How it all began..
Updated: Sep 29, 2023
Believe it or not, I started leading and looking after other people at the ripe old age of 12.
The neighbourhood I grew up in was full of blue-collar, hardworking individuals who needed support to look after their littles ones, but also didn’t have a lot of excess cash lying around to pay for it. So, seeing a gap in the market and recognising an opportunity, my entrepreneurial friends and I thought we could help some of the local families out, while also making a little cash to support our budding clothing and jewellery addictions.
Shortly after turning 12, my friends and I began our own personal marketing schemes, advertising our friendly and low-cost babysitting services to the local neighbourhood parents. Back in the days when I grew up, it wasn't uncommon to have a 12-year-old babysitter.
We began asking some of our friends with younger brothers and sisters if their parents needed help. When that failed to generate any results, we started asking their parents directly. We were individually given little 1- and 2-hour jobs here and there making small amounts to fund our growing desires, but I wanted more.
American summer holidays are long, and without family support, working families really struggle to 1. afford and 2. find, ongoing sitters to watch their little ones while they work.
It didn’t take long for all the small jobs here and there to gain traction. Parents were starting to talk to each other about how responsible and considerate I was as a babysitter, and then I hit the jackpot!
One hardworking couple asked me to be their summertime nanny as they saw in me what I finally came to see in myself years later. That strong desire, drive, passion, and consideration for helping others and the genuity and kindness that I bring to all my pursuits.
While I think I got paid some ridiculous sum of $15 (USD) or $20 (USD) a day, the mere fact that this couple trusted me enough to leave their two precious little ones in my care during the day while they went to work to build a better life for themselves, meant the world.
The money was a great bonus, which, funnily enough I did save to purchase something I really wanted vs spending it on nonsense junk, but the trust and belief that they had in me at such a young age built the same confidence and impetus that I have today as I strive to be a better individual both in my personal and professional spheres.
Years later, its only now that I can consciously see what I was intuitively doing then and what they saw in me. They saw a budding entrepreneur who was guiding, leading and mentoring her group of friends to grow and achieve.
All it took was for that one couple to take a punt and give me a go. That one opportunity, that one speckle of belief in me, was just the beginning. The driving force that lit the fire in my belly, the very same fire that is still burning strong today.
Comments