Starting My First Business at 11 Taught Me These 4 Lifelong Business Lessons

When I was 11 years old, I lived with my grandmother in Orange County, California. We had basic food and amenities – but not much more. I wanted stickers for my skateboard binder but couldn’t afford them.

So, I asked my grandmother for a sticky note, and she said yes. He knew I needed to be creative. I printed my own stickers and felt proud when I put them in my bid. At school, my friends loved my custom stickers.

Then I started selling them for $5 a pair, while the local skate shop sold theirs for $5 each. I’ll never forget the first time someone paid me for something I created — it opened my eyes to what can happen when you start a business.

This simple idea grew into something big. I started selling clothes and skateboard decks, too. I created a website using Yahoo Site Builder. My site showcased my products and helped me connect with customers. It also had a blog where we shared about skate meets, giveaways and film sessions. Back then, social media was easy to use; it was basically non-existent compared to today.

All that said, this trip taught me resilience and showed me how to be an entrepreneur while being creative. I faced several challenges, but I learned a lot from my passion, and the growth of the business was exciting to witness.

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When I think about being a young entrepreneur, I remember the lessons that made me strong and motivated. I started my own sticker company when I was only 11 years old. Little did I know at the time that this would spark my love for business. It also taught me skills that will help me later.

Many people do not realize that these early experiences are the key to success and personal growth. I spent many sleepless nights making and packing stickers. Those times showed me how important hard work and dedication are. In high school, I continued my sticker business. I felt like a seasoned business owner because I faced many challenges.

Here are four important lessons I learned from starting my first business at a young age. These lessons have helped me build a successful business.

1. Build a good reputation

Build a strong reputation by being fair and respectful to others. This is important, even when you feel uncertain. Avoid making choices that could damage your reputation or credibility. Remember your humble beginnings and what you faced in your first year of business.

Let your actions reflect your true character, and keep your name clean. Always try to do the right thing, especially when hard times make you doubt. Instead of chasing fame or money, focus on doing good work and making decisions that reflect your values. The best part of your journey will be the personal growth you gain along the way. Keep a kind heart and be ready to work hard. Do this not only for your dreams but also to help your loved ones achieve theirs in the future.

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2. Give priority without expectations

If nothing is important, you get to decide what is important to you. Choose wisely and be honest with your decisions. The biggest lesson I learned when I started my sticker business was to give without expecting anything in return. When I shared my work with others, I received more support and opportunities than I expected.

This experience taught me the importance of generosity and selflessness. I saw how these factors can build strong relationships and improve resilience. This way of thinking helped me grow my business and gave me important business insights and my core values.

3. Develop ordinary skills to extraordinary levels

Real leaders are people who take simple skills and make them special. They help others in their area of ​​expertise. These leaders go above and beyond. This shows that they can think of new ideas and adapt quickly at work.

Reaching this level requires hard work, care, and a desire to improve. Those who improve their skills stand out from the crowd. They also encourage others to pursue success. In short, turning basic skills into excellent ones helps one become a true leader in any company.

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4. Reframe failure to become stronger

Celebrate hard times, especially when starting a new business. It may sound difficult, but you need to prepare for challenges. If you feel stuck, try to see failure in a new way. If you stay humble and face failure, you will learn valuable lessons from each side.

Many successful people experience failure. What matters is how they think about these challenges. This mindset helps them become strong leaders. Resilience is about getting back up when you fall. It’s not about never failing but about being strong through it. If you see failure as a learning curve, you can turn problems into stepping stones to success.