Tips for teens on starting your own business

**bytrade001** · 10-26-2011 01:41 AM

1 Create a schedule

One of my mentors once told me that if it's a good business idea, and you have the right personality for the job [entrepreneur], than you should be able to go out and make a sale within a week. I think he is absolutely right, however most people lack the organizational and execution skills required for this task. So set up a schedule! Set one major task for you to complete each day to help you move towards your goal. Don't be afraid to write down large goals, too. You are a CEO, you are the boss. So act like one, get busy!

2 Get psyched for work

Everyone loses gas. They slowly become less excited about their work, and eventually they become uninterested at the task at hand. I recommend writing down the reasons why you are in business, and perhaps listing a few bad experiences which will keep you motivated, and tape several copies where you will see them! Your shower, mirror, dashboard, DVD players, are all great places to place these documents. You will read them often and stay motivated.

3 Get all of your closed friends and family involved

Half of the fun is sharing your [business] ideas with your peers, and getting their opinion. This will also help generate excitement towards the idea, which is always a bonus. Plus it's nice to hear what others may think, considering they may share the opinions

4. Keep the idea alive!

If you like the idea, don't let anyone else tell you it won't work or it's stupid. Let them work for you someday! Make sure that you hang out with the people in your school/work/community that will encourage you to be your best! Don't hang out with bums who don't support their friends or the people around them.

5. Don't take yourself too seriously

When I was first published, in Young CEO Stars [and a few other magazines], I was feeling pretty confident. However, I realized that I was [and still am] a kid. I have my whole life to do business. But I need to enjoy my friends and family and be grateful for what I already have. I would trade in all the money and value I own in a second for the opportunity to still stay in touch with the people I know and love. Especially as a young entrepreneur, you have to slow down and enjoy life while you're still in your prime.

6. Don't let adults tell you no

Obviously you need to always act professional in a business setting. Unfortunately, teenagers have to act even more professional than the adults already in business. But don't let an adult tell you no. For example, if you have a business proposition for a company and you have taken all the right precautions have a brilliant plan/product and the CEO laughs at you because of your age be polite, thank him for his time, and then continue to explain to him that it's a great product and his competition will love to have a look at it.

7. Have fun

This one is pretty much self explanatory. Enjoy what you do, and you will be rewarded.

**sabie** · 10-26-2011 09:21 PM

Also, embrace mistakes. When you stumble, get back up. It's the best way to learn.

**charactereducation** · 10-28-2011 05:51 AM

Really good tips may be helpful for teens thanks for sharing.

**dvdreplication** · 10-29-2011 12:36 AM

These are truly the best tips for teenagers who want to come to the business. I am also going to launch my online store and i hope these will be beneficial for me. Thanks for sharing such worthy tips with us.

**liquidroof** · 11-02-2011 01:32 AM

Nice tips thanks for sharing.

**johnsmith_2010** · 11-02-2011 06:43 AM

Nice tips thanks for posting.

**yourhostingspot.com** · 11-03-2011 09:57 AM

I agree. The biggest thing is definitely creating a schedule and sticking to it. I'm no longer a teenager and still have a schedule that I make sure stick to.

**Ekmack** · 11-08-2011 02:58 PM

The biggest thing for me when I started my first business was staying motivated there are days when nothing goes right and you start to question your ideas and goals. Don't let the doubt creep in, it can kill your motivation. I believe doubt was one of the reasons my first business failed. I had a couple bad days where I lost hundreds of dollars, and I started to doubt the business plan, which lead me to question why I started the business in the first place. Ultimately we lost enough money that a decision had to be made, close up shop, or fight and scrape to stay open. But by this time the fight was out of me and I decided to close the doors. I can't help but look back and think if I had stayed motivated I would have fought harder to succeed.