When it comes to building businesses, investors tend to look for brands with experienced management teams. They choose ventures with a successful track record, carefully laid-out business plans, and great products and services.
That’s just how it was. But is it how it should be? While experienced entrepreneurs certainly have a lot going for them, I have been seeing a significant shift in the business community—one defined by creativity and out of the box thinking that usually, only the idealism of 20-something ingenues can deliver.
Yep—I said it: 20-somethings are fast becoming the rising stars of business.
Does that surprise you?
I first started my coaching business in my early 20’s. I was young, green, and idealistic. From a very traditional perspective, these weren’t qualities that would bolster business success. Yet I managed to grow my brand into a thriving, successful venture. I—a young, Cuban-American woman, founded the first business coaching brand focused on women in my city. And I can confidently say that my success is anchored on these qualities.
Going All Out
When you start your business young, you’re more likely to take bigger risks. That’s not to say that you’re not careful and calculated when you do, but you definitely are more open to the idea.
I grew up believing anything is possible. While studying, I was already involved in over ten tech startups, I gained solid experience in business through various programs that gave me a global perspective of business management, I learned graphic designed, mastered social media marketing—all the skills that would be a very attractive candidate for an established, blue-chip corporation. Yet I chose to start my own consultancy instead.
At the time, I figured I had the skills and experience to devote to my own venture. I was determined to ensure that my vision for my startup would become a success. And if I fell short of it, I had the time to gather my bearings and explore plan B.
In short, I had the option to go all out on my dream, and I took it.
Inexperience Breeds Creativity
We also have to stop seeing inexperience as a disadvantage.
While I may have a solid background in business, as far as the world was concerned, it wasn’t enough. That’s a big hurdle that a lot of young entrepreneurs have to contend with.
The truth is though, it was inexperience that allowed me to recognize opportunities in the business world that were largely unmet. This is the reason why I focus a lot on empowering women in this industry. For me, inexperience means you get to see things from a different perspective. I got to approach problem-solving from a totally different mindset because I wasn’t hampered by “how things should be” in business. I had the energy and the drive and it allowed me to be creative and consistent. Through the years, as I built my business, these same values continued to be essential pillars of how I run my company. Instead of following traditional strategies, my approach is recognized for bucking convention, for being innovative, and even groundbreaking.
Go For It
So if you had to take one thing away from this entire piece, let it be this: GO FOR IT.
There’s a lot of opportunities out there and if the only thing that’s stopping you is the fear that your youth is going to work against you, I stand as proof that it won’t. There will never be a better time in your life for you to take the leap and pursue that dream.
This is a guest article written by Isabella Silverio of Guava Empowerment LLC. For more info on Isabella be sure to follow her on Instagram.