Young Entrepreneur - Career Advice

**defekt7x** · 06-11-2009 05:02 PM

Hello,

My name is Drew, I am seventeen years old and I need some career advice, as I am stressing over this! Please read the whole post first

Let me give you some background information on myself first:

I have been a website designer/developer for about 5 years now on and off. I started real young, around age 11. Of course, I wasn't that great when I first started, but it was the drive and desire I had at such a young age. I kept up with it through all the years and have developed a lot of experience and knowledge.

At first, I was doing some graphics design with Photoshop, I would make forum signatures and read a whole bunch of tutorials. I was into the whole abstract/grunge style.

Then I started to move on to website programming. I started with HTML at first, and then moved on to PHP/MySQL. I got pretty good for my age, I was doing some basic content management systems where you could go into an admin panel and add/edit/delete content and it will be all database-driven.

Recently, I started doing the actual website design and got more into website layouts, colors, coding it into CSS, stuff like that.

That's where I have gotten my clients from, the website design part. Over the years, I've built up a portfolio with some local clients, some clients I got from sites like guru.com, and some contests I won at 99designs.com I'll show you some designs I've created:

DrewRawitz.com - Professional Website Development
Revupedia.com - Coming Soon
DesignScouter.com
http://drewrawitz.com/portfolio/psx_big.jpg
http://drewrawitz.com/portfolio/npg_big.jpg
http://drewrawitz.com/portfolio/forum_skin.jpg
AllUPrint.com - The best printing, graphics, and design services!
Rawitz Marketing Group

As a designer, I wanted to be more diverse so I can offer more services to clients. I wanted to get back into the PHP Programming, so I can build actual website scripts, and do all the backend stuff for my clients. Also, so I can think of some new website ideas such as the Revupedia link (2nd one) and take it on myself by doing all the design work and actual developing, without hiring anyone. My ultimate goal is to build up a huge network of websites that I own and have built on my own.

With that being said, I have been trying to keep up with the PHP programming. I've been using a framework called CodeIgniter, and I have been developing the Revupedia website and so far it is looking good, I have a lot of progress.

I wanted to keep up with new technologies so I also have been learning some AJAX/jQuery and stuff like that so I can enhance my websites and add some cool features.

I would call myself a web developer, right? I have so much passion for it, I always want to learn more and I'm always reading books, looking at websites, keeping up with new technology, coming up with new ideas. I just don't know if I can do this for the rest of my life.

I'm young, I've never worked a real job in my life. All of my friends either work at a fast food restaurant or something for $7.50 an hour, but I have no work experience. I called website design my job, where I could say "I work online".

I'm afraid if this doesn't work out that I won't know what to do in the real world since I have no experience. I always said to myself "I never want to work for anyone else." I always wanted to own my own business and be the boss.

It's the start of summer right now, and I'm just stumped and don't know what to do. I don't want to waste my summer, so that's why I'm posting this right now and hopefully can get my head straight soon.

I'm starting to degrade myself and think that I can't make it in the web design business. There is so much competition, and with the economy, it makes it even harder. I don't want to find myself competing with companies in India who are working for really cheap. I want to charge for the value that I am going to bring to their business, but I am too young for all of that. No one will take my seriously.

I don't think I have a unique style that someone would choose me over another experienced website designer. I don't know what to do anymore.

Some careers I thought about:
- Website designer
- Computer Programmer
- Software engineer
- 3D Graphics designer (working in 3DStudio Max)
- Video production / filmmaking
- Architect (don't know why)

Basically a computer career. I'm gonna be a senior soon, I don't know what to go to college for or where to start looking. I don't know if I should keep up with the struggling website design business, or get a summer job for some experience. I don't know if I should start focusing on another career or what.

Is there another career that may be good for me?
Please help me out :-)

Thank you for reading.

**jonathanfigaro** · 06-11-2009 05:19 PM

I think the ultimate choice is up to you. Its whatever you feel more passionate about! Let me ask you some questions.
Which one would you do if you wasn't getting paid to work?
Which one gives you the most amount of joy when you engage in this activity?

The one that pops in your head is the one you should go for!

**Deal_Maker** · 06-11-2009 05:23 PM

Drew, take a deep breath. You're 17 and trust me, I know that right now it seems like it's now or never and you need to know everything you want right away, but that's not true. You sound like you're on track to do very well in life. Your mind's in the right place which puts you ahead of 90% of the country right off the bat...and at 17 it's really an accomplishment.

Never stop reading and learning. Once you're through learning, you're through. Keep feeding your mind and gaining wisdom and you'll always have an advantage over everybody else.

Choose what you love doing and don't do it for the money. Trust me, doing something for the money is the worst decision you'll ever make in your life. If you love web design, stay with it. Just because you haven't made a lot of money yet doesn't mean you won't. Never give up.

The biggest thing I can't stress enough is not to drive yourself up a wall over this. It's not that big of a deal. You're 17 and have your whole life ahead of you to experiment. As long as you have drive and continue learning, I promise you'll do fine.

The impossible is possible. Take it from someone who's been there and done that, don't stress yourself, and always follow your passion. You will make it. I've seen countless others make it and I've helped countless others. Keep holding on, pal, and don't stop working hard. You sound like me. If you have any other questions, PM me.

**derekqa** · 06-11-2009 06:06 PM

The fact that you have this drive is amazing. Most of your peers don't even have this yet. Just keep on going man.

**Gaulkin** · 06-11-2009 11:39 PM

You got skills for your age ill give you that. Id suggest to move into software, make it web based and charge a monthly.

**williams89** · 06-12-2009 12:14 AM

Look you have great talent for your age i mean you started at 11 im trying to learn All the things you know and im 19. If you start to have a low self esteem then you will with out a doubt fail. You have to stand up, pick ya head up, and tell your self your going to be successful no matter what it takes. Dont worry about other designers if your good and can get some clients then you will not have a problem. Theres plenty of things in life that are alike but still successful. Theres people everyday looking for designers you just have to get your name out there. And as far as the real world work experience i think you should finish high school and go straight into college ,that way if anything ever happen you will always have a degree to back it up. So basically Keep yea head up and remember you can do anything you put your mind to.

**SeaSquirrel** · 06-12-2009 07:11 PM

You have great drive which is good! What I would do is get a summer job for real world experience. It's very important to understand the needs of your clients and what they expect.

Web design is a great business to be in. I just got a quote for a simple 5 page website with back end and it was $1200! Expensive but a business will pay for quality. Another client of mine spent $3600 on a website. They wanted a quality built site to give them online presence and they got what they paid for!

If I paid you for a website I expect things to be done correctly and everything to work. If something doesn't work I expect you to answer when I call and fix it accordingly.

Having a summer job AND doing web design on the side can be done right? Maybe you could get a job at a local web design company..even if you didn't make much you could get a feel for the business and understand what people expect when they spend a lot of money on a project.

You have great drive my friend but I think some real world experience would be great. You will learn how to deal with good, bitchy, and mean people. It's always important to keep your cool and always state the facts.

**defekt7x** · 06-13-2009 09:36 AM

Thanks guys,

I really appreciate all of your replies.

@SeaSquirrel, I can definitely manage web design on the side with a real job, but I doubt any local web design firms would hire me at such a young age. Maybe an internship would work, but that's not any paid work is it? Unfortunately, if I get a job it would be something like a Movie Theater which would pay like $7.50 an hour, which I'm not used to.

**WealthNet** · 06-13-2009 04:27 PM

Give yourself a lot of credit for even asking the question. It seems a bit of fear is seeping into your thinking. Don't let it. You are way ahead of the curve. Keep learning and networking. You will find your next path. Then another. Then another. Follow your heart. We are always adding design and developer talent to the mix. You could build your own team over time and focus more on your business development efforts. Or you could join a team and focus on doing the projects you love the most. Do what you love to do and the rest will happen. Also, be careful to whom you listen. Most people won't ever identify with how we as entrepreneurs think and live. And tip everyone really well who works in $7 per hour service. Most of them are stuck in that paradigm.