The Spark of Ambition

When I was nine, my allowance wouldn’t cover the croquet set and the pogo stick I wanted to buy out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog. I pondered a lot about ways to buy what I wanted.  My decision: look for a kid’s job.  However, living a mile out of Monticello, Utah, on the way to the mountains, a lemonade stand just wasn’t practical.   So I creatively sought other options.

The First Attempt: Facing Rejection

It seemed like every time I went to the grocery store, there was a young boy stocking the shelves. Bingo! When my mother brought groceries home, my job was to stack them on the shelves thus stacking shelves was the perfect job and that Mr. Adams, the store owner, knowing my parents was another plus.

I picked a day, and full of confidence, got on my bike and rode to the store. I asked the assistant if I could see Mr. Adams. When Mr. Adams came to the door I bent my neck back to look up at his 6′ 4” frame. I began to wonder what I was getting myself into.

But undaunted I blurted out, “Can I have a job stacking cans?” He looked slowly at me and smiled, then said, “You are far too young.” Feeling dejected I got on my bike, rode the one mile back home, and passed a small stream that went right by our house. It was our prime spot to dig worms for all our summer fishing trips.

A New Idea: Selling Worms

Suddenly an idea flashed into my head. I could start a business selling worms in Campbell tomato soup cans. Now my whole energy shifted, and I could not wait to get home. I ran in the house with all the enthusiasm of a young entrepreneur. My mother thought I had a great idea. My younger bother Jared was also excited.

Launching the Business: “Educated Worms”

So Jared and I decided to start our small business. We made a list of the things we would need. At the top of the list was an advertisement about the worms to be placed on our Federal Baker Ranger Station sign. My older brother Jay was a good artist. We all sat down and began to think how we could make a sign that would draw in sales.  We made the sign on a piece of poster board, drawing a picture of a worm with a graduation hat on it. Then put the words, “Educated Worms–12 cents a dozen.” It was perfect.

The Outcome: Summer Fun Earned

Needless to say, our business took off, and both Jared and I had earned all the money we needed to buy our summer fun.   I learned early in life, if you’re open to change, when one door closes another will open.