This story is about a boy who found success due to an improbable reason: for teasing his sister. The general assumption may be that sibling rivalry often unleashes creativity; in this case, it indeed does. Hart Main, 13, did not like the floral attributes of the scented candles his sister made for a school project. He said with sarcasm that there was a need to have male candles that did not smell lavender. The mum was attentive, and she kept nagging him to make these male-smelling candles. Hart took up the challenge and made it a successful brand with support from both parents in all ways.

Hart Main was unique in many ways. First, when his mother insisted that he develop an idea born of a joke, he pursued it instead of laughing it off. Second, the Mains were a family motivated by curiosity to see how their idea would unfold. Third, Hart was one to embrace opportunity at each turn of his life and to take what had been a joke to become a major invention. The Hart family is the epicenter of curiosity-driven by hope and possibility. His mom, Amy Main, said, “I do that with all of my kids—I listen to them. Even if it sounds like they’re joking, if their idea seems feasible, I encourage them to pursue it.”

What was so spectacular about Hart’s idea? He had found a niche; he knew fragrant candles were marketed to women, and he wanted to create a product for men. He had the keen ability to identify a need and fill it, making that need a successful business opportunity. His question was the start of an idea that then became a successful company.

However, what I want to suggest is that the protagonist of this story is not Hart but his mother. The difference between him and many children is minimal; what places him into a different rank is the growth environment his mother provided for him, in which curiosity was allowed to be pursued and ideas were developed. Without that, he would have never been able to figure out that producing candles was his future.

This story has taught me many things, but the one main thing that it taught me was to always pursue your dreams and never give up on yourself. Hart always believed in himself to be great, and so should I.

To read more about Hart Main, click the link here