Am I a half-assed entreprenuer?? HELP!

Im 25, I live at home with a big family, (parents, grandparents, uncle, brother just moved out though). I have a semi-successful website that made 32k last year. I have big dreams and always talk about the next big ideas, but I rarely start projects I get excited about. And projects I do start take a while to get going and lack momentum to get them done quickly and vigorously.

I have just graduated college with a B.A. in Biology, I didn't have the patience to stick with the B.S. plus I knew I didn't see a career in Biology as I am not much of an academic type.

I live in California, so $32k is OK but not great, although I made that all on the side while going to college full time so that makes it better.

Now I'm faced with the question of what I'm going to do with my life. My mom keeps asking me when I'm getting a job, and I keep telling her "Remember? I don't want a job, I want to own a self-running business." She goes OK like what?

Then I say, "Exactly.."



I mean I have ideas that I want to try but they are out of my comfort zone. Also some ideas are going to need professional planning for them to work out. In my mind I have ideas that could make me or anyone who starts it rich, but I just don't know where or how to begin because all I know is IM, and I'm only decent to above average in that.

I know if I give up on my dreams that I will be giving up on myself so I'm not going to ever do that. However, I realize that I need to move out, I need to get my life going and I need to do it somehow!



Can I get some thoughts from people who have been there done that? A kick in the ass, or some words of encouragement? Fuck, I hate when people put doubts in my mind.

All this is coming from my Mom who unfortunately was layed off from her high paying corporate AT&T job a few years ago. She wants me to climb the corporate ladder to learn skills and to be able to relate to other who work day to day.

Small simple steps daily! Taking action and following through is like a muscle - you've got to develop it gradually, bit by bit, make bigger and bigger steps until you build real momentum.

The easiest way to get motivation is to work in a field that you're really passionate about. Just working for money never gets you out of bed - it's got to be an area that you're really in to on a level other than just money.

I'd advise cranking up your existing website a bit more in the meantime - if you're already making $32K a year from it then you're doing great.

Have you thought being a IM coach??

"I want to own a self-running business" So go and fill in the forms and start you're business. That's what I did..

Yes I know how it is, you may feel like you need to be in more control over the whole cituation and wonder how to do it the best way. Starting an business is a big step to take.

Well that's bull, you can't figure everything out there is always going to be somehing that you did not think about.

You need to just go and try. Start small and build bigger, and if it don't work. Then you know.. Move on..

Good luck to you.

Step 1: Get a piece of paper and write down your goals. Set small goals.

Step 2: Get a large whiteboard. Each day, write down the tasks that you must complete.

Don't worry about motivation. The simple act of writing your goals down and writing what you have will lead you to taking action.

The reason you should set small goals is because it will be like the snowball effect. Once you get the smaller things rolling, you just can't stop and you will make money and work like a madman.

What are you complaining about?

You're making 32K. That's an entry level college grad salary.
If you live with your parents then you probably don't pay rent.

You should be living it up right now.

Stop being so negative.

You got it good. Be positive and great things will happen.

life is though and you must realize that soon and just go out there and make something you like doing and possibly stick to it till you make it.

Btw, you are doing just fine by now, you are already making money

You're already making money. In my opinion, 32k from a website "on the side" is a lot for a beginner. If you only worked on it part-time, you can potentially make a lot more.

That 32k is leverage against your mom's opinions. Get yourself a registered business and a business card and show it to her when she bothers you the next time around. "It's internet marketing, mom... GOSH!" :smoker:

That is really nice.
Eggshell with Romalian type. What do you think?
Nice.
Jesus. That is really super. How'da nitwit like you get so tasteful?
I can't believe that Bryce...
prefers Van Patten's card to mine.
But wait. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
Raised lettering, pale nimbus... white.
Impressive. Very nice.

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gbmack said:

Step 1: Get a piece of paper and write down your goals. Set small goals.

Step 2: Get a large whiteboard. Each day, write down the tasks that you must complete.

Don't worry about motivation. The simple act of writing your goals down and writing what you have will lead you to taking action.

The reason you should set small goals is because it will be like the snowball effect. Once you get the smaller things rolling, you just can't stop and you will make money and work like a madman.

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Yea, I write down goals on paper, and save idea notes on my phone and notebook. But right now I'm getting a whiteboard. Seems like a good way to get tasks done. Like there are things I need to do and I really can see how it will be easier to get done if its laid out in big letters and you can check it off or erase it. Also it will show me how long I'm NOT getting things done or putting off.

I think its gonna help big time. thanks!

koreangq said:

What are you complaining about?

You're making 32K. That's an entry level college grad salary.
If you live with your parents then you probably don't pay rent.

You should be living it up right now.

Stop being so negative.

You got it good. Be positive and great things will happen.

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Haha, I suppose I have been (went surfing last friday with friends for the first time) which is why my mom has been saying that I need to stop "wasting time" and start building up my resume.

But the whole plan for me was to not have to get locked into the rat race. I really need to get something substantial going to cement my freedom and to finally set myself free from this doubt.. Basically I just need to do something and get it done.

But there are a bunch of ideas.. I have this aeroponic grown foods idea where I can grow crops aeroponically 4x faster than conventional farming, all without polluting the environment with pesticides and destroying habitat. Or I could go the route of instead of selling the crops, selling the actually growing systems to other gardeners or perhaps even a business that builds custom systems for restaurants. Also I have this idea for a work out club where people who struggle with working out motivation can join a fitness team and do the best, most effective workouts as a team. That way they can make good friends and they will have a good motivation to go workout (because of the group aspect of it). The over head for that could be low depending on what equipment was needed, I would just pay for lease for a location, and some personal trainers. I would charge a little bit more than a typical gym membership, but my business would offer more than just equipment to be used. It would educate people and empower them to be healthier and more effective. (I would simply paraphrase from my fraternity's pledge handbook as it is designed to mold you into a better version of yourself). And think about if this small business idea was franchised, there would potentially be hundreds of these "Team Fit" places popping up, IF it was successful that is.

Those are some offline ideas that I've been having lately, theres also more involving aquaponics (youtube). I just don't have the entrepreneur training on how to write a business plan, or how to even know if a business idea is even financially feasible. Anyway, I appreciate the advice, you guys are so good at staying mentally focused.

KHMNTCPR8 said:

Those are some offline ideas that I've been having lately, theres also more involving aquaponics (youtube). I just don't have the entrepreneur training on how to write a business plan, or how to even know if a business idea is even financially feasible. Anyway, I appreciate the advice, you guys are so good at staying mentally focused.

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Well sounds to me that you already have it figured out. I would advice you to start with the idea you like best. And then see how it goes and start with the other idea as time goes by.

To have a business plan is good, but you still can't be 100% sure it works out. What looks good on paper is not always how things turn out in real life.

It boils down to if people buys the idea or service you provide. Like that aquaponics, ask yourself how easy would it be to implement? Would the farmers actually buy this from you.

Do some simple calculations like how much you're expenses would be and see if it gives you a profit. If like you're rent is more than what you would get from people buying you're service then you're off to a bad start.

Use some common sense and don't throw all you're eggs in one basket.
Do that and I think you are going to do ok.

Advice:

Stop being half assed (as you say yourself).

Do small things that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Go seek advice from people/experts that are in the feilds that you want to go into.

Dont let the lack of knowledge scare you from your dream.

Hey,

Thought id pitch in here, dude you don't know how well you have already done, 32k from one site working part time is huge! I'm also 25 and still living at home, financially I have never earned a penny from my current business but websites take time to mature and get that awesome free google traffic.

As for your mother you should ask anyone here and they will probably say the same thing, your mother doesn't mean to put you down but you are messing with her entire model of the world, infact you have null and voided her whole concept of making money, her generation was always taught if you want that kind of income you have to work for a large company and doing an insane amount of hours, you have come along and destroyed that entire concept, she sees you earning money and going surfing and having free time........

One way to combat this is to make sure you are paying your own way if you can afford it or move out, I have a friend who is very sucessful in this game and his mother still asks him when he is going to get a job, don't take it as a put down, your mother just doesn't understand this world and when she sees you "playing on your computer" she just assumes you will be gaming or talking on facebook.

Do yourself a favour and don't even seek the validation of your parents, it's the worst way to live because you can never meet someone else's expectations, they often give horrible advice that even THEY know doesn't work, it's best to avoid living in someone elses reality and build your own mental matrix, live up to your own standards and let the rest of the world complain and say "you can't do that", its exceptionally difficult to achieve this because no matter how hard headed you are we as humans do care about what others think and say about us.

You shouldn't be taking financial advice from anyone who is not a millionaire already and even then you don't want to be listening, you need to be WATCHING what they do, your ideas sound amazing and I know you might be scared (especially if you are a natural introvert like me) of having a larger project but some day your going to die and knowing that simply means you have nothing to lose, you are going to make mistakes and look stupid, the only people who don't fail massively are those who never try to do anything difficult.

You have already achieved so much, you've figured out this IM game and you are the same age as me, I'd give anything to be in your shoes but in order to do that I have to pay my dues by making mistakes and learning by doing.

Good luck to you brother.

PornMan said:

aged 25 and still living with your parents??? sad fuckkkk!!!

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Unfortunately this is the rule in most EU countries (just Scandinavian countries have it better) - don't know how it is in USA.

I'm 31 and now i'm living with my parents.
And no, they don't tell me to get a job. I pay for my own shit.

Stop listening to other people in your life. What do you want to do? Being an entrepreneur should be something your feel deep down inside. The need to want to take over the world. For me it was never a question, just a matter of how I was going to get it done. Rome was not built in a day brother. Now get back to work.

Nerevar said:

Unfortunately this is the rule in most EU countries (just Scandinavian countries have it better) - don't know how it is in USA.

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Rule??? Dude, what are you talking about?
Don't make others think that its a trend in europe to live with your parents in your mid 20s..
I don't really care if someone lives with his parents or not. Its a good way to save money, however taking home girls and throwing parties would probably suck big time.

Behind most successful and very wealthy entrepreneurs is another person or a group of people that all motivated each other. My advice, is if you want to make more of your ideas a reality, find people who are willing to put in as much sweat equity and money in as you are, or at least meet you as some point where you stay motivated.