While many teens and young adults are doing the usual thing - be it going to school or embarking on internships and first jobs - there are some young people out there with an entrepreneurial spirit that just can't wait to flourish.
When an inventive idea sets in, go-getters like Hart Main and Caroline Pugh are ready to leap into action, using their youthful passion, energy, and intelligence to create new things and make a difference. Read on to learn more about the impressive two and what they have already accomplished in their young lives. Success from an early start makes these two entrepreneurs enlightening examples for the young and old alike.
Hart Main: ManCans
Via indeonline.com
When it comes to getting a jumpstart on success, Hart Main is one to follow. At the tender age of 13, Main had a mission, to create candles which featured "manly scents," along with a line catered to female candle fans as well (which came further down the road). ManCans, which are candles inside soup cans are unique and fun.
As per Times Reporter, "ManCans candles have gone from being made in Main's kitchen and sold to family and friends, to being made at Beaver Creek Candle Co. and sold in nearly 150 stores across the United States. ManCans also has donated thousands of dollars to soup kitchens."
With unexpected scents like New York Style Pizza, Fresh Cut Grass, Burnt Rubber, Bacon, and Cigar, these candles are unlike what we're used to seeing (and smelling). Each one sells for a reasonable $10, making them as affordable as they are aromatic.
Still under 20-years-old now, Main aspires to inspire other young budding entrepreneurs with his book, co-written with his father Craig, One Candle, One Meal. "Hart's story will show you that you're never too young to make a difference."
From a flicker of an idea to a raging success, Main and his ManCans are lighting the path for new brilliant inventions to come.
Caroline Pugh: VirtualU
Via bizjournals.com
Fitness-minded with a flair for technology, the now mid-20s Caroline Pugh is co-founder and COO of VirtualU, which as explained by Forbes, "Integrates 3D human modeling technology with fitness and healthcare space so that people can accurately track how their body changes as they work out."
As described by the company, "The VFit™ 3D body scanner is the first sub-$10K device with millimeter precision, capable of producing highly realistic 3D models in just 20 seconds. Our current solution allows fitness gym members to scan their bodies and track body fat, lean muscle mass, and circumferences of the neck, biceps, chest, waist, thigh, and calf."
Pugh developed the idea while she was a sophomore at Virginia Tech. According to Huffington Post, "She led a team of 13 and raised $1.8 million in capital." Along with her studies, she had a passion for invention that propelled her to create and innovate. And as per Forbes, "She was awarded the CIT Gap 50 Award as most likely to build Virginia's next generation life science, technology, and energy companies." Pugh apparently was not the only one who knew she was on to something.
What is Pugh up to these days? Huffington Post reports, "She is the Chief of Staff to Aneesh Chopra, who is the first Chief Technology Officer to the United States. At Mr. Chopra's firm called NavHealth, Caroline works to make health systems nationwide more intelligent. Using data analytics and research insights, NavHealth ensures that patients have access to vital knowledge so that they can make informed decisions regarding their health."
Making her mark in the world of technology entrepreneurship, Pugh is a shining example of talent, perseverance, and success. And even though she has already done so much thus far, it's only just the beginning.
Stay tuned for more inspiring entrepreneurs and their success stories.
Via pexels.com
Every time payday rolls around, I’m on top of the world. Jeff Bezos-level rich - even though I’m anything but. And then somehow the very next day, rent is due.
The cycle continues. The next payday, bills for my apartment. I find myself without a surplus of savings since I just moved and newly-furnished my apartment completely.
Even more terrifying is the looming presence of the holiday season. Halloween’s officially over and before we know it, hello Thanksgiving…and then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s insane.
I’ve been feeling very British lately. Not in a Union-Jack-obsessed, “Keep Calm and Carry-On” way. I went through that phase in 2012 with everyone else… no thank you. And it’s not even a surge of patriotism catalyzed by the Queen dying — I’m firmly team Diana and team Meghan.
Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will sweep in and I’ll have to contend with the fact that I won’t be spending them with my family in the UK. I went home to London earlier this year, so there’s not much left in my travel budget for another trip across the pond. A few domestic jaunts might be in my future, but the closest I’ll get to England this winter is watching Love Island and Love, Actually.
So in that spirit, I’ve been filling my days with content from my favorite Brits. I’m listening to all the old British rock bands I grew up listening to, patiently awaiting the new Arctic Monkeys album, and rewatching anything with Michaela Coel in it. I even shipped myself an order of British Baked Beans, so you know it’s dire.
I’ve also been watching British YouTubers like Grace Beverley — my favorite. Generally, I only go on YouTube to watch Vogue Beauty Secrets and AD Open Door videos. But I’m so glad I stumbled on Grace. Her content is a mix of London lifestyle (what lured me in), relatable entrepreneurship, and mindful productivity. I’m not a hustle-and-grind-girlboss, but as a creative person in a 9-to-5, I need all the help I can get to stay plugged in. So, the video “how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmed” changed my approach to WFH.
Grace outlines her own productivity method: the to-do table. Instead of making a simple to-do list, she divides her tasks into a table that anyone can follow. As someone who’s survived with to-do lists for years, I recently implemented Grace’s method, and it’s revolutionized my workdays.
how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmedwww.youtube.com
I follow her routine to a tee. Here’s how it works:
Essentially, she divides her daily responsibilities into four categories: quick ticks, tasks, projects, and non-negotiables.
- Quick Ticks: Actions that take less than 5-minutes
- Tasks: To-do’s that take up to 30-minutes. Probably don’t take too much brain energy.
- Projects: Long-term list items. These help guide your priorities, even if you’re not crossing them off in one day.
- Non-negotiables: Pick 3 things each day that you must get done. This is how you’ll truly measure success.
With everything written down and sorted, next address your schedule. Meetings, deadlines, and time blocks — whatever works best for you. Write it down. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to them.
This way of categorization provides a roadmap for prioritizing your day — making you far more productive. Have you ever spent the entire day on small tasks and then suddenly realized you hadn’t moved the needle on any task? Or do you spend way too much time on tasks that aren’t a priority? No more. With your non-negotiables laid out, you know what to laser-focus on and what to dedicate energy towards.
Also, it pays to know your working style. I’m not a morning person. Yet, I have to be up and at ‘em super early. So, first thing in the morning, I march through my Quick Ticks to warm me up. I set a time limit, so I can knock out some easy wins which is totally inspiring. Then I move on to bigger things without lingering on emails or admin. For others, it might be more helpful to tackle the big things with all that early-in-the-day brain power earlier.
Grace has great tips on avoiding overwhelm and burnout. My favorite is taking more intentional breaks rather than scrolling through social media. I call this scrolling “productive” because I’m “coming up with pitches.” Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. It’s more productive in the long run to giving my brain a break with non-screen related stimuli.
Grace’s solution? Set a timer to read a real, an actual book. I’ve never thought of this. It’s a genius way to check off some books on my TBR and kickstart my creativity. After reading a good book, I’m completely inspired to write. So having books near my desk helps me step away from the computer during my lunch break for an actual reset. (And yes, the current books I’m reading are by British authors: Assembly by Natasha Brown, and Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalolu.)
In my pursuit of switching out my WFH set-up and getting my life together, I’ve engineered my workstation for success. With my new WFH essentials and Grace’s productivity technique, I’m revitalized for work — despite the fall blues and my melancholy about the pending holidays.
Here are the things getting me hyped for work and helping me crush my Grace Beverley-inspired to-do tables — no lists in sight:
Southwest Airlines Sale 2022
Pack your bags — Southwest Airlines is having a major sale! Fares are as low as $59 one-way if you book by October 3rd.
This end-of-summer super sale is a game-changer for your travel plans through the end of the year. Summertime travel gets all the glory. But why not take advantage of your long weekends, holidays, and PTO this fall. You’ll be surprised at how much travel you can fit in. Keep the fall/winter season exciting with domestic trips that give you all the excitement without breaking the bank. All thanks to Southwest.
Here’s the breakdown:
Where can you go?
You’ll find discounted tickets to and from most airports. Sale fares apply to cross country travel, and even Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean! Whether you’re visiting a new city or revisiting your last beach vacation, this sale has fares to make your travel dreams come true.
What do the fares cover?
Southwest Airlines has multiple fare tiers, each with various benefits. Wanna Get Away fares start at $59, while Wanna Get Away Plus fares start at $89. You can also find great deals on Anytime fares, which offer priority boarding and express lanes. Then there’s Business Select tickets for a luxe experience at an affordable price point.
Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member?
You may think these sale fares are too good to be true. Is there a catch? Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to access them? You’re in luck — anyone can attain these fares for a limited time.
But, insider tip, you should consider signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards. With a free sign up, you earn points and miles with each trip you take. And with this sale, each dollar you spend on these discounted tix can stretch super far until you eventually earn free travel. The only thing better than a sale is free stuff.
So pack your bags and brace yourself for those chaotic airport lines. Everyone’s hopping on this deal so get on it. Don’t miss out — grab your sale tickets by October 3rd!
I’ve been browsing the Southwest Airlines site, checking out flights and dreaming.