From Earning to Returning

Ever notice how kids understand fairness way before they understand money?

“Dad, she got more fries than me.”
“Why do I have to share my Lego set?”

It’s proof that kids get value. They just experience it emotionally before they ever calculate it financially.

That’s why I think gratitude might just be the first real business lesson every child learns.

Because when we teach kids to appreciate what they already have, we’re not just raising polite humans. We’re raising future entrepreneurs who see abundance instead of scarcity.

And that shift changes everything.

Years ago, I was buried in deadlines when my youngest slid a note on my desk.

It said, “Thanks for building this company so you can work from home.”

I laughed, then felt my chest tighten. Somewhere between business calls and bedtime stories, I had forgotten that this was the why.

That moment sparked what I now call my Gratitude Audit, and it’s been one of the best “systems checks” for both my business and my family.

The Gratitude Audit

That little note on my office floor reminded me that gratitude isn’t something we feel once in a while. It’s something we practice on purpose.

And like any good business skill, it grows stronger with structure.

So here are three simple tools our family’s been using to keep gratitude and generosity front and center.

⚙️ Tool #1: The Gratitude Audit

Once a month, grab a notebook (or a whiteboard if your family’s like mine).
Draw two columns:

Have each family member fill in one line per column.

For kids, that might look like “earned $5 from chores → gave my sister a turn first.” For parents, maybe “closed a deal → thanked my team by name.”

It’s simple. It’s visual. And it rewires how everyone thinks about success — from getting more to creating more good.

⚙️ Tool #2: The Circle of Thanks

At dinner, we started doing something new. Before eating, everyone has to thank someone in the room for something small but specific.

No generic “thanks for dinner.”
Try: “Thanks for helping me with my homework,” or “Thanks for making me laugh when I was grumpy.”

It sounds tiny, but it changes the tone instantly.
It turns a meal into a micro-board meeting for emotional equity, where appreciation circulates like a healthy economy.

⚙️ Tool #3: The 1% Rule for Giving

In business, small percentages add up fast. The same is true for generosity.

This month, try the 1% Rule with your kids.
Give back 1% of your time, talent, or treasure each week.
Maybe that’s 15 minutes helping a neighbor, one creative skill shared for free, or $1 from allowance saved for a cause your child cares about.

The point isn’t how much. It’s the habit of returning value to the world.

Kidpreneurs Giving Back

All across our Kidpreneurs community, young founders are proving that generosity isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of the business plan.

They’re learning how to turn ideas into impact — like Justin, who sells toy frogs to fund ocean cleanups, or Jahkil, who’s packed over 100,000 “Blessing Bags” for people in need.

Ava’s baking cookies to support cancer research. Victoria, one of our Camp SuperNova grads, makes handmade soaps and donates one for every three sold.

Different kids, same spirit: using what they love to lift others up. That’s what social entrepreneurship is all about.

If you’d love to see your child learn how to do the same, join us for Camp SuperNova, our 5-day virtual experience beginning November 24th where kids explore business, creativity, and giving back — together.

👉 Learn more about Camp SuperNova ›

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And since it’s Kidpreneurs Month, I’ve been thinking a lot about what “giving” really means, especially with the holidays around the corner.

It’s easy for kids, and honestly for us too, to slip into the rhythm of asking and receiving. But this is such a good time to slow down and notice all the small ways we can give — not just gifts, but time, attention, encouragement, and creativity.

That’s what the entrepreneurial mindset is really about. Seeing possibilities, taking action, and adding value to the world around you.

So maybe this month, it’s just being a little more intentional. Supporting a young entrepreneur in your community. Sharing words of encouragement with a kid who’s trying something new. Or simply letting your own children see what it looks like to give back to what matters most to them.

When we do that, we’re not just teaching generosity. We’re showing our kids what real wealth looks like: purpose, connection, and heart.

Share this with friends and help raise 1 million empowered kids with Hero Intelligence!

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