What’s your excuse? If Roy can do it anyone can.
What has happened to our belief that we’re the lucky country? The land of opportunity? A nation of ingenious self-starters?
Businesses aren’t investing. Their raiding their own futures to buy back shares and give their current leaders a bonus.
It’s like we don’t think about businesses as intergenerational institutions anymore. For most CEOs their business is just a comfy leather seat to park your arse for a while, while you suck as much value out of the company as possible, like Dracula on a smoothie.
It’s like they’ve just given up. We can’t compete with China. All the good ideas are taken. Times are too tough to build profitable visions for the future. We just want to curl up here in our heated, gold-plated bathroom in the executive suite, and enjoy the ride down as the company grinds into the ground.
Lending to business is tanking and business confidence is in the toilet.
What ever happened to the digital revolution? The brave new world of global integration?
Last time I checked these were still incredible times to be living in. There is an abundance of opportunities only limited by our imagination. There has never been a moment in history like this, and so the business models of the future must be new, never-heard-of-before revolutions.
We need leaders with vision. Leaders with self belief and the ability to take risks.
We need leaders like Roy.
Roy is the embodiment of the potential of Australia’s future. So all you corporate scaredy cats, you’re as weak as piss. Time to pull the finger our, roll up the sleeves and straighten your tie.
Losers, say g’day to Roy.
This is a photo of me and Roy (that’s him on the left.)
I met Roy a few weeks ago. It was the Labour day long week end and I was having coffee and breakfast in a café on Brunswick street.
I saw this kid standing on a street corner, with a bunch of people buzzing around him.
I thought he was a busker or something, so I stuck my nose over some shoulders to see what his trick was.
Peanut Butter.
He wasn’t busking at all. He was selling.
He was selling home-made peanut butter (he had actually made himself… on his parents nut butter press.)
He put it in some second hand jars, and slapped on a label he had made himself using InDesign on his parent’s computer.
Bloody brilliant.
He then had three home-made, handwritten posters which he stuck up behind him, and then put a tray of peanut butters on a stool.
And he’d made his first sale in the first 30 seconds.
‘How good’s this? I’ll go help the little fella out,’ I thought.
But I was lucky to get any at all. By the time I got to him he had moved 80% of his stock.
Within the hour he’d completely sold out. 25 jars at $4 a pop.
$100 bucks in an hour, easy money.
I was impressed. So impressed I asked if I get my photo taken with him. That’s not something I do that often. Not since the last One Direction concert at least.
I told how much I admired his drive and initiative. They’ll take you places, I said. Keep it up and you’ll be rich.
“That’s the plan,” he said!
That’s the plan? The kid is barely 12 and he’s already setting himself goals for the future. He’s already visioning the kind of life he wants to be living.
And he’s making it happen.
Now hang on Jon, no one’s going to get rich selling peanut butter.
Well sure. But this isn’t about peanut butter. This is about the entrepreneurial spirit that the young fella is embodying so well.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t about ideas. It’s about making stuff happen. Ideas are easy. Making stuff happen is hard.
And this kid is making stuff happen. And he’s probably already learned some powerful lessons about how to succeed in business and how to get ahead in life.
He identified a niche in the market and he figured out how to fill it. He probably also had to think about optimal pricing – a price high enough to make it worthwhile, but not too high to put customers off.
He also had to put some thought into branding and marketing. And he probably had to negotiate with stakeholders and investors (his parents).
And he had to take a risk. I think he was surprised as I was that he sold out so quickly. There was every chance that he could have wasted a whole day on that street corner and made nothing.
How many kids are wiling to risk wasting a good day off school?
And sure, the solutions he came up with to these problems reflect his experience and stage in life. Hand made posters as a marketing strategy won’t cut it in the real world.
But the point is he’s making a start. And we all have to start somewhere.
And few of us make a start when we’re 12 years old.
And I’d love to say this is some Current Affair fairytale, and that he’s parents were disabled chimney sweeps, struggling to get by.
But that’s not the case. His parents were both architects. By the sounds of it, they were doing pretty well.
But that kind of makes it all the more remarkable. He could have been at home, sucking on a silver spoon and playing x-box. He didn’t have to be doing this. He didn’t have to do anything at all.
But he did.
And his parents should be congratulated for raising such an enterprising young chap, and for supporting his dreams.
Not the dream of peanut butter. But the dream of making the most of all the opportunities life has to offer.
Thanks for the reminder, Roy.
Steven Hambly says
Roy you are a legend and I can see you will be very successful in life. Great find Jon. I still remember as a 14 year old growing my own tomatoes and cucumbers and selling them on the side of the road. Did pretty well too.
Bicuspid says
What on earth is going on here? Where are the health inspectors? Has he registered with the appropriate several hundred (?) government controllers? Who is looking after my health interests?
As an aside, my sixteen year old son started a street sweeping business after his mom died. For one dollar per day he swept the gutter and footpath outside, eventually, forty shops in Queen Street, Woollahra. Forty dollars per day for two hours work. Didn’t want me helping as it was quicker by himself. Still independent and has a very proud dad.
How can we encourage more children like Roy to think?
Move on or over all our politicians. Invest our taxes in education and research.
Alistair says
Hand written posters not cutting in the real world? Have you not seen those beaten up old Hiace’s covered in bad taste grafitti masquerading as campervans that have become the must have rental item for backpackers up and down the east coast…..
The lack of quality in both vehicle and branding have established that particular company as an iconic brand.
And in Melbourne’s trendy inner north filled with wanna be hippies and latte set, it might just be possible to get rich on hand made peanut butter sold in second hand jars, he just might need to put the price up and then they will probably sell faster
John Rahilly says
Great job Roy. I trust your give it a go attitude rubs off on your friends and customers. I, like you started off selling eggs to my neighbours from my little chook farm in a suburban Brisbane back yard 54 years ago at your age and I am still in business today. It has been a great journey and I wish you all the best for yours.
Sowrabh Behl says
Awesome! 😀
Roy Carter says
I love stories like this. Brilliant!
John from Perth says
Kids learn heaps by doing things like that. I collected golf balls from water hazards at a public golf course, cleaned them up and sold them to golfers and made enough to buy a sailing boat. My son mowed lawns and did the edges for almost everyone in our block and that kept him in pocket money through late high school and university. I’ve heard of other parents singing the praises of the training Mc Donald’s gave their kids when they worked part time. The lessons in taking initiative and self reliance will stay with the kids forever and set them up for success in life.
Colin Glover says
Jon, you’ve found another source of inspiration to feed us people eager to end the week on a positive note. I hope you gave him a link to your BS Friday so that he could continue his education with a leader.
Campbell says
Roy, fantastic effort wishing you every success. To leverage this Roy’s or anyone demonstrating enterprise we must mentor to get the best outcomes for the people & the country. Lets face it pollies don’t care they sell free trade agreements that can lead to private companies able to sovereign states because our laws protect against their business behaviour or products & we tax payers will foot the bill, less money for education & research.
All the best to all self motivated/reliant people who don’t require the state or big corporates to do well in life & assist others to do the same. I have & so my kids are doing the same
michelle says
Hi Jon, I had to comment…
My son Julian is eight.
Since he was aged 5 he has been setting up his “produce” stall at the bottom of our driveway. You Julian grows his own veggies and he owns 15 chickens. Sometimes he collects special rocks or donkey poo from the paddock.
The night before the stall opening he letterbox drops all the neighbours inviting them to his “produce” stall. When we had ducks he also roped me in to make duck egg cakes (they taste better than normal cakes). He sells his stuff pretty cheap… everything goes… even the bags of donkey poo!
Recently his grandfather tried to slip him 20 bucks (for nothing) … Julian turned to him and said “Sorry Opa I can’t take money unless I’ve earned it”. And that’s his story. Look out world!
Kathy says
Go Roy!!! What an inspiration! So happy to see the entrepreneurial spirit lives on in our new generations. Am passing it onto my children to read as I’d really love them to become budding entrepreneurs.
Ayn Rand would be proud.
judy says
That’s how it should be, creating your own work! instead of waiting to ‘get a job’
JUSTSAYIN ! says
Good on you Roy…but a word of advice,don’t try this in “Perth” WA, as the local council workers would be racing the health inspectors and Police to get to you first. All of them wouldn’t hesitate to write you up an infringement for lack of permits and health department clearances. No doubt the scooter pigs would give you an infringement if you dared to ride you’re bike to the location without a helmet or for riding on the footpath. Don’t even get me started on the Tax department… Phew!
You see “Roy” the Grubberment needs to be sure you’re paying your way before you earn a buck, whilst you earn a buck and even after you earn a buck!
The Gov’t likes enterprise, but likes its own enterprise more, for no other reason than they can get away with getting something for nothing.
Keep smiling 🙂
ek says
Well done. This is an inspirational example of
entrepreneurship. It reminds me my
childhood. Australia needs more people like
him.
Roy Bertram says
Hi Jon, This is Roy, I love the post! I have just finished making my website, which you can check out at fitzyfoods.com!
Jon Giaan says
Great work Roy. I gave you a write up in today’s blog. Check it out.
Keep up the great work!
Roy Bertram says
Wow Jon, its amazing! Thank you!
Nev Stone says
Awesome! Love the spirit! Someone who just does shit without thinking of the possibility of failure. That’s true fearlessness. Having an idea and actually thinking through how to succeed before his brain is polluted. Love this kid. Richard Branson stand aside!