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The beginnings of an entrepreneur...9 years old.

note from Rainey
My broker often brings his 9 year old son to work with him because he lives in an
area with no playmates for the child. Rainey is a character and all of us
sorta pamper him and sometimes cater to him. He asks to do chores
for us for a few cents pay.

He came into my office the other day and said he had 20 cents and needed to
borrow 35 cents to go with it to buy himself a coke. He asked if he could
borrow that from me. I had two quarters and he figured the math and left
with his 35 cents. Before he left, however, he confessed that he'd borrowed
the other 20 cents from Jeff, another agent.

I figured he'd forget all about owing me any money.

BUT, when I got to work today and opened my door I found this note. He had
repaid my 35 cents! I thought it was wonderful that he remembered and
repaid. I complimented his dad on raising the child right. With a business
demeanor like this I figure we have a little entrepreneur in the making.
(Alas, he didn't pay any interest!) When I bragged to the receptionist about the note she replied "Yes, he borrowed a penny from me because he only had 34 cents."

This is Rainey, our little entrepreneur in training!

Posted by Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR on 07/17/2008 08:21 PM

Comments (31)

entrepreneur, training kids, borrowed money, searcy ar, rainey joyner

This post has been included in Arkansas Information White County, AR Information Searcy, AR Information
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: ETHICS and the REALTOR
Post is included in group: Investors
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: It's all about them (ThemThem)

31 Comments on The beginnings of an entrepreneur...9 years old.

JUL

2008

That is such a cute story!!!! The other day my son was helping the person that was sitting him with some yard work and the sitter said well Cint how much do I owe you and he put his hand up on his hip and was thinking really hard and he said $39.99 plus tax!!!!!!

He knows he needs the tax to purchase what he wants at the store!!!!

That is too cute...

Barbara

This is such a cute story. Rainey is certainly on his way to a great career in business. How very resourceful to get the money and pay back what he owed- but did he pay the receptionist?

Exit Showcase, I was proud of the little guy for paying me back AND writing a note.

Laura, it is cute, isn't it.

Barbara, the receptionist said she told him he didn't have to pay her....bad teaching. He would have paid her if she'd expected it.

Barbara, you just found yourself one great kid and a future TERRIFIC adult. Thanks so much for sharing that story and the photo.

JUL

2008

Barbara: What a great story. It really brought a chuckle to my tired heart tonight. I wonder... I can think of several organizations where I might want Rainey to speak at. What is his "public speaking" fee structure... do you know ? Thanks for sharing.

Barbara - looks like Rainey has the makings of putting together venture capital deals. It's great that he has this sense of responsibility at such a young age.

Gary, thanks. We'll try to raise him right as an office project! : )

Karen Anne, I'm to be his personal manager. So we need two airplane tickets, lodging at your best hotel, expensive food services, and a fee of 35 cents.

Mike, I thought the same thing you did. Our math was hard. He had two dimes, I gave him two quarters. He only needed 55 cents for the coke. I haven't figured it out yet but he did. lol

Oh Barbara,

At first that photo got me excited, I thought that Charlie had finally been paid for that home inspection that he did a couple months back. He offers some pretty deep discounts. Then I saw the letter had nothing to do with him.

Steve, that was a sincere note from the child. The receptionist said he didn't know how to spell here but didn't think it important. She assured him that Ms Barbara used to be a school teacher and it WAS important so spell it right!

One day he came in doing a text message and wanted to know how to spell "interviewing". I asked why he needed a word like that and he replied that he was texting his older brother that their dad couldn't be disturbed because he was interviewing someone and had been shut up in his office for hours.

Charlie would never attempt a big word like that. LOL

I did not ask Rainey to re-pay the penny because he has more than earned it, as well as countless other cokes I have paid for this summer, by making copies and delivering faxes! He is a great little helper and I enjoy treating him for all he does for me! (Also, I ask him to bring me candy from your office sometimes so I'm sure I owe you that penny and a few more to go with it)

Beth, thanks for the comment. Don't spoil him too much! He, I think, knows every candy hiding spot in the building!

Barbara, Thanks for making my day. What a cute little Active Rainy photo! I love the story! Reminds me of the time my son (then 13), found somebody's purse at the NY State Fair and it was filled with money. He turned it in to the police and the lady actually wrote him a letter and sent him reward money, which he was reluctant to take. He sent it back and explained that this was a good deed that needed no repayment.

Barbara, nice ThemThem to an honest young man. Your broker has to be proud of Rainey. That is too cool... BTW, you are getting pretty good at ThemThem's, great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carol, you are so creative. Why didn't I think of the name Active Rainy for our little pet! Your son sounds like a wonderful kid at 13 and I'll bet he still is! Thanks for comments.

Duane, thank you for noticing!

Barbara, what a cute story! So many kids today think that money is that stuff that comes out of an ATM machine! This little guy is getting some good parenting on the subject!

Patricia, he's learning. I think his dad put a stop to one of his favorite things to do. His dad named a car wash after him and had printed up passes which he was selling. Well, Rainey was very generous with GIVING the passes to all his adult friends. We loved it when he did that. I haven't had one lately however.

That is too danged cute for words!

Elizabeth, thanks for reading about Rainey.

JUL

2008

Good of you to post this Barbara. It really is a nice thing to read as we always hear more about the sleazy element out there.

Thanks, Steve. I told the little bugger that he owes me money for putting his name and face in front of the world but he refused to pay....

Barbara: The sooner you can get your little budding Active Rainey executive going big time, the sooner you can retire from real estate and live the easy life of management. You Go Girl !

Karen Anne, we're all pushing him to grow up and make big!

Very cute blog! I actually enjoyed reading one of your blogs for a change!

Dick, it delights me that you actually enjoyed this blog!!

It's always a pleasure to hear a good story about a child being reaised right and doing the right things! We should point out more of the positives than dwell on the negatives!

Meli, thanks for comments. This boy has a lot of positives!

JUL

2008

He's a cutie. He seems very bright. I'm surprised that he remembered and cared about repaying you. That's great. :)

Debi, that is why I blogged. I was so surprised and delighted to find that note slipped under my door. More people these days, kids and adults, consider borrowing a term for giving and have no intention to repay. Thanks for comments.

In a few years, you can say "I knew him when..."

What a great story - so glad you shared. It's not easy some days to teach kids the right things to do. It's wonderful Rainey has so many positive influences in his life.

Debbie, you have a good thought there. I can already say I was responsible for getting his dad into real estate and if I live long enough I can claim Rainey's success too!! lol

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