Use Your Youth Advantage

You are just a kid now, concentrate on studies. For business you need experience. Blah blah
blah… People will have numerous reasons for why you shouldn't start a business, all out of good
intentions only.
But before you gulp down all that, think for a while about Bill Gates who left Harvard to start
Microsoft, Michael Dell who left the University of Texas to start Dell, Milton Hershey who opened
his first candy shop when he was 18, Fred Smith who, while attending Yale, received a "C" on his
Fedex business plan and decided to start his business anyway, Steve Jobs who left Reed
University to start Apple, William Hewlett and David Packard who started HP out of a garage after
graduating from Stanford or the thousands of other young people who have started a business
and been successful.
What would have happened if they were convinced about these lame arguments and backed
from their business plan?? We will have to live without a Dell, a Microsoft, an HP, a Hersheys, a
Fedex or an Apple… oh! Horror horror!!!
Best ways to tip the card in your favor:
Adults expect less from young people and it can be used to your advantage. It's OK if you're not
perfectly polished. It will take less effort to please clients and make a name for yourself with the
media.



There's little competition from other students, which makes your story more press-, scholarship-,
competition-, client- and award-worthy.
There are many nonprofit organizations and individuals that support youthful endeavors. First on
this list is your school, which probably has teachers who have contacts in the business
community that can help you.
Students often have income coming in from their parents. Even if it's not consistent, then it's at
least something you know you can always look for. If you're venture fails when you're young, you
definitely won't starve or lose your house.
The practical knowledge you learn from running your business can help your academic work and
vice-versa. Some schools will allow you to earn academic credit from an independent study of
your business. You can also base class projects on your business.
Young people have a fresh perspective on the world. This perspective helps them to see many
opportunities that were till now not been exploited. The founders of Microsoft, Dell, HP, Hersheys,
Apple and Forex will vouch for you.