Introduction:
Firstly, let me introduce myself ( I know there is a separate section for this, but you will need some context before I expose the main bulk of the thread), I'm 21 years old currently studying for a marketing management degree in the UK. I'm undertaking my third year of study which is an optional placement year part of my 4-year degree course.
I decided to split my placement year up and do 50% of the time working in industry and the other 50% study abroad. From September until December 2019 I'll be working at a digital marketing agency in London called, Climb Online. I should mention that this work experience is unpaid for 3 months in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I know I am an idiot! That's basically financial suicide. I live rent free at my sister's house, however I spend £488 a month in train fares because she lives far from London.
My hours are 9-5, but the worst part is my commute. I commute for roughly 4 hours a day, 2 hours there and 2 hours back. It is hell and has motivated me even more to pursue entrepreneurship. You can't help but notice the horrid look on the faces of "Slowlane" commuters, the look of despair, tiredness and regret you can see it in their eyes. Waking up at 6am to commute for 90 minutes on a crappy train to report to their work and take orders from their boss (you guys know how it is, you don’t need me to elaborate). They cope with their fancy suits, gadgets and high-income slave jobs. It is so apparent to see what M. J. DeMarco describes in his book about the “Slowlaners” when you see it for yourself.
Moving forward, the company I’m doing my placement at is one of the Top 100 start-ups in the UK and they are a fantastic digital marketing agency.
<link removed by moderator>
The bloke that won “The Apprentice UK” in 2014 started the company with Lord Sugar’s investment. However, I’ve read Unscriped and in the process of reading TMF and I absolutely detest the job. I read TMF every morning on the way to work and it motivates me, but then I get to work and lose all my spirit. The corporate world isn’t for me, I want to be an entrepreneur. Likewise, I haven’t learnt anything of value during my internship at this company, I mainly just sit at my desk and read this forum. I learn more from reading this forum and TMF during the day, then compared to the BS work that the company has me doing.
So, there was a little synopsis of my current life situation. As you can gauge, I have the desire and ambition to become an entrepreneur, but I have never started a business and have little experience. I’m just a young man with a few ideas and the drive to succeed in the “Fastlane”.
My Idea
Before I tell you my idea, I want you all to be brutally honest with me. I don’t need you to tell me “it’s going to be okay” or “just be yourself”. I’m sick of that crap advice, it offers no value whatsoever. Please don’t sugarcoat anything and tell me honestly your thoughts, so it directly benefits me. I wouldn’t expect anything less on this forum, it’s one of the few places I would come to receive genuine constructive feedback from people that have extensive knowledge about entrepreneurship, business etc.
So, what is my idea?
Fundamentally, my idea is to create a recruitment agency but with a slight twist. I want to not only find people jobs, but careers. In addition to this, instead of just helping people find a job I want to actively help them in their lives. What I mean by this is, ask them certain questions of every aspect of their live and then offer them advice accordingly.
You may think that there might be a “Paradox of Practice” in play here, why would anyone take life advice from a 21-year-old? Well I know I can offer good advice, it is quite simple, if you don’t believe me then I will just let the results speak for themselves. You may think I’m completely ignorant and if so please tell me.
Moreover, when I would first initially meet a client, I would take them out for a coffee (maybe even pay for theirs) and sit down like humans and discuss what they want. My experience with recruitment agencies is that they are massive corporations and you go in, they speak with you for 30 mins, tell you what you can improve on your CV, then ask what line of work you want and then move on. I can say that I have never been successful in finding a job with a recruitment agency, I think most of them are redundant.
Alright then big man, what do you do differently then?
Well let me explain:
So, how will I make money?
I will make money by selling two packages:
The career package- This involves me meeting the client, discussing potential career prospects, help them with their CV and offer interview training. £20
The life package- This involves all the above, however will give them life advice on top of everything else. £30
This is a very basic way of how I want to run things. Don’t take everything literally, as everything is in beta now including the prices.
Conclusion
To begin with, thank you for taking the time to read my first thread, I know it was a lengthy one, but I honestly do appreciate the support and even more so if you responded.
I am in the stage now where I want to take ACTION, everyone is telling me to take action, but I haven’t found an idea worthwhile pursuing. I can’t just be reading entrepreneur books all day, even though it is motivating and beneficial in many ways I need to take action.
What is everyone’s opinion?
You probably all think that I am completely naive and arrogant to even think that an idea like this is doable. I know that there is a lot more to it than I have stated above: Financing, scaling, advertising etc. however, I am just looking to learn more about the process, even if you think the idea isn’t amazing or going to be a great success is it worth doing just to learn and gain experience about starting a business? Even if it amounts to absolutely nothing, I could potentially learn a lot from the process. I want to start something and take massive action toward achieving my goal of becoming an entrepreneur.
As an idea, do you guys think that this is possible and worth pursuing my time?
Let me know your thoughts, I appreciate your time and hope to hear from you guys
Firstly, let me introduce myself ( I know there is a separate section for this, but you will need some context before I expose the main bulk of the thread), I'm 21 years old currently studying for a marketing management degree in the UK. I'm undertaking my third year of study which is an optional placement year part of my 4-year degree course.
I decided to split my placement year up and do 50% of the time working in industry and the other 50% study abroad. From September until December 2019 I'll be working at a digital marketing agency in London called, Climb Online. I should mention that this work experience is unpaid for 3 months in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I know I am an idiot! That's basically financial suicide. I live rent free at my sister's house, however I spend £488 a month in train fares because she lives far from London.
My hours are 9-5, but the worst part is my commute. I commute for roughly 4 hours a day, 2 hours there and 2 hours back. It is hell and has motivated me even more to pursue entrepreneurship. You can't help but notice the horrid look on the faces of "Slowlane" commuters, the look of despair, tiredness and regret you can see it in their eyes. Waking up at 6am to commute for 90 minutes on a crappy train to report to their work and take orders from their boss (you guys know how it is, you don’t need me to elaborate). They cope with their fancy suits, gadgets and high-income slave jobs. It is so apparent to see what M. J. DeMarco describes in his book about the “Slowlaners” when you see it for yourself.
Moving forward, the company I’m doing my placement at is one of the Top 100 start-ups in the UK and they are a fantastic digital marketing agency.
<link removed by moderator>
The bloke that won “The Apprentice UK” in 2014 started the company with Lord Sugar’s investment. However, I’ve read Unscriped and in the process of reading TMF and I absolutely detest the job. I read TMF every morning on the way to work and it motivates me, but then I get to work and lose all my spirit. The corporate world isn’t for me, I want to be an entrepreneur. Likewise, I haven’t learnt anything of value during my internship at this company, I mainly just sit at my desk and read this forum. I learn more from reading this forum and TMF during the day, then compared to the BS work that the company has me doing.
So, there was a little synopsis of my current life situation. As you can gauge, I have the desire and ambition to become an entrepreneur, but I have never started a business and have little experience. I’m just a young man with a few ideas and the drive to succeed in the “Fastlane”.
My Idea
Before I tell you my idea, I want you all to be brutally honest with me. I don’t need you to tell me “it’s going to be okay” or “just be yourself”. I’m sick of that crap advice, it offers no value whatsoever. Please don’t sugarcoat anything and tell me honestly your thoughts, so it directly benefits me. I wouldn’t expect anything less on this forum, it’s one of the few places I would come to receive genuine constructive feedback from people that have extensive knowledge about entrepreneurship, business etc.
So, what is my idea?
Fundamentally, my idea is to create a recruitment agency but with a slight twist. I want to not only find people jobs, but careers. In addition to this, instead of just helping people find a job I want to actively help them in their lives. What I mean by this is, ask them certain questions of every aspect of their live and then offer them advice accordingly.
You may think that there might be a “Paradox of Practice” in play here, why would anyone take life advice from a 21-year-old? Well I know I can offer good advice, it is quite simple, if you don’t believe me then I will just let the results speak for themselves. You may think I’m completely ignorant and if so please tell me.
Moreover, when I would first initially meet a client, I would take them out for a coffee (maybe even pay for theirs) and sit down like humans and discuss what they want. My experience with recruitment agencies is that they are massive corporations and you go in, they speak with you for 30 mins, tell you what you can improve on your CV, then ask what line of work you want and then move on. I can say that I have never been successful in finding a job with a recruitment agency, I think most of them are redundant.
Alright then big man, what do you do differently then?
Well let me explain:
- Initially meet the client in a comfortable warm setting, most likely a coffee shop. This in my opinion makes the meeting more personal and means that I care about the client as I am willing to meet them outside of the office.
- Not only will I help them to achieve their desired career goal, but I will offer life advice. Anything in their life that is troubling I will offer my advice. Sometimes the best thing that people need hear is the truth, it may be brutal, but it is the most helpful.
- Monthly check-in on the client’s well-being to see how they are getting on and offer any further advice
- Interview training as well as CV tailoring (people probably already doing this)
So, how will I make money?
I will make money by selling two packages:
The career package- This involves me meeting the client, discussing potential career prospects, help them with their CV and offer interview training. £20
The life package- This involves all the above, however will give them life advice on top of everything else. £30
This is a very basic way of how I want to run things. Don’t take everything literally, as everything is in beta now including the prices.
Conclusion
To begin with, thank you for taking the time to read my first thread, I know it was a lengthy one, but I honestly do appreciate the support and even more so if you responded.
I am in the stage now where I want to take ACTION, everyone is telling me to take action, but I haven’t found an idea worthwhile pursuing. I can’t just be reading entrepreneur books all day, even though it is motivating and beneficial in many ways I need to take action.
What is everyone’s opinion?
You probably all think that I am completely naive and arrogant to even think that an idea like this is doable. I know that there is a lot more to it than I have stated above: Financing, scaling, advertising etc. however, I am just looking to learn more about the process, even if you think the idea isn’t amazing or going to be a great success is it worth doing just to learn and gain experience about starting a business? Even if it amounts to absolutely nothing, I could potentially learn a lot from the process. I want to start something and take massive action toward achieving my goal of becoming an entrepreneur.
As an idea, do you guys think that this is possible and worth pursuing my time?
Let me know your thoughts, I appreciate your time and hope to hear from you guys
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