Some young entrepreneurs were plying their trade in Mission last month, as part of a new training program.
YET (Young Entrepreneur Training) is the brainchild of Lance Dinahan, who created the program at the request of several friends and acquaintances.
“When my son was young, I started teaching him how to have his own business. By the time he was 15, he was doing extremely well,” Dinahan said.
People kept asking him how he did it. So he began the online young entrepreneur training program to help adults teach their kids how to have their own businesses.
While the course is online, Dinahan decided to run a camp for youth during the summer.
“We got students who joined and trained for five days, learning the basics of money, the basics of business and how to get started.”
About 10 kids signed up and chose a product, designed the product and sold them outside the Prospera Credit Union in Mission.
The products ranged from iced tea and baked goods to dog toys and stress balls.
Kai Teshima, 15, was selling wood shelves that he created.
“This is actually my second time being through it (the program). We’re here to get a refresher and help everyone else who is doing it for the first time,” he said.
He said he originally tried three different businesses, but decided to go with the wood shelves because he enjoyed the process.
Taya Teshima was also part of the group taking the course and said she did it because she wants to make money.
“Then we manage the money so we don’t just spend it after.”
She explained that all money collected is split up into categories such as play and education.
Dinahan said learning to manage the money is an important part of his program.
“It’s skills they will have for a lifetime,” he said.
To learn more, visit yettraining.com.
