any entrepreneurship stories to share?

[Liverpool]

I got 2 friends who went the entrepreneurship route after graduation. Now 3 years later, they all looking for corporate jobs and took the corporate route. Basically one went for import and export business of commodities in Vietnam and another tried to set up a marketing business in Vietnam. This was the craze a few years ago when Vietnam was advertised as the next 'China' growth story. One of them had his girlfriend leave him as he lacked a stable job and career.

For every Jack Ma of Alibaba, there are at least 9 others who failed.

Feel like striking out with my own, have some ideas but not enough guts to go for it. Though my friends failed, at least they followed their dreams for awhile. I guess it does take a lot of guts to strike on your own, guess that separates the successful entrepreneurs from the rest of us.

Studies have shown that Ppl who started their business right after graduation are much more likely to fail compared to ppl who have some working experience (bcos of the contacts u built, the stuff u learnt from established companies, etc)... But as a fresh grad, they also have the lowest opportunity cost for starting biz...

I started an IT related company after leaving my first job. The company flopped and business partner abandoned me halfway even though it was him who asked me to join him. 9 in 10 companies in singapore fail in their first year. Yes, many people want to "be their own boss", but there are downsides and risks.

Now I'm looking for a corporate job

Originally Posted by Liverpool

For every Jack Ma of Alibaba, there are at least 9 others who failed.

I would say: For every Jack Ma of Alibaba, there are at least 99,000 others who failed.

This is the sad reality as not all striking out on their own put their hearts, minds and souls into it. I felt many got into it for the wrong reasons - to have more control of their time. They want to work as and when they like. Other common factors include overestimating the demand for their services, not being competitive enough, not daring to go all out.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I would say: For every Jack Ma of Alibaba, there are at least 99,000 others who failed.

Read ://limdershing.blogspot.com

Has lots of stories and analysis on sg and my tech exits and success stories. Writer is also a success story.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

This is the sad reality as not all striking out on their own put their hearts, minds and souls into it. I felt many got into it for the wrong reasons - to have more control of their time. They want to work as and when they like. Other common factors include overestimating the demand for their services, not being competitive enough, not daring to go all out.

Too true. These lazy people go into entrepreneurship thinking they can work less hours.

Successful entrepreneurs spend their entire waking hours on work. They have no weekends, no time limit to how much they can work. They have no life.

Even Mark Zuckerberg works 9-10 hours a day even though Facebook pays him $1 a year only.

[Liverpool]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Read ://limdershing.blogspot.com

Has lots of stories and analysis on sg and my tech exits and success stories. Writer is also a success story.

good link thanks for sharing

i was the exact opposite. right after graduation i wanted to find a job. how nice to have a stable income. could not find job for half a year despite many interviews and talking to people in the industry. if someone would not give me a job, i have to create one myself.

i saw a business sales opportunity but it will be all cold calling and hard work. i drew out my remaining savings to keep a business afloat for one year. for me, there will be no other choice. business is war. the only way to survive is to fight till your last breath. right now in the process of gaining the necessary licenses and approvals before the real war begins. wish me luck!