It is possible...

[Luxe Studios]

Hey guys,

I haven't been on in a while, but I have an update, and hopefully it will serve as a bit of inspiration as well.

I run my own business with a partner; we own an advertising agency (http://www.luxestudios.com). We haven't been doing this for a long time, but it's finally starting to work. I'm 21 and my partner is 24, I handle the client side, invoicing, meetings, needs analysis ect. My partner designs absolutely everything. Please look through our portfolio http://www.luxestudios.com/portfolio.html to see some of our work.

We recently finished this website www.ialfitness.com for a young entrepreneur as well, and here’s what he said about us:

“Hi Laszlo and Crisitna,

I hope all is well. I just wanted to write a quick email and tell you what a great job I think you are both doing with Luxe Studios. It must amaze your family and even yourselves at what you have accomplished in such a short time and at such a young age. I am very impressed. At the same time, I wanted to give you some feedback about the site. It has been a much better tool for us in terms of marketing. I now feel proud and confident when directing people to the site. I know for a fact that it has translated into a stronger brand for IAL.

Most importantly, I want you to know that we are working hard here to build a strong company as well. In doing so we have developed some very key relationships. Our relationhship with you is very important to us and it is my hope that as we continue to grow so to will our relationship and our ability to provide you with more business.

I am still very much looking forward to the print material you can provide us with in the future once we have finances in place. The photgrapher is coming this weekend which should be the start of that project.

Anyways, thank you again for everything.

Craig

Integrated Active Living
48 Ferguson Avenue South
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2M5

T 905.296.3419
C 905.730.1978
W ialfitness.com”

This isn’t the first thank you we received from him, it’s the most recent. I can’t describe the amazing feeling I get when our work is recognized and appreciated so much. It’s the best high I could have. This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I want to help other young entrepreneurs grow their company and grow along with them.

My partner, Laszlo, has learned everything he knows by himself, spending long nights on the computer since the age of 14. Going to the library and reading, and reading, and then reading some more. It takes practice and dedication to teach yourself such complicated materials. But he did it, and I am so proud of him.

The thing is, we have a co-op program with one of the local high schools, and we see a lot of talented young people. Very talented kids that have skills in Photoshop, or in Dreamweaver, and the desire to start their own company. We encourage them through our program, teach them what we know, and push them towards attaining their goals.

So what happens? Nothing, that’s what. We scratch our heads and wonder why…It takes more than a desire to start something; to be your own boss, it actually takes action. I have realized that so many young people lack the passion to take action.

It’s hard, it’s still very hard for us, but without action, without putting yourself out there, you’re never going to get anywhere.

I’d love to hear more stories of accomplishments, notice I didn’t say success, because success is very hard to achieve, even Luxe Studios has not achieved success. We have just accomplished a few things.

So come on, share with the world what have you accomplished so far?

[Luxe Studios]

I don't know if it's my title or what...but I'm sure you guys have stories...so come on let's hear them.

(p.s - if you have experience using Photoshop, Dreamweaver or Flash, give me an email at accounts@luxestudios.com)

[chopper]

Well i don't have much in the way of stories, but i am in the early stages of a new business that involves providing advertising services.
Could you give me any advice or if there is anything i should know?

cheers,


I'm sorry if this doesnt have much to do with your thread..

[Luxe Studios]

No problem....ummm well since we're in the same field here's what I was told by my business advisor:

State the benefits of your proposal:

Quantify your services and price. Basically quantify the benefits that you provide your clients. Your prospects will be more interested in value for money than lowest price. You need to demonstrate the value in choosing your services over someone elses. (I think that preety much goes for a lot of industries, not just advertising)

for example :

"Our research indicates that if we decrease the loading time of the site by 2 seconds, your sales will increase by 2%. With your current sales figures, if we managed to reduce the loading time through this site re-development, you'd have an extra $40,000 in sales per year!"

Demonstrate to your prospects how you're different from your competition...in order to do that you'll have to research them first. Call up all the local advertising agencies in your area, and ask for quotes on different projects.

That way you can see how they intract with potential clients...and how they present themselves.

I'm not sure where you are right now...do you have a site...a business plan...business cards?

A really good resource is your local small business help centre. Try and find the one in your city and meet with someone from there. Usually they can put you in touch with a business leader in your field for advice.

Here's a really good site to develop contacts and learn from others: www.ryze.com (that's where I found my business advisor)
and here's the link to my page...http://www.ryze.com/go/Geminie

anyways...if you have any other more specific questions...feel free to reply here or pm me.

I hope i helped a little.

[akula]

Cristina, that's a lovely thread. I also like how you structure your value proposition.

I think it's most important that you continue to find joy in everything relevant to luxe studios, and your future ventures. I think it's great that you have the enthusiasm to share your victories with others.

It's really sweet...and really inspirational

If only more entrepreneurs would be as forthcoming

p.s. you should try your hand at modelling sorry to break it to ya, but u're a hottie

[tekmoney]

Right on. Awesome post! We're kind of in the same boat as you. While we haven't been doing this very long either, (and i must say your partner is very talented), we have gotten some recognition and it feels pretty good to get a business going this well. Its too early to tell, but we've pretty much smashed most all of our goals that we set for ourselves in the first year. There is still some time to reach the rest of them, and it does feel really good. The admiration from clients and friends and people just willing to help is what makes it worth it.

that brings me back onto the topic of motivation. To run any business really takes a lot of work: reading, running around, meeting people, organizing, working, etc. I think that huge amount of responsibility is what turns most kids, and adults off from going out on their own. The people who do make it are the ones who take the plunge and just go for it. Trust me, you will be reognized for it. ANd if you're getting no support, if you believe in it you should just keep pushing forward.

It also has something to do with schools too. Kids are trained to simply learn how to obey the rules and not really learn how to express themselves. They're not taught to act out on their ideas, but rather read and solve math problems and anazlyze paragraph structure. While these things are important, there arent enough programs to let kids explore and follow up on their ideas.

[Luxe Studios]

Thank you for your replies...tekmoney...you're absolutley right...it seems that there are a lot of passive people...it's too bad tho, if you stand there with your mouth open looking up at the sky....nothings going to fall in..lol (Old romanian proverb)

It's a mentatlity that is hard to break...we've tried with some of our co-op students...it's this lazyness that's deep in their bones and they can't get it out.

ahh well...I"m just in a really good mood. It feels like we've put the first 100 meters behind us...and things are moving forward.

It's just hard to do the little things that lead to a proposal or a needs analysis meeting. We're relying more on referrals...and I know that needs to stop...but I just can't find it me to cold call...or "warm call" as they say now.

I know that there ways of reaching business out there....but when you're standing in front the door of your prospect...and you have to go in...i dunno i get so nervous...lol

What are some of the things (marketing techniques) you've used in the past to get your foot in the door?

I"d love it if this board could turn into place where we could really support one another and bounce ideas off each other.

I was thinking about issuing a press release to my local newspaper...i guess i've just been putting it off because im scared they wont even look at it....but i'll defiently put something out there and let u all know how it went.

(akula) thank you...i did model when i was younger...but i find what im doing now much more rewarding...

[tekmoney]

Right on. To be perfectly honest, many many of our projects have been through referrals. I don't think its a bad thing where most of your business comes from referrals because as long as you are pleasing your clients, then more work is going to come in. I'm kind of in the boat where I want to market, but I can't find the time because referrals just keep coming in.

I wrote an article on networking, should be on my site now, and that's a great way to meet new clients without the pressures of attacking a prospect cold. There are some leads groups, like LeTip, BNI, or a local chamber of commerce leads group, that are great for B2B services like website design. They are usually exclusive, so if you can get the website design spot, or graphic design, or whatever open category, then your competitors can't get in. Once you're in, just get friendly with the other members and get them to trust you, and you will do just fine... especially with the quality of your work.

Don't be afraid to do a press release either. If no one reads it, then so what. The only way you'd get some feedback is if someone called with interest. No ones going to call you and say "hey i didnt read your article!"

Anyways... ask for marketing ideas... I've had quite a few, but like i said, no time to do them. One idea was to start a local directory, and then try to upsell the clients on some more upscale and extensive design. It seems like all of my local web design competitors all have directories, which kind of sucks , but the directory we're working on has some great potential because it does things differently. Its much easier to sell like a 50-100$ item service, then try to upsell a business on something more, rather than going head on with a business asking them to drop a few hundred to a thousand bones.

That's all i got for now. I've been cleaning my bathroom and the bleech smell has turned my brain to mush

[Aletheides]

If you are nervous you can warm your prospect up by premailing a postcard or some piece of direct mail to let them know you'll be in the area.

[paul2145r]

It's very refreshing to hear another success story! You may be a young company, but you have accomplished far more than most your age.

Concerning your previous question about why so many young people refuse to take action- I just wanted to say that I'm working on an answer. I have been wondering for years now why so many people refuse to take action when opportunity is staring them in the face. I finally got sick of wondering, and am taking action myself. I am in the process of writing a book about ambition, where it comes from, and why so many turn it down. I will be including interviews and life-stories, from people that exhibit positive, negative, and no ambition whatsoever.

I will also be including studies from the psychological, scientific, and sociological sides, with each attempting to answer the timeless question- "Where does ambition come from?" Maybe, when the project is over, I'll be able to help you figure out a better way to motivate the teens and young people that you work with!

As far as my accomplishments- they may be a little different from the standards of most entrepreneurs on this site.

To start with, I guess I am fairly young. I just turned 20 earlier this month. I have been involved in business from the age of 12, when started helping my parents with their international non-profit humanitarian organization based in Haifa, Israel. Within a year, I completely took over the clerical and business end of the company. Because of my age, I corresponded primarily via email, fax, and 'snail' mail. No one could tell the difference, until I answered the phone. At that point, it went to "can I speak with your parents"? At that time, my accomplishment was learning early on the value of maintaining a professional appearance, and keeping your clients from learning your age until they have seen the results of your work and experience.

Throughout high school, I worked primarily on gathering knowledge. I learned everything I could about running a business in the U.S., web design, and social networking. Upon graduation, I decided to throw away a college scholarship and join the U.S. Army. I ended up getting injured, and received a medical discharge. From then, my (then-fiance) and I moved to a small town, about an hour and a half away from any major population center. I found a job in a restaurant, then worked as a substitute teacher on the side. I left those jobs and started working in a furniture factory.

My (then-fiance) and I were married, amidst a multitude of financial problems and insufficiencies. We then embarked on finding a home, decided to build instead, and found a lender willing to give us the money. My father-in-law, brother-in-law and I have done a large part of the work ourselves. Pretty much, I would go to work in the morning, come home, and go work on the house. We are now in the final steps of completion, and have ended up spending less than a third of the price that it would've taken to buy anything half as nice. Half way through the building process, we both started college (finally), and have been taking classes full-time...

From the business end, I have been working on business consulting for small businesses and startups for some time now. I have worked on a number of projects, including a clothing line, modeling business, publishing company, hosting company, home-business support group, and a number of other concepts. I am twenty years old, and yet help people twice my age realize their dreams.

My wife and I drive nice vehicles (not super-expensive, but well taken care of), and are about to have a very nice home. We may not have a 6 figure income, and may not live in a multi-million dollar neighborhood, but I think that we are very accomplished for our age. All around me I see young adults have everything handed to them. With every opportunity at their feet, they still refuse to take action. I started my path to adulthood with $25 in my bank account, given to me by a mother that has worked hard all of her life. I got to where I am now with the toil of my hands, the help of my family, and most of all, God's will and blessings. My accomplishment is knowing that I have the ambition and drive it takes to take me anywhere that I need to go. My accomplishment is being able to help others get to where they want to go. My accomplishment is being able to support a family, while most others my age are still clueless as to what defines life, success, or accomplishment.

Even though this may not be the answer your were looking for, I am proud of my accomplishments. I am hoping that my book will be a success, and that it will be a source of inspiration to others (young and old) that are looking for the drive/ambition necessary to reach their own dreams and goals. For all of you ambitious individuals out there- I am always looking for more material and stories to add to the book. Much like the ambitious young woman that started this thread, I want to hear about your accomplishments, your defeats, and what you've learned from it all. We, as young, driven, and ambitious people form a very select demographic. Why don't we band together to help each other, and use the knowledge that we've gained to help each other become better entrepreneurs, managers, and people? Help others reach the potential that they they have within them, and that in turn will help you see the potential within your own life. If you've got a story to tell, let us hear about it, and we'll do the same!

[E320]

First to admit, I am only starting my first serious e-business venture right now, so I don't really have much of stories to share, as all my previous attempts had gave me experience in different fields of business, yet ended up mostly by-zeros ( i.e. no big profit, no big loss ).

As to why so many young people refuse to take action, I believe it happens because they were raised that way. Take Branson for instance, he describes in his book that when he was a kid, his parents always encouraged him to do something, to think on his own, to take challenges, to set goals and just to have fun from doing whatever he does, they made him believe that he can achieve anything he wants. See the result?

Now everyday people - how they rise their kids? Mostly they would hammer destructive believe into them, such as, sit quit and do as you are told, don't think on your own, follow the rules, be as everybody, what would other think of you?, life is hard and you have to struggle with it, just like your parents and grandparents did, you have to go to school, college, then work for minimal wage and build you career from the bottom, working for someone is safe, you can not start google and become a multi-millionaire just like that, you can not start your own company, those ( who start companies ) have talents! ( obviously - you don't! ) and tons and tons of similar BS.

And by the age of 20-something a young person has already adopted this way of thinking and truly believe that all he can do is work for someone and that starting his own business and taking actions just would not work out for him, so it's no use even trying. He associates every action, every attempt to do anything with failure and suffering ( instead of fun, like B. described it ), so he would make up tons of excuses of why he can not do something - no talents, no money, no time ( have to work! ), etc.

A kid asked an elephant-keeper, why is the elephant attached to a bicycle chain, why won't he just snap it? He was attached to it since he was a baby - the keeper answers - now he believe this is the reality.

One wise person made parallels about how wolfs raise their cubs. When a cub is born, his parent wolfs would give him milk and chewed meat, then when his teeth start growing, they would bring him a kill animal, later they will bring him a life animal, then take him hunting, etc. Now imagine if a wolf would feed his cubs with chewed meat and discourage them from taking action on their own, for say 20 wolf's years. Then the wolf would proudly pronounce - now you have grown up - go hunting into the big world. Such "wolf" would go looking for "mommy & daddy" ( i.e. the boss ) who's rules and orders to obey for getting the minimal amount of money to survive.

if you stand there with your mouth open looking up at the sky....nothings going to fall in..lol (Old romanian proverb)

Not unless there are birds flying in the sky, lol.

[England forever]

Take Branson for instance, he describes in his book that when he was a kid, his parents always encouraged him to do something, to think on his own, to take challenges, to set goals and just to have fun from doing whatever he does, they made him believe that he can achieve anything he wants. See the result?

Hy
Please don't have a go at me for what i am about to say but here goes........

When Richard Branson started out i have read that he sold singles ( the old 45 records ) out of the back of a New Austin Mini at college ?

Now forgive me if i'm wrong but at that period of time, a working family man would find that buying a New Austin Mini was well beyond his reach. So, how did Sir Richard have one ? quite simple, his parents who were extremely wealthy bought it him.

Now if this story is true, what does it tell you ?

It tells you this, the beginnings of Sir Richards road to wealth were not full of road blocks but assisted greatly with one way streets.

I am not saying i wouldn't do the same for my kids, if i could i would, but all i am saying is he didn't exactly have a hard time starting up did he ?

[E320]

When Richard Branson started out i have read that he sold singles ( the old 45 records ) out of the back of a New Austin Mini at college? Now forgive me if i'm wrong but at that period of time, a working family man would find that buying a New Austin Mini was well beyond his reach. So, how did Sir Richard have one ? quite simple, his parents who were extremely wealthy bought it him.

Here you see a bright example of an excuse - his parent were extremely wealthy, he had more opportunities, etc. On offenses.

According to his book, his parents were not extremely wealthy, nor were they any wealthy at all. His mother used to make wooden tissue boxes. Nor did he go to college.

all i am saying is he didn't exactly have a hard time starting up did he ?

According to his book, once again, he had fun starting up because he associated it with having fun.

[England forever]

Hy again,
I did say " I had read " NOT i claim, and i also admire Richard Branson,
Lets not fall out, if you have his book does it mention him selling records ut of the back of an Austin Mini ? the point i was trying to put accross was if this story is true, who bought him the Mini ?

[E320]

I have his book, but I don't really remember him selling from a mini. He was selling them by mail first. Then he had opened a small shop within a shoe shop. Then a few more. Then he smuggled records, got fined, had to open more shops. Then opened the record studio from taking a loan on anything he could get. And only then his parents presented him a good, yet old, car that he gave to Mike Oldfield, so that he would go on stage.