Lessons I Learned as a 10 Year Old Entrepreneur That Will Help Me When I'm 11

Being named one of Zagat Atlanta’s Top 30 Under 30 is a great honor. I am so proud and humbled.  I am now more determined than ever to be a success and inspiration to anyone who will hear my story or buy my ice cream.  Mr. Billy Lyons and Mr. Chris Hassiotis have told me that they expect great things from me and I am not going to let them down.  When people believe in you, it changes the way you think and feel about yourself. It makes you want to be successful for them and for yourself.  I want to be a successful entrepreneur and billionaire, but first I got to correct some mistakes.

The road to success is not smooth and easy.  I have learned and experienced a lot in my 3^rd year of business.  I have worked over 60 events this year alone and I am preparing to shut down for the winter or at least that’s the plan. I say that because I have been asked to cater some exclusive events this holiday season and I am excited to see if these new jobs take help to take my business to a whole new level.  So what lessons did I learn this season? I made about three big mistakes and I learned a lot from them.  I want to share them with you so you will avoid them in your business or on your job.

1. Treat every customer as if they are spending their last dollar with you.  I made the mistake of not staying engaged with a customer who was trying to talk to me.  I was in a rush because there were a lot of people in line.  I missed the fact that this mother was trying to tell me that she caught the bus from across time to come to see me a festival.  She brought her two young sons to meet me because she wanted them to be inspired by me.  I did not say much to her. My mom saw this lady leave with a disappointed look on her face.  My mom convinced her to come back and I apologized for not showing more kindness and patience.  I then took pictures with her and her sons.  Later when mom told me her story, I felt bad because she really was spending her last few dollars with me so her sons could see someone their age working.  This taught me to be nice to every customer and go out of your way to make sure they leave your presence feeling a lot better than when they came.  Repeat customers are the best customers and Ms. Maya Angelou said people will always remember how you made them feel.

2. Every job is gift, a blessing, and an opportunity to show what you do best.  This summer I had a major competitor come to my town.  This competitor is fun and exciting and several customers often choose his product over mine.  The business is so appealing, I want to buy from him.  At first I would get frustrated but I soon realized that I had to stop feeling bad and start feeling grateful for the chance to even work.  I started to focus on what I do best and my products.  I soon realized that several customers would often buy from us both. 

3. Don’t be afraid to try something that makes you extremely uncomfortable because you might miss a great opportunity.  This summer my cousins came to work with me to help me out in some of my big events.  My oldest cousin, Malia, tried to convince me to do a video to submit to the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  She made signs for me and even wrote a script.  She pleaded with me to go ahead and make the video because she felt Ellen would see it and help me and my business.  To make a long story short, I didn’t make the video because I was scared and I thought Ellen would never bring a kid like me to her show.  As it turns out, another kid entrepreneur did make in onto the Ellen Show and she gave him so many things to help him and his business.  I am happy for him, but I am sorry that I did not at least try.  

I hope you can learn from my mistakes because I sure have.  In addition to Mr. Lyons and Mr. Hassiotis, there are so many other people who believe in me like Doc, Mr. Shumate, Mr. Long, Ms. Dee, Ms. Sande, Mom, Dad, my brother and Grandma.  I know you have a lot people who believe in you too, so don’t let them down and don't make the same mistakes I did.   

Beau

Tom, McBearty, You're Coolest! My Spotlight of some of the Coolest People I Know!

This Post Dedicated to some of the Coolest People I Meet on the Job!

Tom McBearty and I in the Popsicle. Tom loves mentoring the kids at Thomas Lay Park and he also loves ice cream! One of the Coolest people I know!

On this Thursday, October 2nd, I visited the Thomas L. Park Mentor program. This was not my first time bringing ice cream heaven to the students in the program.  My family and I love going to the center because we like that we are there for students who have earned ice cream treats for their grades, behavior, participation and just for being cool.  We also love it that we get to see our friend, Tom McBearty.  Tom is director of the program and he as been working as a volunteer mentor for about 4 years now.  He loves all the kids there and they love him. Tom, Ms. Margaret and other volunteer mentors spend every school day afternoon with the program participants.  They don't get paid or anything.  They come because they love helping the kids with their homework, showing them new things, and taking them on field trips to see things they have never seen.  I wish I was a part of his program.  Those kids are so lucky to have a mentor like Tom.  And I am lucky to have him as a friend.  Please see some of the great pictures we have taken while visiting Tom, Margaret and the kids at Thomas Lay Park Mentor program.   Beau

Tom, Ms. Margaret,Mentors and Mentees

My mom met someone who shares her birthday! They celebrated together!