| With unemployment at a record high, today's | | | | out of the failure, typically something has been |
| economy does not provide an ideal job market for | | | | learned that will be useful for the next endeavor. |
| graduating college students. Many are unable to find | | | | Another reason these independent startups are |
| jobs in their chosen fields, which is only one of many | | | | growing in popularity (particularly those involving the |
| factors contributing to a growing market of | | | | internet) is that they can be run in conjunction with |
| entrepreneurs. More and more young adults are | | | | another full time job. For example, if you start a new |
| facing the grim job market with unshattered hopes; | | | | web business that involves daily updates, you can |
| instead of getting discouraged, they are simply | | | | pack a lunch and work through your lunch break and |
| paving their own roads. | | | | then spend another hour after work on your startup. |
| An entrepreneur is someone who embarks on a new | | | | With only two hours today, it's possible you could be |
| venture (such as starting one's own business) with | | | | launching a successful business that would allow you |
| uncertain outcomes and inherent risks. Today, these | | | | to eventually quit your full-time job. However if the |
| entrepreneurs are most often drawn to | | | | venture was to fail, you can rest easy that you didn't |
| technology-related startups-ones that don't require | | | | invest any money and you didn't have to take a |
| much money to get started. Examples of these | | | | pay-cut because you stayed employed. |
| technology startups include web design businesses, | | | | Many independent companies and non-profits are also |
| independent contractor programming, social media | | | | emerging to provide assistance and funding to |
| sites and even popular blogs that will allow them to | | | | support young entrepreneurs. |
| sell advertising. | | | | If you are considering embarking on an |
| Emerging young entrepreneurs are innovative and | | | | entrepreneurial endeavor, consider the following |
| savvy, always finding new ways to build and | | | | questions: |
| promote-often with little or no money. This way, if | | | | Do I need money? (If so, how much and where can |
| the venture does fail (as many entrepreneurial | | | | you find investors?) |
| endeavors do), the only investment they've made is | | | | How will I promote this? (Ideally, you will be able to |
| time. Even that, however isn't a total waste, since | | | | use social media such as Twitter and Facebook. |