Teens as well as adults are facing the same bleak outlook in our current job market; however, our young adults are taking a different approach to ensure job stability during the recession. Teens have taken on the roles of young entrepreneurs in an effort to create their own job opportunities. In an article posted in USA Today, Jack Kosakowski, President of Junior Achievement USA said, “Kids are actively considering starting their own businesses. It might be out of necessity, since there aren’t a lot of jobs out there. But they’re also seeing parents and other adults that have been loyal to companies for years… getting laid off, so these kids might be thinking, Hey, I might be better off being my own boss.” http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2009-05-18-teen-entrepreneurs-start-businesses_N.htm

 

Some of today’s most famous names such as Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Steve Wozniak and Tommy Hilfiger all started out as young entrepreneurs and have grown into the wealthiest and most successful names in business. It is certainly refreshing to see young adults venture into the business world on their own and take the leap into the unknown. It is certainly more advantageous for teens to start these ventures at their young age as they have potentially less to lose than an adult with a family and home to support. The article went on to note, “if you get rejected 50 times as a 13-year old, you get over it a lot faster than at 40. Trying and failing is one of the greatest learning lessons. … It breeds perseverance.”