Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Little Entrepreneur
One fine day, I overheard the little lady bugging her grandfather to build a cart for her. She knew she can count on my dad, the great handyman, to build and fix things easily.
After a while, she came running to me and proudly announced:
“Mom, I’m going to be a vendor!”
“What?!” (Of all careers, my daughter wants to become a vendor?)
“Yes, I’m going to sell the accessories I made and put it in a cart. I will sell them to our neighbors!”
With a chuckle, I gave her a big hug. At her age, she should be thinking more on how to spend the day playing and watching cartoons. But business?! I might have passed on to her my enterprising genes or probably the constant talk of doing business with my sister has somehow rubbed on to her.
Though surprised, I was happy and proud to find a budding entrepreneur in the household.
She showed me the items and they already have price tags. They were bead bracelets and necklaces that she created using my old beads and strings. So that’s what she’s been busy about all day.
Although they were pretty enough to sell, I can’t let her go from house to house around the neighborhood pushing a wooden cart! But since I do not want to nip her dream in the bud, after words of appreciation and encouragement, I tried to divert her attention to another project.
It seemed to have worked well, as she did not bother my dad anymore about the cart, or me, about peddling her stuff to the neighborhood.
Until one afternoon when she came rushing to me, catching her breath and incredibly excited. I wondered, what was the excitement all about?
She made her first sale!
Apparently, my aunt went to a neighbor’s house and the little lady tagged along and brought her items for sale. She sold her stuff to our neighbor’s granddaughter, another 6 year old, who was there at that time. She was beaming as she sold 2 bracelets that day.
Inside, I felt a little guilty. Though I was supportive, a little part of me was not convinced that she will be able to sell her creations. She believed so much in her goal, and it happened. Unconsciously, she knew ‘The Secret’ and it worked for her.
This story may seem mediocre to some, but I learned a valuable lesson from her that day. She taught me how to believe again like a child, with all of my heart - in my dreams, goals and plans. But most importantly, in myself.
As we grow older, we tend to forget having absolute faith in what we can accomplish. We constantly doubt our capabilities and let a lot of reasons get in the way of believing that we can make great dreams happen.
It only took a child to remind me of that. And I feel lucky enough.
After a while, she came running to me and proudly announced:
“Mom, I’m going to be a vendor!”
“What?!” (Of all careers, my daughter wants to become a vendor?)
“Yes, I’m going to sell the accessories I made and put it in a cart. I will sell them to our neighbors!”
With a chuckle, I gave her a big hug. At her age, she should be thinking more on how to spend the day playing and watching cartoons. But business?! I might have passed on to her my enterprising genes or probably the constant talk of doing business with my sister has somehow rubbed on to her.
Though surprised, I was happy and proud to find a budding entrepreneur in the household.
She showed me the items and they already have price tags. They were bead bracelets and necklaces that she created using my old beads and strings. So that’s what she’s been busy about all day. Although they were pretty enough to sell, I can’t let her go from house to house around the neighborhood pushing a wooden cart! But since I do not want to nip her dream in the bud, after words of appreciation and encouragement, I tried to divert her attention to another project.
It seemed to have worked well, as she did not bother my dad anymore about the cart, or me, about peddling her stuff to the neighborhood.
Until one afternoon when she came rushing to me, catching her breath and incredibly excited. I wondered, what was the excitement all about?
She made her first sale!
Apparently, my aunt went to a neighbor’s house and the little lady tagged along and brought her items for sale. She sold her stuff to our neighbor’s granddaughter, another 6 year old, who was there at that time. She was beaming as she sold 2 bracelets that day.
Inside, I felt a little guilty. Though I was supportive, a little part of me was not convinced that she will be able to sell her creations. She believed so much in her goal, and it happened. Unconsciously, she knew ‘The Secret’ and it worked for her.
This story may seem mediocre to some, but I learned a valuable lesson from her that day. She taught me how to believe again like a child, with all of my heart - in my dreams, goals and plans. But most importantly, in myself.
As we grow older, we tend to forget having absolute faith in what we can accomplish. We constantly doubt our capabilities and let a lot of reasons get in the way of believing that we can make great dreams happen.
It only took a child to remind me of that. And I feel lucky enough.
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28 showed some lovin':
this post brought tears to my eyes, if you don't mind my saying so, because I have a little girl myself, she's 4 years old and very self-confident. I wish everyday for the strength to not get in the way of her hopes.
Hi there, would you like to exchange links?
Florence
very very smart of her! Make money at such a young age. Soon she'll be able to become the next Bill Gates! lol... :) But the prettier version of course haha...
We adults become jaded and we need little angels like your daughter to remind us about the more important things in life. You are so blessed to have her.
I think you should encourage her in her dream/s. Why not help her package her creations in small plastic bags and put up a little table in front of your house for her to show her wares.
At least, it is a safer alternative to her more aggressive marketing scheme of house-to-house selling complete with a cart, isn't it?
I hope and pray she will grow up to be a successful entrepreneur - the Philippines needs more like her.
Picasso once said that he spent 20 years learning to draw like a child, and I find myself spending much of my adult life learning to have he faith of a child.
Wonderful story, and an even better reminder that just because they are kids, doesn't mean we can't still learn from them. Good story :-)
Cheers, Marc
Sis, na linked ko na ang 2 blogs mo. Don't forget mine ha. Btw, wala akong makitang links sa ibang blog mo.
What a wonderful story!
It's funny how - some of the best things in life - are taught to us by our children.
Congrats to the lil' entrepreneur!
love this post!! ^^
u are right,as adults we become jaded & forget how it is to follow our dreams!
i have something for u here K!
http://wannabesupermodel.blogspot.com/2008/05/arte-y-pico.html
hello there wow thats great its wonderful to know that at her young age she had shown that she has ambitions for her life right
how blessed you are
its nice to be here in your site
i am willing for an exchange links just tell if you like hehe
will be here again
ill try to visit as often
hi ther i added na nga pala your link in my blog
have agreat day
Oh my! I'm sure your little girl would be very successful someday.I also sold accessories at my school at a very young age...it was very fun time for me.
this is a smart kid in the making. she is cute.
so cute :) I remembered I was like her too. I love making things and even make clothes for barbie dolls but I didn't think about fashion at all when enrolling course. Too late can't turn back the clock.. no time for that any more.
Hi Bambit,
I pray for the same, too. We should always be the first ones to support and encourage whatever dream our kids set their mind on and guide them towards the achievement of those goals.
Hi Jasmine,
Thanks! May you have an 'angel's tongue', as they say! I really wish for her to be successful someday. :D
Hi Hotmomma,
I'm thankful enough that jaded as I may be, I was able to find meaning and realize the lesson that I learned in that experience.
No matter how busy I get, I always try to encourage her in everything she does. She has actually came up with the same idea of setting up a table in front of our house, since I don't want her to go around the community due to safety reasons.
Thank you for wishing her the best! :)
Hi Marc,
The faith of a child is truly amazing! I hope we can all regain such faith and fully believe again in ourselves that we can make our dreams turn into reality.
Hi Florence,
Linked you up here already. I'm still fixing my other blog so you won't see my linkies there yet. I'll have the same blogroll like the one I have here. I'll just buzz you when I'm done with it.
Thanks for the add! :)
Hi Dette,
Thanks! Children are truly God's blessing. :)
Hi Vannie,
Super thanks for the tag award! I really appreciate it. :) Will post it the soonest. I got a really busy and crazy week. *sigh*
You're one lucky mother to have such amazing child. Sometimes we adults tend to forget how smart our kids can be.
Thanks for sharing this one.
Hi Bluedreamer27,
Sure we can exlinks. I'll add your 3 blogs here. Please add another one of mine: DeCaFFeiNaTeD.
Thanks for dropping by! :)
Hi Jade,
I remember When I was in Elementary, I also sold yema (milk pastilles), tamarind and candies in school. No wonder she turned out to be just as enterprising, if not, much more than I am! :)
Hi Shimumsy,
Thanks so much for dropping by! :)
Hi miablog4me,
Thanks! I think it's never too late to pursue your passion. You can still do it anytime. :)
Hey I feel that this sounds like the life story of a future successful entrepreneur!
may pinagmahanan pala si little lady mo...enterprising just like her mom...
on a serious note...the lesson learned from ur kiddo is really valuable, that i too stopped for a while to ponder.
What a wonderful story! I did something very similar when I was about that age. My mom had cleaned out the attic and was going to throw a bunch of stuff away. I loaded my wagon up with it all and went door to door to sell it! One very supportive neighbor actually bought a few things! All children have unbridled faith in what they desire, it is the world around them that squashes that faith- you are a very wise mom to be aware that their confidence and desires are legit!
Hi KCee. I just came here to drop on your entrecard but the picture of your little lady caught my interest. Your story about her is so touching I almost forgot to drop my card.
What a little bright angel... She's really encouraging and I will not forger her story. Thanks for sharing.
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