TV Star Debbie Travis States Importance of Entrepreneurialism in Kids
Posted by Nancy Phillips on Thu, Nov 17, 2011
Last night, the super successful entrepreneur, Debbie Travis, engaged the audience at the Credit Canada financial literacy month awards ceremony. A number of high school students were awarded sponsorships for their award winning essays about “the dumbest thing I ever did with money and what I learned from it.” Well, the winner gave a hilarious recount of the money he spent on a new “gorgeous” girlfriend who turned out to be a "leech" that sweetalked him out of $700 worth of gifts in twenty one days. His entertaining story was a perfect introduction into Debbie’s interview as she is very funny in her own right with her northern British dry wit.
Debbie is hugely successful by any definition although she came from very humble beginnings. Her father died when she was twelve years old which left her mom, who had never worked, to care for four children. Debbie dropped out of high school at 16 years of age. Here are a few of her accomplishments:
*self-taught interior designer, and former fashion model.
* the host of Debbie Travis Facelift and Debbie Travis' Painted House, From the Ground Up with Debbie Travis, All for One with Debbie Travis.
*weekly syndicated column and author of 8 books
*launched her own paint and home products line available from Canadian Tire, which sells over $100 million annually
A few key points she made for the next generation:
- Entrepreneurialism, being “problem solvers” is critical for the next generation. There are no jobs out there for new grads because the boomers are not retiring and formal education isn’t preparing them for the real world (she has two sons who have graduated university and can’t find jobs).
- Being broke from the age of 17 to 25 is the way it should be. You shouldn’t “have everything.” This is when you learn your critical life survival skills and it’s the best time of your life.
- Follow your passion, you will learn what steps you need to take as you go along the path. No one knows all the steps when they start out.
Her comment on money - "I don’t waste anything, I worked too hard for my money."
A good message for our youth indeed!