Successful entrepreneurs looking back in life

Studying and the first years of employment can often be an overwhelming experience, triggering questions such as: Where will this all lead? Will an expensive degree like an MBA bring the right return on investment? Will all the pain have been worth it eventually? Sometimes it would just be nice to have a crystal ball and look into the future and have a grown-up version of yourself tell you: “Calm down. It’ll all be alright.”

A recent Huffington Post article asked some successful entrepreneurs what their advice to their younger selves would have been:

These were their top tips:

MORE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Jessica Ruhfus -- Founder and CEO of Collabosaurus

"I wish I was more aware of time management and priorities so that I maximised study to involve more work experience placements and internships. That way, I could have strengthened industry connections and entered the workforce far more prepared."

MORE RISK TAKING

Christian Mischler -- co-founder and CMO of HotelQuickly

"I started my first start up when I was in high school and my second one when I was freshman at university. This is the perfect time to launch a start up, as you’re officially only studying, you have not much to lose, your living standard hasn’t yet adjusted to a salary, and you have a lot less commitments compared to when you grow older. Even though I’m happy to have started companies when I was in my teenage years and 20s, I feel like I could have taken a lot more risks.”

FIND MENTORS

Mike Rosenbaum -- CEO of Spacer

"I discovered early on that I prefer ‘learning by doing', and learning from other successful entrepreneurs and business leaders rather than from textbooks and just lecturers. Having amazing mentors and advisors has helped me fast-track knowledge and experience, as well as tapping into rich resources online, and international conferences. Learning is a forever game."

TAKE A BREAK AND TRAVEL BEFORE UNI

Sarah Hamilton -- CEO and co-founder of Bellabox

"I wish I knew to take a break and to travel overseas before uni. I think without the break it becomes an extension of school."

CUT YOUR LOSSES EARLY

Taryn Williams -- Co-founder and CEO of theright.fit; founder and managing director of WINK Models

"Whether it’s personal, study or work related, if something is not working, cut your losses and move on. It’s in the same vein of ‘fail fast’ that is so popular in Silicon Valley."

LEARN TO TELL GOOD STORIES

Alex Louey -- co-founder and managing director of Appscore

"Spend more time going to parties, socialising and learn how to tell good stories. Business is about relationships and you will get further with people by telling a good story than pulling out a straight A exam transcript."

Find full report here:
What These Successful Entrepreneurs Wish They Could Have Told Their Younger Selves