23rd
Third Grade Speech
A couple of weeks ago I was asked to speak at my old elementary school (specifically to the third grade class who just finished a project to where students started their own companies). I was asked to tell parts of my ‘entrepreneurial’ career as a kid that has never been shared publicly before. I agreed because I think speaking in front of a bunch of third graders is a great way to start.
Today was the day I spoke. I focused on having a passion and creating a business around that passion. For instance, in elementary school one of my passions was tennis (still is). I volunteered my time to be a ball kid for the professional tennis tournaments that came around to Houston. I reached out to the players, their coaches, friends, and family. I told them I had a passion for tennis and recently started selling autographed memorabilia on eBay. I asked for an autographed tennis ball, towel, or other item and then later sold it on eBay for a personal profit. I was making pretty big bucks as a kid who was not even a teenager yet. I then started buying items on eBay and/or other websites when demand was low. When demand was high (usually at the peak of a sports season)I sold the memorabilia on eBay.
Andy Roddick was (and still is) one of my favorite tennis players. When I was 10 years old I sent an email out to Andy’s mom introducing myself. She responded! We had a couple of emails back in forth before the tournament in Houston started and I was pretty sure that I was going to at least meet Andy’s mom. My parents did not know about this. So one night I approached my dad and ask him if we could take Andy Roddick and his parents out to dinner. My dad responded with a “yeah, yeah…sure that’s fine” assuming that I was kidding. That next Monday, I kept calling my dad probably every other hour asking him if Andy’s mom called him. My dad thought the whole thing was a joke. Sure enough, later that afternoon my dad’s secretary says Blanche Roddick is on the line. We never did get to go out to dinner with the Roddick family but Andy’s mom sure did make my dad. First she took me to go on the court with Andy Roddick to watch him practice. She told me to bring my rackets along, although, I could tell that Andy did not want to warm up with a kid before competing later that night against one of the best players in the world. Blanche introduced me to Andy and then took me back to the player’s lounge for a tour.
This was 6 years ago that I first spoke to Mrs. Roddick. She has since taken her email address of the website but we are currently friends and she is a mentor of mine. She is the head of the Andy Roddick Foundation. I have helped her in the past by finding silent auction items for her annual weekend galas and she has helped me by donating items to events that I am somewhat affiliated with.
One of the lessons that I tried to get across to the third graders was to not be afraid to reach out. Do not be afraid to ask questions or ask for help in school, in business, or in life.
After I was done giving my speech and about to depart, one of the students came up to me and asked for my autograph. I brought along my first company logo (The Cor Store) and signed that for him. We also exchanged contact information.
Late this afternoon, I received an email from him. He started off the email with his name and how I knew him: “This is _______, I exchanged email addresses with you at __________ on Friday. I have a company called Chewyz that sells chocolate and so far my profit is $10.25. I hope you will help me with my company and making money.” Then he signed his name followed by a “P.S. I looked at the Houston Rockets website to be a ‘Game Day Ball Crew’ but it was for ages 13-17.” The kid who sent this email really impressed me. He reminded me of what I was like when I was his age.
