At the age of 3 and a half, Ryan Hickman saw a problem and decided to act on it. Ryan realized he was bothered by seeing bottles and cans lying on the ground. So, he started in his own household. Ryan collected his family’s recyclables and then went with his father to a local recycling center. From this one haul, Ryan received 5 dollars and an unforgettable experience. “I just loved it… And I just wanted to keep doing it and doing it and doing it, because it was fun, and it was helping the environment,” Ryan later explains on an interview. One haul was not enough for young Ryan. In addition to his family’s recyclables, he began to also collect his neighbor’s recyclables, going around his neighborhood with a bag attached to his bike. At the age of only 3 and a half, Ryan was, by all intents and purposes, running his own business! His business, Ryan’s Recycling Company, began making Ryan a celebrity as he was recognized by CNN Kid Wonder and invited to appear on shows like “Ellen” and “Today.” With his growing fame, Ryan decided to create a digital presence and sell T-shirts on his website that had “Make the Sea Trash Free” printed on them. All his profits, both from selling T-shirts and his recycling company, go directly to the rescue organization Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Ryan’s Recycling Company raised over 14,000 dollars and recycled 1.5 million cans and bottles by 2022. Alongside his for-profit business, Ryan founded a nonprofit entitled “Project 3R” with an intent to educate about and create awareness for the importance of recycling. Through seeing a problem that he cared about and acting on it by building two companies, Ryan Hickman showed excellent entrepreneurial thinking, even at the age of 3 and a half!
I think being able to turn waste into perfect is not only good for the environment but a great business model as your cost of supplies is free. I think the key to his success was his ability to efficiently market his business by making t-shirts and a website. Then being able to donate to conservation efforts just shows that this little dude actually cares and it isnt just about the money and he is a good entrepreneur and will definitely be able to build another business where he can make money.
I love Ryan Hickman’s heart. Age is certainly just a number! Anyone is capable of making an impact. Most three-year-olds would be watching tv or playing on an iPad, but not Ryan! I like that he was able to harness his obsession and unleash it in the right direction. Especially by supporting the rescue organization Pacific Marine Mammal Center. I bet he inspired a lot of people that were both his age and older. He truly cares about recycling and that is a passion that we need for the world.
Kyle, good work with your post! I have actually seen a few YouTube videos about Ryan Hickman, and his story really proves the point that you can never be too young to chase your dreams. I think something that really stands out to me is how he was so passionate at such a young age, and I think modern-day entrepreneurs can really gain something from his story. Overall, this was a really good example of a young entrepreneur!
Wow, it’s so inspirational to hear what a mission can do for the world – even when it comes from someone who is so small! Ryan Hickman’s story is very inspirational, and helps me remember that we have the ability to change the world if we pay attention to the pains that the world is facing. Inspirational story, great post! Thanks for sharing!