[Turbopk]

I am posting this thread in hopes of being educated by the entrepreneurs on here. I want to learn the ropes and become successful at it. I have tried many different types of 'jobs', attended college but nothing has worked out for me. As I am a severe asthmatic so I am limited to what jobs that I can do, I should be put into a bubble.lol. I would really like to work from home, as my fiance is enlisted into the Army and being able to work from home no matter where we are stationed would be ideal for me.

College, I feel it is just not for me I gave it a shot and did not like it felt like I was wasting my time and money. I thought business administration would open up a door of opportunities for me but then I look at people like Mark Cuban. Not too mention so many personal friends who spent years in school to be unemployed or employeed as a slave. I do not like being told what to do, however I am open minded to pretty much anything. I suppose what I am hoping to gain from this thread is some, or any type of suggestions on where do I start. I have always dreamed of earing six figures, my ultimate goal is to hit the seven figures mark. I have looked into day trading, internet marketing, various sales, including networking marketing, direct sales. But there is so much information when searching any of them that I get mind boggled. As I am an analytical thinker which sometimes gets me into trouble.

Please excuse my bad grammar and lack of vocabulary.

Looking forward to anyones response, whether it be negative or positive. I will greatly appreciate it.

 

[biznaka]

I do not like being told what to do, however I am open minded to pretty much anything.

In life and in general, you will always be told what to do. Entrepreneurs will always have a boss -- and it's generally the customer or client. Change that mindset before you get started on your journey.

-----

I have been in a similar situation to what you are in right now, working remotely. Trust me, there are limited options, do you want to work remotely 24/7 or are you willing to go out and visit clients?

Software Programming you can always do remotely and generally from anywhere. Building applications for companies or yourself, can be worthwhile. People can make big bucks from programming. However, it really depends on what you want to do. You seem to be really open with ideas right now, do you have any specific focus in mind?

 

[Goonthree]

Let's be realistic, the examples you gave Mark Cuban, is like the odd of hitting powerball in the lottery. Dreams are good but let's be practical. You havent hit 6 figures and your goal is 7 figures? I don't know what school your friends go to, but graduates from good and great schools reduce your chance of being unemployed. Going to school for a major that is hot also help, not going to school to take the easy courses. there are no easy way out. Best education is a good way to be upper middle class, seems like you have to start your own business. Starting one is big risk and usually require large Capitol. An example is a food court in a factory outlet. It is 1000 sq ft with rent $17,000 and starting Capitol of $650,000. Would you do it selling pretzels, water, drinks and ice cream? It turnout it does work for that mall, but I wouldn't chance it. That is why I am happy working for someone else because I don't got that kind of gamble in me.

 

[LuckyEff]

No shortcuts, just straight up hardwork and a bit of luck.

The office next to mine is a run by a paraplegic. I admire that woman, nothing comes between her dedication.

Yes your asthma is a setback, so what. It shouldnt hold you back.

Dreams are good but let's be real, there is no shortcut to six figure salary.

One thing you could do is buy cheap stuff from China for cars and other household or useless stuff. You can use websites like AliBaba and such for the purchases.

And put those items on eBay. You will make a decent living. And then from there on you can grow.

This trading thing i told you was actually what my brother's room mate did in college and paid his college tuition.

Good luck.

 

[Rhyno46]

Most entrepreneurs fail initially. Many entrepreneurs fail multiple times. Be ready for a hard road and keep working.

 

[Turbopk]

Hello everyone. Thank you for your responses. I appreciate the honesty.

>Biznaka, you make a valuable point as I never looked at being told what to do from that point of view. Software programming sounds appealing, but does it require going to school? As far as any ideas of what I would like too do. Right now I am looking into voice over artist work, I like the potential residual income.

>Goonthree, be more practical and realistic, check. I admit I am a bit of a dreamer... A 'hot' major would be an example of what exactly?

>LuckyEff, thank you for the ebay idea. Sounds interesting. I used to do something similar but only with Supra parts and only on car forums.

Yes I am aware of hard work and dedication. I never stated that my asthma was an excuse but after making multiple attempts at a variety of jobs, including general labor I have come to learn that I can not perform the job function adequately. I was an athlete in high school, attempted to enlist into the military asthma was and still is an automatic disqualifer. From there on I just started working and dabbling in anything and everything trying and hoping to find something that worked for me. Which lead me to realizing that I do not like the blue collar slave type work.

I personally disagree that when someone thinks that a degree is 'everything' and will guarantee some fantastic career straight out of college is completely misguided. Some of my friends graduated from ivy league schools, and have been unemployed since they graduated. I am aware there are certain careers that require mandatory higher education, the medical field, law are a few examples.
Also for someone to think they have 'security' with any job is foolish, as anyone can be terminated, laid off at a moments notice. The self employed can end up more broke than when they started their business, however I believe that risk is opportunity.

Everyone should have a Plan B,C, and so on, because its just foolish to depend on Plan A and hope everything will always work out the way you want it too.

 

[Santorican]

Quickest way to make money? Sell drugs!

Kidding

I've been working toward saving money through college in order to start small time investing in order to open my own composites engineering company by the time I'm 40. Its all come from busting my butt week days and ends doing detailing and working a part time internship.

 

[SELVERGTR7]

in on this

im the the same boat with college, not sure if i want to go in January as i already dropped out once and wasted like $2000

 

[Santorican]

What do you want to go to college for?

 

[SELVERGTR7]

What do you want to go to college for?

me? i wanted to go for automotive tech

but electrical course was too hard for me (many ppl dropped out cuz of it)

 

[Goonthree]

Turbopk, computer Science, computer engineering, Electrical Engineering, Pharmacy, Medical degree (my opinion). I would also think about jobs that can't be outsourced (doctors, nurses, Dept of Defense jobs). These jobs will get you a good pay check, but you ain't going to get rich quick.
The shoot for the sky would be undergraduate at Ivy league and MBA with school that starts with H. There is member here that has done it and the rewards are big. Your Ivy league friends can't find a job, what kind of major?
Employers are going to look for what have you accomplished. An average school will get you an average job. Nobody is going to pay you $120K with a MBA from a college most people never heard of, but highly likely if it is Ivy league and starts with H. Of course very few will get selected that is why it is prestiges.
While a few people hit it big without an education your chance is lower. I am sure people here with kids put education #1 on their list.

You have to start a business or invent something which are not easy. One thing is for sure, the harder you work, the luckier you will get.

 

[LuckyEff]

me? i wanted to go for automotive tech

but electrical course was too hard for me (many ppl dropped out cuz of it)

Great!

What else was hard? Life? Drop out of it too!

No shortcut to success.

 

[SELVERGTR7]

Great!

What else was hard? Life? Drop out of it too!

No shortcut to success.

 

[UTsaucy]

I found myself in a similar situation last year. I dropped out of a great college because I just didn't know what I wanted to do and felt like I was throwing my money at classes that wouldn't even help me in the long run. $-10,000 later, I started working at some random dead end jobs but recently found myself in a pretty good corporation job. Although it's 9-6 every damn day, I am slowly chipping away at student loan debt that will hopefully be absolved in two or three years.

I feel like entrepreneurial business isn't for me due to the fact that if I'm not told that I HAVE to be at work at x time and leave at y time, I would never get out of bed. So you've got to consider if you'll actually be motivated enough to 'be your own boss', enough so that it will be worth your while.

 

[NickTO]

 

[Cashman]

To the OP.

Being an entrepreneur, or business owner means you do not differentiate between your life and your job. They are both the same. You work harder than anyone else in your company and must want to do things you do not like as nobody else will pick up the slack but yourself. You must answer to your customers, your investors and your board (if you have one).

The risk/reward proposition can be off the chart, but don't think for a minute that you're not working harder than you ever have in your life. If you can't be bothered to suck it up through a college or professional degree or equivalent process, then you probably lack the motivation and determination to stick it out in the business world through the lean years.

+1

 

[thewraith]

I think that anyone in here that says "college is a waste of time" needs to reassess their statement and perhaps look at statistics. College grads are consistently more successfull and make much more money than non grads. I'm not talking about going to school for a liberal arts degree, or something useless. You have to aim high. Dropouts in my experience just didn't have it in them and want the easy way out. You won't get anywhere with that attitude. Go back to college, learn how to think and apply, then go out into the real world.

Extreme examples like Mark Cuban are a rarity and often have extremely rich parents or backing to help them out.

As a program manager for a top 5 intelligence/DOD contracting firm, I can tell you that if you are entry level and have a real college degree (not some online bs university or technical college) I will take a look at your resume and probably put it on top of the pile. If I see "University of Phoenix" or "Strayer", it's going straight to the trash or underneath resumes from people with no degree but years of experience.

College gets your foot in the door and teaches you how to think and apply. That's pretty much it. Go to grad school and work really hard if you want the big $$.

 

[SELVERGTR7]

another problem for me would be is that i did shitty in high school.... so now when i go to college for something else then mechanic they will be like wtf this guy isnt even smart enough for x program

 

[thewraith]

I don't know how it works in Canada- but here you can go to community college or a lower tiered school, show potential, then transfer to a better school.

 

[Turbopk]

Turbopk, computer Science, computer engineering, Electrical Engineering, Pharmacy, Medical degree (my opinion). I would also think about jobs that can't be outsourced (doctors, nurses, Dept of Defense jobs). These jobs will get you a good pay check, but you ain't going to get rich quick.
The shoot for the sky would be undergraduate at Ivy league and MBA with school that starts with H. There is member here that has done it and the rewards are big. Your Ivy league friends can't find a job, what kind of major?
Employers are going to look for what have you accomplished. An average school will get you an average job. Nobody is going to pay you $120K with a MBA from a college most people never heard of, but highly likely if it is Ivy league and starts with H. Of course very few will get selected that is why it is prestiges.
While a few people hit it big without an education your chance is lower. I am sure people here with kids put education #1 on their list.

You have to start a business or invent something which are not easy. One thing is for sure, the harder you work, the luckier you will get.

Actually two of my friends are both H graduates. One is business and the other economics. The business graduate just recently became employed as of September 2011, however he graduated last year. The other friend, the economics major still has yet to find employment. I do realize it is both where you attend school, and which field of study that you graduate in that has a large impact on job placement. But I will be the first to admit I am not H, or any Ivy league school material. I am not going to kid myself nor lie on the internet like a majority of people do.
Yes I can go back to school, in fact more than likely for free if not extremely cheap. My future wife, getting married this month is an educated woman and constantly on my tail about getting a degree. However her belief in the higher education system is that it makes an individual more well rounded, as well as increases the chances of landing an above average employment status. Incase you are wondering, she is on her way to becoming a physical therapist.

Curious as to whether you are an educated person yourself? And if so in what area?