Plans

[Matt38]

Well... I don't know exactly if this is the correct place to put this... but i'm 17, starting my senior year in high school soon. I'd like to start a business, I have all my plans set out and think I have enough knowledge to carry it out, but of course, it's getting time where you have to get serious about college since people usually go right after high school. I'm not really sure what to do as far as going to college since I want to start my business. I also have a great interest in networking. Even if I did goto college, i'm having trouble picking networking or business. So if I can't run my own business, i'd just like a secure job... What should I do?

[F360]

Get a degree - then if you find out your not made for starting a business you got something to fall back on and get a job with.

Start your business while at school/university is what I'll do. Just dont get shit grades and focus on your business all the time.

[nado]

This may not apply to your situation but...

Here's what I did:

- started a home-based computer business near start of Year 11
- put off advertising for fear of failing my final years of high school due to lack of time from the business sucking it up
- made it through high school and got into uni
- started with a double degree, and basically wasted 4 months as I hated what I was being taught... though I suppose socially those months were good
- now doing the other part of my planned double degree (i.e. commerce now)

Here's what I WISH did:

- started my path to becoming an entrepreneur a lot earlier on in life
- advertised and really pushed my business and applied good time management
- passed high school and deferred uni for a year
- stayed at home while continuing to build my business/es
- earn enough to qualify for centrelink (government payments for students, something I couldn't get as my parents combined income was over the limit)
- went to uni the following year with successful business/es, and regular cashflow which would have majorly boosted my confidence and ego right about now


That's all

I would suggest looking at how much time you can committ to running a business, then workout what you're passionate about, and find a business that will both fit in with your time and be something you're passionate about.

And just do it, you're likely to make mistakes and have times where you think what the hell you're doing... but stick with it, learn from your mistakes and it'll take you a long way.

cheers
nathan

[akula]

Well... I don't know exactly if this is the correct place to put this... but i'm 17, starting my senior year in high school soon. I'd like to start a business, I have all my plans set out and think I have enough knowledge to carry it out, but of course, it's getting time where you have to get serious about college since people usually go right after high school. I'm not really sure what to do as far as going to college since I want to start my business. I also have a great interest in networking. Even if I did goto college, i'm having trouble picking networking or business. So if I can't run my own business, i'd just like a secure job... What should I do?

get a degree. if you don't know why, you should get a degree to find out why you need a degree. did i mention that you should get a degree?

here, read this: http://ben.casnocha.com/2006/03/friend_of_ben_w.html

get your priorities straight and put a freeze on all this business stuff

you really should look at that link and read the content

[Nigami Enterprise]

Don't worry bout a degree get a job asap earn some good money so you have some capital to put into your business why waste 4 years on a degre when if your really dedicated you could learn it all in one year at home and just not recieve a degree and a huge debt. I no plenty of deralic educated people and i no of far more uneducated successful people.

[F360]

why waste 4 years on a degre when if your really dedicated you could learn it all in one year at home and just not recieve a degree and a huge debt..

Because at the end of the day if your business fails you will want someone to hire you to....and If you have a degree (as a backup plan) you are much more likely to be hired, and when you are hired, you will likely have a higher pay too.

[Nigami Enterprise]

Because at the end of the day if your business fails you will want someone to hire you to....and If you have a degree (as a backup plan) you are much more likely to be hired, and when you are hired, you will likely have a higher pay too.

Why even think about failure, i leave that to the 80% of people who fail in small bussiness.

[akula]

Why even think about failure, i leave that to the 80% of people who fail in small bussiness.

dude....what do you mean "why think about failure"?

it's a basic duty of company directors

kinda new at this huh..

[Nigami Enterprise]

dude....what do you mean "why think about failure"?

it's a basic duty of company directors

kinda new at this huh..

The only time that i would think about failure is when writing up an exit strategy. If you truly believe that you can be successful in business you will keep trying know matter how many times you fail.

[rob2009]

The only time that i would think about failure is when writing up an exit strategy. If you truly believe that you can be successful in business you will keep trying know matter how many times you fail.

But some businesses fail...you should always have a plan b...i guess we will be seeing you on the streets after one of ur businesses fail and you have nothing else.

[Nigami Enterprise]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigami Enterprise
The only time that i would think about failure is when writing up an exit strategy. If you truly believe that you can be successful in business you will keep trying know matter how many times you fail.

But some businesses fail...you should always have a plan b...i guess we will be seeing you on the streets after one of ur businesses fail and you have nothing else.

Of course plenty of businesses fail the odds are against you from the word go but thinking negativly won't get you anywhere failure is just another learning curve. And hey if i end up on the streets it just makes for a better success story in the end.

[little fiestas]

Matt38 finish school go to college and get a degree just like F360 said don't lisen to LOSERS like Nigami Enterprise. Always have a back up plane.

[Morpheus]

First let me start with:

"- started with a double degree, and basically wasted 4 months as I hated what I was being taught... though I suppose socially those months were good"
I lol'd pretty good on that one, Nado, I know what you mean haha.

I would wait until after a year of college, that's what I did/am doing, to clear your mind and you'll know more what you want. I know I still want to finish college because A) It's very fun and B) I like what I'm learning about and it is practical in my life.

I am NOT going to college to get my degree so someone will hire me, it is IN NO WAY my backup plan. I will never be hired as an employee again, and am taking no backup steps to my entrepreneurial dream. I built a great high school resume to get into a great college. I started out doing the same for my professional resume, but I knew it wasn't for me. Currently I'm not interning anywhere or building up a professional resume because I won't ever want firms to hire me. I'm burning my bridges. I'm not thinking about failure because I've vowed never to work a 9 to 5 job again, it's either become an entrepreneur or die. This thinking represents Napolean Hill's philosophy when he wrote Think and Grow Rich, The Master Key to Riches, and his other works. I consider him the greatest personal development author, as do many, many others.

Nigimi has the right idea. It's all in the mindset. If you think about failure it's going to be much more likely to happen.

I have a problem with LittleFiestas calling NigimiEnterprise a "loser." Whoever Nigimi is will probably be more successful than 90% of people on this board, which I garner from his/her attitude towards business.

It's amazing what you can do if you can control your mind, and I highly reccomend reading Think and Grow Rich to anyone who wants to succeed and control their own destiny. His book is still very revolutional, and he spent 25 years of his life writing it and researching for it.

Lastly Matt, if you think that job security is something you wouldn't mind 2nd to being an entrepreneur, then it is more likely you will not succeed as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs typically do not have this mindset. Don't let it stop you from trying, but just keep it in mind.

" If you think you are beaten, your are
If you think you dare not, you won't,
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost certain you won't

If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out in the world you find,
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in a state of mind

For many a game is lost
Before even a play is run,
And many a coward fails
Before even his work is begun

Think big and your deeds will grow
Think small and you'll fall behind
Think that you can and you will
It's all a state of mind

If you think you are out-classed, your are
You've got to think high to rise
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize

Life battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can"