Teach kids to spot wealth-building opportunities with a simple mindset, a daily noticing habit and a fun gap-hunting game the whole family can play tonight
Something that all wealthy people have in common is the ability to spot something other people simply walked straight past.
A gap. A need. A problem worth solving.
Here's the thing though, that "eye for opportunity" isn't luck or genius. It's actually a way of seeing the world. And the great news for parents of mini millionaires is that skill can be taught.
And in a place like South Africa, where nearly half of our young people can't find work, raising a child who looks for openings is one of the best gifts you can give.
Problems Are Just Opportunities in Disguise
Most kids (and let’s face it, adults too) walk right past problems.
Wealth-builders walk toward them and ask, "What could fix this?"
That single shift to opportunity eyes ("what's missing here, and could I make it?") is the foundation of an entrepreneurial mind.
And recognising opportunities is actually the very first step towards building an entrepreneurial mindset.
So point it out in everyday situations like the tuck shop that always sells out of one snack, or the neighbour who never has time to walk their dog. Each one is a tiny open door.
The takeaway: Every problem someone complains about is an opportunity nobody's claimed yet.
Get Them To Notice Something Daily
Once a day, get your mini millionaire to identify one thing that could be better.
This could be anything from a chore no one wants to do, a water bottle that always leaks in their bag, or even a game that gets boring after ten minutes.
The point isn't to act on every idea, but rather about honing your mini millionaire’s eyes to notice opportunities where others see problems.
The Innovator's DNA was written after a nearly decade-long study to understand disruptive leaders and the skills they use to build some of the world’s most innovative companies.
Consistently noticing small details everyone else misses (or observing) is one of the core discovery skills that sets great entrepreneurs apart.
The takeaway: Opportunity-spotting is a muscle your mini millionaire should flex.
The Gap Hunt
The next time you're at the mall, on a long drive, or even just out and about in your neighbourhood, why don't you try this game.
Challenge your mini millionaire to spot three gaps: these are things people clearly need, but that no one is offering them (or offering well).
For each gap, brainstorm together: who would pay for a fix, and how could you start small?
Remember to keep it light and fun. The goal here is getting them to spot the gap, not to write the entire business plan just yet. You're not raising a CEO by this weekend; you're just trying to get them to see the gap.
The takeaway: They’ll be amazed at the opportunities all around them.
This week's lesson comes alive with The Bull Pen game, a free, printable card game built to turn your mini millionaire into a proper opportunity-spotter.
The rules are simple: pick a card, read the everyday word out loud (think "shoes", "chores" or "homework"), then challenge your child to name a problem around it and pitch their game-changing solution.
It's the exact muscle we've been flexing all week, seeing the gap and then dreaming up the fix, wrapped in a few minutes of fun at the kitchen table.
Ten starter cards get you going, and blank ones let you add problems unique to your own home.
