When you hear about a young entrepreneur, many people would think of someone in their teens or early 20s, not a six-year-old. However, six-year-old Gideon Bell is already a budding entrepreneur who is selling his crafts at a roadside stand in his neighborhood. He first had this idea when he saw a lemonade stand at a festival, where he bought some lemonade and asked them about their business. Taking inspiration from this, he saw an opportunity to earn some money.
Gideon’s main items for sale are his plant stakes, which come in the shapes of flowers, pumpkins, and butterflies, as well as other crafts that he makes. His table is set up in the front yard of their house, located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Customers stop at his stand and purchase one of his crafts as they walk or drive down his street.
What is Gideon planning on doing with his profit? Gideon is currently saving for a big LEGO boat set, which was his
original motivation for starting this business. Already, he is over halfway to reaching his goal! However, once he has saved enough to purchase the set, he is not planning on stopping but will continue selling what he makes. Beyond saving for his LEGO set, he is also tithing off all his earnings. Gideon says that when he grows up, he wants to open or run his own business.
Gideon showed initiative when he wanted to buy a LEGO set, and he found a way to make some money. He combined this motivation with his creativity to design and sell his plant stakes and other crafts. Additionally, he honored God in what he did by tithing from his earnings. Even though many entrepreneurs will not start at such a young age, they can still learn some of these important entrepreneurial principles from Gideon Bell and his roadside stand.
Gideon is a true inspiration to us all! Not only is he using the skills he already personally has he is also honoring God in the process. Gideon has a great path set in front of him if he keeps his mind and business focused on God, which is a great reminder to everyone as they walk in their daily life. My favorite part about Gideon’s story is that he is a six-year-old boy, wanting to purchase LEGO. He is not focused on pleasing those around him or changing the world, but simply being able to purchase a boat for him to build. He’s not aiming for a million-dollar business, just one big enough to maintain his LEGO lifestyle! Thank you for sharing Gideon’s story and inspiration!