys share some of their rewards and give back through the RFDS. Enterprise was not just helping them make money. It was helping them build character.

Young entrepreneurs sharing their rewards and giving back through their business
…share their rewards.

We believe our enterprising children are experiencing mindset shifts that are helping them think more and more like entrepreneurs. It all takes practice, confidence and repetition. And at the heart of it is self efficacy — the growing belief that, “I can do this.”

Candyman Series Links

This post links strongly with our Candyman series. Kit and Chayse’s lolly bag partnership grew from Chayse’s original Candy Man enterprise and shows how one small business idea can build money skills, confidence and self efficacy.

Key Takeaway: Business Ideas for 6 Year Olds Can Start Small

Key takeaway: One of the best business ideas for 6 year olds is a simple, supported enterprise that gives children the chance to practise courage, communication, generosity and persistence. That is how self efficacy grows.

Where to Next?

Have you seen a child’s confidence grow when they sell, create or contribute something of their own? We would love to hear your story in the comments.

Network Marketing Business Model: Lessons from David Wood

Enterprise For KidsTeam Mindset, Confidence & Leadership, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
Network Marketing Business Model: Lessons from David Wood

Network marketing business model lessons became part of our wider journey into entrepreneurship, wealth creation, leadership and the kinds of business systems we wanted to understand for ourselves and our children.

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In our last article, we shared our mind-blowing experience at David Wood’s Break Through Training. This follow-up explores one of the bigger ideas from that training: how a business model, when built on systems, tools, leadership and genuine value, can become a possible wealth creation vehicle.

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Cathy and Trevor with David T.S. Wood at a network marketing event learning about the network marketing business model
Cathy and Trevor with David T.S. Wood at a network marketing event, where we explored business systems, leadership and wealth creation ideas.

Network Marketing Business Model: Lessons from David Wood

In our last article, we shared our experience at David Wood’s Break Through Training and reflected on his teaching around attitude, mindset, overcoming fear and becoming tremendously successful and happy.

David also spoke about the importance of having a vehicle, or ideally more than one vehicle, for building wealth. One of the wealth creation vehicles he spoke about was network marketing.

At the time, we were very excited by the possibilities. We were learning about business, personal development, leadership, systems and residual income. More importantly, we were beginning to think about the kinds of ideas and conversations we wanted our children to hear as they grew up.

Kiyosaki book connected to the network marketing business model and wealth creation
Network marketing was one of the business models we were exploring as a possible wealth creation vehicle.

What Is the Network Marketing Business Model?

The network marketing business model is based on people sharing products or services they use, believe in and are willing to recommend. In a genuine model, the product or service must have real value, and the business should be based on customers, sales, systems and leadership — not simply on recruiting people.

That distinction matters. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission explains that multi-level marketing schemes involve making money from selling a genuine product or service, while pyramid schemes rely on recruitment rather than genuine product sales. You can read more through the ACCC’s unfair business practices guidance.

For us, this was an important learning point. Any business model we look at needs to be considered with wisdom, research and a strong ethical filter.

Network marketing business model as a possible wealth creation vehicle
A business model is strongest when it has products, systems, tools and leadership.

Why Systems Matter in a Network Marketing Business Model

One of David Wood’s key messages was that systems matter.

He explained that a business becomes more powerful when it is built on simple, repeatable systems and tools. In his words:

“Don’t be a tool, use the tools.”

“Systems are duplicable, people are not.”

This idea is useful far beyond network marketing. It applies to children’s enterprise projects, family businesses, online businesses and almost any venture where people need to learn a process and repeat it.

For our children, this is a valuable business lesson. A successful enterprise is not only about enthusiasm. It also needs systems, tools, routines, communication and follow-through.

Network Marketing Business Model Lessons About Leadership

David Wood also pointed out that leadership matters. Great leaders inspire people, help people grow and model the energy they want others to follow.

He explained that success comes from finding out what matters to people, understanding their problems, and looking for ways to be genuinely helpful. Connecting with people on a personal level cannot be underestimated.

This is one of the strongest lessons we took from the training. In any business, whether it is network marketing, a family enterprise, a student business or a future company our children may build, the heart of business is still people.

Help people. Solve problems. Build trust.

That is a lesson worth teaching children early.

Residual Income and Wealth Creation Ideas

One of the reasons people become interested in the network marketing business model is the possibility of residual income. Unlike a traditional job, where income is usually tied directly to hours worked, residual income aims to continue after the initial effort has been put in.

Of course, this does not mean easy money. Any real business takes dedication, honesty, perseverance, communication and hard work.

At David Wood’s training, there were everyday people who had built businesses in a relatively short time, but the message was still clear: success requires action, consistency, personal development and leadership.

For us, the bigger lesson was not that every person should join a network marketing company. The bigger lesson was that children and teenagers should grow up knowing there are different ways to create value, earn income and build a future.

Could Network Marketing Be a Business Option for Young People?

In the original excitement of this journey, we wondered whether network marketing could be a wealth creation vehicle for young people leaving school.

Rather than seeing a job as the only option, could a young person learn business, communication, sales, leadership and financial responsibility through a structured business model?

Possibly — but with strong guidance, maturity and careful research.

For teenagers, the real value may not be the specific business model itself. The value may be learning how to ask better questions:

  • Is the product genuine and useful?
  • Would I use and recommend it honestly?
  • How does the business actually make money?
  • Are people rewarded mainly for product sales or recruitment?
  • What are the costs, risks and responsibilities?
  • Does the company have ethical leadership and a good track record?
  • Would this build real skills and character?

Those questions are useful for any young person learning about business.

Choosing a Network Marketing Business Wisely

If someone is considering a network marketing business, there are several things worth checking carefully.

  1. The product must be strong. You need to use it, understand it and genuinely believe it has value.
  2. The company needs to be researched. Look at its history, leadership, annual growth, reputation and long-term vision.
  3. The compensation plan matters. Understand how people are paid and whether rewards are connected to genuine product sales.
  4. The culture matters. A good business should encourage ethical behaviour, not pressure, hype or unrealistic promises.
  5. The products should have long-term relevance. They should be credible, useful and likely to remain valuable in the future.
  6. The bigger vision matters. A company that contributes positively to people and communities is more aligned with the kind of business we want our children to understand.

These points are not only relevant to network marketing. They apply to many business opportunities that children, teenagers and adults may come across in life.

Robert Kiyosaki book about the network marketing business model
Reading widely helped us question different business models and wealth creation pathways.

Network Marketing Business Model and Entrepreneurial Kids

So what does all this have to do with Enterprise for Kids?

For us, the point is not to push a particular business model onto our children. The point is to expose them to different ways of thinking about work, money, value, systems and leadership.

A child who understands business systems will look at the world differently. They may notice how a market stall works, how a franchise works, how an online business works, how a family enterprise works, or how a network marketing business model works.

They begin to understand that income can come from more than a job. They begin to see that leadership, trust, service and systems all matter.

That is a powerful conversation for families who are raising entrepreneurial kids.

Kiyosaki book connected to network marketing business model lessons
Books and mentors helped us explore how different business models work.

David Wood Quotes Worth Remembering

To finish off, here are some of David Wood’s quotes that stayed with us:

“We don’t stop playing because we turn old, but turn old because we stop playing.”

“How I do anything is how I do everything.”

“Take 100% responsibility for everything in my life and for everything not in my life.”

These quotes connect strongly with the lessons we want our children to learn: take responsibility, stay playful, use tools, build systems, serve people and keep growing.

Key Takeaway: Understand the Network Marketing Business Model Before Choosing

Key takeaway: The network marketing business model can teach useful lessons about systems, tools, leadership, residual income and personal responsibility. But like any business opportunity, it needs to be researched carefully and approached ethically.

Where to Next?

What business models do you think young people should learn about before they leave school? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.