Yesterday I met two young entrepreneurs that I am convinced will make a fortune in ten years (maybe sooner)! I was at a small farmers’ market in northwest Florida with my wife and some friends. Among the tables selling veggies and plants were two brothers who had a table with homemade birdhouses. What caught our attention was the way they were calling out to people passing by to draw them in. The older brother was engaged with a potential customer when the younger brother walked up to me, asked politely if I was interested in their birdhouses. As I began to ask questions, the older brother joined the conversation. I learned that Ronnie Bloodworth and his younger brother worked with their grandfather to acquire materials and build birdhouses to sell at the farmers’ market. Both were incredibly polite and had a professional sales style honed well beyond their years. I have known many adult sales reps who were not nearly as professional as ten-year-old Ronnie.
The price for the birdhouse I bought was $15 and I gave him $20. Ronnie said he would get change for me and I told him he could keep it. He seemed surprised, but looked me right in the eye and said, “Sir, I insist you must get your change.” I said, “I will be looking to see what a great success Ronnie Bloodworth will become in 10 years.” He hesitated for a moment and said, “Well, I would have to accomplish a lot as my name is the same as my grandfather.” Wow! Ronnie and his brother are as grounded as any two young people I have met in years.