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This teen entrepreneur started her own (successful!) business before high school—now she's sharing her best go-getter advice
Jordyn Wright is a normal high-schooler, yes, but she's also slaying the game as an entreprenuer, an author and a small-business owner. At age 15, she's already started her own successful company, written her a book and founded an after-school program intended to empower fellow young people.
Plus, she's got big dreams for the coming years, too: "For a career, I would definitely like to become a defense attorney, and I am going to go to law school someday."
So just how does a girl like Jordyn manage to do it all *and* look forward to a bright future? She shared four tidbits of personal and professional advice that just might come in handy if you've always wanted to start your own side hustle, learn more about volunteering or if you just need a little extra dose of girlboss inspo.
1. Start young (even if it's nerve-racking!).
Jordyn began her business journey when she was only 10 years old (!). She first got the idea for her bath and body company, J. Brielle Handmade Goods, when she was struggling to find sweet-smelling products that wouldn't irritate her sensitive skin.
"I liked really colorful soaps that smelled amazing. But I couldn't get most of them because they had chemicals that would harm my skin," she remembers. She began experimenting with creating her own soaps, body butters and more. Eventually, her parents encouraged her to share her creations with the world.
"I started by walking around my neighborhood and knocking on people's doors with a tray of my soaps," she remembers, Although Jordyn felt hesitant at first (especially because she was only a middle schooler at the time!), she found that staying persistent in her passion allowed her to become more comfortable. "I was very nervous, but eventually I got more into the groove of things," she says.
2. Spread the wealth.
One thing that's always been majorly important to Jordyn is giving back to her community. When J. Brielle Handmade Goods really began to take off, Jordyn consistently donated a portion of her earnings to youth empowerment organizations.
But Jordyn wasn't only generous with her funds—she was generous with her time and energy, too. She decided to start her own organization, Passion to Purpose, to help kids just like her find their passions and turn them into on-the-ground, real-life businesses. In the after-school programs she hosts through Passion to Purpose, Jordyn shares her insider entrepreneur info with others, especially those who might not have access to that knowledge otherwise.
"We kind of start off with business basics," she says. "We talk about price, profit, product, value proposition and things of that nature." Jordyn is able to translate her own business savvy into something that everyone—from age 8 to 18—can get excited about and incorporate into their own lives.
3. Tune in to your community's needs.
Part of the inspiration behind Jordyn's work with Passion to Purpose came from a problem she saw in her community: a lack of financial literacy among young people.
“I found out that only half a credit of financial literacy is required to graduate high school in Texas,” she says. “I think that's actually really dangerous because, once you graduate high school, you're gonna need to know about things like credit cards and interest”.
In response to this issue, Jordyn made a point to lead discussions on things like saving for college and spending responsibly. Even more than supporting youth in starting their own companies, she knows the importance of supporting them in being smart with their money.
4. Embrace your flaws.
She's certainly confident and collected, but Jordyn—like all of us—has had moments where she felt inscecure. "I actually struggled with self-confidence because I was looking at my phone so much. I did not like my body, my face, how I sounded," she shares.
But one of the key lessons that Jordyn has learned on her journey is about self-acceptance. She's been able to switch up her mindset around her insecurities, embracing the things that make her unique rather than feeling down about them.
"One thing that I talk about in Passion to Purpose is the importance of having a value proposition, which is what sets you apart from others," she says. "I think it's really important to stop looking at our flaws as a negative thing...our flaws are what make us unique."
If you're already giving back to your community in a unique way,
enter here to become an Emerging Visionary like Jordyn!
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