Generation Next
Michael Podraza, 16
Article Contents
- Generation Next
- Shazad Mohamed, 15
- Kayla Stewart, 19
- Stephen R. Gordon, 18
- Chris Delany, 19
- Rishi Bhat, 18
- David Marks, 18
- Devin Lazerine, 18
- Ashley Powers, 17
- Michael Podraza, 16
- Elise & Evan Macmillan, 14 & 16
- Win, Win, Win
CollectibleX.com Inc. &
Whimsical Beans Inc.
Michael Podraza just got his driver's license. He won't get
a car until the summer, but this little rite of passage means he
won't have to ask his mother for anymore rides to the
Streamwood, Illinois, office that houses his two companies,
CollectibleX.com and Whimsical Beans Inc.  When Podraza was 11, he and his father created
CollectibleX.com, a Web site where people can indulge in
collectibles like Beanie Babies and Precious Moments. "I
wanted to make it easier to buy, sell and trade collectibles
without having to go to conventions and shows and phone ordering
and things like that," he explains.
Five years in, CollectibleX.com pretty much runs itself. The
site employs about 15 people who handle transactions and customer
service, and it's rung up about $6 million in sales since its
founding. Content Continues Below
Looking for a new challenge, Podraza took an interest in
customized stuffed bears in 1999 with the launch of Whimsical
Beans. Each bear is designed by Podraza and benefits a charity,
such as the Batten Disease Support and Research Association of the
American Cancer Society. Podraza runs Whimsical Beans on his own,
not only designing the bears, but also dealing with manufacturing,
shipping and sales. "I'm being a child and an adult at the
same time," he says. "It's fun because most kids my
age do other stuff like sports and I'm running a business.
It's just weird." —Devlin Smith | Pop
Quiz | Are you ready to be an entrepreneur? Take this quick quiz to
find out (answer yes or no): - Are you self-confident—or willing to become that way
quick?
- Are you willing to challenge established norms?
- Do you have more business ideas than you know what to do
with?
- Are you willing to work long hours for little pay to achieve
your dream?
- Are you competitive?
- Are you creative?
- Are you good at planning ahead?
- Are you strong-willed, unwilling to give up and able to be a
good leader?
- Do you have good communication skills, in speaking, reading and
writing?
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great?
If you answered yes to six or more of these questions,
congratulations. You are an entrepreneur.
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What makes a good client gift?
What guidelines do you follow when buying gifts for your clients? Have you ever received an unusual or inappropriate gift?
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