Dallas Crilley’s Kidpreneur Blog — Ways Kids and Teens Can Make Money

The Story:

When Scott Wainner was just 15 years old, the world wide web and personal computing was only just beginning to become popular. Like many teenagers, Scott loved to play video games and run flight simulators — the only problem was that Scott didn’t come from a wealthy family, so without a top of the line computer, Scott’s games would sometimes run slowly or wouldn’t even run at all.

Always a problem solver, Scott began to learn how to tweak his computer so that it ran more quickly and efficiently than it was right out of the box. Looking to find others like himself, Wainner started SysOpt.com, a forum where computer-minded users could congregate to share tips on speeding up their systems.

Eventually Scott began getting offers to advertise on his website, and as his website’s forum grew, so did the demand for his ad space.  Bit-by-bit, the ad revenue grew. Scott recalls selling his first banner ad for $25 a month, and by the time he graduated high school, Scott’s hobby was making him almost $100,000 a year.

The Secret:

I’ve done many of these stories now, and the formula is amazingly simple.  Scott began his website because he loved computers, not because he was out to get independently wealthy. He acted on his passion and the profits followed.

Scott noticed that there was a void — there weren’t any other websites around that allowed fellow computer hobbyists to chat about their latest upgrades. Rather than wait for someone else, Scott decided to take matters into his own hands and make it himself.

Now It’s Your Turn:

Pablo Picasso said that action is the foundational key to all success.  What’s holding you back from following your dreams right now?  Next time you think to yourself that someone should create something, look in the mirror.  That person should be you. And like Scott, you might find yourself with a cache of cash.