What We Can Learn from Teenage Entrepreneurs

Branding expert Martin Lindstrom recently wrote an article for Fast Company offering advice for teenage entrepreneurs. With the ready-to-take-over-the-world attitude they often possess, teens make natural entrepreneurs. These days, the current technology environment has given teens an outlet for their entrepreneurial passions that go far beyond mowing lawns. With little more than a native sense for Internet marketing strategy and social media marketing, they are creating businesses out of thin air.

Take 12 year-old Thomas Suarez, for example. Thomas is already fluent in the programming languages of Python, C, Java, and is now using his experience to teach students and school teachers how to develop Apple apps. Another good example is Farrhad Acidwalla, a 16 year-old college student in Mumbai. His full-scale Internet marketing company develops brands and websites, and it works with some pretty big names in India.

In his Fast Company article, Lindstrom directed his advice towards teen entrepreneurs planning on using technology to build a business. His advice – and the teenage entrepreneurial spirit – also has something to teach entrepreneurs of any age.

1. Be Bold

One advantage teen entrepreneurs have is that they’ve got nothing to lose. Sure, their idea might be wacky, but they feel happy to give it a try because the worst that could happen is that they fail. They don’t have mortgages or kids, so why not see what happens by pursuing that wacky idea whole-hog?

The takeaway: No entrepreneur ever makes it big because they play it cautious. Be bold in your marketing concepts, be controversial, be wacky.

2. Be Naïve

Another great thing teens have going for them is that life experience hasn’t yet dragged them down. The world is full of possibility, and they are still convinced they will be famous and rich one day very soon. Their innocence and hope makes it easier for them to knock on doors and take actions that five or ten years later might seem too brash.

The takeaway: Adopt a teen’s innocence and hope, envisioning the only the wildest success. If you can’t imagine a grand success, how can you create it?

3. Have Buddies

Teens often work in packs. For teen entrepreneurs, their buddies become natural business partners and their family members support them behind the scenes with pats on the back, encouraging words, and occasional capital infusion.

The takeaway: Even Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook with his two college roommates. If you’ve got an amazing, wacky idea, recruit some friends to help.

What other lessons can business people learn from teenage entrepreneurs? Share your ideas below.