4 Ways to Transform Your Difficult Child Into an Entrepreneur

It’s no secret that some of the most successful people on the planet are largely considered to be rebellious. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Apple’s Steve Jobs never finished college — a sign of what’s usually considered success in our society. This is a good thing, especially for parents of unruly children. Research shows that kids who rebel against their parents are more likely to succeed as adults. For starters, disobedient kids are likely to earn more money than their peers, according to a study published in Development Psychology. Researchers says this may be because they’re more willing to negotiate for higher salaries or get creative at work. Entrepreneurship can be a great option for difficult children because they set their own schedules and make their own rules.

That being said, here are four ways to raise an entrepreneur.

Focus on Solving Problems

Many people focus on problems instead of solutions when it comes to work and business. Teach your child how to combat this common workplace issue by having him or her identify problems and come up with solutions for them. For instance, if the cereal box is too high on the shelf for your child to reach, explain that he or she could ask you to bring it down to his or her level instead of complaining about having to constantly ask you for it, suggests Inc. By getting your kid to see why it’s more beneficial to create solutions instead of complaining, you’re laying the foundation for your child knowing how to create profitable business solutions.

Teach Your Kid to Fail

Letting your kid fail may be one of the hardest things you have to do as a parent, but it’s an important lesson he or she must learn in order to succeed. Sure, your child will feel hurt and disappointed, but learning how to cope with those emotions gives your child the tools needed to move on and eventually succeed. Failing also means learning what’s right and what’s not along the way. Maybe he or she is just not cut out for soccer. Some have even argued that many successful college dropouts are so because they learned how to deal with failure earlier in their lives.

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Help Build Your Child’s Confidence

It might not appear this way on the surface, but confidence and failure are closely intertwined. When your child fails, it’s important that he or she has enough confidence to rise again. According to Jennifer Crocker, a psychologist at the University of Michigan, kids with a strong sense of self are more likely to dig themselves out of problems. They’re also less likely to engage in dangerous activities, such as drugs and alcohol. By giving your kid room to make decisions, he or she will gain confidence in his or her ability to make good choices, which is a big part of being a thriving adult and successful entrepreneur.

Try Freelancing

One of the easiest ways for your kid to gain some work experience is by freelancing. That way, he or she can dabble in one line of work to see if it’s a good fit. Your child also can work on multiple projects if that best suits his or her personality. Companies like Amway give young entrepreneurs the chance to explore their interests in everything from healthy living to cosmetics.