I wouldn't worry too much about what the best path is for you to choose. There really isn't such a thing. You could major in anything and still become a successful entrepreneur.
How would I start? Focus on solving someone's problem that is right in front of you. Pick a problem that you, at 17, could solve. Here are a few that have been solved by 17 year olds:
1) mowing lawns
2) building an application to organize a music collection. (I believe it was Jason Fried of 37 Signals ...google him and read all you can... that built this and made $50k off of it as a teenager)
3) selling IT security services for websites - ok this guy was 18 when he started, but now, at 20, is making six figures selling his services directly to businesses. This is the son of a friend of mine.
4) washing oil-rig equipment at the drill site.
Don't pick a problem that requires skills that will take you years to acquire. Do pick one that will stretch you a little, though. Pick a problem that will play to your strengths. If you can't think of a problem to solve, pick something like mowing lawns. But, as you're doing that work, keep your mind open for other opportunities - either opportunities to grow your lawn-mowing business, or other opportunities somewhere else. There's no substitute for running an actual business because it gets you in the mindset of a business owner.
Once you pick a problem, break it down into bite sized chunks and start attacking it.
A great time to start on something like this is in college. I typically only spent about 20 hours a week between 15 units of classes and whatever studying I did.
How would I start? Focus on solving someone's problem that is right in front of you. Pick a problem that you, at 17, could solve. Here are a few that have been solved by 17 year olds:
1) mowing lawns
2) building an application to organize a music collection. (I believe it was Jason Fried of 37 Signals ...google him and read all you can... that built this and made $50k off of it as a teenager)
3) selling IT security services for websites - ok this guy was 18 when he started, but now, at 20, is making six figures selling his services directly to businesses. This is the son of a friend of mine.
4) washing oil-rig equipment at the drill site.
Don't pick a problem that requires skills that will take you years to acquire. Do pick one that will stretch you a little, though. Pick a problem that will play to your strengths. If you can't think of a problem to solve, pick something like mowing lawns. But, as you're doing that work, keep your mind open for other opportunities - either opportunities to grow your lawn-mowing business, or other opportunities somewhere else. There's no substitute for running an actual business because it gets you in the mindset of a business owner.
Once you pick a problem, break it down into bite sized chunks and start attacking it.
A great time to start on something like this is in college. I typically only spent about 20 hours a week between 15 units of classes and whatever studying I did.
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