Hi Sunkissed Girlz, I’m Julene, and I’m the founder of a program and site called Dreamer ENT.  Dreamer ENT inspires girls like you to reach for their dreams. Since the past week at Sunkissed Girlz has been dedicated to entrepreneurship, I wanted to share some of my experiences as a young entrepreneur.

I was bitten by the business bug at a young age, when in elementary and middle school I  started selling homemade greeting cards, magazines, calendars and other crafts to friends and family. It was fun to share my artwork and writing with others and do something I loved in exchange for some spending money. I learned about money management, finding customers and other things that most people might not learn until they are older – starting young definitely gives you a jumpstart on your dreams!

Being an entrepreneur also taught me how to interact better with others – I was a really shy little girl, but the process of selling my own products helped me be more confident in myself.

If you’re interested in starting your own business, here are some tips to get you started:

• Look At Your Passions - Think about what you already like to do or a problem you could solve and how to turn that into a business idea. Do you love animals? Maybe you can start a pet-sitting or dog-walking company in your neighborhood. Love sweets? Maybe you can decorate cakes or whip up your own creative dessert, or gourmet chocolates. Can’t find t-shirts that fit your personality? Maybe you can design your own line.  I recently talked to a young entrepreneur, Jasmine Lawrence, who started her own natural hair product line, Eden Bodyworks, because she was tired of the chemicals that damaged her hair. That’s a great example of how you can create a solution to your own problem or need that can also help others. (You can read my interview with her on Dreamer ENT here)

• Plan Ahead – Though it might not exactly sound like fun, making a business plan of what you want to achieve (like who your potential customers will be, how much you will buy your materials for, and how much profit you want to make for your product or service) is important to keep you on the right track. Ask a teacher or mentor for help in creating your plan.  It really helps to remind you of why you wanted to start the business in the first place, and it helps you to keep track of your progress.

• Ask for Help – Don’t be afraid to ask others for help, such as friends or siblings who can help you put together your products, or parents or mentors who can help you do research or drive you to find materials. There are also some great organizations that support young entrepreneurs like NFTE (www.nfte.com). See if your school has business classes or clubs you can get involved with like Junior Achievement.

• Word Hard and Stay Inspired – Running a business could take up time that you may have spent online or hanging out with friends. In the times when you feel discouraged, remember the benefits of working on your business – doing something you love, helping others, learning to be responsible, and of course making some money. Be sure to take time to enjoy your success with friends and family – you deserve it! You can also stay motivated by looking for role models and entrepreneurs that inspire you. When you learn about their stories (for example, of how they overcame obstacles) it can encourage you to push forward.

I guess I still haven’t recovered from my love for entrepreneurship – I’m still running the event and graphic design company I started in high school and am always thinking of new ideas. I love to encourage other girls to turn their dreams into reality, and show them how it’s possible to be a successful entrepreneur at a young age. Running a business, though hard work, can be a lot fun too, and you don’t have to wait until you’re older to get started.

Julene is the founder and editor of www.DreamerENT.com, a site created to inspire you to dream big and soar high. Check out the site for interviews and articles featuring young dreamers, doers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and other cool topics for young people.