[visua]

I want to share my story. And ask a few questions about writing my next chapter.

My brother and I started a company when I was 18. It was just a dream and wasn't 'serious', but it became serious very quickly. Family and friends laughed at the idea, and told us we were wasting our time. But we put our heads down and did what we wanted to do.

In one year we had spent a pretty penny on buying equipment, filling up our gas tanks, and going through tons chinese food at the expense of our weight! We had drained our piggy banks and borrowed small amounts of cash from friends and supporters.

At the end of our first year we had started from nothing to overcome the largest market share in our local area. We had dominated the market quickly and became all the buzz. We kept it cool and casual, fun and interesting. Our branding was an after effect of our company lifestyle. It grew to be a international brand and we were now manufacturing and shipping product all over the world. We even had invites from a sheik in Dubai to stay at his house and use his cars.

I had traveled all over the states, made hundreds of friends, lots of money, and I never put on a nice pair of shoes or dress pants. I was also only 19 years old.

We worked about 4 days a week. But we worked hard on those days. We were a international 2 man team, answering phones, billing, marketing, traveling, and doing all the manufacturing, shipping, everything. It was a science - There wasn't much need for help. We had a part time employee that would help with manufacturing when we needed it.

Much of our marketing was from our clients, they liked us as people, and liked what we did so much - they became sales reps for free. We payed them back with free products, it was cheap and the formula was great.

We had become a statue in our niche market. We saw our products on top names in the industry, we were interviewed and featured in major industry pubs. I felt important, and a great sense of pride and self worth.

Our persistence to break into a new sales channel was about to pay off. We were facing serious expansion.

Around that time an investor came into the picture. We had gotten this far with almost no starting capital, maybe 600$ tops. "Imagine what we could do with an investors cash?" we thought.

Without going into details, the investor turned out to be a shark - and feasted on the young blood. We were left with nothing after he had control, and we were gone. We have been in court over the issue for almost a year now.

With some outside assistance, we have been able to restart under a new name and brand, but things don't seem the same. Most of our clients are back - but the passion and driving force seems like it has left.

I am at a cross roads. The company doesn't do as well as it did now despite various marketing and sales pushes. We haven't met goals and things around the office seem bleek and not like it used to. We have tried countless times to amp up the spirit, but we cannot get our own spirits in check. We work 80-100 hrs a week just to keep up.

I'm now 21. I feel like I am stuck here and have reached the ceiling of potential on this project. My desire and productivity has dropped, everyones has.

I have a notebook full of business ideas that I know i can build and run within 6 months time. But its been a year and I haven't cracked open the book. Some are saying I am depressed, and lack my spirit and motivation when I was younger.

I'm very confused with my self on these issues, and can't figure out why I haven't been the go getter I was in the past. Being 21 now, I need to make decisions that will secure my financial future. And im letting opportunities slip through my fingers.

Any help and sources of motivation, books, something, would be great.

[dmetcalf50]

Sorry to hear what happened.

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2686...-Las_Vegas.jpg
That's motivation.

The book Good to Great is good. I like to just go to the book store and browse. I also just picked up the book The Tipping Point and I'm fascinated with it.

I always tend to have my ups and downs and sometimes reading other peoples success really motivates me. Check out the website Young Entrepreneurs Making Money Online they have a lot of inspiring stories.

[rogercbryan]

What is the business? The only motivation you need should be a fear of failure. Stop sulking and get back to work. Anyone can manage when things are good. It's the people that learn to manage when everything is going wrong that become truly successful.

[Iamnotsatisfied]

When you are giving equity away for some reason, be aware that people will try and take advantage of you because they think young people can be easily tricked somehow.

Make sure that you know what your doing, and let the other party know the rights and duties in the partnership.

I received some offers of investment before, but one though he could slip something in the contract without me noticing, as I was too young to understand anything. Sorry did not work.

For all the young entrepreneurs out there let this thread be a lesson to you. When you get into partnerships or give out equity, make sure that it is always in your favour or on equal terms.

[1entrepreneur]

Here's what I think...

You made it big, got scammed, went through the courts, then restarted.

You need a break. Take some time out to renewal and revitalise.

[DebtFreeMe]

It sounds to me like you've come to the point that you need to find a new project.

Let me explain where I'm coming from. Building the first business was exciting and new, so it was really easy to be up and in it all the time.

Then, when someone took it from you, you turned it around made a new business to compete and got back most of your clients, and that was the driving interest.

Now the interest and fun in it are gone. More than likely, there is nothing of interest left for you to learn or do in this area.

You sound like the type of person that will be a serial entrepreneur, you will thrive in building NEW businesses, but once a new business becomes an established business it may be time for you to move on.

Be sure to learn from what happened in your first business with someone stealing it from under you, but do not let it stop you from building many more businesses.

To be totally honest with you, you are very young; you don't have to have a life long business or career right now. Who knows, maybe simply setting up and selling off businesses will become your career, there are quite a few multi-millionaires in the world that do just that.

Good luck in your new future,


DebtFreeMe

[discountedclothing]

Hi. Thank you for your time sharing your experience. All you have to do is to relax and think again of some other possibilities that may help you. Sometimes do dreams really come true but dreams are easily shattered when bad things came to you and ruined your dream. Don't lose hope and wish you all the best on your upcoming projects.

[Doodyps]

It does sound like you need to get started on something new. I don't know what kind of income you got from running these businesses, but why not take a week off and relax. Then come back and look at the big picture. Start something new or consider going to school, if only to regain your motivation. Maybe you'll sit in the class room and be so irritated with not being productive that you storm out and get started on something with a renewed gusto.

[undertaker]

Hello Thaank you for sharing your experiences. As you had succeeded in business first and then had bitter experinences. The impression of those experiences are making impact on your mind now. I hope you are in a personal crisis, so take time to relax your mind body for some time [physically, mentally and emotionally]. That will rejenuate
your energies. Wish you all the best.

[n/a]

I must first say, wow. You are so young and have accomplished so much! I am 25 and have even done a tenth of what you have already done running a business. Looks like you could not help the situation that happened with your old company, not everyone can be trusted in the business world and you found that out the hard way. I say if you are not feeling it you should not be doing it, simple as that.

DO you still have your partner? Talk with him about other ideas, does he feel the same as you?

[kimbeckers]

I think that you are right on, you make some really good points here.

I say crack open that book and start working on your next big idea, it wont be long before you have the thrill and excitement that you once had with your first business.

Just make sure to learn from your mistakes and you will be fine.

Good luck,
Kim

Originally Posted by DebtFreeMe

It sounds to me like you've come to the point that you need to find a new project.

Let me explain where I'm coming from. Building the first business was exciting and new, so it was really easy to be up and in it all the time.

Then, when someone took it from you, you turned it around made a new business to compete and got back most of your clients, and that was the driving interest.

Now the interest and fun in it are gone. More than likely, there is nothing of interest left for you to learn or do in this area.

You sound like the type of person that will be a serial entrepreneur, you will thrive in building NEW businesses, but once a new business becomes an established business it may be time for you to move on.

Be sure to learn from what happened in your first business with someone stealing it from under you, but do not let it stop you from building many more businesses.

To be totally honest with you, you are very young; you don't have to have a life long business or career right now. Who knows, maybe simply setting up and selling off businesses will become your career, there are quite a few multi-millionaires in the world that do just that.

Good luck in your new future,


DebtFreeMe

[Yusio]

Originally Posted by rogercbryan

What is the business? The only motivation you need should be a fear of failure. Stop sulking and get back to work. Anyone can manage when things are good. It's the people that learn to manage when everything is going wrong that become truly successful.

Great piece of advice.

You should be motivated more now than you ever were.. to get back at the bastard who screwed you over and show him that he made a mistake by screwing with you.

[visua]

Thanks for reading, and more importantly thanks for the the advice. Some of this advice is fantastic, I really appreciate it.

I absolutely do fear failure. I live on my own - both of my parents moved away to different states. I need to build my own life ground up.

I absolutely have a driving force behind me everyday. I just need to tune back into it.

I probably am a serial entrepreneur. Building, and working ON a business is what I thrive doing. Working IN the company is what bores me.

My next goal is to build a few passive income companies. Im going to try my hand at having employees and experience delegation. This possibly will allow me to work ON all my companies at my discretion. I will also be able to think with a clear head if I am not handling every single thing that comes in and goes out.

Again, thank you all.

[rogercbryan]

Originally Posted by visua

Thanks for reading, and more importantly thanks for the the advice. Some of this advice is fantastic, I really appreciate it.

I absolutely do fear failure. I live on my own - both of my parents moved away to different states. I need to build my own life ground up.

I absolutely have a driving force behind me everyday. I just need to tune back into it.

I probably am a serial entrepreneur. Building, and working ON a business is what I thrive doing. Working IN the company is what bores me.

My next goal is to build a few passive income companies. Im going to try my hand at having employees and experience delegation. This possibly will allow me to work ON all my companies at my discretion. I will also be able to think with a clear head if I am not handling every single thing that comes in and goes out.

Again, thank you all.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE IDEA! In theory it sounds great... in reality it is exactly what people do to distract themselves from growing one large company. If you are already ready to give up on your primary business what makes you think you will have the discipline to start a bunch of new companies? You need to stop screwing around and concentrate on your primary business. Give it everything you have for a couple of years and your life will change.. I promise!

[lancek88]

im suprised no ones sold you liberty league yet!