Project~Moulding Young Entrepreneurs (1)
Attempt 1 ~~ Failed
The boy has been bringing one or two story books to school. He lets his peers read the books in school and returns to him before school dismisses. He also creates games and is happy that his peers happily join him too. I don't actually like those ideas and would rather he spends his free time at school completing some of his loaded homework. I choose to close one eye as I know this is his way of making new friends. He started with none when the school streamed the classes this year.
Back to lending of story books, something struck me and with confidence that he can manage his money quite well now, I wish to graduate him and slowly nurture his entrepreneur skills. I encourage him to loan books to his peers at a fee instead of reading for free. He got all excited with my idea and started to count the amount of money he could earn from lending out books.
I went to collect the RM100 cash from his class teacher this afternoon and while waiting for my turn, I observed that the boy didn't look easy as though something was bothering him. While walking back to the car after collecting the money:
Mom: What's is bothering you? You don't look like your usual self.
Son: Nothing mom. I just feel a bit strange.
Mom: Hmm... About what??
Son: I lent a book to the girl in front of me. I asked for 50 sen but she asked for a discount so we settled for 20 sen. I feel strange taking her money. There's a boy who borrowed another book from me and when I told him he gotta pay me, he says, please let him read for free, please.... and I let him.
Mom: Hmm.. Double standard lo like that. What about the girl? Was she unhappy paying money to read the book?
Son: No, she paid me happily, she just asked for a discount and I agreed. I have been feeling strange and uneasy after taking her money though.
Mom: Hmm.. does it help to make you feel better if you return her money this Friday?
Son: Yes, I guess.
Guess lending books at a fee didn''t turn out to be a great idea after all huh. Hahaha... Better think of something more practical. I have something in mind already, I just need a little bit more time to make it happen. Hmmmm..
posted by Inspired Momx1 @ 6:43 PM
5 Comments:
ones have to start some where :)
I really like Ian. He is just too nice and kind hearted. If I were him, I would also return 20send to the girl.
I remember I had a friend too last time when I was young. She used to loan me book and asked for fee like 10 sen. I gave, but when my elder sister got to know this. She asked me not to be friend with the girl anymore.
I know your main intention but I am not really in favour of lending books for money among friends/classmates. If he does it, say, in the school canteen and lends his books to other schoolmates whom he doesn't know, then that would be something more like a business venture...but I don't think the school will allow and other than that, the books may never come back.
There are all kinds of people out there. The girl may tell the mum that she has borrowed a book for 20 sen and the mum may come to school and cause a scene...and there will be a lot of unnecessary trouble.
If he's good at art, perhaps he can make things like pretty bookmarks and sell for 10 sen each. Kids love those...and they buy all kinds of rubbish from the school canteen. Perhaps this would be a better idea.
Well, just my two cents' worth on this thing. Mum knows best.
Your Ian is such a sweet boy. And I agree with what suituapui said too. Ian can make something like book marks and sell them at a small fee like 20sen. Psssst, I used to make bookmarks to sell when I was in Std 2 (32 years ago). Today, I am a small-time entrepreneur :D
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