CM_TeenList2

Image: Tom Keenan

This article was created in response to my article “From One Entrepreneur To The Next: 10 Point Survival Strategy” where I talk about the do’s and don’ts of entrepreneurship. Now, WIT teen entrepreneurs in San Diego, inspired by that list, created their own to share with the Conscious community. Here are their thoughts for the young entrepreneurs of the world.

01 | KNOW WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM…KNOW WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM
If something isn’t working and you’ve tried all options, sometimes it’s best to let it go

02 | TURN UP
Playlists that kickstart your creativity, get you out of a funk, and make you want to sing at the top of your lungs are a necessity.

03 | BE OPEN
Sometimes it’s tough, but it’s important to be open to criticism … and remember, you can choose to take it or leave it.

04 | LOOK UP
As young entrepreneurs, we need to surround ourselves with people that are older and wiser. These people become your mentors and help you get through thick and thin.

05 | FIND YOUR PEOPLE
Surround yourself with people that really understand you and support your wild and crazy dreams. Not everyone will,.but your people will.

06 | IT’S NOT PERSONAL
Even if it feels like a direct attack on your entire business, it isn’t. It’s never personal and the sooner you can understand that, the sooner you can move on to success.

07 | CHILL OUT
We believe in play. Recess may no longer be part of our schedule, but we make time for play, which results in greater creativity and, well, fun.

08 | MAKE WAY FOR CRISIS
Before setting out on launching a business, we anticipate that at some point things aren’t going to go our way and that there will be setbacks. Just accepting these helps us mentally prepare for them and not have a major freakout when they happen.

09 | BE YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER
Sometimes it’s just you out there on the entrepreneurial field doing the work, and that’s okay. If you are your biggest fan, that means somebody always has your back – YOU!

[Tweet “For entrepreneurs everywhere – be your biggest cheerleader #consciousculture.”]

10 | PASSION
You need to be in love with what you are doing and how you want to make a difference, because if you don’t love it, who else will?

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FROM THE EDITOR
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