Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Today I was getting ready to write a new post with tidbits of renegade entrepreneur business information, when my friend, Ed Dale, sent me a link he liked. Ever curious, I zoomed over to read something about a lemonade stand.

I had no idea a lemonade stand would produce so much emotion, and bring me to tears. I am sure the story will affect different people differently. For me it set a flood of thoughts in motion. Here’s the story . Please take a moment to read the story. (It is already set to open in a separate window, and all you need to do is close the window when you are done, and you will return to this page,)

My first thoughts were of this incredible little girl. And then how her passion pulled in the community, a city, a nation, and spread internationally. How the seed of passion creates an idea that becomes an action the inspires others. How a tiny seed of passion grows to the point where it spreads out and touches the lives of thousands of people, people like you and me.

Next year, when I visit my grandkids, Alex’s lemonade stand is going to be “Grandma’s Special Project” with my young grandchildren. But that is not what this post is about. And it is not about the wonderful good that is being done with the lemonade stand project, we will save that for another discussion, another time.

It’s about passion in our lives. Busy lifestyles, getting in a workday rut, so many things – cause our dreams, our passions, to go dormant. All of the issues involving passion could fill a book.

In a couple of paragraphs, Alex’s lemonade stand story covers what it would take a couple of chapters to describe in a book.

It brings up a number of real core issues. And this is very relevant to the meaning of renegade entrepreneur. Where am I going with this? If at a young age we all had “a lemonade stand” attached to a very important cause, we would naturally develop entrepreneurial skills. There would be no need for a renegade entrepreneur blog. We would all simply be successful entrepreneurs.

It’s not too late to make simple changes right now. What are your passions? Do they reach out and touch others? Do they give your life and your work meaning? Do they fuel your projects for the day, the week, and months?

Why take time to answer these questions? Shifting your focus is like flipping the light switch. When you operate from a place of passion, what normally seems insurmountable becomes achievable.

Alex’s parents expected she would raise $5 or $10. Alex had a different dream and a better intention. Alex’s passion fueled an indomitable spirit that touched the hearts of a community that helped her raise $2000 with her first lemonade stand. All this from a caring, passionate 4 year old!

You don’t have to be a kid to operate from a center of passionate belief. You simply need to get very clear on the passions that could be your driving force in your life and your business. And let’s take this one step further.

Who of you reading this are moms and dads of small children? Does this give new meaning and life to the phrase, “family project?” Does this create a seed that could unite the family in a very special way? Or create a seed that could spread through your neighborhood or school and pull a community together?

If you are already doing some sort of family, or community project that would inspire others, I would love to hear about it.

So please leave your comments or your stories, or your kid’s stories, and be sure to come back for the 2nd half of this post.

Also, if you didn’t already read the interview, it’s a downloadable PDF file with more great information.

There is another thought that surfaced from Alex and her lemonade stand. It is about being a hero. And that will be my topic for the next post.