FOR A GOOD CAUSE -- Guide to success

Amy R. Spurgeon

Don Herman wants Orange County teenagers to turn a profit so badly that

he has spent the last four years of his life volunteering in classrooxms

telling them how to do it.

“I think it is a travesty that teens are programmed to go to college and

use that experience to ‘get a job.’ Why not prepare them to start a

part-time business while in college?,” Herman said. “The experience might

not only pay for their education, but give them the confidence that they

have the power to create their own destiny as an employer rather than an

employee.”

The motivational speaker spends five days a week hopping from classroom

to classroom across Orange County, encouraging teens to turn their

passions into profit. His own start-up business -- a candy cart at a

local shopping center -- affords him the opportunity to speak during the

week.

“Martha Stewart’s done it,” the 36-year-old Costa Mesa resident told a

group of seniors at Estancia High School. “So can you.”

For an hour, the founder of the Newport Beach-based nonprofit

organization, Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative, Inc., gave example after

example of successful teenage entrepreneurs. He also brainstormed with

students about possible barriers to starting a business and together they

came up with ways to overcome them.

“You’ll find that money is not the most important thing when starting a

business,” Herman said. “Having a passion about what you do is.”

Temika Simon, 18, of Costa Mesa, was leery at first about turning her

hobbies -- sleeping, shopping and Nintendo -- into a business. But by the

end of the hour, she had enough confidence to speak out loud about some

possibilities.

Herman would like to raise enough money in support of the organization so

that he can take his message on the road full-time.

“Teenagers starting their own business is the American way,” Herman said.

“What a country.”

* FOR A GOOD CAUSE features people who do good in the community. Fax your

story ideas to Amy Spurgeon at (949) 646-4179, or send them via e-mail to

o7 amy.spurgeon@latimes.comf7 .