Why Teaching Your Kids to Think Like Entrepreneurs Might Be the Best Gift You Ever Give Them

Let’s be honest, adulting is tough. Bills, responsibilities, job interviews, career zigzags. In South Africa, it’s even more of a wild ride. With youth unemployment stubbornly high, and formal jobs not always easy to come by, more and more young people are being forced to get creative about how they earn a living.

So what if we didn’t wait until our kids were 25 and disillusioned to teach them that mindset?

What if we raised them to think like entrepreneurs from the start?

It’s not just about launching the next big tech startup (though, hey, if they do, great!). It’s about:

• Noticing a problem and seeing it as an opportunity.
• Backing yourself, even when others don’t.
• Getting things done, with grit, creativity, and a touch of hustle.
• Failing, learning, and trying again—without falling apart.

It’s the kind of mindset that sets kids up not just to survive, but to thrive, whatever path they take in life.

We don’t need to sugarcoat the stats. South Africa faces big challenges:

• Youth unemployment is sky-high.
• Even university graduates struggle to find work.
• The cost of living is rising faster than many incomes.

In this environment, having a job is great, but having options is better.

An entrepreneurial mindset gives your child the ability to create opportunities when none seem to exist. That’s powerful.

Of course, they must follow their passions and great if formal employment is an option for them and all works out as planned.   But, life sometimes gives you lemons and knowing how to make lemonade will give you the edge.  Entrepreneurial thinking is a life skill, not just a business one.

Retrenchments happen, industries die, new industries are born, companies fail.  An agile and resourceful mindset in volatile times is what gives you the ability to land on your feet when the unplanned happens.

Imagine your child grows up to be a graphic designer, a physiotherapist, or a chef. The ability to market themselves, solve problems, and spot new income opportunities will set them apart.

It’s simpler (and more fun) than you think.

• Start small: Encourage them to offer tutoring, dog walking, or music lessons or anything else that they enjoy doing in your neighbourhood. Platforms like Stintz make this super easy.
• Let them problem-solve: If your teen wants pocket money, challenge them to earn it, not just by doing chores, but by thinking of a way to help someone else.
• Celebrate effort, not just results: When their first attempt flops (and it probably will), praise their courage. That’s where real confidence is born.
• Talk about money, understand money, think about money.  Don’t shy away from it. Teach them how to price their time, track earnings, and save up for something they want. That’s financial literacy in action.