When it comes to a career in business, U.S. teens believe that success in the classroom can lead to success in the boardroom. According to a recent poll, more than nine out of 10 teens believe that a college education will help them successfully start and grow a business.
Overwhelmingly, the majority of teens indicated they would like to start their own business someday, with over 70 percent affirming their interest in becoming entrepreneurs. The students' responses provided the key findings of the fifth annual JA Worldwide Interprise Poll on Entrepreneurship. The poll was administered online in early 2006.
Additionally, 75 percent of students with family members who have started their own businesses said they would like to start their own enterprise someday, compared to 64 percent of students whose family or relatives are not self-employed. The most popular type of business, selected by nearly a third of respondents, was "professional services," such as a lawyer, insurance agent or accountant.
Responses to the poll also indicated that male teens were twice as likely as their female counterparts to indicate that starting a business today would be "very easy" or "easy."
Nearly half the teens queried (just over 48 percent) believe the greatest motivator for starting a business is to "have a great idea/want to see it in action" followed by the desire to "earn more than they could working for someone else," selected by just over 25 percent. Few believed (about 2 percent) that the inability to find desired employment is a reason people start their own business.
The Web site has recently been expanded to include tools such as a self-assessment, activities to inform would-be entrepreneurs about various forms of start-up capital, and a volunteer guide geared to help adult mentors assist students as they navigate the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship.
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and entrepreneurship.
To provide students with the tools they need to start and develop their own businesses, JA Worldwide-also known as Junior Achievement-joined with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop an online resource called www.mindyourownbiz.org.
For more information about the organization and the poll, visit www.ja.org.
Strictly business-In a recent poll, over 70 percent of the teens queried affirmed their interest in becoming entrepreneurs. |
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