肯特·梅尔维尔的父亲最初对儿子说想用夏季柠檬水摊的盈利创办自己的汽水公司持怀疑态度。亚伦·梅尔维尔在当地一所大学教授商业课程，他不相信自己9岁的自闭症儿子已经准备好经营自己的生意。
肯特决心为其他自闭症患者做些事情，这促使他的父亲重新考虑。亚伦在组织的Facebook页面上解释了为什么他最初鼓励儿子等到年纪更大一些再创业，但最终还是决定帮助儿子创办“肯特汽水”公司。
肯特沉思了一会儿，然后看着我说：“爸爸，我现在什么都不缺，但是还有很多患有自闭症的孩子，他们做不了自己想做或需要做的事情。我想用我们挣的钱帮助他们实现愿望。我们现在就开始行不行？我不想再等了。”我从未如此骄傲过。我眼含感激的泪水，答应了。
尽管他得到了父母、当地社区大学的学生和教职员工的帮助， 《喀里多尼亚记录报》描述了这位年轻的企业家是如何掌控自己的事业的。
肯特亲自挑选了这些口味，目前包括沙士汽水、橙汁、柠檬水、覆盆子青柠汁、葡萄汁、草莓汁和奶油苏打水。肯特计划每年新增一种口味，第一种将是沙士汽水和橙汁的混合口味。
他提出了一项营销计划，其中包括建造一座巨大的根汁汽水火山，如果他不同意别人的想法，他就会拒绝。
其中一项提议建议将目标市场锁定在13至24岁年龄段的汽水购买者身上。肯特的反应是：“什么？你傻吗？那岂不是说我连自己的汽水都喝不到了？”
据吉蒙多报道，肯特的汽水在今年早些时候举办的2011年约翰斯伯里世界枫糖节上亮相。此外，当地一家农场、附近一家餐馆以及以传统方式——在肯特家附近设立的摊位上——也有售卖。
不过，肯特汽水店的发展速度可能很快就会超过这个小摊位的规模。据《喀里多尼亚记录报》报道，肯特和他的家人对这家小公司寄予厚望。
肯特的汽水与一家装瓶厂签约，这家位于新罕布什尔州沃尔波尔的公司生产了首批 24 箱汽水。该公司表示，肯特一次可以生产 25,000 瓶汽水，但如果销量真的大幅增长，他们可能不得不重新调整生产方式。
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
SHARE YOUR REFLECTION
10 PAST RESPONSES
I have been through the whole content of this blog which is
very informative and knowledgeable stuff, so I would like to visit again.
Not all of us can afford to entertain our childrens dreams. Many kids with autism with be enthusiastic until the real work starts. Then they are on to the next thing. I just could not afford to keep starting things he would not follow through with.
Kimberly Hanselman, UK has to remove "stupid" so we can stop it. anyway, come the better way of formal dscssns. eh
Rachelfran, since the boy may understood things better. I can tell that provocations are better but not best. the boy isn't trading at yours. think again and leave small creatures a lone
Kind of rude of him to call the other person stupid.
I guess this is great though I may have steered him away from soda... My kids don't drink soda -they're 10 and 19 and I wouldn't advocate it for 9 yr olds either.
Wow we adults need to have faith in our children and encourage their ways of kindness to the world.
Though 9 years old is still very young, am sure some children can be clever than old people.
I love my father but his age doesn't please me as he hits mid 90s.
Let us hope sells don't take off!!!!
Love it - parents almost always think they know best. At least this father listened, gave support, and thought better. Well done.
wow! that great