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Creating Entrepreneurship Opportunities - Seite 2
The students do more than talk with business owners during the school year. They become them - three times.
Their initial venture begins with students securing funding for start-up costs to help launch their group business.
"They have four weeks to figure it all out," said Brown. "I give them the project and step back. They ask me questions. My go-to is, ‘What do you think?' We kind of want it to be messy. I want them to learn it's OK to get it wrong."
Once the initial venture is completed, the class works together on another business concept developing a product, service or event idea and creating their business plan.
"We have them pitch it to our CEO board," said Brown. "Then, they execute the entire business plan."
This past semester, that plan was a black-tie auction featuring local artists. Every two weeks, students reworked the numbers and shared their progress.
In January, 200 guests attended "Melodies and Masterpieces," which raised $30,000.
"It was a moment where we almost all cried," said Brown. "They saw this vision and made it happen."
With net gains of increased self-confidence and assets to reinvest in themselves, students next identified their own product, service or event to pitch to a judging panel in May.
"I tell them, ‘Find something you're going to date for five months,'" said Brown. "You can't quit it, and that's entrepreneurship."
Beef jerky, cologne, lawncare businesses, car detailing services - each entrepreneur receives a grant to help fund their idea. Earning them involves requesting a loan from finance veterans like Rose on Banker Days.
"Bart has been very involved every year," said Brown. "He does a really good job of listening and giving good feedback. He breaks down financial plans in a way the students can easily understand."
"The questions students ask are well thought out," added Rose. "They're not afraid to ask and they do it in a very professional way."
They call on that professionalism again speaking to 200 high school classmates to help recruit the next Central Illinois CEO cohort.
"It means so much more hearing it from their peers," explained Brown. "They're honest in sharing you have to get up at 6 a.m., but it's worth it. They say, ‘Here's what you're going to get out of it.'"
Those returns include more than learning the value of making eye contact, giving a solid handshake and writing thank you notes.
It's my calling to help people become the best versions of themselves.
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