Monday, April 23, 2007

A chip off the old block...

I am a proud mother of two - and my eldest was honored last week in New York City by the National Foundation For The Teaching Of Entrepreneurship (NFTE for short) as a Young Entrepreneur of The Year. This award was bestowed upon 39 young people from around the world for their accomplishments as new business start-ups.
You heard it right - my son owns his own business. A computer design and consulting business, to be exact. Terra Byte Technologies can design a customized system for you and help with the maintenance of it - it's so cool to have my own "tech guy" at home, when stuff acts up - he's johnny on the spot! And - he's only 18 years old!!!!!

Both of my children have grown up watching their mom build her business - so I like to think that I've had a wee bit of influence on how they view the working world. For my son, I have watched him from the sidelines as he's tinkered with everything in sight - and now, he's at the helm of his own company, determined to make it successful. During the media interviews prior to the actual awards ceremony, he said that I was a big influence on him and how he viewed owning his own business. That made me cry. Actually - I cried the entire evening. He was also the first recipient of the CA Technology Award (awarded by Computer Associates) for the innovative use of technology in his business. I cried when he walked on stage, to receive his plaque. And for a moment - all I could see was the little boy with the jeans, t-shirt and messy face, running up to me saying, "Hug Mommy, Hug!". How time does fly..............

As an entrepreneur for the past 15 years - I'll say this: Let your children know and understand that it's perfectly okay if they don't want to do the customary "9 to 5". Work is a factor of life we all deal with - but how we take it on is another story. As we were sitting in our hotel room, recapping the night's events - I told my son that he was, in fact, the "master of his destiny" and the "author of his life's manifesto". Big words - sorta kinda. But from the look on his face - I knew he understood every word I said......................

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your son's achievement!! You've set a stellar example for both your family and your peers!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Linn,

Jodi VanGorder here. I just watched you on Whose Wedding (the sensual episode) and girl you are the Diva. I haven't talked to you in a while, and miss picking your brain girlie. Just wanted to say congrats to you and to your son!!

God Bless,

Jodi VanGorder
Canton, OH

Anonymous said...

Your family is beautiful and crongrats to your son. You are an inspiration to any young black woman, such as myself who believes in following her passion. I remember seeing you on "whose wedding is it anyway?", and you commented that you love romance and that is how are you able to make such beautiful receptions come to life. I took what you said there and followed my own destiny. In my case I am in love with words so therefore I have decided to major in English at my university. I applaud you for being you and blessing the world with your passion.
~Tami Rose~