Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
“So then, what happens in the Ludlow Bubbly, in Team No Sleep Productions, in Trent Remember Cards, in my business, and in Pop-Pop's businesses is basically the same when it comes to working with other businesses. Everything runs on contracts.”
Nine-year-old grand-mogul Vertran Stepforth, the heir of a precociously operating copy of the mind of Thomas Stepforth Sr., grandfather and billionaire, was explaining how business basically works to his cousins Velma (11), Milton (9), and Gracie Trent (8) and their friends Eleanor (11), Andrew (10), George (9), Edwina (8), Amanda (7), Grayson (6), and Lil' Robert Ludlow (5).
“OK, so, what's a contract, and explain it to me like I'm five, because, see, I am five,” Lil' Robert said.
“Basically, we write down all the stuff we agree to do for each other and sign it,” Vertran said.
Lil' Robert considered this.
“I have crayons!” he said.
“And, this is why business is not as big and scary as a lot of people think it is,” Vertran said. “If you have crayons, you can start!”
“If you have crayons and you are trustworthy, though,” Andrew said.
“And people feel safe working around you,” Amanda said. “There are people out here that even if they have lots of pink and purple crayons, I'm not signing anything to do anything with them.”
“We have you covered on those,” six-year-old Grayson said. “You don't need to do anything with anyone who is not safe!”
“And that's sort of what the law and lawyers do, too – they cover you if you write your contracts right,” Vertran said. “Both of you are right – you need to be covered by the law, and you need to be sure that you trust people before you sign the contract. This is why people our age can't enter into contracts – it's not legal, and, people are kind of hard to figure out when you haven't figured yourself out yet.”
“So, how are you moguling so hard at nine?” equally nine-year-old George said.
“I do the creative part, and my father is my business manager,” Vertran said. “He does the contracts, and Pop-Pop sometimes will take a second look. But Pop-Pop enjoys teaching more, so we hang out and I learn more. I really love the hangout sessions now that my big cousin Melvin [Melvin Trent, 21, founder of Team No Sleep Productions] is there too, and also Milton who Melvin is mentoring in moguling.”
“We're all gonna be grand-moguls!” Milton said.
“Can girls come, though?” Edwina said. “I'm going to be running a fashion house and a travel agency with Insta-Resorts, so I need this!”
“Of course!” Vertran said.
“But it's not what you think it is,” Gracie said. “I've been to some of these, and there's a lot of reading of a lot of long stuff and long stories, and that's good if you are into it, but you need to give it a test drive before you sign the contract, Edwina.”
“That's right, Gracie – I forgot – big purchases are done by contract too sometimes,” Vertran said, “and try before you buy is a thing.”
“Look, they want me to be building good instead of breaking bad over here,” Edwina said, “and I need all the help I can get, so you come get me, Vertran – I'm coming!”
“We'll bring the crayons!” Robert, Grayson, and Amanda said.
“How about we just come out on our porch, and then everybody can come listen in that wants to,” Vertran said.
“That's fair,” Velma said. “It's not like it's a big secret. It is better that as many people as possible actually know how real business works, because too much stuff is going wrong out here because people don't.”
“Yeah, I'm getting tired of Papa being upset because folks are driving our soda into the lake,” Eleanor said.
“Contracts and contract law won't fix that, though,” Vertran said. “You still gotta grow up so you learn how to read the signs, so that your feet reach the pedals right, and so you actually learn how to drive.”
“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said. “Whole lot of people out here pretending to be adults, but they're really not.”