On Youth and Teens Today with Vanessa Van Petten

Welcome to a secret view into the world of the net-generation. I love writing to you (maybe a little too much) so enjoy, stick around and be sure to tell me what you think...and, duh, get on my email list quick! (on the right, "subscribe via email"). Or subscribe to my RSS feed.

So, how do you like my site’s facelift? Along with the aesthetically pleasing changes, I have started “Operation Oprah” you can keep up on the tab called “Operation Oprah” here is my description below, get excited!

Goal 1: Get on Oprah

Goal 2: Find a Publisher

Strategy:

Expose all the nitty-gritty details of life as a young entrepreneur: my failed cold calls, begging the ‘rents for investment money, smuggling ‘community’ library office supplies and oh so much more.

Operation Oprah is my journey–and desperate attempt, told through videocasts and blogs to start and grow a business on my allowance. In May of 2007, I (finally) graduated college, emptied my bank account (there wasn’t much to empty), founded my corporation and published “You’re Grounded!” book. Now I am working on a project for my next book: Teen Entrepreneurs.

The only problem…I have no publisher, and no money. Yet, I will not stop until I reach my goals and prove that anyone can reach the top from nothing.

What’s in it for you:

Well, you can laugh with me (or at me), learn from my experiences and see true net-geners in action. And…Guess what? I have decided that you, my wonderful, fantastic readers are now my Board of Advisors. After all, who can keep me more accountable, who can motivate me to keep going, who could be more supportive (I am grasping at strings here) than my users?

The Plan:

I promise to give you weekly updates of subscriber numbers, income tally’s and if we–or lets be honest, I–have met the monthly BOA (that’s YOU) goals. Please, subscribe, RSS, Share (and click on a few ads while your at it) to follow my ups and downs depicting my comic and sometimes exasperating struggles, successes and tactics. Send me your tips, ideas and constructive criticism.

Of course, I will be posting my usual tip-filled, joke-ridden blog posts for parents and teens. I will adhere to the following Outline and intersperse regular posts with my “OO” articles and even throw in a few “Oprah Watch” posts on the status getting onto Oprah.
(for those who know about David Letterman’s fight to get on Oprah, just think about him, but without my own show…and without a famous name…and without money)

…Publishers: get ready! Oprah: here I come!

Operation Oprah Post Outline:

This is my outline of posts to get on the Oprah Show and find a publisher, as I write them, the outline will turn into links.

I. Getting Started

A. Post 1: For all of you non-readers: Verbal Explanation of Operation Oprah

B. Post 2: What do I have to do to actually be an ‘Entrepreneur?’
1. Post 3: ‘The Idiot’s Guide Told me to:’ The Pro’s and Con’s of starting a business

C. Post 4: Revealing my ‘Authorial Persona’…whatever that means.

D. Post 5: Goals, Goals, Goals and Making My Mission Statements Unboring

II. Creating a Business

A. Post 6: Investment Money and Finding A Sucker to Build my Site
1. Post 7: Income: “Vanessa what are you living off of?”

B. Post 8: Business Legal Stuff for Newbies: Does anyone really like the Copyright office?
1. Post 9: Trademark Fiasco “I just want to be for real!”

C. Post 10: Ha! I get to work in my pajama’s.
1. Post 11: Damn! I miss having people around me.

D. Post 12: The. Business. Plan.
1. Post 13: “Why isn’t there a free word template for everything?”

….I am planning ahead, but not that far ahead, stay tuned.