Thread: So... Now What?

First. Change your screen name. There's a thread here somewhere on how to do that. If you continue identifying yourself as a loser, you will destine yourself for failure. I am not huge on "think and grow rich" type of psychobabble, but part of what you are about to embark on is attitude, and I want you to start from day one with the attitude of a winner. Start with your screen ID. Don't allow other people to force your identity to be "the dropout."

Hi Vigilante,
Honestly, I don't see being a dropout as being a loser. I'm proud of it! To me, dropping out of high school shows my resistance to the slowlane philosophy of "graduate, go to college, get a job, work until you die."
If others see being a dropout as being a loser, that's their prejudice. I wear it like a badge of honor.
Besides, being a millionaire will be that much sweeter when I'm able to say I did it without a high school diploma

First you need to build you human capital. Google whatever you wanna know and its FREE. I learned how to repair automobiles using google and now I can monetize it! Maybe invent a new product with that knowledge. As for how you get started. You need to open your eyes to the economy. What problems can you solve to make life easier for the people who are going to hand over their hard earned money. Keep a notebook with potential ideas so you can go back. Look at the end result of you intended business or idea and work BACKWARDS STEP BY STEP.

I would learn a new skill set if i were you RIGHT NOW. that way you can monetize it. For example if you learn how to program, you can charge people to make them websites! i know its basicly trading your time for money but hey its better than working a shit job you hate.

Welcome to the forum! Ideas are everywhere, almost all of them have been thought up or done before. Your job is to do them better than everyone else.

If I were you i would start like this:

1) After reading MJ book find business that in your opinion is good with mj's book and also ask some entrepreneurs friends, if dont have any go find them.

2) Hire yourself in that industry that you would like to COPY as practice, probation, training whatever but first you have to prove to employer that you are really interested in learning this and ready to "work" get a blog and post there your works in that subject of interest, read one or two books about the subject and show at interview and email link with CV.

3) After you're "IN" get as much info as you can, ask and look how things work you have to know the whole environment there, write it down and also find people on the internet as them also.

4) Get friends there, maybe ask them to help you out with your own project but ask after work, if not ask them for some local friends with similar skills, "GET A DREAM TEAM" - you cant learn everything you will loose to much time on this, start with them but dont learn everything, write down what you want to do tomorrow and do it if you cant then first figure out how to do it and then do it and go ON.

5) Motivate yourself everyday and your team, at meeting everybody will show their progress and talk about it but not too long.

6) Manage your time with mobile phone alarm clock, alarms planned everyday (what to do and when) and get some notes to write down ideas.

7) If you can, avoid business angels. If you can't, use their money well.

I wish you success!
Dan.

ANYTHING is better than the freelance work I've been doing. I'll get started with some research right now.
Maybe I can write some reports or ebooklets or something. Thanks!

Find job and give it to freelancers and 50% profits for you. Dont do freelance yourself waste of time.

My advice is to get your GED. You say you have a plan but unless your parents or friends are going to give you the money you need you are going to have to work for it. If you have a GED it will be easier getting a job. I know you don't want a job but it sounds like you don't have many other options. Having a job is not a sin, most of us have them, the point is that we are working towards something bigger.

I'm sorta like you, except I dropped out of HS when I was 18. I have my GED and am currently in college (personal endeavor). I'm just now starting a business and I am learning as I go. Also from what rocksolid said, most of us have jobs. I have two actually. I don't have much advice just NEVER let people get you down and NEVER lose sight in what you want. It will get harder as you start to take action, so DO NOT give up. Also, never quit learning. Good luck!

Originally Posted by TheDropout

Hi Vigilante,
Honestly, I don't see being a dropout as being a loser. I'm proud of it! To me, dropping out of high school shows my resistance to the slowlane philosophy of "graduate, go to college, get a job, work until you die."

It also shows your attitude that you come in here and ask for help and some is offered and you reject it. Doing things the hard way is slow lane. Rejecting knowledgeable peoples input because it affects your "badge" is BS.

Originally Posted by TheDropout

Hi Vigilante,
Honestly, I don't see being a dropout as being a loser. I'm proud of it! To me, dropping out of high school shows my resistance to the slowlane philosophy of "graduate, go to college, get a job, work until you die."
If others see being a dropout as being a loser, that's their prejudice. I wear it like a badge of honor.
Besides, being a millionaire will be that much sweeter when I'm able to say I did it without a high school diploma

You drop out 2 yrs ago, isn't that ancient history? That's so ancient history, that was when BEP were on top, and Lady Gaga was doing Bad Romance. It's time to move on from the past. If you see yourself as a drop out that means you haven't matured since you drop out. There's no badge of honor in doing something anyone can do, yes anyone can drop out if they want too. I don't wear badges of honor for society, I live for myself, since I only look at myself in the mirror at the end of the night. I don't plan on pleasing people with stories, just focus on the business and the rest will take care of itself. Riches is only a side effect after all.

People don't care about your story, or how you did it, they just care about the results and the fact you are a millionaire.

You and I both know you didn't drop out because you were doing it because "slowlane", you didn't even read the book until recently. You yourself said you "as***" around for 2 yrs. Why is this even the main subject on your thread? It's been a long time now.

Now, forget the past, just work on the future/present. And I hope you do succeed... since you're 17 soon to be 18 soon to be 25 working menial labor jobs if you don't make it, with no prospects... soon to be 30-40-50.... No one is going to help you in this life. Good luck.

Originally Posted by TheDropout

I left school 2 years ago, when I was 15 years old and high on "The Secret" and "Rich Dad, Poor Dad".
Since then, I've spent my days "thinking positively" about my goals and dreams and doing freelance administrative work on oDesk, saving up until I can fund said goals and dreams.

I pay rent, chip in for groceries, and help my mom out in times of emergency (it's the least I can do, since she didn't put me out when I left school), and after 2 years, I have a whopping $500 saved up.

I suggest the first thing you do is learn some work ethic and perseverance. Sell something door-to-door for a while - learn to put in a 12 hour day, face rejection, and gain life experience.
You can think positive all you want but it sounds to me you are missing the action portion.

I'm taking the GED test next month, and I'm planning on going on to study marketing in college Thanks for the response!

"To me, dropping out of high school shows my resistance to the slowlane philosophy of "graduate, go to college, get a job, work until you die."

"I'm taking the GED test next month, and I'm planning on going on to study marketing in college"

In the famous words of Kevin O'Leary --- I'm out.

I would start by reading some Dale Carnegie. It will help improve all areas of your life. From there, figure out what your good at. What skills do you have? Did you excel at anything in school? Do you have any unique talents? Is there anything you enjoy doing business wise such as selling, marketing, writing?

I would also start looking for a decent paying job so at least you'll have some money put away for when you come up with a game plan.

Welcome to the forum and Good Luck!

Originally Posted by Vigilante

In the famous words of Kevin O'Leary --- I'm out.

Speaking of that.......Shark Tank on in 5!

Originally Posted by TheDropout

I'm taking the GED test next month, and I'm planning on going on to study marketing in college Thanks for the response!

What?

Weren't you proud of the fact that you drop out... you can't even back up what you say.

Yes college is a GREAT place for you. Stay there! Get a job that is in demand, and keep it.

!!UPDATE!!

Thanks for all the responses. I've been a VERY busy bee today.

I've studied up on niche sites and niche product creation, and I've decided that that's where I wanna go right now. I got myself a copy of Market Samurai and did some research, and I found several high-profit, low-competition niches to get into and monetize.
I also flipped oDesk the bird and got myself a part-time job working at my aunt's hair salon. I'm gonna be getting $150/week, which is a hell of a lot more than what I was getting freelancing.
My biggest step, in my opinion, was finding Meetup.com and joining a group of local entrepreneurs to network with. My first meeting is next weekend.
In the meantime, I'll be reading the Dale Carnegie books my mom has lying around and creating content for my niche sites.

BIG thanks to speedyexe and socaldude!

And to Vigilante and Lights, getting a GED isn't the same thing as going back to high school and getting a diploma. Whether I get my GED or not, I'm still going to be seen as a dropout. And I'm studying marketing... Something that's gonna come in handy when running my business. Didn't say anything about working a job until I die, did I? I respect your opinions and thank you for your input anyway though.

Thanks again, everyone!