Creating the Next Generation of Financially Literate Citizens|Rob Phelan - a podcast by Cody of Fly to FI and Justin aka Saving Sherpa
from 2020-04-21T07:00:07
Today's episode features Rob from The Simple Startup.
Rob had an interesting childhood were he got most of his early education in Ireland.This gave him an opportunity to be exposed to unique learning environments that don't typically exist in the United States.
Now Rob is leading by example and teaching his own students these valuable lessons of personal finance and entrepreneurship.He has also taken it one step further by creating a workbook that can spread these lessons to everyone.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Rob's amazing lessons.
Episode SummaryRob's Upbringing
Rob feels like he had a lot of great influences early but didn't bite on the advice
In his elementary school in Ireland, he was involved in some saving focused programsAbout two years ago he started getting involved with teaching financial literacy with younger kids
Rob was born in the United States but was in Ireland most of his life until age 21He comments that you don't see the drive for FI in Ireland that he's seen here
We discuss differences in pension systems and wages between Ireland and AmericaHow Rob Became a Teacher
He had several options to choose from between sports medicine, architecture, and teachingRob mostly went with teaching because he got the summer off and he loves getting outdoors
Even the subject he was going to teach just sort of fell into placeRob actually started teaching in 2014
Taking Money to the Next LevelRob admits his wife was better with money when they first met
That gap he was noticing drove him to take money more seriouslyWithin 12 months of marriage, they paid off all of their $20k of debt
After his debt was paid off, he started focusing more on financial independenceOrigins of Rob's Love for Entrepreneurship
Rob's high school in Ireland offered him a gap year that is all around self-development
His business teacher made them actually start their own businessesThe kids were in charge of the full cycle
Rob says it was basically the Lean Startup ModelFinding something that can be started with resources you already have on hand
That first business was selling baked goods which sold at schoolThey profited about 500 Euros
The group actually had their own custom stall and custom apronsEducating the Next Generation of Financially Literate Citizens
Rob asks his students on a skill they'd like to learn but never have
Then he challenges them to learn that skill without his help and prove their mastery of itSomething like changing the oil in a car and creating a YouTube video teaching others to do the same
Then he started a club called The Millionaires ClubThis club is fully self-funded without fundraising
They get their money via business they run themselves and can keep 10% of the earningsAs he started building out resources and structures for this he decided he should build a workbook
This workbook is an actionable workbook that's very interactive and not just something you read
He calls it a how-to guide around starting your first businessIt's really targeting teens and young adults
This workbook covers the full lifecycle Finding a need, building the business, handling the finances, and pitching it to others
Key Takeaways
The Lessons are versatile: Whether it's business, personal finance, or responsibility -- these type of lessons can apply and improve lives in many areas
Think outside the box: Rob didn't let what a teacher normally does define what he was going to do with his students and is seeing the results
Call to ActionIf there is a young person in your sphere of influence that you can encourage to try a project or a small business, then help push and guide them through that experience. If not, try a self inspection and consider starting up a trial run of a business with extremely low startup costs to see if it's something yo...
Further episodes of The Financial Independence Show
Further podcasts by Cody of Fly to FI and Justin aka Saving Sherpa