One of my readers read my blog, “Entrepreneurial Children” and wrote me this response. Great story.

Your blog, “Entrepreneurial Children” made me think of a story about my neighbor and I had to share this story with you.

About eight weeks ago I looked down the hill from my backyard and was surprised to see my neighbor’s kids tilling away at the soil in a small patch of vacant land adjacent their driveway. Previously messy locust stumps had been located in that 10 x 20 foot patch, but their father had chopped them down last year in hopes of creating a more productive space to line the entry to their garage.His son thought that he’d plant a garden, and his daughter thought she’d make a few extra dollars for school clothes by selling some of the garden’s flowers at a roadside stand, so the 15 year-old fearlessly planned and built the stand and now sells the fresh flowers. What amazes me is the number of cars that stop on their drive home from work to buy a small bouquet of fresh flowers. Her biggest challenge is keeping the “ready-to-go” bouquets in good shape in the summer heat.

I couldn’t resist loaning her my small poolside umbrella to help provide a bit of shade and while I was taking it to her, I thought about my own daughter and hoped that she might have the courage some day to take the initiative to make a few extra dollars for school clothes instead of simply asking me for more money.

Then I realized that just four weeks earlier, I had discouraged her idea for a lemonade stand down on the very same road. I had suggested that it would be too dangerous because it was so busy, but I was really thinking no one would stop to buy her lemonade.

There are several lessons in this story for me. I was inspired by the neighbor girl’s courage, and even more by the people who are supporting her efforts when they stop to buy her bouquets. However, the really big lesson for me is that now I know I won’t miss the opportunity to encourage my nine year-old the next time she wants to make a few extra dollars.

This response to my blog was so good that I thought I’d post it for your enjoyment and I tip my hat to his humility and willingness to look. The only suggestion I’d add is that next time Dad could guide a better choice of product than lemonade. Be creative. The flowers were great. How about seasonal fresh veggies or fruit and a joint venture with the other girl. Both of these could be grown with great lessons throughout the process. Also, there is always the option of buying and reselling them. The opportunity for learning here is even better, with the need for negotiating, banking, and cash flow. The sky is the limit when it comes to sparking that entrepreneurial spirit in your children. I believe positive lessons like this will end up being more powerful than the twelve years of formal education they will receive in school.