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Bugs for sale

By Becky McCray

Young entrepreneurs are our future. Rural young entrepreneurs, however, can be just a little different. Here’s a new twist on the old lemonade stand idea:

@LizaJne tweeted: the boys are out in the yard selling frogs, slugs, grasshoppers and other bugs. they’ve already made $6.00!

Lessons you can learn:

  • Don’t believe the grownups who tell you an idea won’t work. (I don’t think LizaJne told them any such thing, but what grownup would have predicted success?)
  • Don’t waste too much time in planning. Go straight to market.
  • Make the most of the resources around you. Heck, turn problems into products.

What lessons would you add to the list?

[Photo by LizaJne herself. Used by permission.]

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Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

www.beckymccray.com
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October 4, 2008 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, rural, youth

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Comments

  1. Becky McCray says

    October 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    From Twitter, @Marelisa has an idea:
    How entrepreneurial of them. They can create “homes” for the bugs w/ decorated shoe boxes (glitter, etc.) & sell those too :-)

    By the way, @Marelisa is from Panama City, Panama, and blogs at http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/

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  2. Giovanna Garcia says

    October 5, 2008 at 12:38 am

    That is awesome! I love it. A friend of my has her family on road with her for her inspiration tour. I met up with them in AZ at the campground and her son were selling rocks that he found around the campground. I am going to have to share this with him (he is 6 yrs old, may be he can expands his production line)

    Giovanna Garcia

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  3. Becky McCray says

    October 5, 2008 at 1:05 am

    Another great young entrepreneur story! Thanks, Giovanna.

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  4. PizzaForADream says

    October 5, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    Great idea! We adults are always too practical and tend to snub creativity. Kids here after hurricane Ike were selling ice to folks to make some extra $$. Keep it up!!

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  5. Sandra Sims says

    October 6, 2008 at 2:39 am

    Another lesson, go niche. Some people will want very specific kinds of critters and for specific purposes. (i.e. for pet lizards, fishing, gardening, etc.)

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  6. Becky McCray says

    October 6, 2008 at 2:42 am

    Thanks, PizzaForADream. Thanks for adding that example.

    Sandra, great lesson! I was wondering why the grasshoppers would bring a dollar! :)

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