ARGHHHHHH!!! My Life!!!
ARGHHHHHH!!! My Life!!!
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Discussion

DanBoy

Original Poster:

4,899 posts

272 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
A conversation with mother dearest has put a downer on plans to start my own business: "What if it all goes wrong?" said she.

Of course this is a thought that must be entertained at some point, but when it comes to taking risks my mum can think of nothing but bad things. She's talked me round into a similar frame of mind now.

Maybe I should give up any crazy ideas and play it safe...



But what the hell would I do? I'm totally clueless. I'm not that well qualified, but then I never wanted to be a scientist or a teacher or a doctor or a tradesman.

Police? Wouldn't mind policing the roads but I don't really care for much else!

Stick at the music production? Well that's just as crazy as starting a business, if not moreso. Maybe on the side...

Develop a career in my current field of music retail? God no.

How is one supposed to know where to turn at the age of 21!?!?!?

groucho

12,134 posts

275 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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I didn't know whether I was coming or going when I was 21. Life doesn't change much.

Sorry, being flippant.

rico

7,917 posts

284 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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DanBoy said:
How is one supposed to know where to turn at the age of 21!?!?!?


You're the same as me a year ago. Just relax... You've got the rest of your life to build up a career. Sure you can start early but don't feel its the be all and end all.

carsarecool

4,456 posts

268 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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You do need confidence to start a business, but if you put the effort in (which can be considerable) it's definately worth it. Nothing like being your own boss.

What's to loose mate? If you fail, you'll get another job.

I say go for it now if you can. You'll kick yourself in the future otherwise thinking, 'what if'?

_Dobbo_

14,619 posts

277 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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If you are in anything like a position to give starting your own business a shot, then you should do it.

I would love to run my own business, but my financial commitments basically mean it's impossible for me to even consider trying.

If any form of financial freedom is yours, such as living with parents, then go for it. What's the worst that can happen?

driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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Don't worry mate, you've got plenty of time. Just make sure you really knowwhat you want to do and then really go for it. I dropped out of my A-Levels cause I had way more fun with my guitar. 6 years, several disappointing bands going no-where and several shitty, underpayed jobs later at age 23 I went back to college, got my A-levels and now I'm a dentist...who sings and plays guitar in a heavy rock band

Gaaaaaan, you know it makes sense

Driller

hedders

24,460 posts

276 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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rico said:

DanBoy said:
How is one supposed to know where to turn at the age of 21!?!?!?



You're the same as me a year ago.


me too, and I am 36

PatHeald

8,058 posts

285 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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Stop talking about it and get on with it.

I waited until I was 31 before going it alone and ended up taking all the risks when I had a four year old daughter and a heavily pregnant wife who was not working.

I had to sell my Caterham Seven to finance the set up costs, which was a bit of a wrench.

I have taken seven weeks holiday and one day off work sick in the last five years, but I still feel that life is better than when my time belonged to someone else.

It is amazing what can be achieved with a bit of determination. At your age, you have nothing to lose.

Good luck.

Cheers

Pat

srebbe64

13,021 posts

266 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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Starting in business was one of the best things I ever did. What motivated me, apart from the fact that I’d be building my own business and not someone else’s, was the “fear of regret” at the end of my life if I didn’t do it. Nowadays, once a year I speak at my kids’ school assembly to the year 11’s pupils about not being a “nearly man” - people who, at the end of their lives, talk about all the things they “nearly did”. The world’s full of them.

When I first contemplated it (about 16 years ago) loads of people thought I was mad by giving up a secure job – and I don’t blame them. However, I was pretty pragmatic about it, and thought to myself:

The worst that could happen was that I’d fail and end up losing my house (and other things). But, even then, I’d still be alive and I could get another job.

The best that could happen is I’d make a go of it and be able to control my own destiny, by building a company – which I could either sell, or it can give me an ongoing income. As it happens, I did both (with two companies).

So my advice to you “Danny Boy” is: Better to take a few risks, and probably getting into a few scrapes along the way, but live your life so that you’ll have no regrets at the end of it.

miniman

29,993 posts

291 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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Go for it. Believe me, there is nothing like being your own boss. You are in control of your own destiny, which has pros and cons. Pro: when you succeed, you reap the rewards personally. Con: if it goes tits up, you can't blame anyone else.

If you take the plunge, get some sound financial & legal advice, and prepare for several months of shitting yourself.

I gambled my house on a business venture. So far, after 9 months, my investment is worth 3x what it started as. Could be worth nothing in a year's time, but that's down to how much effort I put in.

PatHeald

8,058 posts

285 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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srebbe64 said:
live your life so that you’ll have no regrets at the end of it..
Too true.

Better to regret what you did do than regret what you didn't do.

Life is frustratingly short and the days have too few hours, but it is amazing how many people piss their time away stuck up the telly.

There are a couple of business ventures that I'd love to pursue, but simply don't have time to do it.

You need to make yourself a bit of an expert in your chosen field, to have an edge over everyone else.

Pat

DanBoy

Original Poster:

4,899 posts

272 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
Have to say mine is a fairly ambitious venture, but by no means impossible. It just involves finding alot of capital.

Errrrrm... Great!

Anyway, thank you for the encouragement. I feel better now - Was just a bit shocked that somebody so close to me could express nothing but doubt with regards to my ambitions!

chrisbr68

5,500 posts

277 months

Friday 25th February 2005
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Dan, know how you feel. Im 21, got just under 3 weeks till I finish. Lost interest in my course. Not sure what I am going to get into. My plan is to get this degree out of the way and then take a look at where I want to go, and then get on with it!

Looking forward to a change now

Road_Terrorist

5,591 posts

271 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
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chrisbr68 said:
Dan, know how you feel. Im 21, got just under 3 weeks till I finish. Lost interest in my course. Not sure what I am going to get into. My plan is to get this degree out of the way and then take a look at where I want to go, and then get on with it!

Looking forward to a change now


I was the same at the end of my degree, lost interest in the subject matter, worked a few odd jobs in different fields to see what sort of work I wanted to do, and what I was good at, now I have a better idea of where I'm heading and what I want to do. Of course that means going back to Uni and starting over again, another 4 years. On the plus side at least I know how the system works and can avoid the multitude of mistakes I made the first time.

italiano

8,352 posts

261 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
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DanBoy said:
Have to say mine is a fairly ambitious venture, but by no means impossible. It just involves finding alot of capital.

Errrrrm... Great!

Anyway, thank you for the encouragement. I feel better now - Was just a bit shocked that somebody so close to me could express nothing but doubt with regards to my ambitions!



Mine was exactly the same when I set up at 24. I was a bit pissed off with her at the time but just thought to myself it's because she's from a different era to me. Don't let it bother you.....go for it!!!

chrisbr68

5,500 posts

277 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
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Road_Terrorist said:

chrisbr68 said:
Dan, know how you feel. Im 21, got just under 3 weeks till I finish. Lost interest in my course. Not sure what I am going to get into. My plan is to get this degree out of the way and then take a look at where I want to go, and then get on with it!

Looking forward to a change now



I was the same at the end of my degree, lost interest in the subject matter, worked a few odd jobs in different fields to see what sort of work I wanted to do, and what I was good at, now I have a better idea of where I'm heading and what I want to do. Of course that means going back to Uni and starting over again, another 4 years. On the plus side at least I know how the system works and can avoid the multitude of mistakes I made the first time.


Wow. At the moment, I feel I could never do that... maybe things will change. Also, I feel that degree's are worth less all the time, unless its in something specialist, not like my computer degree which everyone seems to have chosen. A lot of people I have spoken to say that experience counts an awful lot these days, so I wasnt expecting to need to go back to uni anyway...