Comments on: Should an Entrepreneurial High Schooler Go to College?

By: lvngwell

lvngwell — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:36:26 +0000

When my daughter started college she chose business as a major. She went one semester and then because of her health had to take the next one off. When she went to return she decided to go part time mostly because I had started a home business that had just gone through the roof – sales doubled every month for over a year. Being a business major she reasoned that the experience of working and shaping an emerging business would be invaluable and only make her studies that much more relevant. She wants to own a business some day so what better way to learn than to help someone else develop theirs? But she was not foolish enough to think that she could not sharpen her skills in any way – thus she still returned to school – but part time.

By: Jonathan Mahoney

Jonathan Mahoney — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:30:09 +0000

Here’s a drop in the bucket from a 19 year old. I do not plan on going to university to get a job, I may go later to learn things I can’t figure out on my own or if for some wild reason I feel a job is a good way to pass my time. I already own a corporation. I know that I won’t exclusively run this company my whole life, but I think it’s very important to note the topic of this post. Trent said “an entrepreneurial high schooler.” Most entrepreneurs fail, that’s a fact. True entrepreneurs will keep going and try something else.

I don’t believe a person with an entrepreneur’s spirit would run a lawn care company for any number of years, especially not doing the work themself. This guy will think of something else. Don’t jump into school now if you’re having success now. School will still be there next year or in 5 years. Starting out at $35,000 while going to school full time is nothing to complain about. Even with no growth, in 2 years you’ll have $70,000 in the green rather than $20,000 in the red. Judging but what you’ve done thus far you’ll grow.

Don’t live the life other people want you to.

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:16:46 +0000

The photo actually made me get off the reader and comment because I had strong negative reaction to it. Which actually increases site readings, so I guess it does have a benefit. I do enjoy your blog.

By: Trent

Trent — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:10:24 +0000

“Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it’s funny because it’s a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun.”

That’s exactly what I thought when I saw the picture. It made me think of kids having goofy fun.

By: Ty Brown

Ty Brown — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:43:36 +0000

Forget college. Nothing at college teaches you how to make money. It teaches you to get a job. Tell that kid to get a real life education.

By: Tim Rosanelli

Tim Rosanelli — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:59:34 +0000

I have seen both ends – because I own a karate business but did go to college. College did not help me at all in starting my own business, in fact, I feel it almost destroyed my dream.

Let me explain…
I graduated college in Environmental Science and got a job out of college with the intent to become a business owner. Well, the pressures and salary of the job and the uncertainty of a starting business steered me away from my dream. I finally broke through because I thought I may get laid-off and wanted a back up plan. I think these same feelings of uncertainty are what stop most people.

I found that College is more about creating great employees not business owners. The trap is entering the paid by the hour mindset.

With that said…
This reader is very talented but still needs an education about Entrepreneurship. I believe he should do what Steve Job’s did. He (Steve Jobs) dropped out of college and dropped in on the classes he was interested in.

1. Find a Mentor
2. Take College courses on small business, sales, and marketing. Our Community College teaches a certification class on entrepreneurship run by local successful business owners
3. Network with others in your business especially the extremely successful.
4. Read, Read, Read – Start reading anything you can get your hands on about small business.
5. Get a copy of the E-Myth – Right now, pushing a mower may seem alright but do you want to do it when you’re 30, 40, 50 yrs old. You will need to build a business system and hire employees soon.

Follow these steps and like me, you’ll be on your way to a six figures income in no time.

Tim Rosanelli
View my blog at
Sensei Talks
Join our sit-up challenge at
60 Situps in a Minute Challenge

By: Sophia

Sophia — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:57:47 +0000

About the picture- first, I didn’t even notice it until I saw all the comments about it. Also, if you click on it, you can see a bigger version of it. The little girl has happy eyes and looks like the corners of her mouth are trying not to smile, she is clearly acting and enjoying it. I can appreciate that horrible accidents happen with lawn mowers, but I think this is a good lesson in something my father taught me- “not everything is about you”. They, nor Trent, didn’t think “I know people have lost limbs, and I think it’s so funny, and I totally don’t care, screw you guys!”.

Horrible accidents can happen in myriad ways in many different circumstances, but it’s funny because it’s a staged photo, and to me it shows two kids being goofy and having fun.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:14:10 +0000

As a current undergraduate, I’d say why not try and do both? Sounds like you’re a good student, and have a business mind. Attend school some place local and continue with your business, and see what’s right for you. Ready someone to run your business if you then wish to continue with college, or just flat sell the business if you’d like.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:55:01 +0000

I meant to say:
There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college when you are young, free, & footloose. If you like being an entrepreneur you will find something next year at school.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:53:22 +0000

I would like to know why the guy says “what I really want to do is build my lawn care business.” This is a question he should be asking himself and goes along with Trent’s advice. Is it the building something, seeing instant results, or simply the money? I think that for a high school student, 35K can seem like a huge amount of money. It really isn’t. Follow David’s advice if you decide to not go to school next fall. There are a thousand ways to make money while going to college.

By: Georgia

Georgia — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:46:19 +0000

My situation is a little different. I worked for one full year before attending college. I did it to earn money to pay for it. I was unable to go back after my 2nd year, but I left with no debt and a good job. I also took a few more classes in between.

Now I am 71 and am planning on going back p/t in January to test whether I am up to the grind of studying again. I have always wanted to finish my degree just because I like to complete what I begin. If I manage all right in the spring semester, then I will attend p/t or f/t at my original college – about 450 miles from home. I will go f/t if I can get enough assistance. I refuse, at this late date, to ever have student loans. If I can only pay for p/t, that is what I will do.

So, I agree with others that Andy could do both for at least one or two years. The work experience would be a great forerunner to the discipline needed to study. I worked while going to college f/t also those two years, sometimes for 40-48 hours per week. Didn’t hurt me and I got pretty good grades. (But I had also had the experience of doing this in high school.

By: No Debt Plan

No Debt Plan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:49:51 +0000

I agree with the very first comment (and admit I haven’t read all of the comments)…

why not do both? Go to school at night, or online (at a reputable school… not University of Phoenix).

Do both… keep the business and go to school.

By: Diy Joe

Diy Joe — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:31:03 +0000

As a person who took 17 years to get his first degree, don’t go to school because you think you have to. Sure, some portions of my life probably would have been better if I would have slaved away at a degree, but I am a far better student now than I ever would have been right out of high school. You will do so much better when you WANT to learn. What is working for me right now is working full-time and going to school nights/online part time.

By: SwingCheese

SwingCheese — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:41:05 +0000

I have to say, as one who deferred enrollment to grad school, and as the spouse of one who took 10+ years off befire returning to college, I dislike the “If you don’t go now you’ll never go” argument, always said with an ominous tone, as though the speaker knows something about yourself that you, personally, don’t know. I was given those dire warnings by friends when I took two years off between college and grad school to work. I have since completed grad school. My husband will have his professional degree in about 2.5 years. We both knew ourselves better than our friends professed to know us, and we both realized that we would gain nothing if we forced ourselves to attend school when the time was “right”. I think that the advice for Andy to look inside himself for the answer is perhaps the wisest advice that anyone could give. (That having been said, I also really like the working-full-time, school-part-time idea, simply because I’ve seen a number of people who took the work-full-time, nothing-part-time option who have been sturggling to find work. The degree is, in many instances in this day and age, a necessity in order to be considered for a position.)

By: michael

michael — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:25:26 +0000

Nearly everyone who plans on going to college should take at least a year off after high school. I can’t count the number of folks I met in college who did poorly because their first taste of freedom led to unintended consequences. Enjoy a small taste of freedom before making life-changing decisions like choosing a major — you’ll be much happier and your chances of success will increase dramatically.

And not everyone needs to go to college — in fact, many shouldn’t.

By: J

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:05:12 +0000

I’ll agree with the “do both” people. I’d really encourage attendance at a school that provides training for agribusiness/forestry/horticulture. Lawn care will be OK for now, but eventually the business will need to expand by hiring others, or diversifying into other areas — for instance, tree services or landscape design. With a network of existing customers, these service can be sold to them. Also, as an earlier poster wrote, you will get old and at some point you will want to have people working FOR you — and will need to know more about the business aspects of management.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:22:19 +0000

@Staci

I checked to make sure, and Texas Tech offers an online program in Horticulture and Turfgrass Sciences, which sounds right up your brother’s alley.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:34:03 +0000

@ Staci

Your brother should check around for online horticulture degrees. I considered a horticulture degree a few years back, and I remember finding an online program through a university in Texas–either Texas Tech or Texas A&M if I remember correctly.

By: Staci

Staci — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:14:29 +0000

My brother owns a lawncare business. He stayed in the local community where he built his business and took several classes per semester so that he could at least get his associates degree. The only issue he has is that he wanted to get a horticulture degree but hasn’t done so because he would have to go to a university out of the area to get that degree. I think it gets harder and harder for him to go to school with every year he builds his business.

Personally, if you aren’t too excited about school I would keep the business and go to school for a business degree part time. The skills you learn are valuable to running a small business.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:28:25 +0000

“I like the post, just not the photo! It’s honestly pretty disturbing and seems very out of character for your website.”

Agreed.