Lights, camera, billion-dollar success

The school play. 🎭

The church choir. 🎶

The dance team. 👯

It’s a well-known fact that participation in the arts enhances academic performance. That data has been around for a looooong time. 👇

But academics aside, getting groovy in the arts scene also does heaps for a kid’s creativity, self-confidence, and future job prospects.

Yale University student Awuor Onguru recently spoke to the New York Times about how performing arts can underpin success, no matter what a kid decides to do with their life:

Today, we’re going to zero in specifically on the value of performing arts for entrepreneurship.

Does your little business builder dream of owning a billion-dollar company?

It might be time for them to audition for their school’s production of Peter Pan…

Everyone’s favorite famous dad — and three teenage girls 🤔 

You probably know Ryan Reynolds from his blockbusters, his goofy persona, or his adorable comedy antics with wife Blake Lively. 

But he’s also the genius behind a bunch of lucrative brands.

From Mint Mobile to 1Password to Aviation Gin, companies he invested in or co-owns are valued at over $14 billion. 🤯

A big part of Ryan’s success in business is his ability to connect with a broad audience — which comes from a background in acting. He throws himself in front of the ventures he supports, and delivers a performance that elevates the brand. 

Now, your kid might not want to become the next Ryan Reynolds, but they should definitely try being a performer. 

Why?

Because the kids at Prequel have applied his strategy — and it works. 

👉 Like Elle, who used her 200k TikTok followers to launch her safe teen dating app.

👉 And Anaiah, whose viral TikTok post helped her launch a peer-to-peer support platform for teens.

👉 And Grace, who released her documentary on Twitter with over 4 million views.

None of this would be possible without these kids being comfortable and confident on stage.

So whether it’s acting, music, dance, or even standup comedy (pretty much the hardest thing to do on the planet), performing arts can help your kid embrace their dynamic personality, and prepare them for success no matter which field they choose…

… but especially if they want to become an entrepreneur. 

Let’s unpack that a bit more. 👇

Performing arts can teach mad entrepreneurship skills

What’s more nerve-wracking than having to perform in front of a room of strangers? 

…when millions of dollars are on the line. 💰

Yep, I’m talking about an investor meeting.

The pitch that a tech founder needs to deliver isn’t much different from a Shakespearean monologue:

I kid, I kid — but that was fun. 😉

However, it is absolutely true that the best way to connect with investors is through storytelling and having the confidence to command a room — two skills that a performing arts hobby will help your kid hone.

Don’t get me wrong — they’ll still need a solid business plan. But the ability to persuasively communicate that plan is what separates a struggling startup from a fully-financed unicorn.

And of course, raising funds is only one area of entrepreneurship that performing can develop. Other skills include:

• Marketing their company (creativity and presentation)

• Networking and building relationships (emotional intelligence)

• Negotiating (mirroring others)

• Motivating their team (storytelling)

See what I’m getting at here?

It’s also awesome for personal growth

Performing gives kids permission to tap into their emotions.

Your kid may be memorizing a line or learning some choreography, but at the heart of it, they’ll need to understand the emotions behind their performance. 

Acting, music, or dance can all inspire kids to explore their full range of emotions, and express them in a healthy way. 

And boy, do they need it. 

We’re in the middle of a teen mental health crisis, where one in four young people feel lonely, and 20% of adolescents feel anxious, or even depressed. 

Getting them away from their screens and onto a stage can do wonders for their mental health — there’s a reason drama, movement, and dance can be effective forms of therapy for kids. 

👻 Got stage fright?

Maybe your kid is more into Fortnite than footlights. Or they’re completely petrified by the idea of performing in front of people. 

Yep. I get that. 🤷

But worry not — here are a few ways to spark their interest.

👉 Create an art-positive home environment

Introduce performing arts through fun family activities. Act out scenes from their favorite movies, go see a live musical or a family-friendly comedy show, or carve out a weekend to jam out on instruments together.

Creating a home atmosphere where performing is celebrated will help immerse your kid in the fun. 

👉 Start small

When it’s time to explore classes, start with short programs that won’t scare them away. Find an improv comedy class or a one-night workshop in your local area to test the waters. 

The key is to give them a good first experience so they’ll want to return for more. 

👉 Make it relatable

Your kid probably has a favorite performer, whether it’s a musician, actor, or a content creator. Discuss with them what gives that performer the “it” factor. 

Hey, we live in a time where one in three preteens want to be an influencer when they grow up — tap into that mentality and let your kid know that to influence is to perform (Elle, Anaiah, and Grace can attest to that!).

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The goal here isn’t to push your kid into Hollywood — it's about giving them opportunities to build skills that will make them a more confident and adaptable human.

So encourage your kid to get on stage. It may be frightening at first, but you can’t beat the euphoria of giving a killer performance when the curtain rises. 👊