The Inherent Advantages of the Young CEO

by / ⠀Startup Advice / May 12, 2013

It is always better to get started early then to do so very late. It is why some of the most successful athletes of the world are also the ones that got started with their respective sports while they were still very young. Since they had the benefit of learning about the intricacies of their sport from such an early age, they were also able to gain a better grasp of its finer points and that ultimately helped them to progress faster than their peers. It also helped them develop their skills at a rate that exceeds most of their contemporaries. The inherent advantage of starting young for an athlete cannot be stated enough, but what never gets mentioned enough is that it can also benefit the people who are looking for a career in business.

Think about the things you possess when you are young, a sharp mind, an energetic body, and boldness that is yet to be dulled by any sort of truly major failure. These also happen to be the exact elements that can help you succeed as a very young business owner. Instead of standing idly by and waiting for things to start happening for you, do not be afraid to take action and to pursue deals that help further the growth of your business. An example of this would be to take on a project that several other similar firms may have passed on because they deem it to be risky. Your advantage is that since you are still young, is that you can afford to take on even the riskiest of propositions. Go ahead and gamble on a potentially monumental task. If you can succeed, then that can be the type of splash that you need to make in order to form a positive impression on other potential clients, and if you fail, then you can at least take comfort in the fact that you will gain valuable experience. It is basically a no-lose proposition for you.

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Your youth also means that you have a better grasp on the mindset of a highly coveted demographic. Companies want nothing more than to be popular with the younger crowds, and you can use this to your advantage. Market your company to be the one that is in-tune with this particular demographic, and you will soon find businesses clamoring for your services. Being a very young CEO also means that you have the inside track on the fresh graduate market. First-time employees will want to align themselves with leaders who can understand them, and you will benefit from assuming that identity. By assembling a young roster of employees for your company, you also give yourself the chance to keep a core together for a very long time.

The beauty of being young and educated is that the world really is your oyster. Your youth is fleeting and you need to use it as a tool in business. The best way for you to do this is through taking the biggest risks and marketing your youth to both prospective clients and possible employees.

Kirsten Myers is a freelance writer for several business websites. She has worked for over 12 years in this capacity, and has also collaborated with numerous other writers to produce highly-regarded business papers. Some of her works includes Esplanade Capital.  She is currently based in Peoria, Illinois.

About The Author

Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson is Co-Founder of Under30Experiences, a travel company for young people ages 21-35. He is the original Co-founder of Under30CEO (Acquired 2016). Matt is the Host of the Live Different Podcast and has 50+ Five Star iTunes Ratings on Health, Fitness, Business and Travel. He brings a unique, uncensored approach to his interviews and writing. His work is published on Under30CEO.com, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Reuters, and many others. Matt hosts yoga and fitness retreats in his free time and buys all his food from an organic farm in the jungle of Costa Rica where he lives. He is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers.

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