Advice to a Young Entrepreneur

I love getting emails like this one from Lissette, a freshman at the Art Institute of Charlotte majoring in Fashion Marketing and Management, especially when I’m feeling like I have something to pass on.

She said:

My reason for writing to you is because im doing a project about my career, which is creating my own shoe line and opening my own store as well. My professor has asked me to interview someone that is related to what i want to do, which is to become a CEO just like yourself. I know you are a busy person but i would appreciate it if you may answer some of the questions that are fundamental to my project and most importantly to my dream career.

These were her questions and my answers.

1) For what company(s) do you have the title of CEO?

Wow – who has the time to be CEO of more than one? Ok, so I sent her my updated bio, which I realized I never updated here. <updates bio>

2) What steps did you have to take to become a CEO? Can you please include any education that may have helped you in becoming a CEO? If you didn’t receive any college education, would you say that it is necessary?

Nothing prepares you to be an entrepreneur like just doing it. I have a lot of education which was necessary for developing our products but for shoe design you need to be artistic and know what women will buy. Hang out with entrepreneurs whenever you can and you’ll pick up a lot of good stuff.

3) What skills do you think one should have to become a successful CEO?

You need to be a Founder. (There are some things on my blog about that.) A huge amount of energy. (I work very long hours most days.) PR is expensive so learn to write well so you can get free PR while you are developing your business.

4) What is your advice in how to start gaining experience?

Do anything you can – make things and sell them. Get other people involved with you.

5) Any additional advice you could give me that could help me in reaching my goals?

Fashion is high risk and you’ll need investors. Figure out how to find the people who invest in this stuff. Read trade journals, Womens Wear Daily (I am assuming they still print it – it was the big paper a long time ago), Wall Street Journal. Save money now! You’ll need it to get started.

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So now I am thinking, have I taken my own advice? And if I knew then what I know now, would I have done it?

Actually, all the advice I ever got on careers was to get a job that didn’t interfere with being a mother. (Yes, that was a very long time ago.) I was never very good at listening to people who said I couldn’t do something and that’s probably helped more than anything. Without persistence, being an entrepreneur is impossible.

And yes, I would have done it. When the mission is that powerful, there’s no saying no.

I hope Lissette just says yes.