[gemini_bwoy]

Hey, guys
Well I just turned 16 last Wednesday. All my life I have been a "screw-up". But I always had something to fall back on which was my knowledge of business and how the business world works. So hopefully later in my life I could start a business. I had always imagined myslef starting something HUGE before I got too old.
I tried a importing thing, since I live in Jamaica. It was okay but I didn't really work out, I plan to start a Web-hosting Company (If any of you guys remeber) that didn't work out.
Now: I wanna try with the DVD Sales not rentals.
After reaching 16, i have not accomplished anything. I wanna do something, that will give me that START so I can turn my life into something meaningful. But I dont know where to start.

After thinking, I came to the conclusion that I really do something with the DVD's. I dont mean like import that PLENTY and sale. Something "Official" like find suppliers who would want a quantity each week etc.

I found a Supplier, who would give me a good amount DVD's a month for a very good price. Around $3500. I could really do something here.
Like:
Find 3 suppliers, to handles 60% of the goods
Sell the other 20% locally friends and family
Sell the other 20% online(eBay) etc.

Everything was looking fine, until I realized how would I come up with the money.
$3500 thats so much,, I have a summer job with pays $36 a week.
So thats not coming there.
I not the richest kid, so parents aren't really in the picture.
Thinking about a loan, but im 16
Thats gonna be rather hard to get.

Any comments.
-Rory

[harrymcwealth]

Seeing as you have a job and don't seem to mind working, perhaps maybe you should start a business that requires no inventory. You could clean houses, do a delivery service, there are numerous possibilities. Then you can use that money to start your dvd business, or if it's doing really well continue that business.
If you do get a loan try to get a personal loan.
Avoid the bank, they charge supreme-o rates.
I don't know what the law is down in Jamaica but you should note that if you wish to sell DVD's you might need a vendor's license, unless of course it's considered a private (less than $3000).
Oh yeah and don't call yourself a screw up.
You will become what you think you are.
A good business to start in Jamaica would be to sell ice-cream.

[focusben]

A good attitude is the most important thing that you could have in your life right now. Perhaps you should read a few more books like ones from John C. Maxwell about leadership. These may inspire you.

It might also be a good idea to read about some biographies about successful people and how they came about. I can assure you that none of their stories said it was ever easy to get where they were.

When I was your age, I worked my butt off in a garment factory my father owned. I *earned* the money to save enough for things I wanted.

You have lots of time to plan what you want to do with your life. Being 16, you have unlimited choices. All you need to do is to figure out some direction and make a list of goal and results you want to achieve.

Obtain the vision *first* before doing. The HOW will reveal itself.

[Kunle. O]

Hey Gemini,

Keep your head up. Before sucess, there has to be failure. I am sure that you have picked up a valuable lesson from each one of your business failures. Just keep your head, keep moving, and focus on the final destination. Be realisitic in all things. Each person has an unlimitied amount of potential, but only the people who can harness and refine that potential, are the ones that make it.

In addition surround yourself with people who share your vison and ambition. Life is all about guns and roses. everyone has their moments of extreme joy, but you will also have your low moments. it all depends on piucking yourself up, and begining your next journey. If you keep working, focusing, and learning, I have no doubt that you will accomplish your goals.

Good Luck

[bigpund]

Someone said:

Success does not lead to success.
It leads to failure.
It is failure that leads to success.

So keep going with your ideas and keep working. Eventually you will reach your goals and enjoy the ride.

Best of luck to you.

bigpund

[gemini_bwoy]

Well, thankz for all the encouragement guys :

Funny thing,
Even though I dont conduct any business right now I never thought of them being failures. I dont know why, It just never came to me. Just as something I stopped doing.

But with my importing thing, the main reasons why it fail was because:

I would Undercharge people. This is so because I hate when the "Big Boys" overcharge and steal their money, but its took me a while to find out that I should be paid for time and effort.

Another reason: I dealt with a lot of friends: Well thats not bad, because when starting thats who you have to rely on, But I didnt handle them in a professsional way.
Like I would not of stated and final price? All types of stuff.

So i guess I did learn something

But in the future:
I have to do something ONLINE:
I just love the whole concept of E-commerce.
Unfournately. It has far from caught on down here.
Plenty person have the Internet, but only like 7% are willling to enter their credit card. etc.

I dont know exactly what I want to do right now:
Maybe I might take and break, have a little fun (Hey Im 16)
and save up for money.

Until next time...
-ROry

[bigpund]

rory, taking a break and having fun is always important. you (as well as the rest of the younger crowd here [under 25], including myself) have plenty of time to be making money and working. you only have your teenage years once so you might as well enjoy them while they are here.

best of luck to you,

chris

[Harry]

I think that when you're young and don't have a lot of financial resources at hand, it may be best to first start out in less saturated markets. Web hosting and DVD sales are both extremely competitive areas of business, with major corporations dominating the markets. In these situations it takes a unique product or tons of $$ invested in advertising in order to break through.

So, I guess my suggestion to you is to hang in for the moment and work at building some capital for future projects.

You mentioned that you currently have a summer job that pays $36 a week; I by all means am not aware of the job market in Jamaica, but I think the wage your're getting paid is quite low and perhaps you should consider finding a new place of employment.

Also, since you had once operated a web hosting business and have an interest in E-commerce, perhaps you should look around for companies willing to hire young people and gain some paid experience.

But good luck to you. You sound very ambitious, and I'm sure that by working hard you'll eventually get what you want out of life.

[focusben]

Just because someone "thinks" that the web design industry is "saturated" isn't a reason to not do what you want to do. I hate when people say that because it's just as bad stealing their dreams!

[gemini_bwoy]

About the job pyament:

Yes it is quite low..
I was shocked when I received the $36.
So of my other friends recieve around $62 a week.
I guess that this was just my luck. But to tell yoou the truth, I dont really do much.
From 8:30 -12:00 i use the internet and then I go to lunch
Then I come back from lunch and I just use the internet (what im dong now).
There is nothing for me to do: I ask my supervisor; "Is there anything for me to do"
He replies: "None, just relax for now" and basically what happens.
Every now and then I open a computer or two. So i cant really complain.


Im still trying to decide on what to do:
I am the type of person that, changes my mind instantly. If I see someone succed at Web-Designing (I say to myslef hey can I try it) or with like a computer repair service (I will always second think my current situation and lean towards another)
Its a bad habit that i wanna lose: I can't go far with an attitude like that. So im gonna do for more research, fix some of my disadvantages and try again later.

Thankz all for your Responses

-Rory
Ceo of ...

[Karen]

Originally posted by gemini_bwoy

I am the type of person that, changes my mind instantly.

Rory,

This is as a result of not being able to focus. Then again, you are young you are not suppose to focus just yet.

So how does one find their focus?

First you must decide what to focus on.
1. Pick someything that has market value to others. A need or a demand that is not being met.
2. Pick where you have the most experience.
3. Decide what has the most potential to deliver the greatest value to the most people. Use the old saying of 'in order to get what you want you must help others get what they want'.
4. What can you start quickly that will generate rapid returns.

Lack of success is a result of not focusing on the best avenue for you.

Give yourself time, you are still young and have time to figure out your path.

Based on the weekly wages in your area, is there something you can create that would pay higher wages for other people?

Karen