Flush the Toilet: Young Entrepreneurs

As an entrepreneur you have to be able to create something out of nothing, and you have to be able to get other people to join you in creating something out of nothing. So you’ve got to be able to lead people down a path where they’re not entirely sure where they’re going to go, and they have to be going there based on your leadership and the fact that you can convince them that there’s something good there at the end of the tunnel. The quintessential entrepreneur, that’s what they’re good at.

–Fred Wilson

Wow, how true is that statement? Convincing someone to share your vision is definitely a difficult task as an entrepreneur. It’s easy for you to believe in your ideas and dreams, but when it comes to actually getting others to jump onboard, well, that’s a different story.

A few summers back, I can remember going on tons of meetings around Manhattan trying to convince people to be a part of my startup, which at the time was a company that allowed students to sell and share research material.

I remember sitting down with these businessmen in fine restaurants and diners uptown somewhere. They’d be dressed is business suits and such, and I can remember them looking at me as I walked in and introduced myself — their eyes said it all: “look at this young kid strolling in wearing this bright blazer with jeans…this can’t be the same person I’ve been speaking to online, can it?”

I knew from the moment I sat down, it was game time; and time to really convince this person that my ideas were sound. Being a young entrepreneur isn’t always easy (ahh… because silly people think we lack authority because…guess why…we’re young). So it’s important to have the right mindset when you’re getting your ideas across.

By the end of, I’d say, three out of five of these meetings, I had made powerful contacts and connections to call upon whenever I needed, because I was able to successfully convince them of my passion, ambition, and desire to succeed.

I turned their initial impression of a young dressed-down arrogant punk into one of a smart, intelligent, savvy entrepreneur, and they left respecting what I had to say. That’s exactly what you need to do: convince people that you’re on top of your game and becoming successful is something that you hold true to your heart.

As the months past and my ideas shifted to focusing on college students, I began sharing my ideas with younger entrepreneurs such as myself. And believe it or not, they were harder to convince than the older ones.

Which was a good sign because I knew that they had more of an intuitive understanding of the businesses I was trying to build.

Before every presentation I made to another entrepreneur, I would mentally prepare what I was going to talk about: my responses to questions, anticipation of hard questions, you name it. I ran through all the motions in my head as each fighter did in the movie HERO before they actually fought.

It’s a battle when you’re sitting down with someone trying to convince them that you’re onto something great, but all you have to offer right now is an idea and nothing else. You have to win that battle in your mind, before you try and win it anywhere else. If you don’t believe then how the hell can you expect someone else to?

Here are some ways to prepare before you go out onto the battlefield to convince the world of your ideas:

• Throw on some music that really gets you pumped up and just meditate and zone out. Focus on a successful outcome and nothing else.
• Speak to yourself. Talk aloud and go over the key topics that you’re going to speak on. Move your hands around as you would normally gesture when speaking to someone. Pretend as if you’re really at the presentation.
• Think about all the hard questions that may come your way and think of counters to them – expect anything!
• Go outside and walk around; clear your mind and take a few deep breaths in and out…in and out…

When the time comes, just hold yourself with confidence. You should be dripping with passion and enthusiasm about your ideas and company. Let that other person feel the energy coming out of your body – it should be smacking them in the face with your every word.

Yes we’re young. Yes, for many of us, this is our first shot at building a business. And, yes we’re still in college / recent grads and living at home with our parents with dorm rooms and garages for offices.

But you know what…..?

We’re hungry. We’re passionate. We’re smarter than ever. And we know our shit. So let’s get out there and start sharing our ideas with the world. We CAN and WILL always be able to make something out of nothing as long as we stay true to ourselves, be patient, prepare, and most importantly…. never give up!