MO'S BOWS

An entrepreneurial phenom offers advice to similarly inclined kids.

At 9, Mo Bridges struggled to sew his first bow tie under the loving mentorship of his granny. At 11, he landed a deal on the TV show Shark Tank as one of its youngest entrepreneurs. Currently the 17-year-old owner of a successful bow-tie business, Bridges pens his first guide for young entrepreneurs. The book is divided into segments that explain the approach behind his strong startup, Measure, Cut, Stitch. He deftly points out the difference between undertaking hourly labor and the way a sharp entrepreneur thinks, using mowing lawns as an example. Working at $8 an hour for five hours nets $40, but charging $20 per lawn can, at five lawns in a day, garner $100. Numbers aside, Bridges alludes to crafting a genuine story, building relationships, and mastering social media to gain a loyal customer base. His ingenuity landed him a licensing deal with the NBA and even the opportunity to design the “Obama Blue Bow Tie.” Growing older into high school, he shares the story of his frustration with his new “hideous” school uniform, transcending it by following the advice in his own pep talk that he gives to others, to “stay true to yourself,” and successfully produces his first stylish necktie that would become a signature addition to his uniform. Numerous black-and-white photos depict the young, bow-tie–clad African American entrepreneur.

This up-and-coming creative will definitely inspire many young people with his positive, confidence-boosting startup guide.