Tired of those endless exams, waking up at 6am for lectures, meeting excruciating deadlines, can’t wait to get out of college for a simpler life? Well, if you’re looking into starting your own big thing as a budding entrepreneur, let us tell you that things don’t change much. Academic exams are replaced with real life tests, waking up at 6 am may just mean having sleepless nights altogether and meeting deadlines would’ve never scared you more. Experts say hard-working graduates that are interested in starting their own startup should explore their entrepreneurial side, but should definitely be prepared for an uphill battle. Here are some tips that can help future college graduates to become their own boss-
Find something you’re passionate about
When initially deciding what industry to pursue, students should find their real needs and be passionate about bringing about a change. Their business ideas should fill in the gaps which were currently in the market place. It’s simple, the people who are successful are the ones who really loved what they did and the reason they loved it is because they believed in it.
Know how to network
Networking with people in the same industry is essential for getting a business off the ground and to give it that boost it requires. Students should focus on finding already-successful businesspeople in a particular field and learn from their techniques, experiences along with their mistakes. Don’t ever hesitate to contact them, go to their seminars, their talks, read their articles or their blogs. Learn how they’re doing it and find a way to learn from them and incorporate it in your big idea.
Find a mentor to provide you with valuable insights into the ups and downs of their own entrepreneurial journey. It is vital to be respectful while asking for advice, but be careful not to overextend those relationships and take advantage of it.
Use social media to your advantage
The explosion of social media in the past few years has allowed new businesses to establish and market themselves extremely well. Businesses have only recently discovered the full potential of social media to market their businesses, but Gen Y graduates grew up with technology at their fingertips and can use tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to their advantage, with just a click away!
Learn from feedback—good and bad
No one gets everything right at the start, expect to make mistakes, but learn from them and resolve them quickly. Any kind of constructive criticism should be valued as a learning experience. Take the feedback in a positive stride!
Learn patience
While it’s important to have confidence in a startup, be practical when it comes to the success growth. Gen Y graduates have short attention spans and expect immediate results. Keep your vision close to your heart, but be smart about your long term vision and actions.
Although it’s natural to experience mistakes and frustrations, it’s important for young entrepreneurs to avoid getting discouraged, instead, focus on how it will make the business stronger in the long run and how much one will be learning at a young age.
Remember, that entrepreneurs at a young age are actually harder on themselves than others. Celebrate milestones, it always helps. Take these points into consideration and have a smooth transition from college to the corporate world.
Look for co-working space in Qutab, New Delhi or shared office space in Powai, Mumbai provided by Awfis start your journey from a college student to becoming a budding entrepreneur.