500 teens learn lessons on becoming own bosses

Andrea Aguilar, a 16-year-old junior at Copper Hills High School, wants to be her own boss.

On Thursday, she found herself in good company, surrounded by more than 500 other Utah high school students who took part in the Young Entrepreneurs of America's annual summit at Salt Lake Community College.

The organization is a Salt Lake-based nonprofit group dedicated to teaching high school students about entrepreneurship.

Brian Acord, founder of YEA, said most high school students know what entrepreneurship is, but many young people are afraid of taking risks.

"Almost every entrepreneur says they wished they had started earlier and been a little bit less afraid of failing," Acord said. "You will fail, but you are going to learn from this."

Roughly 40 business professionals and entrepreneurs offered the students a candid look at what it takes to start your own business.

Alex Lawrence, chief executive and owner of LCM, a holding company that owns a chain of 14 restaurant franchises, told the students that hard work and failure is part of being a successful entrepreneur.

"I am completely self-made," Lawrence said. "I didn't have a rich dad or a rich grandfather. I wasn't given a blank check or a bunch of money by somebody else. I had lots of real jobs."

Rachael Herrscher, chief executive of TodaysMama, a Web-based business offering personal and parenting resources for women, said that her parents were both entrepreneurs. Herrscher said she remembers her family having to file for bankruptcy protection.

"My dad is one crazy and wild entrepreneur, who is very successful at it, but there were ups and downs with it," Herrscher said.

Those risks do not seem to bother Aguilar, who has compiled a list of possible business interests that include the automotive and fashion industries.

"I learned that no idea is a bad idea," Aguilar said. "I also learned that you just have to put your ideas out there. If you do not sell yourself, no one will listen."

---

E-mail: danderton@desnews.com