Enterprising Youth Workshop

8 APRIL 2003

Approximately 20 educators and youth workers gathered in Ararat on Tuesday 8th April to hear Barbara Gabogrecan speak on her business endeavors and their applicability to the Youth of Victoria

Barbara began her presentation by talking briefly about her background. As a qualified art teacher, she taught her skills at a Secondary College that, due to recession, went into liquidation – which left Barbara out of a job.

With her interest and skills in art, Barbara came up with the idea of making, marketing and selling silk paintings in the form of scarves, kerchiefs and the like. This product, which she personally hand painted in a unique Australian style, was lightweight; easily packaged & shipped and, most importantly, appealed to a large market in Australia.

Producing the artwork from her home, Barbara then went and personally marketed her product to stores around Melbourne. Before long, there was great demand for her silk paintings and the Australia wide chain of Coles Myer stores put in an order for 100,000 scarves and kerchiefs.

Finding herself in the predicament of supplier demand, Barbara was forced to build up her business from a husband and wife partnership to employing 10 extra people who helped produce her product.

Following her success, Barbara and her husband found there was very little support and resources available for home based businesses. Which, in turn, took her to writing her own self-help book “Running a Business from your Kitchen Table”.

With the basis of her background in schools and running a business from home, Barbara and her husband then decided to produce a Software Package that enabled students to run a business, whether fictional or commercially viable, within their school curriculum. This software was called “Biz-in-a-Box”.

Barbara then began her presentation, showing the group assembled just what Biz-in- a-Box could do for their students and class subjects.

With the presentation over, Barbara spoke of her experiences with students and what to look for within students in our region.

Specifically, students with “entrepreneurial spirit” were the basis of her speech. Particularly those students who showed the following signs whilst at school:

• Those who “buck” the system
• Argumentative
• Creative
• Opportunistic/Optimistic
• Those in leadership roles, whether forced or voluntarily accepted
• Those who can “talk their way out of a paper bag”.

Points and tips on assisting this type of student are:

• Learning in a fun environment will ensure students retain the information learnt.
• Channel their interest
• Show them the ability to communicate and negotiate. Try debating or setting up hypothetical games, video the students and then play it back to them – they need to see what they did to develop new abilities.
• Recognition of achievements, whether large or small.
• Give awards – not for the best “all round” student but try “Best Communicator” or “Helping Others” etc
• Putting students into leadership roles, willingly or unwillingly. Those students who appear disinterested in taking leadership roles are either trying to be “cool” around friends or, who don’t have the confidence to stand up and take the role. More often than not, that student will make the best leader. Other students then tend to relate better to a student leader.
• Find a students “perceived need”, and fill it
• Community involvement, mentoring projects and the like.
• Taking students to talk to business and industry owners within their area.
• Strong assistance in finding solutions, not giving the answer.
• Providing purpose, intuition and responsibility.

Barbara finished off her presentation to the group by holding an informal discussion.