Small Website Owner

Did your college career services department encourage entrepreneurship? Or were they more focused on getting students into more traditional jobs?

Asked by J Lee PhD about 11 years ago

Have you ever outsourced your site development overseas? Were you satisfied with the results?

Asked by meghan over 11 years ago

When you were in college, were start-ups the main career path that most of your undergrad friends aspired to (regardless of whether they actually do it after graduation)? Seems like the trendy option for recent grads/20-somethings.

Asked by Daddy Long Dreds over 11 years ago

Although startups are gaining quite a bit of attention, especially by the younger crowd, there were not many students pursing them at my school--most were directed to premed, law...careers. Actually, I was premed as well throughout college... unfortunately, they worked you hard enough that you hardly had time for other passions.

Did Facebook's IPO affect your web-entrepreneur outlook, for better or worse?

Asked by Stonesy O. over 11 years ago

Facebook's IPO really didn't have much of an impact on me or my web entrepreneur outlook. However, it does underscore the fickle and often precarious nature of web based companies. As a web entrepreneur you have to be perfectly comfortable, or wholly enjoy, instability. Although I am not sure of facebook's future directions, never before the existence of web based companies has the rise and fall been so quick. Is is a truly a rapid and ever changing industry that requires constant evolution.

I saw that someone asked whether your family is supportive. My question is, are your FRIENDS supportive? Or do they give you a hard time about your path?

Asked by giorgio over 11 years ago

my friends are pretty supportive of what i do, but that may rather be who i make myself acquainted with and may differ for other entrepreneurs. however, do not confuse being supportive of what i "do" with being supportive of what i "think". what i mean is, they believe i should do what makes me happy, but whether it will work in the long run...they sometimes disagree. the difference between my family and friends...my family really cares about me and cringe at this step toward a more "risky" career...the odds are against you they say. my friends are young, and in for thrill...they would support anything that steps away from boring and mundane careers.

Do you have a time limit, money limit, or any other type of limit where you tell yourself, "Once I hit that limit, that's when I'll take a day job?"

Asked by J.J. over 11 years ago

in some ways being an entrepreneur is a little like being a gambling addict. 99% of the time you are losing but you continue to play for hope of winning. everyone should have a number, my time limit is probably around 4-5 years. i can stay afloat on ramen noodles and without a full time job for 6 more months...by just throwing together some income on the side, part time jobs. then i'll have to get a full time job and juggle my entrepreneurial desires along with it. not looking forward to that.

Huge salute to you for having the balls to do it. One question: what kind of lifestyle sacrifices have you had to make to do what you're doing? Like moving back in w/parents, etc?

Asked by Kirk3K over 11 years ago

lifestyle sacrifice? you bet ya. after graduating college, i had to make that choice. get a job, an apartment, have fun or follow your dream and become an entrepreneur. well i chose the latter and yes, dead broke with maxed out cards...i moved in with my parents. any extra money i was able to throw together went towards my project. not my proudest moment, but at one point i think i even searched in between the couch cushions for some pocket change. my lifestyle took a drastic turn. cancelled my car insurance yesterday, ill walk (and maybe at some point invest in a better pair of shoes). sold my watch for $46. and currently wearing my younger brother's clothes. but maybe that's what it takes.