Asia Newson is a small girl with big dreams — and she’s working hard to make them all come true.
Described by a teacher as “a big ball of inspiration”, this 11-year-old entrepreneur is full of ambition. At only five years old, she started a business with her parents, making and selling homemade candles. Six years later, Super Business Girl is getting a lot of attention. And according to Asia, it makes a lot of money too.
Detroit is a wonderful place. It’s been a lot, a lot of negative things on the news and stuff like that… But Detroit is still a great place to start a business. We have wonderful people. They’ll encourage you. I mean, I sell my candles here, like I make pretty good money.
Asia sells her candles on the streets, in barber shops, and so on. Her father, a silent partner and mentor, is always nearby but it is Asia alone out there when she delivers her sales pitch which she does with passion and fearlessness.
Dave Anderson of Bamboo Detroit, an incubator for start-ups, was so impressed by her pitch when he heard it on a street a few years back that he and his partners decided to help Asia out. They now provide her with free workspace and internet accessibility as she grows her business and offers a entrepreneur-learning program to at-risk youth in the area.
Anderson said, “She really understands business concepts a lot better than most adults I interact with; and it’s just natural.” For this young business girl, it’s all about staying motivated. She noted that the reason why people fail is in fact a lack of motivation. “People give up. Opportunities can walk away like that.” Asia never let’s an opportunity walk away, and is always ready with a business card for those who try to.
So what is Asia looking to accomplish? Currently, she spends her profits on school supplies, and food and clothing for children in need. Her ultimate goal is to teach other kids how to be self-sufficient. “My Mission is to recognize the true potential in every child and to develop intrinsic security that makes optimum use of their individualized talent.”
Visit her website for more information: www.superbusinessgirl.com
Photo:Superbusinessgirl
