Afraid to show im the owner.

[Flux_nutrition]

So ill start out by saying i am 23 and look like im 18. My company is sports supplements and i plan on having a youtube page about my company and ways to be healthy. But, here is what im afraid of. If i tell them i am the founder of the company, i am worried people wont take my company as serious. Do people not take young entrepreneurs as serious?

[napoleonwill]

Don't tell them you are the founder. Say you are marketing director. Even when you are successful, you don't let people know you are the boss.

[JKansas]

Agreed with napoleon, although I use the term Managing Director! It means you have enough control to make decisions but not enough that you can't say, "well i have to dicuss it with my partner, team, board, etc.!" It is more of a convenience thing to you. Everyone wants to know the owner so they can get a deal, and it makes your company look more complex and diverse.

That said, No, average consumers do not take young owners as seriously. My neighbors assume i deal drugs. I'm often disregarded at industry events until people realize who I am. I have to admit, my situation is slightly different as, although I do have a baby face, I have been bigger than the average adult since I was 14! Apparantly I can be intimidating so that throws off the younger bit to me I guess.


However, that said, other businessmen and entrepreneurs seem to love younger owners. I suppose they like to live vicariously through us! Maybe we remind them of a younger them?! For this reason, you can always tell older professionals you are the founder/owner. They will offer more help and a lot of encouragement. I owe a lot of people thanks for the help i've gotten just for being recognized as a younger owner.

So after all of my rambling let me summarize by telling you what I do. I do not tell people that I am the owner, but I also do not deny it if it comes up.

[The ENTREPRENEUR]

They don't. In a book i read, it never said introduce yourself as CEO or owner in part because that just scream start-up. Rather define yourself as Director of Product Expansion or something.