The Last Word
May 2011
Last Word on Being a Young Entrepreneur
The saying goes, never work with children or animals! But personally, I take great pleasure working with young people in business, and watching them develop. When I see a group of school students enjoying working on the ‘shop floor’ and ‘learning by doing’ – which is the motto of Young Enterprise UK – it is so refreshing. I was 16 years old when I started my first business, so I appreciate how difficult it is to go from being in school, with a strict schedule and so many authoritative figures channelling your energy into academic studies, to being responsible for your own path. I am proud to say that I am able, at the start of my business career, to be involved in Young Enterprise UK, which is a fantastic organisation, offering a taste of the business world to students.
Many people to whom I speak about going it alone and starting up a business of their own tell me their biggest challenge is not funding or resources, but a fear of taking the leap and losing the stability and routine that in most cases has been constant for many years.
In this respect I believe young people are in a fantastic position to start up their own business, with access to invaluable support organisations like the Prince’s Trust in the UK. Currently, with companies all over the UK facing the challenge of implementing new thinking and new technology into the new consumer-led world of business, it is commonly accepted that young people are more attuned to utilising social media and more adaptable to technological advances and business transitions.
Many readers will know my parents, Lisa and Tony Burke, who founded their company Likisma back in 1992 when I was just 2 years old. From birth Essential Oils had been prized into my diet with Chamomile added to my milk, so I am most definitely a product of the product! Likisma as a company went from strength to strength, in fact developing from start-up to an £8m turnover in just 6 years. It was during this time that my life changed so dramatically and I am so very proud of what my parents achieved, and the subsequent opportunities that I received from them.
I was always involved in the family business, where I had the pleasure of meeting some of the leading figures in the direct selling world. During those early years I learned so much about running a direct sales business, and I believe that rather than being a weakness, my age was a great strength at that time. To be in the unique position of seeing my parents’ and my family’s life change as we attracted the trappings of success that this industry can provide illustrated to me that if you are willing to work hard you can reap the rewards. So it gives me great pride to now be at the head of EllaPure, my new health-and-beauty company.
As an industry we all have such great opportunities to pass on to new recruits, and coupled with a young person’s passion, there is such scope for amazing results.
My background is obviously unique and privileged, but with a passion I want to show young people that there are opportunities to develop an income and an unimaginable life by putting in hard work, determination and a little belief.
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