Where Passion Meets Possibility

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- As an older sister, I’ve come to understand that the environments and experiences kids grow up with play a special role in shaping their identities. Watching my younger brother become who he is now has shown me that support from others is what gives kids the freedom to grow into who they are meant to be. The encouragement that our parents have given us to pursue our passions outside of school has strengthened far more than just the skills related to those hobbies. When a kid has the courage to explore their interests, they are given unique opportunities where they can apply lessons learned in school and gain experiences that prepare them for their future.

I saw this specifically with my brother, Oliver. He was motivated to earn money to support his hobbies like video games and mountain biking, and realized he could earn more money himself than he could earn in his weekly allowance if he started a business. Rather than jumping to say ‘no’, our parents encouraged Oliver to explore what services his neighbors needed, which he could do locally, safely, and independently at 11 years old. They motivated him to evaluate the safety risks, assess the financial return on investments, and experiment with his own methods, reserving their involvement for when the risks were high or safety was at risk. After lots of research, he discovered that he had a passion for window cleaning. He learned about window cleaning equipment and techniques by watching his favorite YouTubers, SteveO The Window Cleaner and Window Cleaning Resource, and became entirely self-taught. In July 2023, 11-year-old Oliver Cohen became the sole proprietor of Pure Window Washing and is now learning about all the parts of running a successful business, from selling strategies to building an online presence and the importance of keeping business cards in stock!

Whether their passion is a hobby, a sport, or even starting a small business, these projects outside of school allow kids to apply what they’ve learned in class—using math to manage finances, language arts to research and explore their interests, and science to test their methods and get the best result. While our parents have given Oliver the opportunity to learn through trial and error, time management is still a difficult skill for kids, and it takes years to master. In the short term, they help him manage his time so he can still support his business while also focusing on schoolwork, friends, and family. However, as with running any business, everything does not always turn out perfectly, and facing setbacks is not easy. By celebrating the learning process and the effort that Oliver puts into Pure Window Washing, our parents have supported his confidence as he's grown, even when business doesn't go his way.

Oliver has now washed windows for over 50 local residents and businesses in The Woodlands, Texas, and has expanded his equipment to an 18-foot water-fed pole and an XERO Pure system. In January of 2024, he attended the International Window Cleaning Association conference, where he took classes on window cleaning, met dozens of new friends in the industry, and he is now partnered with Window Cleaning Resource as an affiliate. It is clear that Pure Window Washing could not have been built without his persistent ambition and hard work, but having the right kind of encouragement and support to pursue his passion played a special role in leading Oliver to achieve these great things