Should you start a business right out of college? No, do it before you graduate.

Most new grads have no money and little, if any, real-world experience. Even so, launching a startup may be less crazy than it sounds. I did it and I know you can. But only if you are willing to give up time and more time and a lot of research and development. As a kid I was always a people person, people loved to be around me and I had many friends. I didn't ask my parents for money all the time. Instead I was always trying to do things for lazy people who wanted to pay me a small fee, for something they had no time within their busy schedule or too lazy to do it themselves. Either I was cutting someones grass, helping my parents with additional chores they didn't have time to do, or picking up leaves off a neighbor's yard who was too out of shape to do it themselves. Or you'd see me selling used golf balls at the country club for a quarter each ball because people didn't want to go get there golf balls out the pond or ditch. All I knew at a young age I was to make money off people laziness. I had energy to burn and they had small amounts of money they didn't mind giving to me. At a very young age I always liked to be in control of what I did and when I did it. That's why I got into many fights because the older kids thought they could push me around. I stood there and took a butt whopping to let them know I wasn't scared of them. Years later it would pay off when dealing with intimidating big corporations trying to use their non-scary tactics on me. All I knew is that I had a gift and I was going to find out what I was good at doing. My gift was talking to people, not having a good conversation, but I can relate to people quickly and gain their trust instantly. It started as a kid and finally came to me while in college, this was where I was about to find out my greatness. College helped me find my god given talent and this is what it has done for me.

I was a freshman at Texas Southern University in Houston, Tx., studying Engineering Technology bachelor degree plan, when I came up with the idea of owning my own company and starting a business. First of all, what did I know about owning a business? Or better yet, I never even knew anyone who had a business that I could learn the ins and outs from. The only person I knew was my dad's sister, my Aunt Bonita. While in college my dad's side of his family had a big family reunion at Splashtown. I found out that my Aunt Bonita was going to be there, so I build up enough courage to ask her the main question I wanted to know; "How hard is it to start a business?" That was the only motive I needed to feed my fire on starting a business. She will give me all the answers I need, because we are family, we are more than family, we are blood. I never had asked her that type of question. I wasn't even that close to my aunt (I have five aunts out of my dad's eight siblings). That was my main event question of the century. I waited for a moment when she was by herself and asked the question that was killing me for years. To my surprise she looked at me and smiled! After asking her my big business question about her successful business what she gave in return was a beautiful smile, that was it. That was no start to a good conversation ending with well needed advise. Just a smile and she returned back to her happy day with family at the reunion. In return, I only had gotten a smile from the woman I respected as my blood, kin, and a business women. She didn't even acknowledge my question or even consider explaining anything to me. She just straight up gave me the smile; the "declined" gesture. I was infuriated. My dreams on finding out how hard starting a business, through my aunt's experience, was never discovered.

My experience with my aunt taught me the most valuable lesson in business. There are no free lunches in the line of business. No body gives a damn about you until you become important and have a need or service that they want. At that point, I taught myself everything I needed to know about business or owning a business through other people. I was aimed to master the art of business, to this day I am constantly learning new and better business strategy tactics.  I made a mental note while in college and everyday I woke up, I repeatedly reminded myself that I'd rather work for myself, than slave for someone else's profits. Any small business I work for, I was always learning their business model. Within the last couple of years, I've been earning a living through my engineering degree as a flooring estimator/engineer. Also I am a Texas licensed commercial realtor and flooring sub-contractor. This is one of my ways of staying out of the recession. These are the three professional skilled side jobs that I started while I was in college. I will always be able to find work. It may be slow work or pay, but it's a long way from 7 years ago when it was only an idea while in college.

On the plus side, I have some student loans to pay off, but that's what I used to launch and give capital for my businesses start up cost. My expenses were minimal because I lived with my parents while I build my business. Its is not when you are to graduate, but what type of degree you graduated with. Engineering is one of the top paying occupations. So, I had more than enough to pay for my student loans after I graduate. On the other hand, my parents always encouraged me to take the "real job" because according to them, starting a business right out of college is crazy. My parents and my college professor drilled into me that in order to make an honest living you must work with a well known oil company or a major technology-engineering company. That is your job as a engineer and this is whats expected from you. I really proved them wrong. I not only have one business; I have three businesses out of college after turning down an offer at Halliburton Oil and GE Corporation. I wanted to own a business that I have a passion for rather then trying make a lot of money. Trying to start a business by having vast amount of capital and no prior business knowledge is a disaster waiting to happen. I know a lot of people who have went that route. It's so backwards to me, but to each their own. I called my three companies the "Double or Triple Hustling". I actually found out how to make money 2 or 3 ways by each company helping each other through a contract deals.

Before you make up your mind about which way to go, take a hard honest look at your motivation for starting a business. There are too many entrepreneurial wannabe's of all ages. It's not just new grads whom are looking to get rich, or escape the corporate grind, and work shorter hours with more free time. That is wishful thinking. None of those reasons is likely to lead to success. It all boils down to how much you want to be your own boss. You can't be a boss unless you've had a boss.

Furthermore, I have worked for corporate companies with employees and I own a corporate company with no employees; no overhead expenses. I have a boss and I am a boss. My boss is teaching me how to be an effective boss down the road, at the same time showing me how he deals with his business affairs. I have the cow and the milk to go with it all. If you're focused on solving a customer's problem or needs, and believe you can do it better than anyone else, or you're dying to work long hours to get the job done. Furthermore, when owning a company you are many and all different positions at once; even if you have many employees. You always acting as mediator between your employees. Multi-tasking, wearing many hats, and juggling endless responsibilities. You have the right to make your own calls and decisions. D.E.Y = Doing Everything Yourself and I enjoy having my own business because it is a passion that enjoy helping my clients/customers.

With that in mind, before you leap in head first, get a job in the industry where you eventually want to establish your business. Learn how to manage vendor relationships, market your product, deal with customers, and keep detailed books for IRS and tax purposes. While you're soaking up all that real-world knowledge, you can continue going to school in your spare time, because school is about how much time you have to give during a given day. Trying to juggle school and your side jobs/hustle, or I like to call it, "Jobbie" - a cross between a hobby and a job. Yes, make this your hobbie, but make it a job because you want to get paid for your effort earned. This way you can find out if this industry is something you'll like to pursue. Its like cheating the business by mirroring someone else.

However, If you're determined to start your own business right now, without easing into it by getting more experience first, you'd be smart to reach out to a network of fellow business owners for advice and support. Here is a informational book you can read and cost you hardly nothing to purchase. It is "Start Your Own Business" by Rieva Lesonkey, can purchase this book for less than a $1. But remember you can have all the material that provide all types of business start-up information, but nothing will come close to the real experience of learning how to start a business and doing what works for you. Try to read more business books and articles on how not to make the same mistakes as other business entrepreneurs.

You can also seek out personal mentors or motivational speakers who will guide and help along the way in your journey. Every business owner had that 'go to' person when they where in need. A mentor can also help your business to grow faster by introducing you to people they interact with or mirroring their day to day activities. The best lead is someone who gives you the lead they are using themselves. It could be a very early stage in your career moment to start a business by having the right leads. Never neglect school or college course work. The main objective is to graduate and come out of college with a sufficient business plan that you will form while in school. A college degree is your insurance, if you failed while in school trying to start a business. This will give you time to start over with no cost  to rethink a better business plan. If you really want your own business. Then failure will never be an option.

Before you take on responsibilities like a mortgage and kids, give this your best shot. As long as you're going into it with your eyes wide open, you are unlikely to regret it. It was the best experience of my twenty-something life. That's partly because being able to run your own show can be a stepping stone to a great job if you decide to change direction later on and go to work for someone else. Business minded people never give up entirely. We look at failure as an alternative way to re-adjust to everyday changes that life brings. On the other hand, I only seek employment from companies that I can have a direct relationship with the business owner of that company. Direct relationship with the business owner will give you the business education that you will not get from a college degree, matter of fact, it will be more like a real on the job experience through a successful business owner. Don't wait until you graduate college, you will have the most time to do all you can while in college. You will have unlimited responsibilities with unlimited amounts of resources. Also, create a system that works for you while in college. Maybe you can start the next big corporation right after graduating by being a small business contractor on the side while gaining customers. If you failed trying to start a business. Look at it this way. You tried to create your own business in which you will be employing yourself. While your peers will be looking for a job to hire them in this great recession.

Talkback: Does it make sense to start a business right out of college or before? Why or why not? What do you and the readers think? Leave a comment below. Thanks for reading my wonderful blog. Enjoy!!