Teens, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  If you don't, there's no need to worry about it.  However, you may want to give it some thought.  Whatever you choose, make sure it's your passion.  Don't choose a career because your mom and dad want you to follow in their footsteps.  Do what you want to do!

Some teens may be entrepreneurial.  This means that you'll be the boss!  You'll have most of the responsibility if you don't have a partner, but you'll receive plenty of tax incentives.  And, you get to make your hours, decide when you take lunch, go on vacation when you want, and make other decisions.

Tips to finding your career

1.  What makes you smile?
2.  What are your passions?
3.  What are your talents?
4.  What do you like to do?

Teens it's never too early to think about what you want to do when you grow up.  You may as well do something that you'll enjoy doing.  If you choose a career for the money, you may be disappointed and resent your career.  Choose a career that you'll love!

Teens love to spend money!  If you're lucky, you'll receive cash for your birthday, report card, as an allowance, or for a holiday gift.  To ensure that you always have money, you can get an after school job.  This way you can buy whatever you need or want without having to ask mom or dad.

Given the recent economic client, teens are competing with experienced workers for jobs.  Don't fret because you can still find income opportunities if you know where to look and how to approach a hiring manager.

Note:  Having a job means you'll can benefit from time management skills.  You'll have to do homework after work or get up early to finish it.  Create a schedule for yourself.  This way you'll know what days you work and make sure you complete all of your assignments.  Use study halls to your advantage.  If you're lucky, you'll be able to get a pass to the library or computer room to do whatever research you need to do for assignments.

Tips to finding income opportunities

1.  Read the classified section of your local newspaper.  There are plenty of jobs listed in the newspaper.  Working at a job will give you extra cash and perhaps "awaken" the entrepreneur in you.  When you graduate from high school you may opt to begin your own business versus working for someone else.  Speak to local entrepreneurs and discover how they got started and how they can help you!

2.  Ask your friends who have jobs if there are openings where they work.  Here's a tip:  word-of-mouth and networking are the best ways to find employment.  Most companies will not post their job openings because they rely on referrals from their employees or work with a recruiting agency.

3.  Find a passive income stream.  Let's say you're a teen author.  You can self-publish your book and create other merchandise around it such as CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, and other items.  Mom and dad can help you with this if your school or community doesn't have a "young entrepreneur program."

4.  Attend job fairs.  Believe it or not, there are some job fairs for teens.  Bring your resume and smile with you!  Make sure you dress up.  You don't have to wear a suit, but don't dress in t-shirt and jeans.  Make sure you know something about the companies you want to work for.  Employers like people who know their business.

5.  Create a job.  You can babysit, shovel snow, landscape, paint, or put your technological skills to use by designing web sites.  Again, mom and dad can help you get started or perhaps your school has a program for teen entrepreneurs.

6.  Get involved in the family business.  Ok, a funeral home may not be your ideal business, but you could get involved and earn cash along the way.  Who knows, one day you may decide to run the business.  In the mean time, offer to take out the trash, open the mail, do some light bookkeeping, or whatever else your family can use.  You'll be able to apply the business skills you learn today to whatever you do in the future.

Teens earn money now to save and or buy whatever it is you'd like.  Perhaps you want a car but mom and dad expect you to pay the insurance. Having an after school job will take care of the insurance and gas!  If you want a cell phone, an after school job can pay for that as well.

Earning income as a teen will teach you money management.  Make sure you put money aside for education, giving, financial freedom, and long-term spending.  Read my articles in the Money Management section to learn more about this subject.  It's best to develop money management skills today because it will prepare you for the future.

There's a story going around that a college in America, is asking smart college graduates to sign a paper stating that they only did fair in school.  Why would a college ask students to do this?  What's the big deal about being smart?  Someone who feels inferior because your intellect may be way above average or genius has issues that must be resolved.  It's not your problem!

The audacity of the "powers at be" of a college to ask students to "dumb themselves down" is beyond my comprehension.  Is this the future for teens?  It's almost as if America is punishing teens for being smart.  What has happened to this country?  Where did we go wrong?  How do we fix America and get it back on track?  You may not know the answers to these questions, and I may not know the answers to these questions, but the people of this country better wake up today before it's too late.

Teens, you are the future.  Do you want a future that includes college administrators that will dumb you down?  Everyone is smart in their own way.  You can be book smart, street smart, artistic smart, and people smart.  If you're book smart, don't apologize for it. 

College and university may not be for everyone.  However, that doesn't give you a free pass to slack off if you're not doing well in high school.  Do the best you can because that is what matters.  Take pride in you and your work today and your future will be bright tomorrow!

Teens who like to write could become teen authors.  You don't have to wait until you're an adult to publish your work.  There are many ways you can become a published teen author.  The question is, "...are you ready for the life of an author at an early age?"

Becoming a published teen author requires discipline, patience, time, dedication, and perseverance.  Are you willing to do whatever it takes to reach your goal?  If you are then you can become published at an early age.

Why teens write

Writing is very cathartic for many teens.  It's a great way to purge your mind and body of any pain or negativity that may consume you.  This is why most writings are dark; you're channeling your pain onto paper or the computer screen.  Most artists write from a dark place within themselves because it makes them feel alive.  It seems ironic that pain and suffering would make you feel alive.  Don't be afraid to write from the "light side" of life.  Besides, you can brighten someone's day with your writing.

Tips to becoming a published teen author

1.  Write every day.  Whether you write short stories, comics, poems, songs, graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction, blog, or journal -- write each day.  The more you write the better your writing skills will improve.

2.  Self publish your work.  This may seem like a lot of work, but it can be done.  Ask mom and dad to help you publish your work.  You can self-publish your work on Cafe Press.com, Amazon.com, and other websites.  Create a website and sell your book online. 

3.  Tell no one what you are doing or only those closest to you.  The naysayers will try and talk you out of your dream; they'll tell you it's impossible.  Refuse to listen to them because they're probably insecure about their life and dreams.

4.  Apply constructive criticism and feedback to your writing.  When your English teacher gives you advice -- take it.  Your writing skills will develop as you get older.  Learn all you can now because it will benefit you later.

5.  Write for the school newspaper or some other publication.  If you've been bitten by the writing bug join forces with your school's newspaper.  This is invaluable experience and will look good on your college transcripts.

Teens can become published authors.  All it takes is a willingness on your part to put in the time and effort.  If you're passionate about writing, go for it!  Most people do not follow their passion because they're focused on making money to pay the bills.  Guess what?  Doing something just to pay the bills is not a good enough reason to make money!  Remember, do what makes you happy and the money will follow!