The Disruptors Blog by Paul Wilson Jr. - PAULWILSONJR.COM

We Just Finished But We're Just Getting Started

7/31/2015

We had an incredible time at Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp. Having fewer students this year which allowed us to go deeper in helping each one discover their purpose, develop their personal dream boards, and identify legitimate business ideas. We helped them craft a personal life mission statement, teambuilding skills, and daily affirmations they can use to encourage themselves and others as they grow on their journey.

What we're really excited about is that we will continue to work with these young entrepreneurs throughout the school year to help launch their initial concepts into profitable and sustainable businesses.

One thing Shawnice and I realized as this camp was coming to a close is that we are just getting started. Our ultimate job is to help as many youth as possible to see a new vision for their lives and their communities. Our job is to equip them with skills to turn their dreams into reality. Our job is to inspire their greatness, that today may only be a small flicker of light, but with the right help can become a contagious inferno of positive possibilities. Our job is to become hope dealers.

As such, we are in the process of developing some brand new resources that will help youth, parents, educators, youth pastors, and anyone else who cares about investing in the future of young people. You will be able to use these powerful tools to inspire and equip them to accomplish things they never thought was possible.

So, stay tuned for some major announcements coming in the next few weeks!

It is our privilege to serve the next generation and we hope you will come along on the ride with us.

Study Shows Frequent Social Media Use by Teens May Affect Their Mental Health

7/30/2015

If you're the parent of a teen or serve in youth ministry, it would wise to pay more attention to how much time they are spending on social media. A new Ottawa Public Health study suggests that teens who use social media sites for two hours or more daily are at risk for poor mental health, psychological distress and suicidal thoughts. According to a Huffington Post article reporting on the study:

"Researchers looked at data from 750 students in grades seven through 12 who took the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. The study found that 25 percent of students surveyed reported spending at least two hours a day on social networking sites. These same students were categorized as reporting more poor mental health issues, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and suicidal thoughts."

Helping youth develop face to face communication skills is essential to preparing them to have healthy personal and professional relationships as adults. If we allow social media to babysit teens unattended it could have major negative consequences over time.

Finish reading the whole story here: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/07/28/study-frequent-social-media-use-may-take-toll-on-teens-mental-health/

How Teen Brains Work... An Infographic

7/24/2015

If you're a parent or a teacher you already know that teenagers think much differently than you do. However, sometimes it's hard to understand why. Well here is a an excellent graphical explanation that will help you understand why teenagers think and behave differently than adults, and it's based on the developmental process of the brain (and not just some insatiable desire to be rebellious :-).

Click here to see whole infographic and et more great youth ministry resources at Center for Parent and Youth Understanding at www.cpyu.org.

How A Youth Business Training Became a Millennial Focus Group for Community Transformation

7/21/2015

If you have been working in ministry or the community for any amount of time it is not uncommon for God to work in ways that are not necessarily mysterious, but are definitely unexpected. Recently, I was facilitating a youth business training with Greater Works Vocational Discipleship Program for a group of at-risk youth in Atlanta.

I had my lesson plan laid out to teach them how to start a purpose driven business. However, I found as I was going through my curriculum, it was not connecting with them. I tried different "trainer techniques" to get them to engage, but nothing seemed to work.

It wasn't until I started focusing more on asking them questions than teaching content did I start to make a connection. I began inquiring about the problems they saw in their communities and the causes they believed were the culprits.

The energy in the room skyrocketed when I became the student and I opened myself to be taught by them. At that moment I had two choices: 1) stick to what I had planned to teach them, or 2) become a sponge so that I could better determine how best to reach them based on what they were facing. Fortunately, I chose the latter.

So what began as a youth entrepreneurship training became a millennial focus group for community transformation. It was very revealing what they saw as the issues and causes in their own communities, as well as some of the potential solutions. The top 4 issues they listed were:

Crime
Drugs
Teen pregnancy
Police brutality

While everything didn't come out of their mouths with clarity or realistic solutions, it was extremely refreshing to hear their passion and concern for where they live. Teens do care deeply about the communities they live in. However, they often struggle with the communication skills and other tools to bring needed transformation. Further, they often lack the mentors that are necessary to lead them through the process.

That's why we need more Joshua's to lead the younger generation to their promise land. Sometimes it's easy for adults to talk at or over teenagers without really talking to them to hear their perspectives. With the complex issues that we are facing our communities these days, it behooves all of us to seek wisdom from whatever source God may bring it.

You can learn more about how Kinsman Community Ministries is working with youth to transform their communities through social enterprises at www.mykinsman.org/youth.

13-Year-Old CEO Grows $200,000 Business

7/18/2015

Success in business can come from anywhere and through anyone, but it seems extra special when the story is about a teenager who has defied the odds. Thirteen-year-old Moziah Bridges, CEO of Mo's Bows, has defied the odds that many adult entrepreneurs have succumb to. His company, which handcrafts his personally designed bow ties, has 5 employees and produced $200,000 in sales. Moziah says the motivation behind his passion is:

"I like to wear bow ties because they make me look good and feel good. Designing a colorful bow tie is just part of my vision to make the world a fun and happier place.”

One thing I really appreciate about him is that he has a big heart to give back to others. He made a special bow tie called the "Go Mo! Scholarship Bow Tie" with 100% of the proceeds going to help underprivileged kids from his hometown of Memphis go to summer camp. He did this because he feels like it’s good business to help the community. He is definitely creating his impact.

This is the type of young person we envision inspiring and supporting through our Kinsman Youth Entrepreneurship Programs. Hopefully we'll have the chance to mentor the next Moziah Bridges.

Read more about Moziah at: http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/07/10/13-year-old-ceo-200000-sales/

A Bank Run by Students Opens in North Carolina High School

7/17/2015

When we assess a community's struggle with generational poverty, we must not overlook the role played by young people in help break destructive cycles and create positive ones. Some key ares we need to focus on to equip at-risk youth to make significant economic progress include financial literacy, youth employment, and youth entrepreneurship. That's why I was so excited when I read about Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina, which opened a bank run by its students. According to WUNC North Carolina Public Radio:

"Organizers say that students, staff, and families will be able to open accounts, as well as deposit funds to checking and savings accounts right at the Hillside branch. The program also provides internships and serves as a hands-on learning center for students to gain banking skills...

The bank is an official branch of Woodforest National Bank, based in Texas, and is a partnership with Hillside's Business and Finance Academy. Woodforest National is a community bank with more than 80 outlets across North Carolina. Senior Vice President Jessica Valentine says this is their first time opening a high school branch."

This is an incredibly innovative move by Hillside H.S. and Woodforest Bank to bring economic solutions to a community that needs more access to economic resources and tools to empower itself. Hopefully more banks and schools across the country will follow their lead to help challenged communities creates cycles of prosperity.

Read the entire article here: http://wunc.org/post/durham-ncs-hillside-high-school-first-open-bank

7 Shifts as Generation Y Becomes Generation Z

7/13/2015

Tim Elmore, one of the foremost experts in youth development, has written a powerful article, Seven Shifts as Generation Z Becomes Generation Y. In this article he explains what's happening with the "next" generation of kids as they morph into adulthood, and shift away from old realities into new ones. Here are a few of his points...

1. Confidence is morphing into caution.
A kid who grew up between 1990 and 2000 had a very different experience than a kid who grew up between 2005 and 2015. In the 1990s, America’s economy was expanding, the dot.com era was birthed, clean-cut boy bands hit the pop charts, and soccer mom’s became a voting demographic. In contrast, the last ten years have seen economic recession, terrorism, racial unrest, rising debt, and gender confusion, among other issues. The average student today has a different perception of reality than students before them, one that is potentially more cautious in nature.

2. Idealism is morphing into pragmatism.
Ten years ago, Generation Y reported that it was very common for them to get anything they wanted—the new iPhone, Abercrombie and Fitch jeans, a tablet, tattoos or piercings. Today, money is a bit tighter and there’s been a 400% increase in multi-generational households. (Which means people often have to share space and resources.) Slowly, millions of adolescents have shifted into a world that is not about them. Many are forced to think practically and to think ahead. Optimism can become cynicism.

3. Attaining an education is morphing into hacking one.
As Generation Y graduated from high school, it was the norm to apply to multiple universities in hot pursuit of a liberal arts education. Parents told them, “If you’re going to be successful, you have to go to college.” Today, more and more grads don’t assume this to be true. They’ve found they can “hack” their way through their preparation for a career, mixing free Ivy League school classes with online certificates and real world experience. Kids see their older siblings paralyzed by debt, and they don’t want it.

These are some great points for those who want to understand and serve those in the millennial generation.

Read the entire article at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/seven-shifts-as-generation-y-becomes-generation-z

9 Ways Dream BIG in 3D Can Help Young Leaders Score Your Dream Job

7/8/2015

Our Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp is only a few days away! We're so excited about the opportunity to pour into the lives of young people with the skills of learning how to start and grow their own social entrepreneurship business. During my nearly 10 years as a full-time entrepreneur one of the things that I have grown to appreciate are the transferable principles that I gained as a full-time employee. A few of these principles include preparation, time management, relationship building, work excellence, professionalism, and more are critical to your success as an entrepreneur or an employee.

One of the curriculum we are using for our entrepreneurship camp is the first book I wrote, Dream B.I.G. in 3D. This book is targeted to young leaders who searching for their dream job or career path. The principles contained in this book are just as important for job seekers as they are for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Here are 9 ways that Dream B.I.G. in 3D can help you score your dream job (or business)…

Gain the confidence you need to live a creative, courageous, and fulfilling life
Determine your true identity independent of your job/career
Embrace the key differences between living a life devoted to significance versus success
Affirm your C.O.R.E. values
Write your C.O.R.E. purpose statement
Align your desired career path with your God-given purpose
Increase your value in the marketplace based on your personal asset inventory
Utilize a practical process to conquering fear in your career pursuits
Create easy-to-use action plan to manifest your dream job

I like to say that this book will take you on an internal treasure hunt to connect your career path with your purpose. Click here to start your journey...

This Is Bigger Than Business

7/7/2015

As our time draws closer for the start of the Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp and our preparation intensifies, sometimes it's hard to remember why we do what we do. As we go through the checklist of all things that need to get done (and it's a long list), at times we forget that we have a real opportunity to save a kid's life or help somebody to start a new one.

This camp is more than just a time to keep kids busy and out of their parent's hair. We are creating an environment where dreams are jumpstarted, ideas are catalyzed, and purpose is ignited. For many of these kids they don't have anyone in their lives telling them they can be the next great inventor, entrepreneur, or community leader. They don't have people giving them tools for life success and a means to break the generational poverty that plagues their families.

When people use the term "at-risk", often it's assigned to kids who live in violent neighborhoods, come from challenging circumstances, and are in danger of falling victim to their difficult surroundings. I believe, though, that there are much more "at-risk" kids than those who live in these environments, because too many others are in danger of living life without purpose, not discovering the greatness that's inside of them, or never achieving a sense of fulfillment from having accomplished something beyond anything they could imagine.

That's why this camp is so much bigger than just helping these kids start a business. It's so much greater than just helping them launch a new product or service. It's far beyond teaching them how to market to a new customer base.

This experience is about helping them utilize their God-inspired imagination, discover unique abilities, and release unbridled creativity to manifest His image in their lives and the world. This opportunity is about helping them tap into their God-given potential to see things in themselves they have never seen before. This is a chance to assist them with taking significant steps toward achieving their God-given destiny.

Your financial support of Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp will provide the opportunity for our youth to dream again, to believe that they have more to live for than just making it past today, or acquiring things that only provide temporary pleasure. You are funding seeds of greatness. You are investing in the restoration of hopes and dreams.

Your donation is bigger than business. Thank you for your support.

Watch Soraya's Testimonial for Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp

7/6/2015

A satisfied customer is the best form of marketing. So listen to Soraya's testimonial about her experience at last year's Inc. My Dream Young Boss Camp. We still have business sponsorships available for you to make a tax-deductible contribution to invest in the lives of at-risk youth, so they can build social entrepreneurship, leadership, and team building skills, among many other things...

BUSINESS SPONSORS