Jasmine Lawrence started her hair and body care products business while she was 13. She describes her speedy path to success

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The Entrepreneur: Jasmine Lawrence, 17

Background: After chemical hair-care products caused much of her hair to close out when she was 11, Lawrence began to research natural alternatives. Two years later, she started the hair care line Eden Body Works with $2,000 in seed riches from her parents, in the pattern of being selected to attend a traffic camp sponsored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (BusinessWeek.com, 10/5/07). Since then, the teen has been featured without ceasing the Today proclaim and Oprah. Her employment has also been nominated by dint of. businessweek readers to our annual Best Entrepreneurs 25 and Under Roundup (BusinessWeek, 9/8/08) for the past two years.

The Company: Based in her family’s basement in Williamstown, N.J., Eden Body Works has grown to 17 products that are sold online and via brick-and-mortar retailers including Whole Foods (WFMI). In 2007, Lawrence, then a junior at Williamstown High School, negotiated a deal to sell her products at Wal-Mart Store (WMT) nationwide.

Revenues: Over $1 million

Her Story: As if being a teenager weren’t hectic enough—try being a teen and a CEO. That is the require that I am faced with every daytime. It all started four years ago, when I decided to start a company to make all-natural hair and body care products. Now I am managing national distribution chains and international online sales. At the like time, I am in addition trying to have a life. My day starts at 5 a.hotch-potch. After seminary, I mind straight to my place for an hour capacity nap, then pry myself awake for homework. On a normal age, after finishing my schoolwork, I answer e-mails, do interviews, and have a meeting or two with my four employees (some of whom is my mom—she is the head of business development).

On a not-so-normal day, I may be packing to take a detect somewhere athwart the country to speak at a school, a house of god, or a business issue. At some of these events, I am surrounded by business people wearing suits and ties who are two times my age, if not more.

At first, it was a challenge to fit in—in the jungle of Corporate America. I noticed, however, that all that I needed were a few adjustments and a narrow maturity. I needed a professional attitude that would gain me respect among adults. I in like manner needed professional dress. It wasn’privately easy, because I had never been exposed to the world of craft beyond which I had learned from my mom and dad. I started my businesswoman transformation with my wardrobe. I knew that I had to look the part if I planned to run a multimillion-dollar empire one day. So, I went disclosed and bought suits in the place of all occasions. I also went into my closet and pulled out the shoes that I usually wore only upon peculiar occasions. I stood up straight, looked in the mirror, and saying the businesswoman I was destined to be. Once I was satisfied with my outside appearance, it was time to look within. I dropped the slang I used with my friends, and I adopted fresh business terms like "revenue" and "return on investment." I practiced my elevator loftiness and readied myself for networking and sharing my ideas with others.

The first experiment of my business skills came in the form of an investor show competition in 2005, where I had to discuss my business plan before a group of veritable financial advisers. I was easily agitated when I first stepped into the room filled through so great number people. But I was confident in my business. I knew it was really a good creative. I was able to deliver a make smooth presentation. Many there were shocked and amazed at not only my age but also the poise with what one. I spoke and carried myself.

A year later (in 2006), I had another challenge.