School Vs. Entrepreneurship - Page 2

Steve · 08-12-2003, 04:40 PM

I got an $1,800 scholarship. My first semester is going to be about $1,200 - so I might as well go even if I fail or decide to concentrate on business.

DavidJEastman · 08-12-2003, 07:09 PM

I'm lucky enough to have parents ready and willing to pay my college tuition. I'll be sure to thank them when I have the means.

I'm at the University of Maryland right now, while I'm running my business. Luckily, it's an investing business (finance), so it coincides with both my studies (finance) and my main hobby (finance). Can't beat that.

As fun and easy as investing is, I'd like to get back into the entrepreneurial side of business. It's just another form of investing (of course, with much higher risks/rewards). So that's what I want to focus on after school.

Rufftim · 08-16-2003, 11:54 PM

I'll be a sophomore in college in about a week, and will be running my business "on the side." I'm taking less courses than usual for the first semester, becuase the business is likely to be a lot of work during that time period.

But my courses include "Entrepreneurship" and "Marketing Management" so perhaps it will help

Running a business is great, but so is college. I say do both if possible

BizGuy · 08-18-2003, 12:01 AM

Now that's multi-tasking Rufftim!
But all the power to you, because as your business grows and you expand, you'll remember how important organization and delegation was while juggling both school and business. As long as you don't get overwhelmed (which i'm hoping you won't due to your entrepreneurial balance) you will be able to use this opportunity to get a taste of what it is really like to run more than one company like myself.

Good luck and keep in touch!

Adam T.

Rufftim · 08-18-2003, 01:04 AM

Thanks Adam,

I'm planning on majoring in neuroscience, which doesn't make the multitasking any easier (since my business has nothing to do with neuroscience).

I figure if the business is looking really successful next year, I might take the following year or two off to work solely on expanding the company.

Tim

DavidJEastman · 08-22-2003, 08:22 AM

Can You Teach Someone To Grow A Business?

This was an article in the Wall Street Journal. Being in an entrepreneurship program here at the University of Maryland, I was intrigued.

p.s. - Let me know if the link doesn't work. I'm not sure if this is only for WSJ.com subscribers or not.

Bleys · 08-22-2003, 10:00 AM

Interesting article, David. Thanks for posting (the link worked fine).

DavidJEastman · 08-22-2003, 10:21 AM

Thanks, Bleys.

Yeah, I just found out they have a lot of other publications available, like Startup Journal and Real Estate Journal that could be helpful to some of us on these boards.

OSW Chris Co · 08-25-2003, 12:25 AM

I currently own a wireless retail store in central Florida...My first location has done great since I opened up shop seven months ago. Since I just graduated from high school in May, I'm having to face the college vs. business issue as well. Though I'm doing great with my business so far, my family is pressuring me to go to college as well. The thing is, I have a lot of business sense and I know what I have to do to make my company successful, but I'll admit my biggest fallacy is my lack of organization. I'm horrible at keeping up with my planner or sticking with a schedule...and I work long but irregular hours (sometimes 9am-6pm, sometimes 9am-2am, sometimes all night!)...and I know this kind of schedule would kill me if I was also in college.

Here's what I'm heavily considering doing right now: I'm thinking about moving to Gainesville in January (about 30 miles north of my current store's location)...opening a second store in that area sometime next year...and attending business classes at University of Florida part-time.

Let me ask you guys (and gals) who are strong at this, how do you manage your time and what would you recommend I do?

Steve · 08-25-2003, 12:47 AM

I know a ton of computer people who find it impossible to stick to a schedule. Our days consist of putting one fire out after another.

That is why we stay up until 2 AM when regular people go to bed so we can get work done. I once had a boss of a web design company who came in at 5 am and said I get my actual work done from 5 am until when you arrive. I laughed than but now I realize how true that is.

Bleys · 08-25-2003, 11:50 AM

Owning a brick and mortar store and trying to attend college classes would be very difficult. Unless you can hire a manager to run the store most of the time (at least a few days per week), so you can concentrate on your schooling.

Steve: I get most of my work done between 9pm and 4am. I haven't been to bed before 3am in about 3 weeks.

astericks · 08-27-2003, 08:53 AM

I started univ to get a computing science degree, however, after a couple of years spent, I decided to get into marketing and computing....which seemed like the best way to go.

I just couldnt see myself in a carrel coding all day....it didnt seem appealing at all.

I tihnk that decision has been beneficial for me...I'm not making ANY money, but with my efforts, my brother's earning quite a bit...so it's all good for me

Bleys · 08-28-2003, 10:41 AM

One would think your brother would hire you and share the wealth...

Russell Harrison · 09-01-2003, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike
When I was in college I was working for a marketing firm and it was hard doing both. I also ran a few web sites, which I sold recently. It was not easy, but I think it is important to have a good education behind you.

I would definately agree with this...I'm at university at the moment and also in a partnership business whilst I'm finishing my education. To have the basics through education is great but the practical application of this knowledge at the same time is invaluable.

belizeanmom · 09-01-2003, 09:51 AM

Hi entreprenuers, I'm a newbie here.
I must say SCHOOL vs ENTREPRENUERSHIP was what I've been thinking about before I even found this site.

I'm somewhat confuse on what to do. Like all of you, I enjoy making money. I love having my own business to do it on my own time. I'm tired of working for someone else and making them rich and being taken advantage of.

I've been an entrepereneur for..Oh like 3 yrs now, and I do enjoy it. It does get overwhelming at times. I quit my job of 8 1/2 yrs because it was stressing me out and I wanted to work my business full-time. I was considering of going to school for business, but then I figured I wasn't going to make any money whilst going to school. So I read a lot of ebooks and other books on having your own business/ecommerce and how to go about doing it and keeping it.

Being I'm a mom I wanted to just stay home and look after my kids even though they are not babies. It gets frustrating sometimes when you are at work and the school calls that you have to come and pick up your kid because they are sick; and the boss does get tired of that even though he don't say it infront of your face.

Anywho...I am enjoying being home and working on my business even though just pennies are rolling in. But then I don't think that you get rich over night unless you win the lotto or inherit something. Being an entreprenuer does take a lot of time and perseverance, but I love it because it's MY BIZ.

As couple of you mentioned it's good to go to college to get that education. I guess a stronger foundation to deal with your business. Which is true. But like another poster said, if you can handle doing both school and your business that's great also.

Me? I'm still deciding