Do Something!

by Crystal Paine

CS Hayden had an excellent post on entreprenuerialism from a young age which I thoroughly enjoyed. Anyone who knows me well knows that I very much enjoy business and marketing. Start talking to me about business topics and you are very likely to have trouble shutting me up (Of course, I might be like that on any topic, so I don't know that that is saying a whole lot, but, I digress...).

I am currently spearheading the Christmas marketing campaign for The Old Schoolhouse magazine. What an adventure. I've never done something of this magnitude before and it has been a learning experience, to say the least. Gratefully, I have a lot of very capable and qualified individuals working with me on it, otherwise I would never be able to pull it off. I am definitely not qualified for something this big, but the one thing I have learned over the past few years is that sometimes the best way to learn and grow is just to do it. Step up to the plate, be willing to make mistakes and learn from them, have a teachable spirit, and keep on listening, studying, and learning all you can -- you can never know enough about business and marketing, especially in this fast-paced, technologically-driven world.

And it's never too early to start becoming an entreprenuer. I know of a little 4-year-old boy who made over $1000 last summer selling plant starters at a Farmer's Market where he lives. His parents want to instill entreprenuerial skills in him and they decided it wouldn't hurt to start early since he had the ideas and inspiration and only needed a little help to pull it off.

For those who would like to start a business of some sort, my advice is just like CS Hayden's: Do something, anything, even if it seems miniscule. Whether it flops or succeeds, you'll learn a lot through the process. A lot of people never do anything because they are too afraid to try. Sure, you'll probably make a lot of mistakes. I know I sure have, but I've learned more through trial and error and real-life experience than I probably could have ever learned any other way. Surround yourself with wise counsellors and people who are more experienced and knowledgeable than you and soak up all their wisdom.

It has been amazing to look back on the last few years and see how much we have learned. I know it is God -- not us. He is the One Who has blessed our little efforts and our business. He is the One Who has provided opportunities, brought contacts our way, and guided our family. He is the One Who has provided for us through our law school journey. None of this would have ever been possible had we not first been willing to step out in faith and do something.

Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!

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