4 ms·

This interview is great stuff. Some great quotes: "You think the teachers were proud? If a kid wanted to draw or write poetry or do anything artistic, they we

by chops 18y ago

This interview is great stuff. Some great quotes: "You think the teachers were proud? If a kid wanted to draw or write poetry or do anything artistic, they were full of praise. But as soon as they found out what I was doing, they shut me down. Sharing your candy with others is fine, but there was something disgusting to them about commerce. ... Ever since elementary school, I wanted to show that businesspeople are the heroes and encourage others to become entrepreneurs." So true! It's rare that a teacher would appreciate the selling of goods at school. Interestingly, I got busted by my principal in middle school for selling something regularly (I don't even remember what; soda, probably), but he wasn't appalled by the selling, so much as just covering his ass. He actually said he appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit, but that he just can't allow students to sell stuff to other children. (Maybe he was blowing smoke up my ass to keep me complacent, but I got the impression he was generally impressed with the "entrepreneurial spirit") But I can totally see an elementary school teacher being completely appalled at a student selling (god forbid) goods, rather than sharing. This quote in particular really strikes home: I hate the pansies who whine that "it takes money to make money." No it doesn’t! It takes a sense of mission. If you’re on a mission, you’ll find a way. Sounds very much in tune with being "Relentlessly Resourceful."

misuba 18y ago
Maybe that teacher was appalled at the gouging. Ten cents for a stick of gum??
- electromagnetic 18y ago
  That's commerce though. Each stick of gum comes from a sheet that's about as big as your living room floor and costs them about $10 to make, they then sell the entire thing for like $10,000.
- run4yourlives 18y ago
  Supply and demand. Gouging is a myth.
coglethorpe 18y ago
As much as I can appreciate the author's point with selling items at school, there also is a time and a place for certain things. Schools aren't shopping malls and lockers and desks aren't storefronts. Still, schools should do more to teach business and finance skills. But that's another article. :-)

by chops 18y ago

misuba 18y ago

Maybe that teacher was appalled at the gouging. Ten cents for a stick of gum??

electromagnetic 18y ago
That's commerce though. Each stick of gum comes from a sheet that's about as big as your living room floor and costs them about $10 to make, they then sell the entire thing for like $10,000.
run4yourlives 18y ago
Supply and demand. Gouging is a myth.

coglethorpe 18y ago

As much as I can appreciate the author's point with selling items at school, there also is a time and a place for certain things. Schools aren't shopping malls and lockers and desks aren't storefronts. Still, schools should do more to teach business and finance skills. But that's another article. :-)