I texted back to my sister "You are in trouble! Did you negotiate the rates? What were you thinking?" Tootsie is the true mercenary entrepreneur! She does nothing for free! She made her Dad and me paintings for our office and sent us a bill. She gives her dad a 5 minute massage and charges him $5. She gives business advice to her friends! Last year her teacher had a marketplace where kids could bring and sell things for fake money! While other kids made 15 and 20$, Ms Entrepeneur made 300$. She had buy one get one free deals, price reductions at the end of the day, had the pulse of the room and was selling Slime and Puppy dog paintings!
Also last year she started a club with her friends to Save Endangered Animals. STAC they called it. For a while they had been having "meetings", researching animals (the teacher used the opportunity) and making t-shirts for members (A parent donated blank t-shirts and the little artist painted on the shirts!). Little Miss Business decided they needed to raise money for the animals. So Tootsie planned with her friends to sell goodies at the local park. They had inside information that the water fountains were broken and so the entrepreneur in her decided water bottles, juice boxes, soda and light snacks (aka chips). Parents were recruited to buy goodies and donate to STAC, posters were made and one beautiful Sat afternoon snack stations were setup. 10 minutes go by and no one comes by. Tootsie looks on anxiously. "I think we are too far away from the playground. They don't know we are selling! They must think its a party"
So she rallied the troops. "Lets go tell them we are here". And she starts walking up to random strangers " Hi, we are raising funds to Save endangered animals! All the money we collect will go to the Atlanta zoo endangered species program. Would you like to come buy something to support the animals?"
Or
"Are you thirsty or hungry? We have some yummy snacks and drinks"
"Cash Only!"
Or better yet!
"Oh didn't bring your wallet, we are going to be here for a while. You can go home and bring it we'll wait!"
At every comment I just moved further away until I was sitting at the next table! But that pretty much sums up the little entrepreneur in her. She dolls out business advice to friends. When her friend started selling bracelets in the neighborhood Tootsie had advice on pricing, negotiation and marketing strategies! BOGO and discounts except we first decided the strategy before deciding the price! You get the math!
Enough of the history lesson, lets now fast forward to Covid lockdown a time when mom and dad were being charged for paintings and chores around the house, her aunt told her about outschool. An online site where anyone could register (post background checks) to teach classes on any topic. I could literally see the light shining in her eyes as she had visions of teaching classes online and making money. And the wheels spinning as she decided between art and super hero lessons. But why go online and find new customers when we have one handy in the family! So young 4 yr old cousin was recruited and this fine Wednesday lessons were thought. While the gullible innocent aunt looked on!
True to my prediction later that day I asked Tootsie what had happened and she narrated to me "I taught him 2 classes. I gave him super hero lessons and taught him how to draw a unicorn! So that totals to 26$.” Never mind that the total length of the session was 20 mins long! Still 2 topics were taught! The bill has been sent to the aunt and now she is really on the guard at every conversation. "At this rate" said she "I can’t afford unmonitored conversations with the little minx!"
Meanwhile the minx has been plotting a plan for the money. She plans to buy "vans’ shoes" with the money she earns off the aunt! Because everyone needs a vans’ shoe you know! And mom refused to buy her one since she was now an earning member of the family!
So finally mom had to step in to cut a deal and talk a language that Tootsie would understand. A flat rate has been negotiated. Vans’ shoes for teaching the cousin to count until 100! We wont count how many classes that takes! Good luck tootsie!! 4 yr old Gattulu is a force to be reckoned with.. you are going to need that luck! Or as they say in Tamil "Sabash seriyana potti!"!!
