What making a Pink Lemonade Stand taught me

Last weekend my dad, Huni, and my little boo created the lemonade stand. 

This was our inspiration:

via

I found the picture via Pinterest and I thought it would be difficult. I text my dad the picture and asked if we could make it. His response, "anything for baby girl!" Gotta love my daddy. 

So I told Huni who is not handy at all, that he was going to have to help. He replied okay, not knowing what help actually meant. 

Saturday comes and I start getting nervous. Can we actually carry it out?

I show daddy the picture again and he starts figuring our the measurements of the boards we'll need. We head to the hardware store and get the materials. At the register daddy offers to pay for everything. He said "consider it a donation." I was ecstatic and put my wallet down. 

It's real in these non-profit organization streets. 

Those bugs were eating my skin!!

A few hours and 235,578 mosquito bites later it was done. 

It looks so much better than the inspiration. 

I couldn't believe I had so much doubt before we started. 

The three things I took away from the experience: 

1. Don't let self-doubt keep you from going forward.

I initially doubted we could pull it off and ours turned out even better. Inspiration can easily turn into comparison; so be careful! 

2. Collobarate! Collaborate! Collaborate!

A lot of times it's easier to just do things yourself and not have to deal with other people's excuses and drama.  However, I knew I could not pull this off without daddy. I didn't have the tools, skill, or eye to complete it. Always keep people around that are smarter than you. Plus I solicited Huni's help because I knew he's stronger than I am, and would be able to complete the delegated tasks that daddy would give him. 

3. Stay true to your visions. 

Last summer I was inspired to have the lemonade stand and I knew exactly how I wanted everything to be. Giving up on the lemonade stand would have been settling. 

Pink Lemonade Stand: Fostering Entrepreneurship in Girls

When you think of summer you think of children playing outdoors, vacations, barbecues, and generally a good time! At least I know I do. Many people think refreshing sweet tea and fresh lemonade. 

Mid winter I wanted fresh lemonade and thought how I would have the Diva groups start lemonade stands. Then I thought teach them to truly create a lemonade stand or whatever their creative minds can conjure up. An idea was born...

I am hosting a virtual Lemonade Stand for young girls next month through my nonprofit organization, Divas, Inc. It's fostering entrepreneurship in young girls and those young girls at hearts. 

We are in a choose yourself era, where you can make your dreams come true. You don't have to wait for someone to discover how amazing you are. You discover how amazing you are and you act on it. You create the things that you want and dream of, instead of PASSIVELY waiting. 

There are sooooo many gatekeepers and naysayers that prevent people from believing in themselves. There used to be a time when people had to convince others to believe in them, but these days people don't even believe in themselves. 

Societies and parents are on auto repeat "go to school, make good grades, and go to college." Even though it's proving that college degrees aren't keeping these student from being under-employed and on the long list of the unemployed. I will applaud the efforts to encourage girls to explore fields that have been traditionally considered male jobs. I'm all for furthering your education if thats what YOU want to do. 

However, I still rarely see girls being encouraged to be entrepreneurs. The purpose of the workshop is truly to encourage creativity and belief that if they dream big and work towards an established goal...they can make it happen. The event is open to girls 5 years old to 17 years old. We will create, have fun, create some more, chit chat, create and cultivate dream(ers). 

I have solicited local positive female entrepreneurs to assist with the activities and empowerment. I will keep you updated.  

How are you choosing yourself?