Do you think you may not “fit” the Small Bizpreneur “profile?”

Are you a potential founder who is NOT in college?

KT Goldthorpe
3 min readJan 6, 2021

While the story of the successful young entrepreneur in their 20s grows thick in current conversations and even conventional discussions; the fact is that the average age of first-time entrepreneurs is around 40 years old. In fact, the average age of *successful* entrepreneurs hovers somewhere around 46!

And while we will cover the small, but mighty, growth in diversity in our entrepreneur pool, today we will honor the GenXer (and even Baby Boomers). As the main reason for most successful business owners of this age bracket is that successful entrepreneurship requires *other* experience in life and in business.

Younger entrepreneurs, though they can run circles around many of us when it comes to tech platforms, and NEW technologies — they lack the key to purpose and knowledge: more experience. So, if thoughts start spinning in your head, questioning if you would fit in — remember, it takes a significant level of experience to be successful as an entrepreneur. In reality, though the press enjoys highlighting our younger founders: yes, you would still be among many peers.

However, a few things, to highlight — that no new owner believes will happen to them, but all learn the hard way:

  • Not many of your family or close friends will admire your audacity to start a company. Most, in fact, will think you’re a silly nut for not having a “regular job” — and that you don’t have “stability.”
  • No amount of reading or advice can prepare you for the real thing. Planning is helpful, but you will be faced, daily, with obstacles, problems and pitfalls. Keep at it, and learn from your own (and other people’s) steps and slips.
  • Know the “work of the market.” You can be the best in the world at your craft, BUT… if you don’t understand where you sit in the market, who is a close alternative and who is looking — and worst of the worst — no one knows about you; you’ll go nowhere. Master the ability to connect your product or service to potential customers.
  • Listen to your target audience. Trying to shove a product or service down an audience’s throat, just because you personally like it, won’t get you far. People “vote” with their wallet. Pay close attention to what they are saying and where they are paying.
  • Every successful company out there, no matter how big (even Airbnb), started out small. It’s up to you to build your company from a seedling in the forest. Keep believing in yourself, stay focused on growing the sapling, even if no one else does.
  • Fall in love with your customers and their problems. Not your product. Your first business is the tester. You may have to pivot as you learn. So, serve your customers well and you’ll have clients that will stand by you, as you continue solving their problems.
  • No one cares about what font you used or color scheme on your website. They barely even notice. They care about what you can do for them. What message you are giving them to help them get to the next step… one step closer to solving their issue or scratching their itch? Focus on that.

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KT Goldthorpe

Sharing insights, do's & dont's, maps & tools I’ve gained while leading Brand Development for startups since 2008. Remember: there is no Brand w/o a Business.