Youngsters in business...

[SAM_R]

Just wondering how many of the younger PH crowd have started their own business?

Has anyone found that their age can hinder their progress at all?

On the other side do older business people take youngsters more seriously these days or do people not feel comfortable parting with a lots of money to a kid?

I think that its changing and more people are happy to deal with younsters (obviously it depends on what the individual is like and what the business is) but sometimes I feel that it is a disadvantage.

Young to me is 18 - 25 year olds.

[Gateway Networks]

sometimes it can be pretty difficult to gain the respect and to earn the trust of some clients.

but being in IT, most people tend to expect younger people to show up anyway.

im 23

[Daimeydum]

Yep i'm 23 and find it had to make my voice heard and that s after 6 years in the busness. just be right a few times and make your point they soo learn you're not an idiot. it is tricky though. i've worked with people who don't think you know anything untill your nose hair joins up with your ear hair and i'm a long way form that age.

[Don]

I spent my twenties pretending I was in my thirties when it came to some customers...

The good news is, chaps, that when you get to 40 in IT you are the grand old man who's been around a bit and "knows". Trust me - I'd rather be 18-25 again - but there you go.

Speaking as an older IT businessman (by now) I am very happy to deal with "youngsters". Its what they know, what they can achieve and whether or not the (smaller) amount of experience is directly relevant to what I want done that matters.

[chas100]

I know of kids of 18-25 making many millions - age hasn't held them back.

[Don]

chas100 said:

I know of kids of 18-25 making many millions - age hasn't held them back.

Aye. If you get a good business idea and exploit it then age is no barrier to success IMO.

[Greenie]

I started when I was 25 and the first customer that I won was Motorola (still a customer) so it can be done.

I didn't think it was a problem back then but at 25 you're usually pretty cocky anyway. Looking back it may have been an issue but you don't know because customers don't say I didn't give you the work because you are too young.

[SAM_R]

One of my first clients are big although I just cant help to think that the old bat on the other end of the phone doesnt want to know as i'm young. (very few cases)

I have been in sales for some years now and my telephone manner I think is very good - it does annoy me though that some do seem to not like/trust/want to listen to us younsters.

It isnt really hindering the business just one of those things that bug me

Although only 21 I think that times have changed (I cant really speak for years ago) but what with the internet etc it is easyier to make money young i think...
What do you think?

[Don]

SAM_R said:

Although only 21 I think that times have changed (I cant really speak for years ago) but what with the internet etc it is easyier to make money young i think...

What do you think?

Naah. Its the same as ever it was. Gates wasn't exactly and old biffer when he convinced firm after firm to take Microsoft's BASIC Interpreter as the language and operating environment of their new PC. When he blagged IBM that he could PC-DOS for 'em...the rest is history.

[chas100]

SAM_R said:

One of my first clients are big although I just cant help to think that the old bat on the other end of the phone doesnt want to know as i'm young. (very few cases)

I have been in sales for some years now and my telephone manner I think is very good - it does annoy me though that some do seem to not like/trust/want to listen to us younsters.

It isnt really hindering the business just one of those things that bug me

Although only 21 I think that times have changed (I cant really speak for years ago) but what with the internet etc it is easyier to make money young i think...
What do you think?

To an extent. Ebay etc have allowed people to create business online, whereas without it they would not have. Also, affliation has generated large sums of money for people. But, quick .com opportunities are running out. Unless its your unique product or business, where online sales will always be rife, as long as people want it!

[chas100]

SAM_R said:

One of my first clients are big although I just cant help to think that the old bat on the other end of the phone doesnt want to know as i'm young. (very few cases)

I have been in sales for some years now and my telephone manner I think is very good - it does annoy me though that some do seem to not like/trust/want to listen to us younsters.

It isnt really hindering the business just one of those things that bug me

Although only 21 I think that times have changed (I cant really speak for years ago) but what with the internet etc it is easyier to make money young i think...
What do you think?

Hey, this might be of interest to you BBC2 7pm :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/listings/programme.sht...

[groomi]

I started my business when I was 22 and am still going strong over six years later.

I started with virtually no experience or contacts, but on the other hand I had no mortgage, no kids, no wife etc. depending on me.

The point the OP makes about any problems with people not wanting to pay youngsters is offset by going Limited and being VAT registered from the off. It creates the impression that you're taking it more seriously than just a sole trader.

[detchibe]

I'm 19 and have been trading for a year

I decided to go Ltd, partly to show that I'm not a fly-by-night as there are many in IT.

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 18:37

[chas100]

detchibe said:

I'm 19 and have been trading for a year

I decided to go Ltd, partly to show that I'm not a fly-by-night as there are many in IT.

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 18:37

Nice one. Hows it going?

[V8 EOL - Rich]

My customers are mostly over 50. I am 29 and grow a beard to make my self look older! How sad is that?

[Deva Link]

Gateway Networks said:

sometimes it can be pretty difficult to gain the respect and to earn the trust of some clients.

but being in IT, most people tend to expect younger people to show up anyway.

im 23

May I suggest that you spellcheck the blurb on your website's home page?

[detchibe]

chas100 said:

detchibe said:

I'm 19 and have been trading for a year

I decided to go Ltd, partly to show that I'm not a fly-by-night as there are many in IT.

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 18:37

Nice one. Hows it going?

It's going alright, actually. I started completely from scratch, no existing customer base, and set a target of turning over £20k in the first year. With two months to go, I think I am just about going to touch it Not exactly big money, but I'm alright with it especially in a competitive market.

As I take no money out of the company I do half a week + evenings of private work vs. half a week of part-time work. Luckily jobs such as web design, programming, installs are fairly flexible, so it works out okay!

V8 EOL - Rich said:

My customers are mostly over 50. I am 29 and grow a beard to make my self look older! How sad is that?

Same here, I'm currently cultivating an abundance of facial hair

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 20:22

[chas100]

detchibe said:

chas100 said:

detchibe said:

I'm 19 and have been trading for a year

I decided to go Ltd, partly to show that I'm not a fly-by-night as there are many in IT.

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 18:37

Nice one. Hows it going?

It's going alright, actually. I started completely from scratch, no existing customer base, and set a target of turning over £20k in the first year. With two months to go, I think I am just about going to touch it Not exactly big money, but I'm alright with it especially in a competitive market.

As I take no money out of the company I do half a week + evenings of private work vs. half a week of part-time work. Luckily jobs such as web design, programming, installs are fairly flexible, so it works out okay!

Edited by detchibe on Friday 1st June 20:19

If you keep on working as hard as you have, I am sure you will make a great success out of it. Good luck.

[detchibe]

chas100 said:

If you keep on working as hard as you have, I am sure you will make a great success out of it. Good luck.

Thanks for your kind words. You in business yourself?