Help me plz

[cooljd9009]

Hey all, Ive been following the site and looking at past blog posts of steve for quite some time. I'm 16 years old. Recently ive read the subjective reality posts and they made me outright cry!

but i digress, my problem i have is that my mom keeps telling me to get a job(mcdonalds, ect), but it just doesnt seem right. I am not afraid to do work but I want to work for myself for all of the reasons steve posted, but don't know where to start.
Should i get a "normal" teen job, or do something different.

Thanks and I look forward to all of your help!

[Lisa McGregor]

Hi Cool.The main objective to getting a job when you're 16 is to earn money and to learn to be responsible. You need to ease yourself slowly into the world of adults. But hey, you're 16. Not 26. So don't forget to have fun.(not that you shouldn't be having fun at 26). Also, you need to look at ways to earn money that will also help you to develop as a person. Meeting other people is always good. Make a list of what you would like to learn, what you have to offer, your strong points and not so strong points. If you want to work for yourself be very focused on what it is you want to do. Narrow down your options. Best of luck .
L

[Phil Parkinson]

Originally Posted by Lisa McGregor

Hi Cool.The main objective to getting a job when you're 16 is to earn money and to learn to be responsible. You need to ease yourself slowly into the world of adults. But hey, you're 16. Not 26. So don't forget to have fun.(not that you shouldn't be having fun at 26). Also, you need to look at ways to earn money that will also help you to develop as a person. Meeting other people is always good. Make a list of what you would like to learn, what you have to offer, your strong points and not so strong points. If you want to work for yourself be very focused on what it is you want to do. Narrow down your options. Best of luck .
L

Great advice from Lisa here... I would add that when you are 16, working in McDonalds isn't a career move... it's better to do some hard work than not at all...

If you can find work where you can do something that you love, then go after it!!!

Don't let anyone else tell you what can and can't be done... you determine what you can and cannot do...

[Zukin]

Hi cooljd,

You may enjoy the book "What Color is Your Parachute for Teens":
Amazon.com: What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future (What Color Is Your Parachute for Teens): Books: Richard Nelson Bolles,Carol Christen,Jean M. Blomquist
It gives a lot of good advice on goal setting and career choices.

You can also read the version of "What Color is Your Parachute" for adults, since you sound like a mature individual:
Amazon.com: What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (What Color Is Your Parachute): Books: Richard Nelson Bolles

I also like the writings of Marshall Brain, a multimillionaire and successful businessman who wrote the book "The Teenager's Guide to the Real World"

MarshallBrain.com - The Official Home Page for Marshall Brain

[silicon toad2000]

working at macdonalds isn't about a teen job, it's about learning. macdonalds is a successful corporation, you could do a lot worse than learning what they do and then when you go out by yourself you can adapt some of their methods to your own business and choose which of their methods don't suit you.

[cooljd9009]

Thanks for all of the wonderful responses. I have a new perspective thanks to you guys, and gals. Much love to all of you!

[Peter S C]

There are a lot of potential positives to working at MacDonalds when you are 16: you will earn some dollars, make friends, gain work experience, develop time management skills and - most importantly in your case - get a unique opportunity to study one of the great entrepreneurial success stories of our time. Maybe read up on Ray Kroc and the McDonalds story for inspiration.

[Joel Chue]

Here's my 2 cents.
Get a job... but if possible, a job that's going
to teach you important skills.

You might want to stick to MacDonalds for awhile
but along the way keep a lookout for opportunities.

It's all about your attitude.