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BIZKID 2 BIZKID (#9) – Steven Haggerty
August 08th, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

BIZ KID: Steven Haggerty

BUSINESS: Salut World

AGE: 18

WEBSITE: www.salutworld.com

TWITTER: @Stevenhaggerty

Steven Haggerty is the mastermind behind Salut World. Salut World is a hub for the other Salut companies — Salut Designs and Salut Hosting. Salut World is a perfect one-stop shop for all your website needs. Steven has designed websites since he was twelve using Dreamweaver. When he turned fifteen, he decided to take his hobby and turn it into a business.

Steven chose the name Salut World for his company because in French, Salut means “Hello” so it translates to “Hello World.” Websites connect people from anywhere in the world so his business name is very appropriate.

A musician knows all about music. An architect knows about buildings and structure. Steven knows all about websites. He loves to take on projects where the customer wants a “more daring and radical design” as he puts it. He says that websites have advanced so much that instead of the old boring HTML, he uses the newer PHP and CSS.  He currently works solo but has other resources to call upon if needed. Steven is looking for a young sales person for the hosting side of his business. So if you’re interested, contact him.

Steven is a big dreamer in that he is looking to expand into real estate which he would purchase and rent out. He is also looking into yachting which is a big source of income in southern France where he lives. In addition to those plans, he is always open to helping with other projects and likes to keep things exciting.

People are choosing lots of different options for their education here in the United States as well as in other countries. Some stay with traditional schools, others choose home school and some do it on their own like Steven did by taking the GCSE which is somewhat similar to our GED. Although he stopped school two years ago when he was only sixteen to focus on his business, he hasn’t regretted his decision. It’s important to know that he is not telling others to do the same because he thought long and hard about the decision before he made it.

“I would love to be like Richard Branson, [Founder of the Virgin Group]” Steven says. “He has inspired me a lot since reading his autobiography.  Steven believes that people need to take risks in business.  He added, “If you don’t take a risk, nothing will happen in life!”

Steven isn’t all about business though. As he says, he still does the “usual 18-year-old stuff” like going to the beach, although some of his friends say he has a hard time turning off his business brain.

For more information on BIZKID 2 BIZKID or if you know of a young entrepreneur that you would like to see featured please visit Pencil Bugs.

Note: At the time I interviewed Steven for this article, he was still seventeen which qualified him as a BizKid for my blog.

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Do You Set Goals?
August 01st, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

Setting a goal is a good thing. We hear people talk about it all the time. There are professional business coaches who teach people how to set goals. I will be starting 9th grade next month and even for high school, they already have us meet with a counselor to set a four-year goal.

But setting a goal or being stuck on one goal can also be a bad thing.

You have probably heard at one point in your life that life is full of possibilities; you just need to take them. Sometimes when people set a goal, they get too focused on that one goal. While they are working toward their goal, many other opportunities may come up but they ignore them since they were focused on the goal. Or maybe they didn’t even see the opportunities at all because of their narrow focus on that one goal.

I am the first episode of the third season of PBS BizKid$ which coincidentally talks about different types of goals.  It is an entire episode devoted to goals.  I am fine with goals and I have had goals, but I believe that a plan is better.  Some may say it is just a change of a word but most people think a plan is not set in stone. If you said, “I PLAN to go to the mall tomorrow,” it’s probably not too big of deal if your PLAN changed. But if you said, “My GOAL is to go shopping tomorrow,” all of a sudden it changes the importance for some reason.

Goals are good to have because it gives people some direction. But make sure you keep your eyes open for opportunities that may be right beside you and be willing to change or make revisions to your goals if necessary. Just because you may not achieve your original goal does not mean you failed. It could actually mean you were smarter and took other opportunities that were much better than your goal.

In my new book, “Bitten by the Business Bug: Common Sense Tips for Business and Life from a Teen Entrepreneur” I have topics like this and many other things that are easily overlooked when people of all ages forget about the basics.

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“Bitten By the Business Bug” Released
July 04th, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

After two years of brainstorming, writing, editing, editing, and more editing, my first business book, “BITTEN BY THE BUSINESS BUG”  is officially published!  As the subtitle says, it is filled with “Common Sense Tips for Business and Life from a Teen Entrepreneur.”

I have never claimed that I know everything. Hey, I’m only 14 years old. But I am really lucky to be surrounded with many people who are very wise and have always been willing to share their ideas, values, and life lessons.  I have taken this information and simplified it, then added in my own perspective so people from age 9 to 99 will be able to get something from my book.

It is available on Amazon.com right now or you can order a signed copy from me through my website which I will start shipping on July 20.

Any good author has lots of people who help in creating a book. My book wouldn’t have happened at all if it wasn’t for my mom’s editing and typesetting skills. Then after coming up with the initial cover design, I got a surprise from a friend, Chaz DeSimone, who worked his typography magic on the cover turning it into the amazing cover that you see here.

Please share this link with your friends and family. I know you’ll love the book.

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BIZKID 2 BIZKID (#8) – Samantha Fernandez
July 01st, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

BIZ KID: Samantha Fernandez

BUSINESS: Pick-A-Pick/Travelin’ Tunes

AGE: 16

WEBSITE: www.wix.com/pickapick/pickapick

Who would have thought that you could take guitar picks and turn them into jewelry? That’s exactly what 16-year-old Samantha Fernandez did.  In December 2009, Samantha started the business Pick-A-Pick.

She has always had a passion for music. One day she said she was walking through a guitar store and saw the picks. Then it just hit her. Samantha makes the jewelry herself by punching holes in the picks and stringing them. Some of the picks have really amazing graphics.

In addition to her handmade jewelry, Samantha also started a program called Travelin’ Tunes. With the help of other young musicians, Samantha performs for kids in Miami Children’s Hospital and also teaches them about music. Samantha believes that music is a great healing tool and goes twice a week to play for the kids. Because of her age, she currently performs in the hospital’s outpatient area but since she recently turned 16, she can now train to go into the patient rooms.

Samantha loves music and medicine which is an interesting combination.  She has wanted to be a pediatric neurosurgeon ever since she was three years old which blows my mind.  Samantha admits that it’s kind of bizarre that she loves hospitals but I think it’s cool and makes sense because of her goal to become a doctor.  She is making a difference in kids’ lives which makes her feel good.

For those who want to purchase from Pick-A-Pick or donate to her Travelin’ Tunes program, log onto her website and send an email. At the present time, she is not set up for PayPal but will accept checks.

Other than her business and charity work, she attends a regular high school and plays guitar and piano in her spare time.

If you are in the Miami area and want to volunteer with Samantha, she welcomes support.  There is no musical talent needed for the volunteers; just the ability to entertain the kids.

For more information on BIZKID 2 BIZKID or if you know of a young entrepreneur that you would like to see featured please visit Pencil Bugs.

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Twitter #FF List (6-18-10)
June 18th, 2010 | Author: Pencil Bugs Creator

I’ve met lots of biz kids of all ages since I started my business. But these four are just a few of the older ones I was lucky to meet because we were all featured in Mark Victor Hansen’s book, “The Richest Kids in America.” Not every person featured in the book was rich by any means, me included, but each person had their special talents and reasons for starting their business.

Chelsea Eubank – @faithfulfish Founder of Faithful Fish, a clothing line with cool designs with a religious theme. Chelsea has quite a story to tell. Make sure to check out her website and if you’re not already following her on Twitter, do it now.

Olivia Bennett – @oliviabennett A talented artist who started painting at five years old as a form of therapy after having cancer. Her artwork is amazing.

Martina Butler – @emogirltalk She runs her own web podcast and was the first teenager to get national sponsorship.

Allyson Ames – @wonderlandbakery Allyson could be a “look-a-like” for Alice in Wonderland but in reality, she started her own bakery business and does amazing custom cookies, cakes, cupcakes, etc. I’ve tried them and they are as good as they look.

Of course, if you’re not already following Mark on Twitter, make sure you do. @markvhansen

If you’re interested in buying a copy of the book, I have it on sale now through July 4 for just $8.99 with FREE shipping and autographed by me. Check my Pencil Bugs website to order.

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