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How do career entrepreneurs start out?

My name is Shane, just turned 21, and live in Aberdeen, Scotland. I have dreamt of starting/ owning/ controlling companies for seven years. I  have never tested an idea or even written a full business, marketing, and sales plan. Likewise, never carried out research. Why? I have hundreds of ideas and find concentrating on one is not realistic as I believe a few days into that idea I will come up with another one. I think I have an ability to literally manufacturer entrepreneurial ideas. Even when trying to relax whilst watching a documentary I spot pain and needs and end up drawing an idea outline as a mind-map.


So, my question of some time now has been how best to just start out, to take that leap, to dangle my feet into cold waters...?


 I have a few ideas to gain experience initially, numbered below. I aim to build investments for others, and wealth for myself. This is a career path I have chosen, though I have no relatives who are entrepreneurs to fall back on for advice.


          I have created an idea/ opportunity assessor; A comprehensive (to the best of my current ability) 63 page checklist of necessary areas of a good opportunity. This is available via email as it is not published online – please feel free to email me for a look.   I aim to add to and refine this with experience, as a form of self-reflection. And it will be my tool for decision making in my early venture creation stages.


1)    Speaking with buyers for large companies to identify a market need which they are not able to cater for because of not being able to source the product/ service in the right quantity at the right price. I then centre my whole strategy on catering for this need. An option to act on a supplier contract within an acceptable amount of time, say 6 months is my thinking with this idea. 


2)    Seeking industry experts and asking them to show me how as a coach, in return for anything they want.


3)    Approaching bank directors and investors and asking what they are looking for to invest in, then using a focussed strategy as in # 1 create it for them. 


4)    Get a job in a failing market or industry - use the British Library resources to decide. As I work, analyse the industry, notice trends, and think deeply about the companies problems, all with the aim of giving a presentation to the board and management around 6 months into the working relationship.


5)    Find and join a start-up offering my time and energy for the opportunity.


 


My situation at this time is unemployed, I have dropped out of an entrepreneurship course at University, and I am prepared to do anything to take advantage of an entrepreneurial opportunity/ or to learn from experts. The feeling of borderline desperation/ willingness to be is overwhelming. I cannot explain in words just how dedicated to this path I am, and what I will forego in return for an opportunity to gain experience and learn my chosen path.


Any personal advice, or to make contact, my phone number is 07908147789, and email is shane.charlton.08@aberdeen.ac.uk


Thank you all for guidance, and I hope I can return the help at some point.


 

 
Asked by Shane Charlton, March 2010   -  Contact this person

1 Answer

  1. Hi Shane,


    Thanks for your post. It's great that you are prepared to learn and get involved with start-ups. Have you considered applying for internships with start-ups. For many start-ups this is the way get bright people working for them for relatively little cost and it is accepted that they will eventually move on to something else. Read this from Doug Richard: http://www.schoolforstartups.co.uk/2010/03/05/you-don%e2%80%99t-know-anyone-how-to-hire-in-perfect-ignorance/ I think it will strike a chord.


    I'd also recommend our Entrepreneurship resources: http://www.venturenavigator.co.uk/search/category/25/1/10 as a good starting point for how other Entrepreneurs have got on.


    Phin


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