Fiction — Rashard Freeman — Teenage Entrepreneur Book 1: Chapter 1 (Projected Release Date June 2022)

Chapter 1

“Boombada Boombada Boombada Booom Boom!!!” The large green trash can bumbled as the young man pushed it toward the road.

“Huuup!!! Son, watch it there, something just fell out,” the boy’s father called out as he reached down to pick up the Sift and Season Food Container that landed on the ground. “You gotta take your time when you are moving all this trash to the road,” he said as he placed the container back into the trash can.

“Dad?!”

“Yeah, son?”

“You know that I love you, right?!”

“Humph….you ain’t got no choice!!” his father corrected.

“Dad…”

“What is it, son?! Spit it out!” said Mr. Freeman as he interrupted his son’s preamble.

“Dad, what in the world does taking out the trash have to do with starting a business?!” the teenager asked as his father shadowed his son to the curb.

“He He He” his father pushed out a satisfied laugh.

“Shard I would argue that the essence of good and lasting entrepreneurship, or business development, is just like taking out the trash.”

“Entrepre-wha-ship??” Rashard said as he brought the large green rolling monster to a halt.

“Entrepreneurship is a fancy way of saying that a person is starting a business, organization, or movement that wasn’t there before.”

“Ok so I guess when I asked you and mom that question about ‘how to start a business,’ I should have asked `how do I become an entrepreneur?!’”

“Yeah, something like that,” his father said as his head bopped a nod. “Yeah, the words, thoughts and dreams are cool, but that is only the beginning, son. True entrepreneurship starts with a vision, listening to the needs of your potential customers, writing out a plan, understanding that you will be taking a risk, executing the plan, problem solving and taking care of your finances and people along the way.”

“Ok and so where does taking out the trash come in?!” said the teenager with a furrowed brow.

Mr. Freeman extended one finger in the air. “Well, for one thing, any new project or entrepreneurial venture has a certain amount of risk involved in it. There is no promise that it will be successful. Kinda like when you take the trash to the road, there is no guarantee that the neighborhood dogs won’t get in to it or that it will get picked up on time. You can do the right things to put the trash in the right spot but many other factors have to fall into place in order for your efforts to be successful, Rashard.”

“Ok, so you are saying that it may not always work out.”

“Yep yep, moreover good entrepreneurship is also like taking out the trash because the best entrepreneurs can always cultivate value for others.”

“Um I don’t get it” Rashard said with a shake of his head.

“Ok, ok, ok…” Mr. Freeman pondered aloud as he looked upward. He regained his composure and said, “Alright think about it this way. How many people do you know that actually like taking out the trash?”

Rashard thought about the question for several seconds. “I don’t know dad, maybe just you,” He gave an uncertain shrug.

“Ha! Son I hate to burst your bubble but even I don’t like taking out the trash! I just happen to love the triune God so I find my work yes, even trash pickup to be an expression of worship to Him. I love your momma and this work shows her that I love her because I am willing to care about our financial well being and the livelihood of our children.”

“Ok Dad, I get it. You pick up trash not because you love it but because you love us…” his son interrupted in haste.

“Aiiight, now, don’t cut me off! Just because you had your little fifteenth birthday the other day you ain’t going to be around here smelling yourself. Wait until I’m finished…” he said as he pointed his index finger toward his son. “…And yes you are right. My love leads me to work. Also, I started a cleaning service fourteen years ago because I realized there has always been a big need for people to clean up trash. People need their trash picked up and no one likes to clean up their own mess….” Mr. Freeman explained as he extended the base of his right hand to direct his words.

“…It’s not just about cleaning regular household trash. There is a business idea that exists in the cleanup of all sorts of trash; the trash at restaurants, the trash at hotels, the trash in homes, the trash outside the homes, the cleanup around your neck when somebody cuts your hair, biochemical trash, digital trash in email inboxes, trash that gets spilled, trash that gets wasted. Son, as long as people have stuff, there will be a need for trash pickup.”

“Ok, so, Dad in order to be an entrepreneur I need to have a love that leads me past the grimeiness of my business. I also need to find a business like yours that people actually need.”

“You are getting it. The next question you must ask as you prepare to start your business is can you get better at the execution of the business?”

“What do you mean?”

“Think of it like this. Can I be better at cleaning? Can I develop my skill set in this area? What, what are the things that will make my businesses clean better than the regular ‘Joe Schmo’ on the street?”

“I don’t know dad. Y’all have really powerful sprays, vacuums, and stuff…”

“Yep, cleaning supplies and equipment.”

“…And yall have a truck…”

“Transportation is a must!”

“…And I know that your company makes a promise to each customer.”

“Yes, we have a money back guarantee that if a customer is not satisfied, we will give them a free cleaning or their money back. These items were put in place to make our business standout to the customers. As an entrepreneur you are always trying to find ways to make your production or service better. You want your customers to know that your company is special and that they will be treated the right way when they see you.”

“Well Dad, since I learned all these things from you, why do I need to go to school?” Rashard questioned.

“He-he-he… whIneedtogotschool…” his dad pushed out his laugh again and mimicked his son’s words under his breath. “…Well first of all, it’s the law, you start missing too many days and they will send me and your momma to jail. Now I know you don’t care nothing about me but you are not about to send my wife to jail.”

“Dad, you know I Iove you!”

“Ahh, save it for Father’s Day…” his dad joked as he brushed aside his son’s comments with his fingers as if he was fanning a fly. He continued, “…Second, school helps you develop your skill set and networks. So many people go to school without even thinking about what they will do with the rest of their lives. I want you to try different classes and join organizations to test out what you’re passionate about. You try different things at school for the same reason you try different things at a restaurant. How do you know that you truly don’t want to pursue a specific career path if you never try it?”

“I never thought of it like that Dad. You said something about networks. What is a network?”

“A network is a group of people that share a common interest. But don’t worry I’m sure we will talk more about that later. Just remember in school you are encountering people that you will be able to connect with for the rest of your life. The shared experiences that you have today will be collective memories in the future. Last but not least you know what I think is the biggest reason I want you to go to school?”

“No Dad, what is that?!”

“You go to school because you only get one time to be a kid. So many people want to rush through school. Humph…you got the rest of your life to be an adult. Enjoy your childhood son.”

“I understand”

“But back to what I was saying about developing a skill. School is designed to help professionals better develop skills. A lot of young people think that school is just about passing tests. That’s a part of school. However, along the way you need to ask what you see yourself doing for the rest of your life? Classes are just practice of the real game for establishing oneself as a professional. Ok, son, two more questions…”

“What are they Dad?”

“Do your entrepreneurial efforts have honor?”

“What do you mean by honor?”

“Could you look me, your momma and your granny in the eye when you present your ideas? Or would it be something that takes advantage of people? Or would it be an idea that destroys another person or community?…” His father paused after each question for effect.

“Is your business the type that helps somebody or tears somebody down? That’s what I mean by honor, son.”

“Yes sir, I understand. What was the last question?”

Rashard’s dad looked at him and said, “The last question is can you see yourself pursuing this with a sense of passion and purpose?”

“Passion?”

“Yes son. Passion means do you look at this task like you do those video games on your dumbphone”

“Dad, it’s a smartphone!” Rashard responded as he chuckled and shook his head.

“Yeah well…passion is when you have a desire to do something even if no one ever paid you a dime. I don’t like cleaning the trash but I hate to see people in messy situations. It probably has something to do with having to help your granny growing up in Orangeburg. Son, you are a blessed man if God gives you the grace to find a craft that you can cultivate like that…”

Rashard nodded to demonstrate that he understood his father’s words.

“…and simply put, purpose means that you are doing this for a cause that’s bigger than you. Always remember, we is greater than me. Don’t get me wrong in most forms of entrepreneurship you are going to make money if it’s done successfully. But there has to be something greater than the money that motivates you. Why do you think that is?”

“I’m not sure dad?”

“Because son, there will be many situations where you’ll have to choose. You will have to decide if you value the people that are connected to your company more than you value the money. Or simply put, will your property matter more than the people?”

“Oh Dad, I would never choose property over people!” Rashard declared emphatically.

“Aight!!! That’s what you say now…” His father said as he curled his lips and cocked his head to the right. “…Like the great Orangeburg Sports announcer Willie Johnson used to always say ‘Weeee shall see!!!! Son what I have found in life is we all have these “moments of truth”!”

“What is a moment of truth Dad?”

“A moment of truth is when you have to decide who you really are, it’s easy to talk the talk but sometimes you have to walk the walk, son.”

“Ok well Dad I appreciate the lessons. But Dad?!… Did we really have to take out the trash for you to tell me all that?”

“I want the record to show that your momma ain’t the ooonly one that knows the principles of good teaching around here!”

“Well…” Rashard said as he gestured with his hands in the fashion of a see-saw “….she was Principal of the Year.”

“Well I’m sure she would agree that there are three learning styles. Auditory..”

“Not to interrupt, but I think she says that there are like nine learning styles. She talks something about a guy named Howard Gardner…” he said as he interrupted.

“Um in the Freeman backyard there are three learning styles! Visual, auditory and kinesthetic” Mr. Freeman said as he playfully pointed his cupped right index finger and towards the earth for emphasis.

“Right Mom told us about them at that camp last year. Visual means seeing, auditory means hearing and kinesthetic means doing.”

“Exactly. For kinesthetic, I want you to remember the night your daddy took you out to push the trash to illustrate an entrepreneurship strategy that can cultivate value for nearly anyone. Never forget, it’s called taking out the trash. As for the auditory, just remember the rumbling of the trash can and remember the words that I shared. Last but not least remember that sometimes entrepreneurship begins with a P.U.S.H.” Mr. Freeman said as he spelled out the letters.

“P. U….” Rashard reiterated aloud. “A push dad?!”

“Yeah, a figurative push is always helpful for accountability but I spelled out the letters so that you can remember this acronym. You remember what an acronym is, don’t you?” He said as he bent down to draw the letters in the Blythewood, South Carolina dirt.

“Yes, Dad you have many,…” Rashard responded with a grin and a sigh. “… An acronym is a memorable word that is formed with the first initial of other words.”

“Boy you cooking with grease tonight!…” he said to encourage his son. “Ok so the acronym for this Introduction to Entrepreneurship course that I just taught today was that as a person gets ready to start a new venture it would be helpful to have a ‘P — Purposeful Passion that drives their work.’ Then the entrepreneur needs to make sure there is actually a need for what they are cultivating. Is there ‘Usefulness or Utility’? Did they cultivate this business because they were solving a problem in the market or where they just stroking their own ego? The next letter is S — for Skill. Is there a way that the entrepreneur can get better at cultivating this product or service? You see son going to school to get a specific degree or to a trade school to get a certification will help you as you develop your skill set in an area. Last but certainly not least is H — for Honor. Does the person or group of people pursuing this venture have the character needed to perform this task. Do they have the backbone to stand up against injustice that they might be faced with? Will they be able to survive the ‘moment of truth’ when they have to decide between people vs. profit.

“Got it Dad. Before taking the first step in entrepreneurship every person needs a P.U.S.H….

P — a purposeful passion, U — is the idea useful to a potential client, S — Can their skill level be developed in this area to make the idea even better and H — Do they have the honor needed to perform the task?” his son summarized.

Rashard pondered what his dad said for a moment and said “Thanks dad I appreciate that. Is that all I need to know to start a business?”

“No son, that’s just the beginning. I find that I am always learning. By the way that is another reason school is important. It creates the discipline of researching and digging to learn for the rest of your life. If you want to be good at what you do, the homework never stops,” his dad answered.

“Never?…!” Rashard responded as he scrunched his face, After softening his disposition he said “…One more question.”

“What’s that son?”

“What would I need to do to get a small business loan from you and mom?”

Mr. Freeman let out a belly laugh “Wow you learn quickly!! Well son before you get a loan, you got to have a plan…” he began as they left the trash can that was at the edge of the road and walked towards their home.

For the next two hours Rashard and his father discussed how to organize a business plan.

For the Reader — Turn to page ### to fill out your P.U.S.H. Test. What steps will you take to put your P.U.S.H. test results into action?