This past weekend, I was on my weekly trip to our town’s Transfer Station to drop off my garbage and recycling, a New England rite of passage. While driving though my old neighborhood, I saw, from a distance, what looked like a large cart on the opposite side of the street. Was it being pushed…was it left by a pickup truck that had gone around the corner? As I got closer, I realized it was moving, and was being towed by a young man in a go-cart.
The boy’s head was no more than 2-3′ off the ground, and the big red cart, that was in tow, was overloaded with a lawnmower, string trimmer, blower, and loads of other tools and supplies. On the side of the red painted cart, in white block letters, was the name: Dylan. That is all I saw in my passing.
I couldn’t stop, but I knew that I had to find out about this story. A few days later, I posted on our town’s FB page hoping to find this budding entrepreneur, or at least his parents, and learn more. Within a few hours, his name was revealed along with great praise for his effort and work quality. Following is the story of a 13 year-old boy who drives, at about 5 miles/hour, to his clients in a go-cart, towing an overloaded trailer. I met Dylan and his mother this past week to learn more about this intriguing young man.
In the Spring of 2023, Dylan started with a friend, like most youths, by borrowing their parent’s lawnmower and hitting the neighborhood looking to make a few bucks. Dylan stuck with it during the summer and started to build a business with clients, equipment, expenses, and responsibility. Dylan says he started by pushing the lawnmower to jobs and then started stacking equipment on top of the lawnmower as needed. Soon he realized that he needed something else to bring tools and supplies to the job. With the help of his father, Dylan built the red cart that you see. Pulling the cart became cumbersome, so he hooked it to his bike, and with even more equipment that became overwhelming. He and his father then came up with the idea of using a go-cart, that his uncle and father had built, but it didn’t have an engine. So Dylan and his father purchased an engine, mounted it, and he was off to the races, so to speak.
Now before I go further, it is important to clarify part of this story that reveals the exceptional nature of Dylan. You may already be thinking this is a story of a kid whose parents bought everything for him and help him do his work. Other than borrowing a lawnmower for early work, Dylan has purchased, or claimed from the dump, every piece of equipment. Believe me, I saw the spreadsheet that tracks his expenses and income!
He found his first lawnmower online. He purchased the supplies and built the cart with the help of his father. He has also purchased or found other equipment over the Summer: String trimmer, power washer, snowblower, replacement parts for his tools and all the necessary supplies. The big new purchases were a blower and chipper/shredder this fall so he can do his clean-ups. The frame for the go-cart was a gift from his father and uncle, but he purchased the engine and mounted it with help from his father. He says the go-cart can do 40 mph, with a wry smile on his face, but keeps it to about 5mph around the neighborhood towing his cart.
This Summer, he met a mechanic who has offered to teach and support him with the maintenance of his equipment. Dylan was proud to show me a box of engine supplies including a carburetor, one of which he had to change out on his power washer, also claimed from the transfer station. He does take great caution with his tools and wears the important safety equipment and protection while working.
So I have talked a lot about Dylan’s business and how he got started, but I really wanted to learn about this young man driving his loaded go-cart around the neighborhood on a Saturday in November.
One of the first things that I learned was an important principle that his parents believe, which is that they support him with everything that he needs as their child, but that he has to work for some of the things might want. The manner in which Dylan expressed this concept made me realize, that at 13 years old, he understands the idea that you need to work for what you hope to achieve in life.
Wow!
And he is all in. Expressing great pride, with a big smile, at how he found and purchased every piece of equipment. He says he is proud every morning that he goes to school and leaves through the garage and sees his equipment.
“I know it is mine,” he says.
I had to ask why he is driven to work so hard and why he isn’t playing video games or watching TV, and he said it just “wasn’t my thing.” He plays baseball and the Spring was tough with work, school and baseball, but he really seems to enjoy the work, and all aspects of running his business.
Next, I wanted to know if he had a real passion for landscape work and if it is something he plans to pursue. His response was a surprise and one I would hope for from someone twice his age. What he gets most out of his work is learning. Learning about the work, fixing/maintaining equipment, financial management, working with clients, selling himself and his business, negotiating to buy equipment, planning ahead. I’m not making this up, these are all things he said and talked about in detail.
I sense that his parents are there to support him as needed and provide any advice and information he needs, but Dylan is his own man and seems to run his business on his own terms. His mother told me that she considers him an ‘old soul’. I would agree. He is way ahead of his time, and takes great pride in his work and seems to truly enjoy it.
Of course, as any young entrepreneur, he isn’t satisfied. He has plans of purchasing a larger mower this Winter, so that he can cut lawns more efficiently. He has been in contact with a few people and is looking for the right deal. Unfortunately, a bigger lawnmower means a bigger cart, and I could sense that his mind is working on plans for a new cart that will probably be unveiled next Spring.
Dylan currently has 12 clients that he gained from knocking on doors, leaving flyers, and most importantly, from word of mouth by happy customers.
I feel privileged to have met this young man who already seems to have the tools necessary for success in life, and he knows that all he has to do is learn and work hard to achieve his goals.
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