How to Let Your Parents Raise a Millionaire: A Kid-to-Kid View on How to Make Money, Make a Difference and Have Fun Doing Both

By Jack James and Brian Tracy

Jack James is an ordinary kid. At the age of 10 his mom encouraged him to start his own business. He decided to write a book to encourage other kids who are thinking about starting a business. Jack’s book is written from one kid to another. In How to Let Your Parents Raise a Millionaire Jack tells other kids the story of how he started his business, Jack’s Garbage Valet, He explains how easy and fun it can be and explains exactly why other kids should strive to become entrepreneurs. Jack’s book is full of kid-friendly business plans, fl­yers, invoices, and more to help any kid start their own business in 5 days! There are plenty of great books out there about kids and business. This book is different; it is the unique story of how one kid did it. It’s Jack’s story. It is personal, practical, easy to read, encouraging and fun. You'll discover things any kid can learn by starting their own business, such as learning self-confidence without arrogance; learning the word "No" is just a part of business - that “No” does not mean “I don’t like you.” By reading How to Let Your Parents Raise a Millionaire, you’ll make money and learn how to save. You’ll help people and see how giving back can make you feel special...And Much More!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781614482499

Jack James

Jack James was educated in Sydney, where he completed university studies in psychology, biology, social science, and the humanities. He trained as a clinical psychologist, and completed a PhD in experimental clinical psychology. Shortly thereafter, he was drawn to the new field of health psychology, which became the mainstay of his subsequent professional and academic career. He has been on the faculty of several universities in Australia and Europe, and has been principal investigator and recipient of health-related research grants from major granting bodies in Australia, Ireland, Iceland, and the European Union. In the 1990s, he was Foundation Professor of Behavioural Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, and Founding National Chair of the Australian College of Health Psychologists. In the 2000s, he was Professor and Head of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway. He now lives and works in Iceland, where he is Professor of Psychology, Reykjavík University.

Book preview

Introduction

My name is Jack James. When I was ten years old, my mom helped me start a business. I am twelve now, and I wanted to write a book to tell other kids about starting their own business.

Even if you think you can’t do this, I want you to believe you can because I know you can!

I call my business Jack’s Garbage Valet. I take my neighbors’ garbage cans out the day before garbage day and take them back after the garbage man comes. If you listen to your parents and start a business, first you will decide what business you want to start. You will want to come up with a good name for your business, and then you’ll start working on getting the word out. I will talk to you more about this in Chapter 3.

One of the hardest parts to having your own business is selling it to your neighbors.

My business, Jack’s Garbage Valet, is a small company. I take my neighbors’ garbage cans in and out for $10 a month.

That is my introduction, or sales pitch. If you are like I was before I started my business, you don’t feel very comfortable talking to adults.

Once you get your sale pitch down and do it a few times, you’ll be wonderful and make a lot of new friends. I say it to everyone I meet in my neighborhood, because they may be my client one day. We’ll talk more about sales pitches in Chapter 3 too.

In my book, I talk about all the things it takes to run a business, and from reading this book, you’ll see it is not such a hard thing—and it is really fun. I’ll show you what I did to get the word out about my business. I’ll tell you how I work with my customers, how I get new business, and how to ask for payment. I’ll also tell you what I did after I had my business going for a while. Once you have your business going and your customers begin to trust you, you can ask for other work around their house. This is how I make extra money.

Any kid can start a business on their own. My mom helped me start my business. My mom asked me for a while before I let her help me. Don’t do what I did—learn from my mistake. Start right away if your parents ask—or better yet—ask your parents to help you start a business.

You won’t be sorry. Having your own business is great. Besides, if your parents are reading my mom’s book, she is going to tell your parents to nag you until you agree, so make it easy on yourself and say yes! You won’t be sorry you did.

My favorite chapter in my book is Chapter 10. Before she wrote her book, my mom came to me and asked if it was OK if she told other parents a few of the things she has done with me. I said, Yes, but I also wrote a chapter to counter some of what she wrote in her book. In Chapter 10, I wrote some things for you to read to warn you about what is coming your way. My mom can get kind of creative, so be sure to read that chapter and follow the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared!

I also wrote a couple of chapters about my personal challenges in life. I have been bullied and I have Dyslexia. I wrote a chapter about each.

The reason I did a chapter about being bullied was so I could help other kids like me. I wanted parents to know how their kids feel, and I wanted kids who have been bullied to know they are not alone and can survive it. Surprisingly enough, I also wanted to let the bullies of the world know what it is like to be bullied. Bullying someone is a choice. Bullies don’t have to bully. It does not matter what drives someone to bully another person, it is wrong. There are other ways to solve problems. Maybe they think it is cool. Maybe they think it makes them better than others. Maybe—just maybe—they are hurting inside too, and making someone else hurt makes them feel stronger. I don’t know why and I don’t care. I hope my book will help bullies see what it is like on the other side.

Maybe if they know what it is like, they will look for another way, ask for help, or do something to build their own self confidence so they don’t have to tear down others to feel good.

The reason I wrote a chapter about Dyslexia is kind of like the bully chapter. I wanted other kids out there with learning problems like mine to know they are not alone. I am lucky. My mom and my Uncle Buck have