Nicolas S.

Nicolas S. shares in his own words about how he began designing and building Web sites at age 14 and within a year began his own company!

“What is an entrepreneur? It is simple, it's a person who starts and run a small or large business to serve a purpose. Being a successful entrepreneur takes lots of work. There are many talented entrepreneurs in existence for a number of reasons.

Entrepreneurship requires a mission, business plan, and the ability to take risks at any level. My name is Nicholas and I am a teen entrepreneur as well as the Founder and President of NetFriends Online. My site can be viewed at: www.netfriendsonline.com .

It all started in 1999 when I was selected to embark on a trip to the Hollywood Park Racetrack by my school district as part of an initiative to send talented students to "Job Shadow" (a program in my community that allows young people to experience what it is like to work in their field of interest). At Hollywood Park, I visited the Technology and Graphics department to see what it is like to design and produce websites and online media. I met with the Director of the Technology Department and Director of Community Relations. I was immediately hired at City Hall upon recommendation from the Directors. My duty was to design the City of Inglewood's website, which I did successfully.

After about a year with this service, I knew that I wanted to do more. My ultimate goal was to create an online service that included all types of people everywhere. In about four months (in addition to my school work), I designed the web site. My brand-new company was now a reality. I named it NetFriends Online and developed the slogan too: "Educating people, no matter what age."

I have some advice for young people across the world that want to start their own businesses. Though starting a business is not easy, it can be done. You just have to find a “need,” something people would want. Next, you must come up with a business plan (how you will fund your project, the location of it, etc.) and take risks. Do not be scared to take risks. You will not succeed if you don't try. I suggest that you find out what you like to do and explore ways to make it bigger. It can be anything: planting trees, reading to children, tutoring, walking dogs, cleaning a year, a dot-com startup… anything is possible! Do not let what anyone says discourage you from accomplishing great things and thinking that you are not capable, because you are.

I want to close with some words about another important topic: drugs. Why am I drug free? It is quite simple. My life is too valuable and has too much potential for me to get involved with anything illegal, including drugs. I have too much on my plate already to have time to be in the type of the environment conducive to drugs anyhow.