It’s all about hard work and perseverance! Find out how these 10 entrepreneurs made successful businesses before turning 30 years old.
Related: Entrepreneurs In Their 20s Who Have Proven They’ve Got What It Takes To Run A Business In Style
Becoming an entrepreneur is hard. You don’t just decide to sell a few items online and become an overnight entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship at it’s very core means setting up a business (or businesses), taking risks and taking a stab at profit.
It’s safe to say that being an entrepreneur takes a lot of courage and energy—mentally, physically and emotionally. That’s why those who get into it must have the stomach for the job. It may even be harder for women who are getting into a field dominated by men, but when has that ever stopped the ladies before? That’s why we’re asking 10 female entrepreneurs who have made it big before their 30s for some words of advice and encouragement.
Max Sebastian
Founder and co-owner of INEX ACTIVE
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
You’ll never feel completely ready! This helps when you’re getting anxious and overthinking. Truth is, you can never really plan for or anticipate everything and a lot of things you’ll only truly learn by doing.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
Mindset is so important. You need to continue to believe in yourself and your vision. As time goes on, and your business grows and evolves, you just keep learning that there’s so much more you don’t know! You need to take this as an opportunity for growth rather than allowing it to overwhelm you.
Nina Eilisa
Founder and owner of Envy Creatives
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
Based on my experience, one piece of advice I can share that has helped me kickstart my business, is to focus on building solid relationships with your team and establishing a meaningful connection with your clients. Furthermore, never forget those who have believed in you from the very beginning.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
One of the hardest things about starting your own business that no one ever told me about was the fact that you can’t do things all on your own. Although many entrepreneurs start out as a “one man show”, in order for growth, we need the help of others and so building a good team is very important.
Jemina Ty
Founder and owner of Blackbough Swim
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
You need to be ready to embrace risk and be prepared for failure and making a lot of mistakes. You need to go out of your comfort zone. The only way to succeed is to try, and the only real failure is if you fail and don’t learn something new from it.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about
It’s not as glamorous and fun as what movies and social media portrays it to be. Between negotiating with suppliers, government entities and other third parties, and combined with dealing with the endless stream of everyday operating problems, running a business is not always fun. The anxiety will drain you mentally and physically, even for the most laidback of people.
Rizza Lana Sebastian
Founder and owner of MINK and Lana
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
Learn to find the fun in failure. I used to fear failure, used to think that this is the end of the line, but no. it will always be a part of the process, and no business will ever be perfect on the first try. In my entrepreneurial journey, I encountered so many failures and learned so much lessons along the way.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
I brutally learned that yes, you can be emotional, but you can’t always be 100% emotional. you can’t let your emotions run you. There also has to be logic, strategies, and you should be able to work with whatever’s best for the longevity of your company. I feel like entrepreneurship is a life long process I’m always willing to take. There will be a lot of failure.
SACHZNA
Founder and CEO of S by Miss Flawless
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
The advice that helped me in kick starting my business is that I was taught to always determine my goals. From that, I work on my vision board because I believe that every time you visualize you materialize. Next step is to execute the plan. What are the strategies, my advantages, customer desires and wants.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
Today, I am facing the reality of being a CEO. It caused me a ton of self-doubt, especially when I’m leading professionals who are older than me. I wasn’t aware that my primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company. Nevertheless, starting my own business is one of the best decisions I’ve made so far.
Jan Charlotte
Founder and owner of Charlotte Folk
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
Since the very start of Charlotte Folk up until a few months ago, I’ve always done everything by myself. Of course, it was challenging to manage all these on my own and I think that was the hardest part. However with the help of my newly hired CF team, business operations are going way smoother than it did when it was just me. I’m just really grateful that Charlotte Folk is continuing to grow and thrive.
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
Be a sponge, absorb everything and be a solution. This is a phrase that means a lot to me when it comes to business. Doing everything by myself at first meant that I had to face challenges and hardships alone, absorbing problems that only I can relate to. It also goes both ways. Through those challenges, I’ve also absorbed new knowledge and also learned from those experiences.
Justinne Natividad
Founder and owner of Trinkets Fine Jewelry
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
Back in college, I remember learning that in order to start your own business you have to take a risk. Sometimes we tend to get scared without even starting yet, so I guess it really takes gut and grit. It’s a trial and error process but believe in yourself! If the business doesn’t go well at first then you should keep trying. Study your target market and competitors because from my experience a business should be unique and if the market is saturated you should always try different strategies and see the demand.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
I think the hardest part of starting your own business is forecasting the demand and keeping track of inventory. Since i’m in a fashion and fine jewelry industry, the trend changes from time to time. I should really foresee the demand so that my inventory of new and old products are balanced enough for the consumers. Always take note that in starting a business, sales opportunity is very important and inventory is directly proportionate to sales.
Della Lau
Founder and CEO of LA GLAMOUR QUEEN
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
Do it. Two short words that started it all. When I was just planning to start my business at 28, I was very fortunate that my support system always believed in everything that I do. I can’t remember a single person that matters to me that doubted the idea of starting my own business. Everyone was saying, “You can do it!” My strength in business and in life comes from me always considering the fact that no matter what happens, I have my family and friends that will back me up and cheer on me every step of the way.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
It’s understanding the global e-commerce tax regulations. Every country has different laws about the duties importation. When I started my business, I won’t forget my first ever international purchase from China. It was also my first ever mistake. I was taxed about PHP 5000 in customs. I was so devastated because I haven’t even had my first sale, yet I already lost money. I learned my lesson after that and researched about customs and tax duties globally. I always share that lesson to everyone I meet who’s starting their own business because I don’t want that to happen to them.
Pearl “Yelena” Lapeña
Founder and Creative Director of Sew Local and Yelena The Label
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
When I started SewlocalPH, the best advise I was given is to do everything with passion. You should know the essence of your business by heart before you do it.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
The hardest thing about starting a business is knowing that it is temporary. The fear of the losing it the next day will always be there if you don’t know how to keep up with the trends and the demands of the market.
Keighty Wong
Co-founder and Head Artist of Strokes Beauty
What advice helped you the most in kickstarting your business?
I have learned that it is very important to find something that inspires and motivates you, so you can be passionate about work and even about the things you do outside work. You’ll meet different people in different situations and for as long as your passion is there, everything will flow smoothly.
What is the hardest thing about starting your own business that no one told you about?
When it comes to putting up a business, there will be roadblocks along the way and some things won’t go according to plan no matter how ready you think you are. You can achieve whatever it is that you set your mind to, that’s why having a positive mindset is very important.
