Pros
If you want to be a CEO someday, what's the best way to learn how? How about become a CEO of a small, summertime-only exterior house painting business and grow your skills from there. Nowhere else in the world are you given nearly as much responsibility at such a young age. PROS responsibility + accountability growth and learning independent decision making challenging company culture (work hard, play hard!) The company is run by people who truly care about their students and want them to succeed. Not every student is successful, but nobody leaves with a sour taste. The rules of success and failure are set on day 1. If you're interested in taking on a difficult leadership position, THIS IS IT. My friends I've met through Student Painters have gone on to amazing sales, banking, and engineering jobs, and more than a few have founded their own startups and are trying to improve the world.
Cons
Insanse hours: 12 hrs/day standard. No matter how much coaching you receive, launching your first business is difficult and time-consuming. Stressfull. Every day brings new challenges. This is not for people who want to coast through their summer. Accountability. Nobody else will step in and run your business for you. If you fail, you will be fired. Not everybody survives the summer.