How young entrepreneurs overcome age bias
Posted by staff / August 8, 2011
If you’re an entrepreneur, having a young face is more inconvenient than simply getting carded every time you try to order a beer. If you have that doe-eyed look, whether or not you are actually naive is another matter, you’re a target for those looking to make a quick buck of a sucker. Entrepreneur.com offers some first-hand advice from someone who had to fight for respect. Here an example:
Know what you’re talking about. If you’re “winging it,” people can tell, and, perhaps justifiably, they won’t take you seriously. To elicit the opposite response, you should learn everything you can about your industry — and your own product or service — so you can speak clearly and authoritatively about your business. If you’re also professional with everyone from vendors to employees to customers, you’re bound to be seen in a better light. Once my brother and I learned everything we could about pool halls, we were able to communicate with beverage distributors, equipment manufacturers and food suppliers in their own language. That effort made all the difference. We took away their excuse to treat us differently than their other clients.
Full story at Entrepreneur.com.
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