NEW YORK—As the national and local economy tanks, jobs become a hot commodity, but for Queens resident Byron Perry it means more business. Perry is a job counselor, a motivational speaker, and strong proponent of self-employment. Perry brings his lessons in entrepreneurship to adults, as well as children of all ages.
ET: As the economy turns sour, what tips do you give young people and older people?
Byron Perry: I always suggest ways to create your own income. Don't depend on just a job, because, as you see, it's the nature of the economy. You might have a job one day and a month or two months later you might lose a job.
ET: Have you seen an increase in your business recently?
BP: Yes, and I have seen people get more creative in creating their own incomes.
ET: How much are your services?
BP: I usually speak to groups. I speak at libraries and I speak to different audiences. Usually I speak for an hour for $300.
ET: What kinds of adults come to you?
BP: Across the board. Even people that are already working come to a program to learn about entrepreneurship and I provide them with the service.
ET: What led you to become a motivational public speaker on entrepreneurship?
BP: I found a need. I have been speaking on entrepreneurship since l989 and I found a need in that area.
ET: What are Kids Inc. and Campus CEO?
BP: Kids Inc. is when I speak with children between the ages of 8 thru 14 on entrepreneurship and self-employment. Campus CEO is a program I plan to present on college campuses teaching college students how to become entrepreneurs while they are students.
ET: After attending your Kids Inc. workshops, have any children started their own business?
BP: Yes, I did a series of workshops at Langston Hues Library in Corona, Queens, and the information that the children gather they used at a live festival. I talked about selling cookies, selling lemonade.
ET: In the African American community do you see a need to teach young children entrepreneurship and financial literacy?
BP: In all communities, not just African American. There might be a greater need, because as you can imagine white children are around entrepreneurs more often, their parents, their aunts, their uncles. Black children need to see role models doing entrepreneurship and learning more about the process.
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