some tips
These are some tips I conjured up along the way, learning from mistakes and listening to advice and tips that I always try to remember.
Find out what you enjoy a lot. If there is an activity that you enjoy doing, from selling candy, to swimming, to playing your favorite instrument, there is some way to tie that interest into a way of making money.
Start off small. Many business ventures begin in a small, seed form and grow with time, hard work and patience. No one venture can make it big overnight. So do the best you can with what you have at first and never take any of your accomplishments for granted. And always remember: One sale is better than no sales.
Get educated. The more you know, the more you don't have to rely on someone else to do something that you could have done with acquired knowledge.
Ask people you know. You would be surprised to know how much information your parents and relatives have about running a business even if they don't own and operate their very own. In addition, they may know people who can help you and your venture in the future. Asking never hurts.
Hit the library/bookstore/magazine stand. Do research regarding starting and running a business. Magazines and newspaper articles are good for examples of business owners and their ventures. There are plenty of books on starting a business, too. I personally recommend "The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business" by Steve Mariotti with Debra DeSalvo and Tony Towle.
Surf the web. The web is good as a resource as well, especially for finding out about raw materials and wholesale products and for tips about starting a business.
Check out youth-oriented organizations for support. Organizations devoted to young people (like YouthVenture.org) are useful in a variety of ways. Some offer workshops and grants for young entrepreneurs.
Never hesitate to network. You never know who you could be discussing your business venture with. It could be a prospective client or even a possible partner.
Never let go of your dreams. As cliché as this sounds... For over three years, I've had faith in Innova. At times, it was the only thing I had but I never gave up on it. If you believe deep down that your venture will be successful (not necessarily meaning profitable), then you may be right.
