“Come let’s sit by the fire pit” the six year old boy said tugging so hard on my hand that I thought his little boy strength would pull my arm from its socket. “Ok, I’m game” I told him as he raced ahead to find a spot for us.

It was the end of a beautiful day in the desert and people were unwinding. Some teenagers were swimming in the pool and a group of men were perched on bar stools trading golf stories over beer.

We no sooner sat down when the young boy jumped up and started pacing back and forth deep in contemplative thought. “Time for me to get home now. I have had a nice vacation and now I must get back to work”.

“Work? What kind of work?” I asked him

“I am President of the Paper Boats Club. I am the leader and teacher. I teach people how to make paper boats. I left John in charge while I was away. Now I need to get back. I need to get more workers. We need to make 5,000 boats.”

“5,000 boats. What are you going to do with them?”

“Sell them. $2 each.”

“That’s a lot of money, what are you going to do with it?”

“Well, I am keeping half and half must go to the workers because you know your workers have to be paid” he said.

Several weeks after returning home I arrived at the school playground. It was a rainy day and the children were clad in their colorful rain gear floating paper boats in the mud puddles. There were hundreds of boats. It was quite a sight to see. The boy was in the corner helping kids who were lined up waiting to learn how to make a paper boat. As I watched I noticed that the boy was not his usual exuberant self and I wondered what was wrong.

I approached him and asked: “Hey…how did John make out while you were away?”

“Well, not bad but we have a BIG problem”. He then proceeded to tell me how the teachers no longer had room for their paper boats.

The boy had run into his first operational issue and had to deal with a force larger than him, “The Teachers”. There was some sadness in his eyes as he watched his “workers” race their paper boats in the mud puddles. But I was amazed by his maturity and acceptance of the fact that “The Teachers” were more powerful than him and that they were not to be overruled.

At the age of 6 this boy had developed a profitable business model that he turned into a reality. He found a drawing on the internet and while he could not read the instructions (he struggles with dyslexia) he figured out alone how to make a paper boat. He also figured out how to get his supplies for free. Each day he stealthfully loaded his knapsack with paper from his mother’s home printer.  He showed tremendous sales and leadership skills when he skillfully and naturally recruited “workers” from all grades at recess to join his Paper Boats Club. And he showed problem solving skills and bravery in the face of obstacle. He realized instinctively that he could not overrule a force larger than himself “The Teachers”. This boy is an Entrepreneur and he will create many businesses in his future.

I am privileged to know this young boy. He is now 9 years of age, he still struggles with dyslexia but I have the honor of making him breakfast every day. You see that’s because he is my son.

Entrepreneurs are born, not made. My son’s innate talent was not taught to him, and I can see some of me in him as he faces the obstacles that come with running a business. As entrepreneurs, I believe it is our responsibility to support today’s business minds and develop the talent of young people. Through our guidance, we can fan the flames of entrepreneurial interest and make a mark both in business and the lives of those who lead them. For me, it starts with my son.