Young Entrepreneurs: How to Counter ‘Lack of Experience’ Concerns

To contact us Click HERE

It’s a common experience—we’ve all been told one thing, onlyto find the opposite holds true. And for many young entrepreneurs, this phenomenoncomes to fruition when working with older business associates. Growing up, youmay have been told, “Do not let anyone look down on you because of your youth.”But this doesn’t always hold up in the real world.
Because we live in a society that generally assumes peoplegain worthwhile experience over time—and for good reason, because it’s oftenthe case—you’ll likely encounter potential investors, partners and evencustomers who will intimate (or vocalize) their concern about your youth andrelative inexperience.
While this is the cross the young entrepreneur must bear, itdoesn’t mean these opportunities are beyond your reach. As you pursue newbusiness where your youth seems to put you at a disadvantage, try to includethese points as you argue against a perceived lack of experience.  
1. Address theconcern while showing what makes you the superior candidate. Imagine you’rea tech marketingentrepreneur whospecializes in increasing leads for companies through new search engineoptimization and social media techniques. While you’ve only been in businessfor a short time, you’ve delivered amazing results for your clients—and they’rewilling to give great references. The problem is the potential client is dead set on hiring afirm with experience in the industry, racquetball manufacturing. Never lie andsay you have experience you don’t. But, while acknowledging this would be yourfirst racquetball manufacturing client, focus on the range of industries you’veserved and how your firm’s approach focuses on core marketing issues that spannearly every company.
2. Emphasize yourflexibility and entrepreneurial spirit. Most potential clients, businesspartners and investors fail to realize experience is a double-edged sword. Yes,with experience you can learn how to do something well, but you’ll also learnto stick with what works and rarely attempt a more innovative and bettersolution.
At its heart, entrepreneurship always questions conventionto find a better way to fill a market need. Demonstrate your original thinkingby finding out the other party’s basic assumption and approaching them withyour unique perspective. Fair warning: Many people don’t like their methodsquestioned, even if it means improving their business or investment portfolio. Thekey is to approach this as presenting your ideas, not debunking their businesspractices.
3. Outsource what youdon’t know, and don’t want to learn. Some projects will require skills,knowledge and experience outside of your realm. If this is the case andlearning the skill provides little benefit to you as an entrepreneur—or you’reon a tight timeline—there’s no shame in finding an expert to take on thesetasks. Companies hire people for specific functions every day; there’s noreason your business can’t.

Unfortunately, some prospects will always consider youth ahandicap. But with solid arguments to many common objections, your youthshouldn’t prohibit you from winning opportunities.
About Business Owner’s Toolkit
With an emphasis on problem-solving dating back to 1995, Business Owner’s Toolkit™ (www.toolkit.com) offers more than 5,000 pages of free cost-cutting tips, step-by-step checklists, real-life case studies, startup advice, and business templates to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The site also offers a monthly newsletter, up-to-date news topics, and Ask Alice!, a column that closely follows industry trends and provides trusted advice to inquiring site visitors.