I created my first business when I was eight years old and fancied the thought of being my own boss. My first step was to figure out just what to do to make my millions, and I already knew how to spend it: Operation Penny Candy.

Just down the road from my house was “Second Bridge Auto,” a small old-fashioned neighborhood store and car lot with about a dozen cars when fully stocked. My eight-year-old brain didn’t care much about the cars, but the candy counter was a magical place!

At the front of the one-till counter were bins of penny candy that my best friend Hopie and I would reach our hands into like digging into chests of treasure. The pretty lady at the counter would always give us a few bonus choices for our quarter-mile walk, and we would leave happy every time with handfuls of Slo-Pokes, Sixlets, and Mary Janes. I just had to figure out how to get the money!

My eight-year-old brain worked overtime to come up with ideas, and I thought my first idea was pure genius; I’d sell my mom’s books! My mom was a reader, and when she was done with her books, they would go in a box and eventually up in the attic. Since the books were already read, my mom would no longer need them. Right?

One day when mom was occupied with other things, I pulled the string to the attic stairs and went hunting for books. Jackpot! After a few up and down trips, I had my Lil’ Red Wagon filled up with a library’s worth of great reading, and I was off to meet with the neighborhood ladies.

From block to block, I met the neighborhood ladies, selling the books for a dime each or three for twenty-five cents. What a deal, huh? Before long, the wagon was empty, and I headed back home to count my profits. When I saw my mom waiting outside for me, I KNEW how pleased she would be, making space in the attic and raking in profits. OH, the candy I would buy, some even for her!

Well, my mom wasn’t as impressed with my entrepreneurial spirit as I had guessed, and it took me about another day to get the books back. Although my first attempt at building a successful business failed, it didn’t discourage me from my next great idea, however, selling my dad’s extra tools! Never give up, right?