Starting a Buisness

[Brian20o2]

It seems as though I too have jumped on the entreprenurial train.

Im currently 17 and a senior in High School. Somehow I know what I want to do after I graduate (crazy huh?).

Right after I graduate I plan on Moving to Seattle to start a roadwork/paving subconracting firm. Being that I dont know jack about paving but have a burning desire to start a company that does just that, I have alot of stuff to learn in the next 8 months before I take the plunge.

I want to learn how to write a buisness plan, I need to learn how to be a buisness leader, and many other things. I need to start networking, and talking to people who are in the industry.

Im not sure where Im going with this post and I have to leave to school in 2 min.

I guess any advice or navigation will be very welcome. I'll come back and write more about exactly where I am on my mission of becomming a buisnessman.

[Travis_Farnes]

Its good that you are starting young because you will make plenty of mistakes but don't look at them as failures. It is all a learning process. And let me tell you something else... you will make plenty of mistakes...

Some advice for you:

-Be very passionate about what business you want to start. (money is not enough motivation)

[Dave Kaminski]

More advice - READ. Read whatever you can get your hands on about business before you start working.

Look for a mentor around you that's a contractor or general contractor. It's gonna take some 'guts' (read gonads) to be a business owner, so you may as well start developing those guts by putting youself out to current contractors and subs as someone who wants to learn and is eager to help. Don't worry if you don't get paid, you've got plenty to learn.

[Mycroft]

My advice would be to get a job with one of those businesses for a year. During that year, work your ass off going the extra mile and pretend you're a sponge. Soak up all the information about how the business is run as you can.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

My advice would be to get a job with one of those businesses for a year. During that year, work your ass off going the extra mile and pretend you're a sponge. Soak up all the information about how the business is run as you can.

You could actually spend that time working on your own business by being the employee of another business. Work on documenting your actions and innovating. Whatever actions you find work best, write them down. They'll end up in your operations manuals for your employees.

[Brian20o2]

Thanks for the advice. I am pretty passionate about this, however I want it to be all consuming so that I will do anything for it, even work 16+ hour days 7 days a week.

Great idea on the mentor idea. Im gonna try and get ahold of a few CEOs/Presidents in the same industry around my area.

[mrkpinero]

To learn more of leadership, I suggest reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It's one of my favorite books ^^

[Andrew Brunelle]

I would have to say that you seem like you have direction, now act on the passion you have for whatever it is you want to do. Just live, learn, and follow what seems right to you.

[Yoshi]

Originally Posted by Travis_Farnes

Its good that you are starting young because you will make plenty of mistakes but don't look at them as failures. It is all a learning process. And let me tell you something else... you will make plenty of mistakes...

Some advice for you:

-Be very passionate about what business you want to start. (money is not enough motivation)

For some of us money is enough motivation.

[RT Wolf]

There's different aspects and dimensions of running a business. There's the paperwork aspect, there's the human aspect, they're the actual work aspect and so on. I'd suggest identifying the different aspects, that'll likely help you to organize your actions.

And if you haven't, I'd highly suggest reading Getting Things Done and How to Make Friends and Influence People.

I recommend reading hte following (it's tough, but god is it worth it).
Charlie Munger : THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN MISJUDGMENT</b>