Today’s Brilliance from Maddie Bradshaw

My inspiration was during second grade at Hockaday School. I wanted magnets for my locker and then I took a class where we learned how to start a business.

They taught us how to take out a loan at the bank, market and sell a product. Our class made stationary. Each of us applied for jobs. The positions consisted of a business manager, design team, advertising, etc. I became the business manager. They taught me how to write a business plan.

This whole idea inspired me. That summer, I had my Mom take me to the library to search for books on “how to start a business”. I took bottle caps from my Uncle Sam’s coke machine, and turned them into magnets. I gave some to friends, etc. My friends and I all liked them so much; so, I chose to attach them to a necklace.

The idea behind my necklaces is to swap them with your friends. Plus, it is fun! One day you can snap on a cap and the next day you can snap on a different one.

My sister loves to swap out her caps all the time. She has all of hers on our refrigerator. When she is getting ready to leave, she just snaps hers on and is ready to go.

Owning my own business has been so educational. I have had a chance to learn the in and outs of daily life in the work force, while still being a kid.

Being able to design our product with my sister, Margot has been so fun! We love brainstorming on new ideas.

I don’t look at myself as being successful from a monetary standpoint. Everyone has a dream; I just hope to give them the hope to follow it!

I am also currently working on my first book. The main focus of my book is to teach girls, around my sister’s age, how to start a business. My book teaches the importance of owning a business while having a well-balanced life. In my book, I explain the different aspects of a business: marketing, designing, and financing.