A Message from DeNage Bautista | Caleb’s Mom and #1 Supporter
Transcript
Hi, I’m DeNage, Caleb’s mom! When Caleb started his business four years ago, I wasn’t really sure how long he would stick with it or how well he would do. But I was willing to encourage him to work enough to earn the money he needed for the expensive building set that he wanted. I thought, maybe he would do it only until he was able to pay for it? But, once Caleb realized he could make money pretty easily and quickly, and that people liked hiring him, he caught the business-owning bug. So, I chose to look at this opportunity from a different perspective.
I thought about all the job opportunities I had as a kid, such as babysitting, mowing lawns and delivering newspapers, and I realized those things don’t really exist for kids anymore. He had a good thing going and I wanted to encourage him. I wanted him to continue with it! There’s something special about working hard to earn money to pay for something all on your own. Not only was he making money, but he was learning valuable life skills, such as customer service and public speaking, money management, work ethics and responsibility. All of these things trickled into other areas of his life as well. So be prepared to see your child grow and blossom in all of these areas of their life from this opportunity.
As a mom, there are some things I would encourage you the parent to partner with your child on to ensure their success. Be there to help them when they ask for help and to encourage them when they aren’t feeling confident. There were a few times Caleb had some questions on how to respond to a client’s texts and phone calls. Knowing what to say and how to say it is very important as the tone can make all the difference. When clients know they are communicating with a child, they are usually more patient and more understanding. Try to resist the temptation to communicate for them! Assist them, but let them do it themselves. Caleb will come up with his responses to texts and then ask for my feedback before sending the response. That not only helped him think through the conversation, but my suggestions stuck with him more than if I had just told him what to say.
Since Caleb is now 16, he can drive himself to his clients and no longer needs my help like he did when he was younger. But he is still a minor. So I always accompany him for the first time he meets with a new client. I want that client to know that he has a support system, and can’t be taken advantage of and that we are an active part of his business. Caleb always goes over the rules with every client in our presence. One of those rules that is non-negotiable is that he never enters a client’s home. In order to service that clients yard, he needs access from an outdoor gate if it is fenced in. Your child should never go inside, someone’s home no matter what. This is 100 percent for their safety. I can’t express enough, the importance of this rule.
When meeting with a new client, the entire client agreement should be discussed with each client to ensure there are no questions and no confusion on expectations, the servicing agreement or payment. As the parent, you can help with any questions your child may not be able to answer in the beginning. How your child chooses to handle accepting payments should be a decision you and your child make together, depending on their age. We have found that cash and money transferring apps work the best. The more clients they get, the more they will learn and pretty soon, you won’t need to be there except for moral support! It is very gratifying to see your child grow and become confident right before your eyes.
As with any business, there may arise questions, concerns or situations you just aren’t sure how to handle. When that happens, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here for you! Here at Execukids Entrepreneurs, we want to help support you in any way we can because we know that successful kids create a better tomorrow! Thank you for believing in your child. We believe that your Execukid Entrepreneur is going to do great!