Pro and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur in High School
Mar. 11, 2010
34 Comments
Being an entrepreneur in high school or even college has its pros and cons. Based on my experience as well as on feedback, I’d like to share with you what I think are the upsides and downsides.
Pros:
- You could become a millionaire before the age of 18 like Cameron Johnson, Ashley Qualls, Fraser Doherty and many more.
- By the time you’re an adult you may have already branded your name and become famous.
- The lessons learned are priceless: responsibility, initiative, networking, communication and financial skills.
- When you’re young you are adventurous and more willing to take risk. After all you have nothing to lose. Like my Grandma always says, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
- You may never have to work for someone your whole life, something that many people dream of all their lives.
- If you’re a natural, passionate entrepreneur and starting businesses is what satisfies you, nothing could suit you more.
- Your potential success will boost your self esteem drastically, which could help you throughout your life.
- It could boost your chances of getting into a great college. Colleges often seek kids who have learned how to take initiative, one example of an entrepreneurial skill.
Cons:
- It takes time away from studying and homework. It’s important to remember that your education matters even if you plan on making your first million before graduating high school.
- It also may take a portion of your time away from having fun and doing other activities like going out with friends. Which in turn could lead to you losing some friends because you can’t spend enough time with them to maintain your friendship.
- If you fail, you may lose all the money you had put aside for it. However, when you’re young it’s worth taking those risks because you have less to worry about.
- It’s hard to deal with adults as an adolescent because adults tend to trust kids less.
All high school entrepreneurs out there if you are interested in more resources check these sites out: Young Entrepreneur, NFTE, and Entrepreneurship Resources.
Any other pros and cons you could share?
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34 Responses to “Pro and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur in High School”
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Interesting points. I think more and more internet marketers are making money at younger ages. Just because most kids these days are spending so much time on the internet, why not use the time to do something productive and make money while you’re at it?
Blogger Den´s last blog post: 25 of The Best Footer Design for Websites
Agreed, that may be a significant factor. I’m sure that kids my age and younger spend exponentially more time on the Internet as the years go by. Not only can we start businesses online but we have unlimited resources for offline businesses.
I agree that adult don’t trust kids more, but this should change, it’s absolutely not about your age, it’s about you can do!
Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog post: What’s the Relationship between Money, Blog Comments and True Love?
So glad to hear that, that really caused me troubles with my eBay business but people like you make me and other young entrepreneurs so much more comfortable.
Great post. All of this is true for college too!
Patrick Toerner´s last blog post: 5 Business Lessons You Can Learn From Zombie Movies
Thanks Patrick. I can’t say that myself since I’m still in high school so I appreciate you sharing that.
You nicely outlined the PROS and CONS.
I do agree it takes a little fun out of life, starting young but being an entrepreneur is also lot of fun.
There is always the greater satisfaction of being successful.
Agent Deepak´s last blog post: Readers Are Your Very First Priorities
Thanks, yeah it all depends on your view of fun, whether starting businesses is enjoyable or going out all the time…
If you cannot enjoy being in a business then you need to get out of there.
You need to do what you enjoy. Those who are able to do so are actually living.
Agent Deepak´s last blog post: Interview with Melvin Dichoso – The Versatile Young Blogger
Very true. That’s what so good about being an entrepreneur, most people enjoy it
One more thing I would like to add in cons:
*People may take your sites less seriously if they know you are a teenager. If giving advice, what adult wants to listen to someone who is 14? 17 maybe, but not 14.
I appreciate your addition. I did kind of mention that: “It’s hard to deal with adults as an adolescent because adults tend to trust kids less.” Thanks!
I read that, but I was referring to more of ignorance by adults rather than trust.
Ok, I understand. Good point Jack.
I can agree with this article because I myself started an online business when I was 16. It was quite a ride. I left high school at 17 and was very successful by the time I was 18. Eventually, the bubble burst and I had to close shop. I was left with no income and no education. Eventually after a few years, I started the business again. It is profitable, but not like it once was. I attribute this to the over-saturated Internet business market.
Thanks for sharing your story. I feel like we could learn a lot from you, the pros and cons of being an entrepreneur are evident from your experience.
Great, right and fantastic points, in fact everything is accurate. I am glad I am still 16 and I am already blogging, by the time I am 18, I am very sure I will have been a great millionaire and I will also have had a name, I am also working towards getting my name on the list of one of the most successful youngest entrepreneur in 2010.
BTW: @Ben Lang, I have an article I will like to guest post on your blog, I will be sending it soon.
Thanks
Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog post: 7 DAYS TO ONLINE SUCCESS 3
I appreciate your feedback. I hope you become one of the most successful youngest entrepreneurs in 2010, it takes a lot, but if you put a lot of effort in anything is possible.
Yes! everything is possible if you believe and act, I am working towards that and I know I will achieve it by God’s grace.
Also, I hope you have seen the guest post.
Thanks
Onibalusi Bamidele´s last blog post: How To Backup Your WordPress Blog
The good thing is, while most adults in the real world don’t trust as you said, many in the online world are started to see the benefits and intelligence in their younger counterparts.
Dennis Edell´s last blog post: Do You Have a Good Website/Blog Designer? Meet CJ – My Awesome New Designer!
Great point, as younger and younger kids go online they acquire more experience than adults and learn faster. So hopefully that trust gap will diminish over time.
“More” is a debate, I’m not real sure where you’re going there, but lets not forget, a main reason for “faster” is because they have the oldies to learn from, where as oldies started from scratch.
Y’all just gotta be sure to learn from the right oldies. lol
Dennis Edell´s last blog post: 48hr Downtime – Lots Done-LOTS More To-Do!
Try being in College, Working Full Time and being an entrepreneur. Life without sleep.
Alex´s last blog post: Was That an Email or a Text?
Yeah sounds pretty tough. Can’t wait for that!
Another thing is to, in the cons, is that being an entrepreneur at this critical time of your life can be very confusing and very frustrating, even though it’s fun. There’s a study by medical professionals that states that the part of the brain that controls impulses in a human being does not fully develop until around 20-25 in a male and 20-22 in a female. This can pose a risk…I have to speak for myself that impulse can be one of the powerful forces in a person’s life, especially when you have things like money coming at you.
This can also be a “pro” because it gives you a sort of pre-training to controlling your impulses at a young age and get a head start…so when you hit mid twenties you’re a master at self-control….maybe not…I don’t know, just thinking out loud.
Clinton
I never really thought about that. Excellent points, it for sure has it’s pros and cons. Best regards Clinton.
All I can say is that it’s hard to be a young entrepreneur especially a teen one. All the cons you stated are happening to me one way or the other so I know what you are talking about very much.
It’s not easy
.
Shirley´s last blog post: Twitter To Be Everywhere And Anywhere With @anywhere
I’m sure you understand, the pros win though in my opinion
Yup, I understand. The pros win with me too
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Shirley´s last blog post: Twitter To Be Everywhere And Anywhere With @anywhere
Ben,
Your right on point!
I dealt with lot’s of negative friends and teachers. I thought they’d be encouraging but they weren’t. Which is why I choose to graduate early and do all those long hours of hard work to get ahead. It was definitely worth it.
tony ramirez | StayStrongDreamBig.com´s last blog post: Back in Cali
Great to hear.
I can’t believe that your friends and teachers were negative, it could make such a huge impact if they remain positive.
Like Patrick said, it’s also hard being an Entrepreneur in college. Sometimes I feel like i have no time to dedicate to learn more about e-commerce, because I’m always studying or doing homework. However, I still do spend countless of hours on Facebook, which I can spend more productively.
I’m sure it is. Maybe if you spent less time on Facebook and more learning about e-commerce you would have time
Just kidding, but try to manage your time since you have so little like me.