Friends/Acquaintances Starting Businesses That Are Doomed To Fail

[Al Doggity]

It's  so hard to watch! Two people I know are forcing  me to witness this right now.

One is a friend I've known for  a decade. He's starting a sustainable home goods line. Mostly paper products. Def a market for this, but everything is being put together in such a half-assed way. I'm in advertising, so he'll ask me for a bunch of advice, but then ignores it. I tried to advise him to keep the range streamlined at first and to put a lot of thought into branding and packaging. He's opting to cut corners with packaging/branding and offer as many product options as possible.  

Another guy is a trainer at my gym. A young guy, nice kid who is attempting to be a social media guru. He printed up some shirts (gave me one), started profiles on every social network and is offering meal plans and whatnot. Nothing wrong with hustling, but he's just a regular guy with abs. He doesn't have an extreme personality or even unusual insight into training. It's not as awkward watching him find his way. I don't think he'll blow up, but he's showing initiative and he'll be able to take what he's learned and apply it to his next venture.

[Uncle Joon]

That's just not true

[Nirvana]

I have a relative (not by blood) who never would keep a job. Always getting fired for failing drug tests, texting on the job, or just plumb quit. Wouldn't be a taster in a pie factory. As with most generation nothingness he has occupational induced anxiety and various other ailments that don't exist until it's time to work.

He owns a business doing what he likes, vaping. His mom bought it for him and also basically runs it for him. He's got a couch, big screen tv and Xbox hooked up in the shop and he sits and plays video games all day while vaping.

The other day I get a call from his mom asking if his truck was at his house, it was so I said yes. About 10 minutes later I realized he should be at work and that I had accidentally ratted him out. Apparently he's burned out on his "job" and needs time off and likes to close up shop early.

If he doesn't get some sense he'll be unemployed again and doing his job for free...that is...vaping and playing video games.

[Man of Steel]

It's  so hard to watch! Two people I know are forcing  me to witness this right now.

One is a friend I've known for  a decade. He's starting a sustainable home goods line. Mostly paper products. Def a market for this, but everything is being put together in such a half-assed way. I'm in advertising, so he'll ask me for a bunch of advice, but then ignores it. I tried to advise him to keep the range streamlined at first and to put a lot of thought into branding and packaging. He's opting to cut corners with packaging/branding and offer as many product options as possible.   

Another guy is a trainer at my gym. A young guy, nice kid who is attempting to be a social media guru. He printed up some shirts (gave me one), started profiles on every social network and is offering meal plans and whatnot. Nothing wrong with hustling, but he's just a regular guy with abs. He doesn't have an extreme personality or even unusual insight into training. It's not as awkward watching him find his way. I don't think he'll blow up, but he's showing initiative and he'll be able to take what he's learned and apply it to his next venture.

If your advice tells them exactly what they want to hear they'll follow it.  If it doesn't they won't.

[Victor VonDoom]

I have a relative (not by blood) who never would keep a job. Always getting fired for failing drug tests, texting on the job, or just plumb quit. Wouldn't be a taster in a pie factory. As with most generation nothingness he has occupational induced anxiety and various other ailments that don't exist until it's time to work.

He owns a business doing what he likes, vaping. His mom bought it for him and also basically runs it for him. He's got a couch, big screen tv and Xbox hooked up in the shop and he sits and plays video games all day while vaping.

The other day I get a call from his mom asking if his truck was at his house, it was so I said yes. About 10 minutes later I realized he should be at work and that I had accidentally ratted him out. Apparently he's burned out on his "job" and needs time off and likes to close up shop early.

If he doesn't get some sense he'll be unemployed again and doing his job for free...that is...vaping and playing video games.

Bah!  Doom disapproves.

[Irongrip400]

It's  so hard to watch! Two people I know are forcing  me to witness this right now.

One is a friend I've known for  a decade. He's starting a sustainable home goods line. Mostly paper products. Def a market for this, but everything is being put together in such a half-assed way. I'm in advertising, so he'll ask me for a bunch of advice, but then ignores it. I tried to advise him to keep the range streamlined at first and to put a lot of thought into branding and packaging. He's opting to cut corners with packaging/branding and offer as many product options as possible.  

Another guy is a trainer at my gym. A young guy, nice kid who is attempting to be a social media guru. He printed up some shirts (gave me one), started profiles on every social network and is offering meal plans and whatnot. Nothing wrong with hustling, but he's just a regular guy with abs. He doesn't have an extreme personality or even unusual insight into training. It's not as awkward watching him find his way. I don't think he'll blow up, but he's showing initiative and he'll be able to take what he's learned and apply it to his next venture.

I'd say the second guy has minimal overhead, he could do that shit from his house.  Might not be a bad gig.  The first guy though, if he has no idea about business and marketing, is probably doomed to fail.  I know as a friend you are supposed to be supportive, but being a business owner is no joke. 

Most people think if they own the business and their name is on it, all they have to do is put in 40-50 hours a week and live like a fat cat.  The reality is, sometimes you own the business and sometimes it owns you.  50 hour weeks are for non hackers.

[Al Doggity]

I'd say the second guy has minimal overhead, he could do that shit from his house.  Might not be a bad gig.  The first guy though, if he has no idea about business and marketing, is probably doomed to fail.  I know as a friend you are supposed to be supportive, but being a business owner is no joke. 

Most people think if they own the business and their name is on it, all they have to do is put in 40-50 hours a week and live like a fat cat.  The reality is, sometimes you own the business and sometimes it owns you.  50 hour weeks are for non hackers.

I think that a big part of having the entrepreneurial spirit is not being able to think about details.

[dr.chimps]

The Leftorium.

[el numero uno]

I have a relative (not by blood) who never would keep a job. Always getting fired for failing drug tests, texting on the job, or just plumb quit. Wouldn't be a taster in a pie factory. As with most generation nothingness he has occupational induced anxiety and various other ailments that don't exist until it's time to work.

He owns a business doing what he likes, vaping. His mom bought it for him and also basically runs it for him. He's got a couch, big screen tv and Xbox hooked up in the shop and he sits and plays video games all day while vaping.

The other day I get a call from his mom asking if his truck was at his house, it was so I said yes. About 10 minutes later I realized he should be at work and that I had accidentally ratted him out. Apparently he's burned out on his "job" and needs time off and likes to close up shop early.

If he doesn't get some sense he'll be unemployed again and doing his job for free...that is...vaping and playing video games.

Didn't know you and Wiggs were relatives.

[robcguns]

Didn't know you and Wiggs were relatives.

Lmao