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A hand holding a bunch of dried flowers.

Little Steps to Raising a Generous Kid

It doesn’t take a grinch to see that this year’s holiday season will be unlike any the world has seen in a century. Amidst a season in which kids (and adults) tend to daydream about creating wish lists, receiving packages, and unwrapping gifts, it’s due time to refresh an old post with new significance. There’s never been a better time to help our kids shift their focus to something they can do to make the world a bit brighter: focus on what they can do for others.

“It’s a flower for you. It says I love you.” My two-year-old handed me a weed pulled from the crack in the sidewalk. I held the gift with reverence, my heart filled to the brim. The lesson was learned, apparently, from a Daniel Tiger episode that explained, “there are many ways to say I love you” before listing “the giving way.” My daughter–a toddler with no income or awareness of money at all–clearly understood the concept of giving. Now on a mission to keep her generosity growing, we’ve learned a few simple ways to start the conversation.

Little Moments of Demonstration

As with all of parenting, children learn more from our actions than our words. As such, the most valuable first step in installing generosity in your child is demonstrating it with actions. Your examples need not be huge. Identify little moments to incorporate into your daily routine. When retrieving a kids meal from the drive-thru, paying for the car behind you won’t just inspire your child; it could set off a chain reaction of giving that makes the days of dozens of people. And that aspiring musician filling the corner with song? Hand your child a dollar or two to toss into their case.

Delegating Your Giving

When I was in middle school, my parents received an unexpected check in the mail from a relative. Determined to pay it forward, they set a large portion aside to give away. Motivated to instill the principle of generosity in my sister and me, they brought us into their giving process by delegating some of the giving to us. If I remember correctly, the $100 assigned to each of us was large enough to fund multiple instances of giving. The impact has lasted to this day. The experience allowed us to acquire a taste for giving on someone else’s dime. Whenever possible, include your kids in gestures of generosity. As for the amount? It’s less important than the invaluable opportunity to spark the spirit of giving in your child.

The Spend/Save/Share Guideline

The “spend, save, share” breakdown of childhood income may be a classic, but it hasn’t lost an ounce of effectiveness. If you control the source of income (e.g. allowance), it’s perfectly reasonable to require such a system. For funds received outside of your wallet (like birthday money, lemonade stand profits, etc.), a gentle reminder of the impact a percentage of their cash could make in the life of someone less fortunate may be all the nudge that’s needed.

Talk About Receiving

It may be better to give than receive, but being on the receiving end of giving sure can warm the heart. When your family bears witness to generosity, talk about it with your kids. Perhaps a friend filled your fridge with groceries, or a relative gave you an especially thoughtful gift. Honor the giver with your words, and explain what the gift meant for your family. The conversation will provide a peek into what receiving looks and feels like. Nothing encourages giving like empathy.

We’ve dedicated an entire episode to the topic of generosity, available on our website today: “Can Money Buy Happiness?“

A woman holding up a sign that says give thanks.

Yes, It Pays to be Thankful

In a year when every other tradition seems to be thrown out the window, this week brings a tradition that can’t be canceled — and shouldn’t be missed. For many families, the traditional turkey dinner isn’t in the cards. The dining room table may be stored until social distancing becomes a figment of history, but the practice behind Thursday’s holiday is as vital as ever before. This week, it’s time to give thanks. And gosh, could we all use it.

So rather than spending this week’s blog describing ways to make more money or grow more wealth, we’re focusing on practice that has just as much to do with financial literacy as anything else: contentment and gratitude.  

The best financial practice of all? Gratitude.

Budgeting is a worthy practice; compound interest, an essential aspect of any growth plan. But there’s another habit that can make your family’s budget stretch more effectively than any financial action you could take: gratitude. A recent study found that gratitude helps reduce impulse purchases and promotes healthier savings habits. Take it from the psychologists: it pays to be thankful.

Yes, money can buy happiness.

If you’re giving it away, that is. Don’t take our word from it. See how an entrepreneur uses his time to give back to people who’ve fallen on hard times. Kamani’s social enterprise publishes poetry and art, but its impact is much larger: empowering those whose lives have been impacted by incarceration.

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Students will learn:

  1. How to recognize a need in their community.
  2. How to come up with a business solution.
  3. How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Are you a teacher looking to spread the news about giving back? We created a lesson plan with you in mind. Learn how to identify a need in your community and use an entrepreneurial mindset to solve it. Be inspired by the ingenuity of others, and find out how you can make a difference by becoming a social entrepreneur.

P.S. We’re thankful for you — and we got you something to prove it.

We’re overjoyed to debut a BRAND NEW BizKids.com! The Biz Kid$ team has been working behind the scenes for months to reorganize, redesign, and relaunch our website. The new site features a gorgeous new look, intuitive structure, and all the resources our educators and entrepreneurs have come to expect. Read all about the exciting changes here.

A pink gift box with gold confetti on a pink background.

The 2020 Biz Kid Holiday Gift Guide

If you blinked, you may have missed it. The whole year, that is. Yes, Black Friday is almost here. Holiday shopping season is upon us, and while the lines and crowds are certain to be anything but typical, one thing is certain: kids and teens have already started circling, bookmarking, and hinting at what they hope to see under the tree.

Yet in 2020, the fleeting allure of stuff feels even more acute. So this year, rather than give a gift that will be forgotten by February, give a gift that will keep on giving. No, we’re not talking about about sourdough starter. We’re talking about gifts that make an impact. Gifts that inspire! This holiday season, give your child a gift that empowers them over the long term.

The Gift of Customers

Cost: $10-40

What’s the one thing every aspiring young entrepreneur desperately needs? Customers, of course! Few things project more confidence in a teen’s venture than a stack of fresh business cards. Order online for contact-free delivery, or purchase a stack from your local office supply store. It’s the gift that says, “this idea has legs.”

The Gift of a Future Language

Cost: $0-99

What if you could teach your child to speak, write, and read a language that would empower them to communicate in the future? Such is the magic of coding. Already the language of tech, many companies have already declared that competence in coding will soon be as essential as proficiency in basic office programs. A few kid-friendly toys and programs can give your child a background in coding, even before they can read or write. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Ozobot Robot ($49)

Ozobot is a personal robot designed to take instructions from kids via black, green, and red lines drawn onto paper. The drawing teaches kids the basics of coding, then rewards them with a robot show choreographed by them.

Kids First Coding & Robotics ($85)

Move a mouse through a maze and send a soccer ball into the goal through story-based learning fueled by kids’ code. But here’s what we really love: no software or phones are required.

The Gift of an Egg — a Nest Egg

Cost: $20.00+

What if you could give your child a gift today that would benefit them for years or even decades to come. There are a number of ways to do this. Savings bonds, given by practical grandparents for generations, still exist. And now, they can be ordered online. TreasuryDirect.gov is the government’s official site for all things savings bonds. They’ll even help you print a gift certificate to announce your gift! Looking for a more modern, risky, and potentially lucrative option? Consider the gift of stock. Stockpile is an ingenious site that lets givers purchase stock in small amounts (even $20) and give it away. With thousands of companies at your fingertips, a gift of stock can be both practical and thoughtful.

The Gift of Inspiration

Cost: $15.99

Sometimes, your child just needs a spark; a nudge via a dose of inspiration. Show your kids what’s possible by introducing them to the successes of real young entrepreneurs. Our Emmy Award-winning show is available for streaming and download on Vimeo. Purchase access to our entire sixth season for just $15.99! Your kids will be educated, inspired, and–who knows–maybe even motivated to start a business of their own. Want to add a stocking stuffer to that gift? Supplement their season pass with products from entrepreneurs featured on the show including Man Cans candles, Sporting Sails, and Compartes chocolate.

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The Gift of a Million Dollars*

Cost: $12.95

*Yes, there’s a catch. But if you believe in the power of education as we do, it’s not too far-fetched. How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000, written by the executive producers of Biz Kid$, is a beautifully designed guide to becoming a millionaire! It’s a comprehensive guide for kids to the basics of earning, saving, spending, and investing money. Written in a humorous but informative voice that engages young readers, it’s the book that every parent who wants to raise financially savvy and unspoiled children should buy for their kids. It is packed with lively illustrations to make difficult concepts easy to understand—all as a way of building financial literacy, good decision-making, and the appreciation of a hard-earned dollar.

How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 Online Course

We’ve taken the best content from our best-selling book and matched it with interactive actives and inspiring video content from our Emmy Award-winning series. The result? A vibrant and entertaining course for teens called How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000.

Our gift idea? One copy of How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000, one course pass, and one crisp Benjamin. Ready, set, grow…

Kids looking ipad with a bowl of chips

Introducing a Brand New BizKids.com

143. In addition to being Mister Roger’s favorite number, 143 represents the number of countries from which aspiring young entrepreneurs visited BizKids.com in the last three months. Teen tycoons have visited from Syria, Palestine, and Slovakia, among others. As classrooms around the world have gone online, the free resources Biz Kid$ provides have become increasingly important.

It’s again that backdrop that we proudly reveal a brand new BizKids.com.

The new BizKids.com has been completely redesigned to make it easier and faster to find the content you’re looking for. (Not to mention quite a bit prettier, too.) Here’s a bit about the new look and organization:

Browse by Learning Pillar

Hover over “learn” for a drop-down menu featuring seven of our most popular categories of content, including financial basics, entrepreneurship, and credit & debt.

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After clicking on the topic of your choosing, you’ll be presented with videos, lesson plans, and activities pertaining to each.

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Resources to Rule the Day

Whether you want to start a business, refine your marketing plans, or double-check your profitability, our newly redesigned Resources page features a slew of PDF downloads, links, and even an online course.

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Biz Kid$ in the Classroom

Teachers have long been the backbone of the Biz Kid$ mission. Now, we’ve redesigned the pages our educators rely on most, with clean lesson plan navigation, thematic episode lists, and state and national standards.

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It’s game time.

Biz Kid$ free games now have an even more beautiful home. Play Dolllar-a-Glass, Bring Home the Bacon, or Break the Bank today.

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Redesigned with you in mind.

We hope our new site makes it easier and more enjoyable to find the content you need. We’d love to hear what you think. Have a comment, concern, or question? Drop us an email on our contact page here.

A man standing on top of a mountain with his arms outstretched.

Raising Kids on the New American Dream

The eye-catching headline read, “Young Entrepreneurs are Redefining the American Dream.” The article, posted to Entrepreneur.com earlier this week, discusses a fascinating shift in values among the young mavens creating the future. 

But first, a reminder of the American Dream that was. When Elon Musk had his first payday from the sale of now-unfamiliar Zip2 in 1999, he celebrated the windfall in quite the flashy way: purchasing a million-dollar car, then having CNN cameras roll as it was delivered.

Looking on as the car was unloaded, Musk said, “My values may have changed, but I’m not aware that my values have changed.”

His girlfriend’s words were a bit more self-aware: “I’m worried we’re going to become spoiled brats.”

If spending was the litmus test of success in the 1990’s, that test is changing significantly. Today’s shiny trophy? Freedom.

Stuff is out. Freedom is in.

What freedom means to a young person flies in the face of much of yesterday’s American Dream. It’s not a house. (Those, millennials say, tie you down.) Nor is it a fulltime job with benefits. (Those “chain you to a desk.”) So what’s left to attain? The entrepreneurial dream, of course. Being your own boss, making your own decisions, working from anywhere, and traveling at your leisure. As a parent, you’re likely thinking that those are pipe dreams. You may be right, but there’s a way to instill the character you hope to raise without squashing your child’s ambitions.

Parenting is tricky.

If you’ve been dreaming of a nice stable job for your children, you may be waiting a while. The “New American Dream” may challenge the core tenets of your beliefs about success. But not all of that is bad. For example, we could all put a bit less value on things that depreciate and even disintegrate over time. But responsibility is still vital. And instilling a sense of diligence in your child not only applies to their dream of freedom but is essential for attaining it.

The world’s most successful entrepreneurs may drive fancy cars from time to time, but they’re anything but free from responsibility. Even the car-loving Elon Musk famously slept under his desk for the few hours he wasn’t coding in his early days. He almost missed his brother’s wedding during Tesla’s early days. 

The secret to parenting a generation of freedom-seekers? Show them how freedom is actually attained. The initiative required to launch a business, and determination required to grow it are values we can all agree are timeless.

P.S. Curious about what happened to Elon Musk’s McLaren? Driving with Peter Thiel in 2000, Musk learned about the fleeting value of stuff the hard way: he wrecked it. And it was uninsured.

Looking for more resources for your budding entrepreneur? Check out our dedicated Entrepreneurship learning pillar page for free videos and resources. 

A little girl covering her face with her hands on a black background.

Talking to Your Kids about Money Problems

This week, it was reported than 6 million Americans missed their rent or mortgage payments in September. That news gave us pause, and reason to elevate this previous post once again.

As unemployment continues to linger, families are facing similar conversations — about trimmed budgets, canceled vacations, and uncertain futures. Such topics can feel defeating, but they aren’t without precedent.

In fact, most of us have them: vivid memories of a dinner table discussion about financial difficulty.

Dad lost his job.

The bills are past due.

You can’t go to camp this summer.

For some of us, the memories are marked by sadness and fear. For others, a sense of unity and closeness. When rainy days arrive, communicating clearly and peacefully is essential. And following these guidelines is a great place to start.

Have a Goal

First, know why you’re bringing the family’s financial situation to your kids’ attention. A bad reason: to vent your worry. A good reason: to provide understanding surrounding cutbacks and ask for kids’ participation in the family’s season of frugality. Before you begin your meeting, channel your inner Oprah Winfrey. Oprah? Yes, Oprah. It’s been reported that the Queen of Media begins every meeting with the same question: “What is your intention?” Defining yours will help keep you focused and rational if and when your children respond emotionally.

Offer Assurance

When I was nine or so, my mom was driving our car down a spiraling offramp when she said, “Oh gosh, we lost the power steering.” Not having any experience with driving myself, I assumed this meant we could no longer steer at all, and would soon be slamming into the curved concrete wall. To my young mind, the options were binary: steering or no steering. And my lack of experience brought immediate fear.

A child’s understanding of money is typically simpler than yours. You either have money to spend or you don’t, right? When bringing up your family’s financial situation, it’s important to rein in their wild imagination by speaking clearly about what is not happening. Perhaps, “We have plenty of money to pay for our rent and electricity, but we just need to cut back on eating out this month” or “We have plenty to eat, but we’re choosing to finish our leftovers so we can afford to pay for your soccer cleats.” In other words, no son, we’re not about to hit the wall.

Ask for Help

Kids don’t need to be included in every ebb and flow of your financial life. When you do include them, their role should be clear. Perhaps you’re explaining why they’ll need to make some money of their own in order to pay for camp. Or why you need them to pack their lunches for a few weeks. When your chat has concluded, your child should understand their role and know how they can contribute to the family’s success.

Follow Up

Some kids are natural talkers: the ones who repeat our hasty comments at the most inopportune moments. And others are internal processors — more likely to stare out the window than chat about their feelings. The first type will likely voice their evolving thoughts on your conversation, while the second may not. In the days following your heart-to-heart, ask questions to probe if there are any irrational fears or misunderstandings still lingering. Make space to clear the air, even while the situation is still at hand.

If your money problem is a temporary one, call another family meeting when it’s been resolved and explain how the issue was tackled and what role the family’s contributions played in bringing it to a close. Naturally, your kids will be happy to know that the money freeze has thawed. But another emotion will arise, as well: the satisfaction of knowing that they played a meaningful role in the family’s finances.

A girl wearing a Halloween dress holding a pumpkin

Financial Facts that are Downright Scary

Welcome to the season of goblins, ghouls, and skeletons. This is the month we go out of our way to experience fright in all of its forms. And so in true October fashion, today we confront one of the scariest things in all the land: financial illiteracy. We’ve uncovered some of the sneakiest, spookiest, most startling financial facts around, and we’re serving them up cold.

A free pizza could cost you a fortune.

When you become a teenager, a sneaky presence is often lurking in the shadows: a credit card company. They entice you with signup bonuses as small as free pizzas and baseball caps, or as large as airline tickets and cash rewards. But the truth should make you shiver.

Retail credit cards can have interest rates of as much as 29% (or more). Pay the minimum balance on a typical $2000 balance, and you’ll need ten years to pay it back, at a cost of more than four grand. Talk about an expensive cap!

That sweater could rob you of riches.

Think a visit to the mall is an innocent errand? Think again. As a teen, you likely have fewer expenses than you ever will. And thanks to compound interest, your age means you have more time to grow your dough than any adult could dream of. So what’s the rub? By passing on needless spending (like that sweater), you could amass quite the nest egg in your golden years. How much? Just $25 of weekly deposits invested at 7% could net you $137K by the time you reach retirement age. Use this free compound interest calculator to see your spending’s startling consequences.

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Marketers are after you.

They know what you’re looking for, they know what’s in your wallet, and often, they know where you live. Who are they? Marketers, of course. And as The Truth Campaign reveals, they aren’t always honest.https://www.youtube.com/embed/yz1_onRdeY0?wmode=opaque&enablejsapi=1

Your paycheck is hiding something.

Getting your first paycheck can be a truly jaw-dropping experience. There you were, closing the ice cream shop every night, earning $10 an hour for 2 weeks straight. Then came your paycheck. All those minus signs! And that balance! Welcome to the world of deductions. Ready to face the truth? Check out this clip from our episodes Understanding Your Paycheck:

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Spider - man reading a book out of a window.

When all else fails, imagine.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

– Albert Einstein

For centuries, the imagination has been the forerunner of every aspect of society. Long before cranes construct a tower, pages are covered with storylines, or 3D printers whirl with invention, an imagination is at play, dreaming each of them into existence. 

Amidst a year in which everything in our world has slowed, transformed, or stopped completely, the imagination is in full force. As a parent, there’s never been a more important time to encourage it. 

Today, we’re gathering a few of our favorite ways to stimulate, foster, and expand your child’s imagination.

Read for more than knowledge.

“Friends to know, and ways to grow… I can be anything… It’s in a book.” If you were a child in the early 90’s, the lyrics are almost certainly familiar. Yes, these were the reminders made by public television’s Reading Rainbow about the transformative powers of a book.

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The truth is perhaps more relevant today than ever before. The immersive power of books gives children imaginative storylines while also putting their imagination to work, creating the visuals in the head.

If you’re like many people, you might think that productive reading means reading nonfiction reading. Many of today’s most influential tech giants would beg to differ. Elon Musk’s favorite books include J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I think can agree that Musk’s productivity shows no signs of slowing down.

“Yes, and…”

In the world of improv, there’s a refrain known as the “yes, and…” It’s the Segway between one performer’s tidbit and your own. When one comic says, “I hear you recently adopted an iguana,” a potential response might be, “Yes, and I named him Charles.” What does this have to do with parenting? Creativity is a vulnerable thing. Foster and encourage it, and you’ll get more of it. Shut it down, and you’ll quickly extinguish its power. So the next time your child says that they’re a princess, or that they’re drawing a flying carpet, try this for a response: “Yes, and…” 

Turn life into an episode of How it Works.

We’ve all been there, exclaiming, “Get out of the kitchen! I have to make dinner.” But childhood is a time of discovery. What may seem like a routine chore to you could be a fabulous opportunity to explore for your child. Simply spreading out lasagna noodles into a baking dish? Turn your task into an activity – show your child how the noodles transform from hard to squishy after a few minutes in water. Look at how the layers of sauce and cheese create a pattern. And watch the oven window as the creation comes to a boil. Life is only routine if you make it so.

A jar full of coins on a white background.

Let’s get back to (financial) basics.

95 million Instagram posts.

500 million Tweets.

1 billion Facebook links.

14,000 new websites.

Such is a single day of life in 2020. Information overload is an understatement. Thousands of times per second, new thoughts are published, ideas are broadcast, and tips are shared. Those looking for lasting wisdom amidst the noise do so amidst a hailstorm of information.

Financial literacy is no exception. Every generation, every year, and every month seem to carry their own financial fads. From “watching your latte factor” to “pinching your pennies” and “pinching your dollars, not your pennies,” new advice pops up every day.

In this age of information overload, let’s do something else. Let’s get back to basics.

Old wisdom works.

When Tess Vigeland, the host of NPR’s show Marketplace Money, retired, she signed off by sharing what she’d learned over her years hosting a show dedicated to finance. Her final words of wisdom?

Now here is where I could insert a bunch of the usual personal finance bromides. Spend less than you earn. Save all you can for retirement. Stick to a budget. Sure — all those are important. But after six years of dispensing financial advice or at least being in the room when we gave that advice, it really comes down to one thing: choices. And there’s almost nothing more personal in our lives than the choices we make. 

Follow fads at your own risk.

According to a report from Bitcoin Profit, Warren Buffett, the world’s most famous investor, has been criticized over the years for avoiding tech stocks and the profits they reap. His reason? He doesn’t understand them, so he sticks to the basics he knows – t-shirts, bricks, chocolate, and toilet paper among them. His philosophy seemed questionable amidst the dot-com boom of the 1990’s, but wise amidst the bubble’s pop soon thereafter. When you avoid a financial fad, you’re limiting both risk and potential reward. Only time will tell which was wisest. In the meantime, stick with what you understand.

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Compound interest is key (and never ceases to amaze).

It’s one of the oldest, surest, and most frequently ignored pieces of financial wisdom. It’s the power of compound interest, and it’s the financial equivalent of a superpower for the young. Invest early at a steady interest rate, and you’ll do far better than any “grown up” working to catch up at an older age. Need a reminder? This chart from Dave Ramsey reveals the power of compound interest through a few $2000 investments at an early age as compared to many, many more by an adult:

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Ready to join us on our quest to get back to basics? Check out our page devoted to Financial Basics.

Nfl stadiums in washington, dc.

Your Kid’s Dream Job Has a 78% Bankruptcy Rate

Like everything else in 2020, this year’s football season is off to an unusual start. From a positive case at a Chief’s game to plexiglass dividers separating fans from hotdog vendors, the season has opened in a drastically different fashion than before. 

What hasn’t changed? The hero status of football players in the eyes of little girls and boys everywhere. As the newest football season opens, we’re casting a spotlight onto one of our favorite stories: the football star who’s dedicated his life to ensuring the financial literacy of his teammates (and even rivals.)

The story starts with a mind-blowing statistic: 78% of NFL players go bankrupt within two years of retirement, according to Sports Illustrated. After Antoine Walker burned through his $108 million fortune, he filed for bankruptcy. Today, he’s turning his mistake into a lesson for others with a financial literacy initiative specifically for pro athletes.

Former Boston Celtics basketball player Antoine Walker explains how he lost $110 million. He speaks with Pimm Fox on “Taking Stock.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Meet the Linebacker Moonlighting as a Money Prof

One of the world’s most prestigious business schools has a new financial literacy professor – but he’s only moonlighting. His day job? Linebacker for the New York Jets. Brandon Copeland teaches “Inequity & Empowerment: Urban Financial Literacy” to a diverse group of students from various grade levels at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as high school students from surrounding Philadelphia schools.

Brandon Copeland, a linebacker with the New York Jets and a financial literacy professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the importance of financial literacy with Bloomberg’s Scarlet Fu and Romaine Bostick on “Bloomberg Markets: The Close.”

Copeland is determined to shine a light on inequity in underserved areas. Where financial education is lacking, predatory lending, bad financial decisions, and long-term consequences can spread like wildfire.

A Fast Pass to (Fleeting) Fortunes

Some credit such high bankruptcy numbers to the short careers of professional athletes. While most of us earn paychecks for 30-50 years, the average career span of pro athletes is just 3.3 years in the NFL, and 4.5 years in the NBA. Combine such short tenures with paychecks large enough to (temporarily) erase any concerns for money at all, and the results are catastrophic: bad spending habits, mounting bills, and a fast end to fortune.

Another culprit? Copeland said it well: “inequity and empowerment.” Even in a country as wealthy as the United States, inequity is rampant. Sure, exposure is getting easier thanks to social media. But our kids are much more likely to be exposed to the lifestyles of the rich and famous than the saving habit of the wise and wealthy.

Put another way, access to financial literacy education remains elusive. Just like fresh food, public libraries, and clean parks, financial literacy inequity between the haves and the have-nots continues on the daily.

There is hope. As such respected people like Brandon Copeland and Antoine Walker step up to the plate, financial awareness and education are spreading. Who knows: perhaps tomorrow’s athletes will be known for a very different money statistic: growing their wealth.

A stack of colored face masks on a wooden table.

The COVID Effect: Starting a Biz in 2020

Trends are nothing new. Some fads last for months, some for seasons, and some for generations. But if anything will be said of 2020, it’s that coronavirus came to define every aspect of our lives. The entrepreneurial world is no exception. The Biz Kids who have put out their own shingles this year haven’t just done so in spite of coronavirus, but because of it.

Here are a few of the young entrepreneurs who’ve found novel solutions to novel problems, then turned those solutions into profitable enterprises. 

Foodski | Jetski Food Delivery

As Americans increasingly turn to the great outdoors for room to meet, mingle, and recharge, new needs are meeting them there. One Biz Kid noticed the need for food delivery on the water, and met it, on a jet ski no less.

Suds Up Soaps | Handmade Soap

Quarantine has brought boredom to many of us. 12-year-old Brielle Porter was no exception. But rather than sit around and sulk, Brielle turned her extra time into making soap for a friend. Crafting that gift was such a joy that she turned it into a business. Now, Suds Up Soaps are available in 12 styles and a range of scents.  

Image: Facebook | Suds Up Soaps
Image: Facebook | Suds Up Soaps

TogetherCard | Small Business Support

Small businesses have been badly hurt by stay home orders, health concerns, and recent wildfires. Many locals are interested in helping, but are looking for a way to do so. A 24-year-old entrepreneur built a platform that makes it simple to purchase gift cards from local small businesses, giving them cash while they need it. Its name? TogetherCard. 

Thread Club | Masks

What if you could manufacturer a product that the entire world suddenly needs and no one has? Such was the thinking behind one 17-year-old’s venture into mask-making. Rachel Moody has even turned her enterprise into an educational campaign, instructing people on when to wear a mask and how to sew their own. Check out her campaign at thethreadclub.com.

A set of cards with the word 'elevator up' on them.

Guest Post: Biz Kid Harrison Brooks of ElevatorUp

Hi Biz Kids. I’m Harrison Brooks the 17-year-old founder & CEO (Chief Elevator Officer) of ElevatorUp: a brand-new card game that’ll keep you smiling through Ups, Downs, and even getting Stuck!

For as far back as I can remember, I have been a creator. I don’t create to make money or to become famous. Instead, I create because I can’t not create. Most ideas come, get fully explored, and then I move on. But a few have come to life — my first business, when I was 12, was Happy Harry’s Services, which offered babysitting, dog walking, and PO Box pickup (going to the post office and bringing mail from PO boxes to offices). Next was my charity where I went to a nursing home, brought care packages, and spent time with the residents. At age 14, I launched CustoKit, a service that allowed you to create a customized First Aid kit tailored to your needs. I think CustoKit had the potential to be a “real business” but I was too inexperienced to make it happen. Most recently I launched ElevatorUp, but the idea started 5 years ago.

When I was around 12, I was bored of the most popular card games, having played them over and over again. So, I came up with a set up rules for a new game. The first cards were cut up pieces of printer paper. As I would play it, I constantly revised the rules. One day, as I was playing I realized, “Wow! This is actually fun! Other people may really enjoy this, too.” so I paired the rules with the theme of elevators and got to work making better looking designs.

After many designs and redesigns, I ordered my first prototype from a printer overseas. I finally had my finished product and was ready to start selling. My original plan was centered around in-person demos at stores, but, with COVID, that was no longer an option, so I turned to Amazon as my marketplace, as the world shifted 100% online. I could not afford advertising and did not want to just send out free samples, so I took to email and reached out to anyone and everyone, literally. I scrolled through Instagram and LinkedIn looking for people who post about games or who have a connection to elevators. Rarely, they would respond. Even more rarely, they would be interested in reposting. And 2-3 times, they became customers!

I began to build momentum. I also started reaching out to local newspapers. Before I knew it, I was in 5 print publications, including the front cover of two, and even more online ones. The joke in my family was that it was a slow news week! On my way to my first interview with a journalist, I said to my mom, “Wouldn’t it be funny if one day I make it to TV.” Well, that ended up happening, which created a real spike in orders, which passed as quickly as it came. I went from #14 best-selling dedicated deck card game on Amazon to barely holding my position in the top 100 a week later. The rollercoaster was fun and left me thinking about how to repeat it over and over again. So now I’m putting my creativity not into inventing something new (yet that’s always still going on in the back of my mind), but into how to creatively raise the awareness of ElevatorUp. 

Here’s my advice to any aspiring Biz Kids: 

  • Have fun, of course. If it’s not fun, why do it?
  • Fail. Make mistakes and learn. And do it with pride. There’s no room for embarrassment or shame if you’re a kid entrepreneur. 
  • Reach out to people. Don’t be scared to email random people. People are nice, especially to kids. You won’t be a kid forever, so take advantage of it. The worst they can say is “No.”
  • Whether things are going well or not, find that extra energy to push harder than you ever have before. 

If you have questions, ideas, or anything else, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email.

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