Running a business and being 14
Being 14 and running a full fledge internet business really sucks. As some of you might know I am 14 years old and I am a freshman in high school. People always tend to ask me how I run a business and have time for the normal tasks of a fourteen year old kid. I thought i would recap exactly how I do it for any young readers who endure the same problem of having no time because of “work.” Personally I like what I do and will find time to do what ever is necessary.
Here’s a recap of my Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning:
1. Home from school
2. Get on the pc to do some very very boring work such as editing some content pages (SEO’ing) and managing some of my TLA campaigns.
3. Grab a quick bite to eat while talking on the phone with a client.
4. Finish dinner; take another phone call and clean my room at the same time.
5. Now its 8:30 PM and i am ready to work; i grab a monster energy drink and get to work on the pc
6. Its 10:30 I’m still working
7. Tick-tock-tick-tock its almost midnight
8. 12:30 am - the phone rings and I take it; i woke up my mom.
9. Finally get to sleep at 1:45 (I had an early night ).
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10. Wake up for school at 7AM sharp.
11. Discover that there is no coffee so I will probably be sleeping in one class or another today.
12. Check E-mails; shower, drink evian and go off to school.
13. Sit/rot in school; But i did have some productivity by talking to some clients in math class (Great calls).
14. Finally schools out. Start texting my associates so when I’m home I can rock&roll!
I think the list above is a little weak so i can explain a little bit more. I am not to fond of school but I do get good grades and pay attention in class. Although i do have some priorities and if a client needs me they can ring me up and I will “Goto the bathroom.” Having a treo and a sidekick is a major plus because i am always connected to the web. I think I might get brain cancer in a few years due to the fact that I usually talk More than the allotted 4,000 minutes per month on my treo..
Thanks for reading; Harrison
Neil Patel junior is soon going to over take Neil Patel.
Comment by Neil Patel — May 3, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Turn down your next potential client, and spend the time on your English homework instead.
Comment by Stephen Schwarz — May 3, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
So, when are you going to start hiring?
Comment by Kate — May 3, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Absolutely insane…..but cool nonetheless. At 22 and still doing Project Management for a web company I shudder at the thought of even taking a business call after 6pm. The fact that you have to juggle all that stuff alone is impressive, and that’s without considering the attention that schoolwork requires.
Anyway, I hope your teachers etc. don’t take your phone away(knocking on wood) and that you at least get some kudos for this from other readers. This is on digg and no comments yet? Pshh…
Comment by Alex — May 3, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
crazy lifestyle mine was nowhere close to that unless i ended up becoming a Pro soccer player cuz that all i did growing up soccer for school/and US national youth/ plus coaching then private sessions. But nothing into the early morning
Comment by kevie — May 3, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
You lil piece of shit feel urself lucky to can do any business cuz your bitch parents lick ur ass all day. You fucking shit, there are people who learn 10x as hard then you and they can’t get jobs in their profession. You fucking 14 yo wanker just die and dont push your fucking bullshit to the net.
In eastern europe lillte pussies like you can’t live 1 day in school cuz you got beat and embraced when you open ur mouth to do any business. U would fuck in ur socket till u shit. After a week you would kill yourself here.
dumb shit…
Comment by mother — May 3, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Man does your schedule bring back memories. I was writing a novel when I was 14, and then transitioned into running a profitable computer service company. Keep it up and keep looking forward. If you don’t yet have a mentor, find one. Build your networking sheet and remain involved with the industry. You’ve got some strong potential here. It is impressive to see and a bit intimidating, too. Kudos to you for your accomplishment!
Comment by Marshall Burtcher — May 3, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Nice to read,
Greatings from the Netherlands
Go luck in this hard business..
Comment by Lucas — May 3, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Hey,
I started my career being 12, same scenario and same mistakes. Now I’m 21 and I can look back and share my experience with young business people like you.
So my sincere suggestions:
- Don’t do multitasking, if you’re at school - turn on voice mail or redirect clients to your website.
- If your at home and you receive a call, answer but be very focussed and constructive - save your and your client’s time, they will appreciate if you speak short and wise.
- Coffee and energy drinks will kill you by the time you reach 35; Use them wisely
- Teach your clients - it’s not OK to call at 2am in the night, just don’t answer (voice mail or website). Even if the client is abroad - he has to pay attention to your working hours.
- And most important - don’t learn from your own mistakes, seek mentorship.
- Oh, and have fun!
Comment by Paulius — May 3, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
good job with time managing! you should take some vacations once in a while.
Comment by omar; — May 3, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
You’re Not Kid You’re business Man Just Make a Big Goal For Ur Life and You Will Archive It Coz You’re Smart Just Don’t Think In You’re Kid .
Comment by Amaiko — May 3, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Dude, you rock. DOn’t listen to what people say and follow your instincts.
Comment by Beerhat — May 4, 2007 @ 12:42 am
Listen … take it from me … as long as you get good grades in school … you keep up the good work … if work does get in the way of your school … you need to get back on track … no matter what people say … Get That Degree … later on it will help you be an even more sucessfull Man!
Great Job!
Darin
Comment by Search Engine Marketing — May 8, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
I admire you, but just remember you are 14. Id really recommend “being a kid”. They were some of the best years of my life (14-17) and you should really enjoy them while you can. None the less, best of luck.
Comment by Dave — May 9, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
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Pingback by Meet Harry a 14-yr-old Business Entrepreneur - Affiliate Marketing Forum — May 10, 2007 @ 3:00 am
How much are you making online? I can’t understand why you’d do school + business when you’re only going to school so you can get a job.
Comment by Nick — May 16, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
[...] porque la persona en cuestión es un chaval de 14 años que ya ha creado su propia empresa. En este post podéis leer (en Ingles) el horario que suele hacer: instituto, mucho trabajo y poco dormir. Creo [...]
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