Rohail Rizvi- Entrepreneur in the Making

Wow. It has been a while since I’ve posted here. Summer really takes a toll on your diligence.

It’s sad because when school is in session I always wish I didn’t have to go to class so I can be a full-time entrepreneur, but when I do have all this free time I seem to get distracted and lose a bit of that flame. I guess that’s one positive thing about school then- it acts as a bit of a motivator by forcing you to do stuff you’d rather not be doing like class and studying for exams and makes you think about what you’d really rather be doing like entrepreneurship.

I don’t have any excuses for not posting. I have been very busy with my social life, but even then I’ve had free time. I lost a bit of the flame because I knew there were more relaxing things I could be doing. However, I think I will be  back on the entrepreneuring train as soon as school starts.

I’m curious- how do you keep yourself motivated when there are so many more short-term relaxing things to do?

P.S. I do apologize to my regular readers who haven’t seen a post in a while. I have to be honest and say that this is now more of a journal as to what is going on in my life than an informational blog. And some people do enjoy that, but sometimes it means a lack of posts. I will definitely try to post more often once September rolls around.

Jesse Lear offers his opinion on entrepreneurship in this interview. You won’t want to miss out on this one. Check it out:

Question 1:  What is your inspiration for getting into business and
 what makes you get out of bed every morning?
Answer: I have big dreams; dreams big enough that they could only come
true three different ways.  
1) By winning the lottery (which I don’t
play), 
2) by becoming a celebrity via music, movies, or sports (none of
which I’m extremely talented in), or 
3) by succeeding in business. 
Business is a way that anyone can reach their dreams by coming up with
 a good idea and going after it with passion and determination.  I love
 the challenge and the potential that being a young entrepreneur holds.
  
When the day of my last breath comes, I want people to think about me and
say, “He knew what he wanted and he got it.  He created an amazing life
for himself by making a positive impact on others’ lives.”  Each day is
another opportunity to take another step towards making that statement
 a reality.  That’s what makes me get out of bed every morning.

Question 2:  What was your first venture, and is it the one you’re most
proud of?
Answer:  My first venture was started when I joined a network marketing
team under my dad’s name at the age of 15.  I’m not sure it’s the
venture I’m the most proud of, but it was definitely the most
influential one.  Two of my dad’s friends took me under their wings and
taught me, stretched me, and believed in me.   They made an incredible
difference in the direction of my life.  That experience was what
originally inspired me to become passionate about personal development
and achieving big things.

Question 3:  What are you working on now? Answer:  I recently returned from 5 months of living and studying in Dublin, Ireland.  It was an amazing semester, and I was able to use my own experiences adapting to the culture to write a very cool e-book called Dublin Secrets.  It basically contains all the tips, hints, and
stories I wished I would have had access to before my own trip.  The
e-book will be for sale online within a couple of weeks.  
Also, next month my dad and I are launching a series of nationwide
seminars teaching ordinary people how to make extra money on Saturdays
by photographing weddings.  My dad, a professional photographer for 30
years, has photographed over 1,000 of them and will be teaching the
seminars.  He’s hired me to design and run effective marketing
campaigns, as well as create and manage his web presence.  Ultimately,
it’s my job to get each seminar completely sold out as soon as
 possible.
This is the project I’m most passionate about right now because it has
the potential to provide a sizable and steady monthly income for me as
I start more of my own ventures.

Question 4: What advice can you give up and coming entrepreneurs?
Answer:  My advice is that if you have a dream, you have it for a
reason.  Treat it like gold, and don’t let anyone shake your purpose to
make it reality or quench your faith that you will.  Stop trying to
figure out how you will get what you want.  Just form a clear mental
picture of what you want and prepare yourself to accept the
opportunities to get make it happen when they appear.  My #1 tip:  Read
the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles.          
P.S.  Earn extra money on Saturday afternoons.  Check this out!
http://www.proflear.com   

I just want to thank again all my friends that were cool enough to do an interview for my readers. I think everyone gained a lot from your insights.

One of the common themes that I noticed from all the answers was that these entrepreneurs were natural risk takers from their first venture to their current ones and that they do everything they can to follow what they are passionate about. I was definitely reminded of the importance of continuing to take risks and pursuing ventures whether your past ones have been successful or not.

I’m currently involved in a variety of new ventures and have several learning curves ahead of me. I’ve just started on the eBay business as you know and am now entering affiliate marketing (which is made oh so easy using ClickAdEqualizer…easiest money ever, Aff. link). I have a network marketing business, which I may drop because I haven’t paid much attention to it and it’s just draining money right now. Furthermore, there is Project Seafire which is in the works. I was also just hired as the Product Manager of a consulting company based out of NYC, which I am very excited about.

I’m hoping to be able to create sufficient automated income in the next few weeks and put a lot of work into my new position. It should be exciting.

For all you bootstrapping entrepreneurs out there who want to repeat, but not risk as much, I highly encourage you to check out this list put out by BusinessFund.com: Top 25 Alternatives to Venture Capital.

Today we have an awesome interview with Adam Gilbert, founder of MyBodyTutor.com. Check it out!

This next interview comes to us from Dennis Ngin, founder of OneGreekStore.com. Dennis reveals how he got started in business, what he’s currently working on, and offers some great advice for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

1) What is your inspiration for getting into business and what makes you get out of bed every morning?

For quite sometime, I’ve been intrigued by the prospect of starting my own business. In the past, I read about several entrepreneurs who became successful at a very young age from their business ideas. My interest wasn’t spawn simply from the money or fame. Rather, I was interested in the challenge. I wanted to know if I could do it too.

2) What was your first venture and is it the one you are most proud of?

My first true venture was One Greek Store, located at www.onegreekstore.com . It was an idea that manifested itself far beyond my original intentions. But as a result, it is the project I am most proud of.

3) What are you working on now?

Currently, my partners and I are continuing to grow One Greek Store. We recently expanded our production by adding three more machines. Through next year, we hope to building our product offerings and work with several more Greek organizations.

4) What advice can you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?

The easiest part about aspiring entrepreneurs is to have an idea. We all think that our idea is the best and that it will make us rich. Beyond the idea, entrepreneurs will find that implementing the idea into a profitable business is extremely difficult. Many who face these challenges quit immediately. Others, in the face of adversity, persevere. I would challenge all young entrepreneurs to persevere during times of struggle. They should recognize that one particular venture may not be the most financially successful, but the experience in itself will provide a successful one in time. Work hard and never be afraid to fail!

Make sure you check out Dennis’ blog, ProMoneyBlog, as well as OneGreekStore.com.

Alex Morrow, young serial-entrepreneur, has just launched an exciting new forum with extraordinary features I myself have never seen before. Alex certainly put a lot of work into T-MobileSignal.com and I am confident in its success.

1) What is your inspiration for getting into business and what makes you get out of bed every morning?

Honestly, it’s the potential to do something great. I always try to picture myself changing the world with a business idea, kinda like Youtube did. Like most entrepreneurs, I’d like to make an impact in the world that improves the lives of everyone.

2) What was your first venture and is it the one you are most proud of?

When I was 18, I founded a computer education company called Computer Educators. I focused on training senior citizens and disabled individuals how to use their computers. My favorite venture is top secret, but I’m still working on it from time to time.

3) What are you working on now?

I’ve recently launched a website for T-Mobile customers called T-MobileSignal. It’s the best place for T-Mobile customers to discuss news, products, and services.

4) What advice can you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?

Make sure that you truly believe in your idea and that it’s not just about the potential profit.
Check out T-MobileSignal.com to take a look at Alex’s cool new venture.

Dave is the founder of MindPetals.com, the number one place for young entrepreneurs to network and learn. He was generous enough to answer these questions. Take a look because you always learn something new with Dave and he truly loves helping and motivating people.
1) What is your inspiration for getting into business and what makes you get out of bed every morning?

Thinking about all of the lives that I can change. All of the people who I can positively affect. All of the minds that I can spark with enthusiasm and a zeal to do something great in life. I devote my life to making those sort of changes in the world. It invigorates me. It empowers me. It not only gets me out of bed in the morning, but pushes me harder than any other force I’ve ever experienced — pushes me to continue on no matter what, through the ups and the downs. It’s not a business to me, it’s a life.

2) What was your first venture and is it the one you are most proud of?

My first venture was a site that allowed students to sell notes to one another. It was called Cash Campus. The one
I’m the most proud of is Mind Petals, Inc, which is the business behind Mind Petals — the official community for Young
Entrepreneurs worldwide.

3) What are you working on now?

I’m working on a social platform that will revolutionize the way young entrepreneurs stay connected and share ideas to realize goals in life.

4) What advice can you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?

The number one person you need to listen to is yourself. Everything else, other people’s opinions, other people’s expectations for you, etc, should be secondary. Follow your heart. Follow your passions. Push through and make something happen with your life. Realize that you can be great. That you can change the world. That you can attain your wildest dreams.

Check out MindPetals.com, the number one place for YEs to learn and network, and be sure to check out this very motivational post by Dave at CashCampus.com.

This week I’ll be interviewing young entrepreneurs from around the world to give you insight from the brightest and most promising young entrepreneurs today.

Josiah Mackenzie, young entrepreneur and a good friend of mine, and notably the founder of Young Wealth Weekly, an e-magazine for young entrepreneurs, sheds some light on his entrepreneurial past and gives some great advice for entrepreneurs just starting out. Thanks, Josiah!

1) What is your inspiration for getting into business and what makes you get out of bed every morning?

My inspiration is to complete my list of 100 life goals <http://www.josiahmackenzie.com/100-goals/ >.  For me, business is a way to accomplish what I want in life and have fun doing it.

2) What was your first venture and is it the one you are most proud of?

My first venture was a web design & programming firm I started in high school.  Earning $40/hour can make you feel pretty proud when your friends are working for minimum wage.  I’ve been involved in a variety of ventures since then, but that was my first taste of the freedom you can achieve by working for yourself.  I feel most satisfied when I’m helping other young entrepreneurs grow their businesses, so I’m very proud of my involvement with Young Wealth Weekly.  Currently, I’m working on a book with 2 incredibly talented young entrepreneurs, and am very excited to continue sharing information this way.

3) What else are you working on now?

I’m in the beginning stages of forming an investment company with several partners.  In the beginning, we plan to acquire smaller, web-based businesses, but in the future plan on expanding into niche cafes, restaurants, and hotels.  There are so many industries I want to be a part of, and I see investing as the only logical way to do this.

4) What advice can you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?

Ideas are worthless.  Execution is everything.  It’s impossible for one person to do everything, so get a team of good people around you.  You probably don’t need funding from the beginning (especially if you’re doing business online), instead rely on bootstrapping and focus on getting sales as soon as possible.  Make sure your target customers are willing and able to pay for the product you’re offering.  Get started now, and learn as you go.

On Monday I met with the one and only Randal Pinkett, winner of The Apprentice and author of Campus CEO. I have to say that just from meeting him for a few minutes that he is a really cool guy. I shook his hand and then told him about I had learned of his book from the Campus CEO competition a couple months ago and decided to pick it up after David Askaripour of MindPetals told me we got mentioned in there. I told him I wrote for MindPetals and he was really impressed and asked me to write a review for his book on my blog and try to get some coverage on MindPetals about the book. I told him sure thing, without a doubt. He was cool enough to sign my copy of Campus CEO and I gave him a card for Walamu and told him about how I started it at Rutgers last semester and he seemed pretty impressed. This is considering Mr. Pinkett also went to Rutgers and started his business here all while graduating with a 3.9 GPA and being on the track team. Mr. Pinkett is truly an inspiration to me and I’m sure to the many others that will pick up a copy of his new book, Campus CEO.

To get started on building your own business empire while still in college, get your copy of Mr. Pinkett’s book here: Campus CEO.

P.S. I have an extra copy of Campus CEO since my order from Amazon came in a day after Randal was at the signing. If you have any suggestions on what I should do with this extra copy by means of some sort of crazy give away competition, leave a comment.

Fear is probably one of the greatest obstacles in entrepreneurship. However, there is another great obstacle that can hold you back almost just as much. That obstacle is outcome dependency. If everytime you get rejected or a client doesn’t like your ideas and you take it out on yourself, it means that you are still outcome dependent. The only way to succeed is to completely kill your outcome dependency. The way to do this is to go all out. Pitch that VC you’re sure is going to shut you down. Ask that girl out with the most ridiculous line and keep going until you’re almost certain you’re going to get slapped. Screw it…screw what they think. This is YOUR problem and not their’s. You’re just using them as a crutch to get over your HABIT of taking it out on yourself when something doesn’t go your way. The only way to fix this is to become immune to rejection and realize that there are other factors at play and it’s not just YOU. So quit blaming yourself, control the factors that you can, and pitch hard.

Some people, including myself, become extremely disheartened when something doesn’t go their way or if someone doesn’t like their ideas. The reality is that if you keep blaming yourself on things outside of your control and view every failure as inherently caused, then you’ve already lost the game. You will only continue to set yourself back and damage your confidence and faith to keep going forward. Thus, it is extremely important that no matter how many times you fail or what criticisms you get from some big shot exec, continue to move forward until you see your vision through. This is not to say that you should not take contructive criticism and apply it, but rather that you should not take failure and criticism as a reason to stop trying and start blaming yourself. Just keep choppin’ as we here at Rutgers like to say.