Category Archives: entreprenuership

college prep, entreprenuership, teen jobs

Tips for Becoming a Teenage Entrepreneur

One of the things your student can do to set themselves apart in the admissions process is to start and maintain their own business. This guest post from a successful teenage entrepreneur should give you and your student some tips that can help in the process.

teenage entrepreneur

Venturing into entrepreneurship as a teenager opens up a world of opportunities to shape your future, hone critical skills, and potentially make a significant impact. For those young visionaries eager to step into the business arena, grasping the essential steps to success is crucial. This journey promises not only personal growth but the chance to bring innovative ideas to life. In this article, I will explore foundational strategies to assist budding entrepreneurs in establishing a robust base for their ventures and effectively steering through the intricacies of the entrepreneurial world.

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college guidance, college planning, entreprenuership, gap year

Not Going to College? Now What?

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This post was originally written for ClassandCareers.com and was posted as “Taking the non-traditional route after high school graduation”.

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Most high school seniors are geared up for graduation next month and that comes with a good case of senioritis. The typical path for a large percentage of graduates sends them off to college in the fall to live in dorms, stay up all night studying, and pledge sororities and fraternities. But what happens when those high school seniors choose a non-traditional route that doesn’t include the typical collegiate experience?

Take a gap year

After 12 years of school, and more for some, many high school students are considering a gap year after graduation. That doesn’t mean you veg out on the couch in front of the television, or spend a year playing Xbox games in your parents’ basement. It’s a chance to expand your horizons and get some life experience under your belt before heading off to college. Gap years are becoming more popular among high school graduates and gaining credibility among established educators. Princeton University has a “bridge year” program in place for admitted students to do service work abroad before enrolling. High schools around the country are hosting gap-year fairs to familiarize students with the options available if they choose to take advantage of a gap year.

Consider entrepreneurship

TechCrunch recently interviewed, Peter Thiel, the founder of Paypal about what he calls the “higher education bubble”. His recommendation: take a different path. He has started a program for 20 students under 20 and is paying them $100,000 over a two year period to start their own businesses.  Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos encourages those who are considering spending thousands of dollars on an education to skip the degree and use the money to finance a business. While it’s quite common for college graduates to take an entrepreneurial path, the thought of high school graduates going down that road scares the pants off of most parents.

The downside to this path: not everyone can be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. It takes drive, ambition and determination to start and run a business. You need an idea, a concept, a product and the business sense to make it all flow together once you get started. Think long and hard before you choose this path and in the meantime, get some education to help you when you do.

Choose a military path

Many high school graduates choose the military as a post-graduation path. Although the prospect of heading into combat might not be appealing for some, others find this choice wise and honorable. The military provides training in many different career paths, along with the funding for a college education. Many servicemen are even attending college while they serve.

For those graduates who are confident in their path and are headed off to college in the fall, congratulations! But for those who still aren’t sure or are considering a non-traditional path, these options will be your ticket to the future.

entreprenuership

How to Become an Entrepreneur Before College

 

entrepreneurWhen it comes to entrepreneurship there are many stories, both of success and horror. A good one of success, is that of Anne F. Beiler or Auntie Anne’s, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She came from a family of eight children and was the designated baker. Before she started making pretzels, she worked other jobs such as waitressing and looking after a food stand at the farmer’s market. When she started selling hand-rolled pretzels in 1987, she had yet to earn her college degree. Her first time was at a market stand in Maryland. Then, in 1988 at a market stand in Pennsylvania, she officially named her product Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Later in life, she received honorary doctorate degrees from both Elizabethtown College and Eastern University.

The story of Auntie Anne proves that being an entrepreneur before college is possible and if she can do it, you can too. If you have a good idea for a product or service, pursue it. Start by taking a pen and piece of paper and come up with a blueprint for your product or service. Do your research and find out if similar products currently exist in the market or have in the past.  Did or does the product sell? Was it or is it a flop? What made or is making the idea succeed? What made or is making it fail? Find out as much information as you can and make revisions to your idea accordingly, to make it better.

Next, put your product or service to the test. Invite some friends over and present it to them. It is important, of course, to try out your idea on your target market. Are you selling to mothers or single women? Are you selling to fathers or single men? Give them a sample, if possible, to find out how well your product or service will be received. Keep in mind to also consider, as an entrepreneur, what payment methods you will accept and how you will accept them.

It’s also a good idea to get advice from someone you trust and respect as a businessman or businesswoman. Getting a second opinion is always a good thing because they might be able to see things that you don’t and can provide an alternative prospective. Always get constructive criticism from someone who can help you on your way to success.

Finally, as soon as you are confident in your product and have a clear idea of who you want to sell your product to, develop a marketing plan and take advantage of your student status to get as many potential customers or referrals as possible.

It is possible to become an entrepreneur before or even during college. You just need a clear understanding of where you want to be and the direction you need to take to get there and you’ll be on your way.