Questions

I am an online high school student, but can't bare the thought of studying anymore. I love learning, but just the thought of being sat down in front of a book drives me nuts nowadays. I want to start working, and learn more as I go. I live to learn and not the other way around. I would like to start an online business, selling my hand-made articles, such as knitting, carfts, etc. I have found some videos and sites that give advice on how to become an entrepreneur however I'd like to start with a strong foundation, so I figured it was best to try contact somebody. Thanks for your help! Camille

Although I'm sure the previous suggestions are helpful I would like to add my thoughts and hopefully heighten your insights on the matter.
You seem to be eager to get going on with life in general, be careful of this. There is this thing I call Entrepreneurial A.D.D. - you just want to do something and can easily be distracted from one venture, project, idea to another very quickly. This can happen during a research for the current one or as the current develops into a more tangible opportunity. Be weary of pivoting at each 'possible opportinity' no matter what you do things won't necessarily get any easier to reach success so if you are on track in something in particular remain the course and see it through its end - even if it fails at least you know.

Write down your ideas, I kept a small journal with ideas for the longest time. These ranged from marketing, business, financing tactics to venture/invention/service ideas for possible businesses.

Learn about Blue Ocean Strategy, this will help you craft a valuable proposition for any business and can help you turn a typical small cap business into a sustainable growth structure for wealth.

Never second doubt yourself. This is harder to prove and to help you be aware of when you are doing it, but always keep that in mind...Are you second doubting your original thoughts? Did you just changed your mind? Did you just pivoted unintentionally? - Never second doubt your first choice. Instinct is nothing more than our subconscious knowledge trying to get our attention about something we already know to some degree.

Pick a business you can do on the weekends only. If the business grows your time demand will grow with it. This can be renting out tables, party supplies, computer based services, tutoring, create digital goods such as drawing/cutting/learning kits, a cleaning business, etc.
All these seemingly simple businesses have low barriers to entry but once you delve into them you will find out that they all provide you with the same challenges in marketing, growth, sales coaching, finance, customer relations, legal matters..so is a cheap way to learn tangible/transferable skills to other businesses.
If you can afford an audible subscription is like $14 a month, get audio books about management, business, marketing and leaders who shown these traits in their lives. my blog, www.humbertovalle.com has a list of books you can find also find on audible. I strongly believe that experiencing different levels of hardships and joyful moments in life create leaders, second best option is digging deep into the lives of those who achieved greatness - from their biographies... Like the Steve Jobs, The House of Morgan, The Virgin Way, The Everything Store - Jeff Bezos story, and Zappos book... House of Morgan, Zappos, Steve Jobs books in particular are written in a way that almost let you experience what they were going through and can help you craft your own mindset into entrepreneurship.

Find a mentor you can ask daily if needed.

Never copy your competition - this will inevitable kill your business.

Never use lingo when talking to prospect investors or customers.

Learn SEO, check out growthhackers.com, learn to code is simpler than you think and actually very beneficial http://mbsy.co/onemonth/18573440

Never get a loan for a business. Finding how to get investors, or a bootstrap method to fund your business will teach you so much about business that by the time you acquire your own funding w/o loans you will be better equipped to launch and grow a business.

If you have any questions or want further guidance feel to message me otherwise I hope to see you in the Times in the future :) Best of luck.


Answered 8 years ago

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