6 Tell-tale signs that your teenager might be a budding entrepreneur

Parents of Budding Young Entrepreneurs - Do you trust your teenager, treating them as equals and valuing their opinions? Rarely give advice, unless asked? What you say and do matters.

These are but a few of the characteristics demonstrated by the parents of one of Britain’s most famous entrepreneur, Richard Branson, contributing to the development of his entrepreneurial abilities.

Born in 1950, Richard Branson is a business magnate, inventor, author and philanthropist. He founded the Virgin Group in the 1970’s, which controls more than 400 companies in various fields such as: Virgin Music, Virgin Airways, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Money, to name but a few. He has also broken some world records in crossing the Atlantic by boat and hot-air balloon.

There were two notable features about Richard Branson’s early years – he was dyslexic and an underachiever in school. However, he did show early signs of practical intelligence and creative ability. He started his first venture at 16 – a student magazine – with no resources. In fact, he had no resources either for some of his early successful business ventures. Creativity was behind all of Richard Branson’s ventures, creating something original that sticks out, something that he was proud of.

Here are some of the characteristics displayed by his parents that led to nurturing his talents, values and self-belief.

- They trusted their children

- They were very supportive of them

- They never judged their children, choosing to praise the good things rather than criticise the bad things

- They treated their children as equals, valuing their opinions

- They rarely gave advice unless asked

- They had high ethical standards, instilling the notion that reputation is all you have in life

It might sound simple, but is it? The lines can be a bit fuzzy between trusting and being neglectful (at least in other people’s eyes), between advising and allowing them to learn from their mistakes. Maybe everything rests on the values we live by and expose our children to. It also begs the question - how have children’s lives changed since the 60’s and 70’s?

I’d love to hear your views.