Continuing Education is a very trendy expression in our modern society, where high value is placed on formal certification. In North America, there are mainly two types of Continuing Education, which are the one for professionals and the general kind.

Professional Continuing Education is a specific learning activity generally characterized by the issuance of a certificate for the purpose of documenting attendance at a designated seminar or course of instruction. Licensing bodies in a number of fields impose Continuing Education requirements on members who hold licenses to practice within a particular profession. These requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their foundations of knowledge and stay up-to-date on new developments.

General Continuing Education is similar to adult education, at least in being intended for adult learners, especially those beyond traditional undergraduate, college or university age. However, it is not normally considered to include basic instruction. Instead, it is assumed that the student already has a college education and is simply continuing it.

In this article, we will focus on General Continuing Education, and how it can be beneficial in many ways to people from all generations, be it «C», «Y», «X», «Baby Boomers», and beyond, as well as from all professional fields.

While doing research on Mompreneurs for one of my recent articles, I came across the notion of «Childpreneur». It intrigued me greatly and, to my surprise, I found very little written about this subject. Childpreneurs have existed for a very long time, but no one has given them the importance I believe they should have. I guess the idea is in its infancy (pun intended)!

With this article I intend to start raising awareness about the true infinite potential our children possess. If they can learn several dozen languages before the age of six, imagine what they can learn about mastering their own financial future through owning their own business.

If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

So what is a Childpreneur? Where are they most commonly found? How can you discover if your children have this inclination? And if they do, what can you, as a parent, do to nurture it to its full potential? Let’s make a trip to «Business Neverland» and find out.

Why would you spend money to start your own business instead of receiving a salary by doing an internship?
Because it is the most lucrative alternative of the two.

«There’s freedom in this knowledge. You become the captain of your own ship, the maker of your destiny. Whether you end up working for someone else or pursuing another entrepreneurial adventure, you know the success of your career is in your hands.»
(Sean Johnson)

Internship vs. Business is exactly like the old saying: «If you give someone a fish, they eat for one day. But if you teach them to fish, they eat every day for the rest of their life.» Of course starting a business while in school or immediately after is certainly not the traditional option. But ask yourself this: Would you rather someone else decide if, when and how much you are worth being fed, or would you feel more secure knowing you are in control?

Here is a simple way to decide between an internship and starting your business, depending on your specific situation. You need to consider the financial aspect and the experience aspect. Let’s explore the finances first.