Any Entrepeneurs Out There?

[deevilboy1]

I'm graduating from college next year and with the economy going down the tubes I am thinking about starting my own company. I hate working for other people and I find myself much harder when I work for myself.

Anybody out there who started a business and is doing well?

 

[Carbo]

Go for it, kid! That's the spirit that gets things done. Don't trade your hours for wages. PM me for an opinion or two.

 

[mcveigh]

yes to starting own business
no to doing well

but you have a great employer!!

 

[Helpless]

with the economy going down the tubes I am thinking about starting my own company.


As an economist, I had to laugh at your reasoning here, sir. "I recently found out I have cancer; therefore, I am thinking about taking up smoking."


[Edit] ...and I disagree that the economy is "going down the tubes."

 

[gittyup]

I hate working for other people and I find myself much harder when I work for myself.

Sounds like it really excites you...

 

[deevilboy1]

Helpless, the reasoning behind it is that with the recent layoffs and hiring freeze especially in the IT sector I will not be able to get a job when I graduate if current trends continue and we enter a recession. Many of my friends who just graduated can not find a job related to their major.

So instead of sitting on my but or working at Mickey D's I figured giving entrepeneurism a try may not be such a bad idea given my age and lack of responsibilities -- plus I can always go back home with mommy and daddy if I fall on my butt

 

[Helpless]

Oh, don't get me wrong; As a staunch Republican, I am all for "entrepeneurism," and, like you, to see young Americans take initiative "makes me hard too!" I was just commenting on your assertion that "since the economy is going down the tubes," the best thing to do is start your own business...Although it's not, but if the economy were going down the tubes, this is because business is bad Firms are no longer as profitable, lackluster consumer demand for their goods and services, etc, etc...but in any event, I think the economy is just fine, will be picking up in Q4, and I think you'll do A-Okay...I wish you luck!

 

[VRoOMdesigns]

If you can't work under people, that usually means you can't work with people... and it's going to be intensely hard to start a company without a sense of teamwork.

Additionally, while I would say that the economy is definitely NOT "going down the tubes," it is going to be extremely difficult for you to nail funding from corporations, vc's. If you have a rich relative, on the other hand, but you would still owe them a stake in the company and they probably wouldn't be able to offer any good business advice. If you're IT, you're probably thinking about a dot com. That's not going to be a smart idea until a dot com turns profitable and that will probably be Amazon in 2003 or something.

But most importantly, IT people can ALWAYS get jobs. Maybe not at some sexy dotcom, if you have the skills and the grades, you can most likely land a job in IT. Just don't be too focused on going into a tech company as layoffs are expected to continue for a couple months and they won't be hiring all too many people when the spring rolls around.

Hope this helps..