“It got pretty tiring,”After trailing around 17 local fast-food joints looking for a job, and being rejected by all of them, a Missouri teen decided not to give up and instead change his track.Bell, a full-time student and senior at Parkview High School, said he always knew he had the spirit to work for himself in the future; however, he didn’t know that it would be before the age of 18. After being turned down by local businesses, the then-15-year-old knew he had something much coveted in the modern world—and he knew he could use it.“I’m part of Gen Z,” he said. “Growing up with technology and social media is something I’ve always been great at.”With some past experience in marketing, combined with educating himself in learning algorithms and how social media truly works, Bell launched his own business—Bells Marketing Consultant LLC, a digital marketing firm in Springfield—at the onset of the pandemic in April 2020.With a mission to help small companies get through the pandemic and survive the unpredicted, the whizz-kid took charge of managing their social media accounts, online marketing, search engine optimization, and web design.“I wanted to make an impact on business owners’ lives, providing the highest quality of services while maintaining a healthy business relationship,” Bell said.Almost two years on, the business is a resounding success.“I’ve grown my company and now have five employees to help me out,” the young entrepreneur said. “I worked with 15-plus small companies in 2021. What I consider success is knowing I’m an asset to other companies and not just my own.”Bell’s incredible work ethic has earned him praise from his clients. According to News-Leader, Brent Gilstrap, a realtor with ReeceNichols Real Estate, contacted Bell on LinkedIn after being amused by his profile.Impressed by his story, Gilstrap hired Bell to increase his social media presence.“He came back and he had a proposal and a fee for what he was going to do and it was just incredible,” Gilstrap said. “He’s got a great work ethic, a great mindset.”Crediting Bell for an increase in his social media presence, Gilstrap added that, while communicating with the teen, it didn’t seem like he was in high school.“Never tell anyone you’re too young to start a business, not even your parents,” Bell said. “We are the generation that’s going to change the world; no one is stopping you but yourself. Break that habit, live, learn, and love what you’re doing, it’s working for me, and it can you.”