How To Be Taken Seriously As A Young Businessman

Being in business at a young age is a huge advantage, but it also requires some special skills to navigate yourself through the waters. I started my journey in the business world at the age of 17.

When I started, I faced a lot of challenges that had to do with my age. It was really tough getting people to take me seriously while also looking past my baby face. However, I eventually learned the tricks of the trade and mastered the skill.

In this article, I share my tips on how to be taken seriously as a young businessman:

1. Know Your Sh*t

Older business professionals have a good reason for looking past younger individuals because there is reason for doubt. I know many young people who have tried going in without knowing a thing about what they’re talking about.

Before you can be taken seriously, you need to make sure you actually talk the talk. Do your research on your clients, industries and anything else that will help you become successful. Master your pitches and be sure that you don’t BS anything.

2. Be Confident

If you let someone run you over because they are older, you’re not going to be very successful in the business world. While I was respectful towards my clients, I still made sure they knew that I was confident.

If people didn’t like my terms or my prices, I wasn’t going to change it for them. My business policies were firm and I wasn’t going to let anyone walk all over me. Be confident and don’t be scared to make the tough decisions.

3. Learn To Listen

Another reason why young people aren’t often taken seriously is because they have a hard time listening. They are too focused on getting their word in and don’t give a shit about what others have to say.

The biggest skill I learned early on was that I had to listen. By listening, I was able to learn about so much stuff that I probably would have missed out on otherwise. Shut up and hear everyone out, it’ll help you get really far.

4. Dress Professionally

Mark Zuckerburg can wear a hoodie and shorts because he’s worth billions of dollars. Unless you just created a billion dollar social network, treat your peers with respect. You’re not going to a party after school, you’re trying to close deals.

Respect your clients, peers and others by dressing appropriately. If you want to be taken serious, you need to have the proper look. It’s really basic stuff.

5. Get To The Point

When I began pitching clients early on, I realized I was really bad at it. I had a tough time getting to the point as I wanted to fluff everything up and it was a result of everything I had learned at school.

People in the business world don’t have time. The most important thing in the world is time and business people understand that. Don’t waste their time, get to the point. They’ll be happier for it and they’ll actually listen.

Conclusion

Being young and trying to succeed in the business world definitely has its challenges, but it’s also very doable. In this article, I shared my tips on how to be taken seriously as a young businessman.

photo credit: Linh H. Nguyen via photopin cc