4 lessons from the success of a 15-year-old entrepreneur
What led a boy to start a business in 10th grade and receive praise from the U.S. First Lady herself?
The Define Bottle fruit-infused water bottle is described on its website as follows: “This is a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly water bottle that lets you carry delicious, nutritious fruit-infused water.”
‘With Define Bottle, you can freely combine fresh fruits, teas, and herbs. The bottle is an ideal alternative to plain water while helping curb your cravings for bottled soft drinks.’
Define Bottle is a water bottle with a fruit-infusing function. Users simply pour in water, add fruit to steep, and carry it with them to drink as needed. It is especially useful for those dieting or cutting back on sugar and soft drinks.
Since launching this April, Define Bottle has ‘moved’ 150,000 products.
The creator of Define Bottle received personal praise from former President Bill Clinton and was honored by Entrepreneur Magazine for founding one of the most innovative companies of 2013. Even US First Lady Michelle Obama personally introduced and praised Define Bottle.
But few would have expected the creator of this entirely new product idea to be a boy of just 15, Carter Kostler, living on the Virginia coast in the United States.
Carter Kostler introduces his product on television.
At age 13, after learning alarming figures about adolescent obesity and the harmful effects of bottled sugary drinks and carbonated beverages, Carter was inspired to make a difference.
Previously, he often watched his mother make fruit-infused water for the family. But the infusion jars were usually large, so whenever family members wanted to take some to school or the gym, they had to pour it into plastic bottles previously used for soda.
Carter saw that this method was inconvenient, unhealthy, and environmentally polluting, inspiring the idea of a dedicated fruit-infused water bottle.
The Define Bottle fruit-infused water bottle.
Define Bottle does more than hold fruit-infused water. It is also environmentally friendly and safe for users' health because it is made of glass, and its design is particularly fashionable.
From the Success of a Boy in Just Grade 10, Inc Magazine Drew 4 Valuable Lessons We Can Learn from Him.
1. Follow Your Passion
To overcome countless obstacles, Carter needed to follow his heart.
If he had chased money or fame, he might not have achieved the success he has today.
But because the boy pursued his passion for helping other children lead better, healthier lives, he achieved a breakthrough.
2. Surpass yourself
Customers, sponsors, suppliers and the media immediately warmed to Carter because he had not founded the company for himself.
Carter's product aims to protect the environment and reduce obesity and related diseases.
His product succeeds because it serves the community.
3. Generate ideas from problems
Carter's idea, like countless other products and services, arose directly from his dissatisfaction with the present.
Many things in life surely leave you dissatisfied. Look deeper to discover opportunities instead of simply simmering with anger.
4. Remove limitations
For a boy only in grade 10, there are thousands of reasons his business project could collapse.
But Carter did not let these difficulties unsettle him. He drafted a business plan, researched the market, built a prototype and posted a fundraising video to bring Define Bottle to users.
Many people think Carter was simply a lucky boy in the right place at the right time. But without the factors above, this young businessman certainly would not have achieved his current success.
