“Money doesn’t grow on trees” was my mom’s favorite catchphrase – and her inevitable response to my requests for movie tickets, clothes, and chocolate. The first time she used this phrase was in fifth grade when I asked for movie money. My mother gave me exact change, so I salivated while watching my friends savor popcorn and candy. Then in sixth grade, my friends and I became obsessed with sparkly jeans. When I asked my mom for money for bedazzled pants, she was genuinely baffled: “You only have one butt. Why do you need so many pants?”

Her message was clear. I couldn’t just ask for those fancy pants; I had to earn them. To earn money, I had to provide goods or services needed in my community. A lemonade stand? Nope, not enough profit. Mowing lawns? The clumsy sixth-grade me wasn’t ready to lose a finger. Having a knack for crafts, I loved making wallets, bags, and hair accessories from duct tape. Soon, I realized I could turn a hobby into a lucrative business. To advertise, I brought a wallet to class, and students clamored to order a duct-tape wallet.

I sold my merchandise for a dollar each and began earning a whopping ten dollars a week, enough to cover expenses and expand inventory. After saving some money, I indulged in popcorn and new pants. Life was great … until the inevitable—competition. With the addition of Emily’s floral-print accessories and Michelle’s superhero duct-tape wallets, duct-tape objects became so ubiquitous that they were no longer coveted. By eleven years old, I had experienced the thrill of starting a successful business, the challenges of adapting with a changing market, and the disappointment of bankruptcy.

My duct-tape wallet business thankfully prepared me for the challenges of my current business venture. In high school, when expenses piled up, I knew that my next business project needed to involve selling services instead of products. Because I have the credentials, and music lessons remain in high demand, I decided to teach piano. Unlike selling goods, selling services requires more communication and business skills. I had my fair share of customers who took advantage of me by consistently arriving late, bargaining for lower fees, and delaying payments. Initially lenient, I soon realized that I must be firm with customers regarding policies. Since adapting to these challenges, I’ve been successfully teaching piano to eleven students over the past two years.

Although I used to loathe my mom’s rationale for denying me spending money, I’m now grateful she encouraged me to solve my own problems. From nights staying up making duct-tape items and days teaching piano, I learned that earning money isn’t easy, and saving money has become natural to me. Every now and then, I treat my mom to dinner because if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have become the entrepreneur I am today. And of course, I treat myself to a pair of pants once in awhile, because you can never have too many pairs for one butt.