Teen Entrepreneur, Lane Sutton, Demonstrates How Hard Work Pays Off

TeenLife reporter Samantha Libraty had the opportunity to sit down with teen entrepreneur, Lane Sutton, and talk to him about balancing school, extracurricular activities and running his website KidCriticUSA.com.

Samantha Libraty: Why did you start Kid Critic?

Lane Sutton: It was an idea my father and I had. I wanted to include my knowledge of computers, running a business, and entrepreneurialism into one thing. I had taken a few courses to expand my knowledge of these things, but I learned most of it on my own.

SL: What does Kid Critic do for people?

LS: Kid Critic reviews movies, books, entertainment, restaurants, and more for kids and their families for kid-approved things. Everything is written and reviewed by a kid, from a kid's point of view.

SL: What is it like to get publicity for your work?

LS: When I get publicity for my work, I feel very honored. I am very grateful that people admire my work. It really encourages me to do more. Recently, I have received press for my work. Last summer, I was interviewed for BookPleasures.com. I was also recently featured on Forbes.com along with other kid entrepreneurs. Being in Forbes was a life-long dream of mine.

SL: What does a normal day look like for you?

LS: 6:30 am- I wake-up.

     8:00 am- I go to school.

     2:30 pm- I get out of school. [Sometimes, I have newspaper club after school.]

     After school- I start my homework; homework is my priority.

     6:30 pm- I eat dinner with my family.

     After dinner- I have two to three hours to finish any homework, update Kid Critic,  

     and/or focus on some of my other interests.

SL: What do your friends think about what you do?

LS: My friends are very supportive of my work. They help spread the word about Kid Critic. I also like to see that people enjoy my work.

SL: What are your other interests?

LS: I enjoy being creative, so my interests include many hands-on things. My interests include graphic design, writing, photography, public speaking, journalism, and other business tasks.

SL: Who are your role models? Why?

LS: One of my role models is Donald Trump. He is my role model because he has learned to master the financial world and being a billionaire. Steve Jobs is another role model of mine. I enjoy many of his cool inventions.

SL: Have you ever thought about expanding Kid Critic?

LS: I have thought about expanding Kid Critic. I published the Kid Critic guide in December and was so excited to get a product out for Kid Critic. The guide was a successful release and I would like to expand Kid Critic even more. I would like a real published book, rather than the guide, which is a small paper version. I really want to improve the website by creating more video reviews and a real forum where people can comment on products and I could answer questions. However, expansion would mean a lot more time and effort would have to be put into everything.

SL: What message would you like to share with other kids who are thinking of creating something of their own?

LS: The best tip is to start young and early. I began a career at 5 years old. Also, take advantage of your resources. It is really important to have the right tools to succeed. Make sure you do your research, so that no one else has done what you want to do. Always check your work to make sure there are no mistakes. Try your hardest, because hard work is always rewarding. For me, all my hard work has really paid off. My dream of being in Forbes came true because my hard work was recognized. And remember, it is always good to have friendly competition.