June 28, 2009 11:35 AM PDT

Teenagers are building their own job engine

Inspired by entrepreneurial celebrities like Steve Jobs of Apple, many teenagers are choosing to create their own jobs rather than rely on a sagging job market.
The New York Times

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While I applaud these teenagers' entrepreneurial spirit in general, the fact is that making $250 a month from Ad Sense on your blog (the one where you help other teens "make money" advising them to sell their crap on eBay) ain't exactly Michael Dell building computers in his garage and selling them out of the back of his car. Just like everyone can now be a "web developer" because they can run a WordPress installation, everyone can now be an entrepreneur in the NEW internet advertising boom. Too bad that boom has already gone bust.
Posted by QuetzalcoatlUSA (116 comments )
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What are you jealous QuetzalcoatlUSA? These teenage entrepreneurs are learning how to do business. Yes, they don't make much money but at this point in their lives they don't need to. I think is great to have a business spirit and not see your future relying on a corporation or having a boss.

From the time I was 15, I dreamed of owning a business and being my own boss. After several tries, I accomplished to start a solid business by age 27 with my own savings. I never asked for anyones help not even my parents (Ileft the house at 16). Now I am 35 and make a very decent living with minimum sales of $250K a year.

You go kids! And don't let the downers deter your dreams. Hard and honest work brings great rewards in life.
Posted by Xtoo (126 comments )
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Xtoo posted what I was going to write. This is a good thing for the kids.

Yes, what they are doing is not very technical but that is OK.

1. At the age they are at, few kids have any real technical chops, but if they need to they can get a CS degree.
2. That people can do things like this online without real programming knowledge is a good thing, it shows the promise of computing is being realized. As long as the software they use is solid, does it matter if they are real web developers or not?

What I am hoping is that they see small business as an attractive alternative to being a corporate slave. I would love to see a resurgence in small business of every kind and the diminishing of large corporations.

Either way they are learning that they don't have to be dependent on anyone if they don't want to be. That is the real spirit of America, not the "dream" of working for a soulless corporation.
Posted by pentest (2180 comments )
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Let a thousand flowers bloom!
Posted by ajapplesv (1 comment )
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i applaud these young people taking control & power to achieve their dreams/goals. & while $250.00/ month isn't a lot of $$, as my mom would say "it sure beats a blank". you go kids & more power to you. i hope you continue to "earn & learn" so you can grow & prosper from these early ventures & experiences.
Posted by dk jones (64 comments )
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