The Hard Truths About Being Young & Running Business

Artwork By: Stara Arts

When you’re young and decide to start a business, people often clap for you at first. “So inspiring!” “Such a go-getter!” But behind the praise lies a truth few talk about: random strangers will support you more than your own family.

It’s one of the hardest lessons to learn.

You might expect your family to be your biggest cheerleaders. But they often react with cautious politeness or even doubt. You’ll share your new launch, your big idea, and instead of orders or referrals you’ll get “That’s nice, but are you sure?”

Meanwhile, someone you’ve never met will place an order at 2 a.m. Someone you only know online will share your post enthusiastically. A new connection will recommend you to a paying client.

Why?

Because strangers see you as you are now. They don’t carry all the family memories of you being a kid. They don’t feel protective in the same way. They’re not afraid you’ll fail and hurt yourself or the family’s reputation.

Family often wants to keep you safe. And to them, safety means something proven. They don’t want you to risk your savings or sanity on something untested. So they question you. They caution you. Sometimes it comes from love. But it can feel like doubt. 

Strangers, though, don’t have that baggage. They just want what you’re offering if it’s good. They’re open to seeing you succeed.

It’s painful at first to realize this. You want your family’s enthusiasm and approval. But often, you have to learn to appreciate quiet support, even when it’s not financial or promotional. And you learn to be grateful for those strangers who become your earliest fans.

But that’s just the first hard truth.

Here are three more truths about running a business when you’re young:

1. You’ll Have to Prove Yourself Twice as Much

People will doubt you just because you’re young.

They’ll ask about your experience. They’ll speak slowly to you in meetings. They’ll assume you don’t know what you’re doing even when you’re doing it better than they ever did.

It can be exhausting. But it also makes you stronger. You’ll get really good at letting your work speak for itself. You’ll learn to present yourself professionally. You’ll hold your ground.

Being underestimated can be frustrating but it can also be an advantage if you’re prepared.

2. You’ll Work Way More Than You Think

Forget the fantasy of working a couple hours from the beach. When you’re young and just starting out, you’re the entire company: sales, marketing, customer service, accountant.

Your friends might be out on Friday night while you’re sending invoices or packing orders.

It’s lonely sometimes.

You have to love what you’re building enough to choose it over short-term fun. And you’ll need to learn to rest, too. Burnout can hit you hard if you don’t pace yourself even at 23.

3. Your Mindset Will Make or Break You

This one is so real. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you give up too soon, it won’t matter.

Being young means you don’t always have a cushion to fall back on. So when things go wrong, and they will, it hits harder. The first time you get a complaint or miss a sales goal, the doubt can be brutal.

You’ll have to learn to be your own biggest supporter. To choose not to spiral when things get tough. To ask, “What can I learn?” instead of “Why me?”

Because in the end, the people who make it aren’t always the smartest. They’re the ones who kept going.

The Silver Lining

None of this is meant to scare you away. I just want you to go in with open eyes.

Being young is also an advantage. You have energy. New ideas. You can take risks that someone older, with a mortgage and kids, might not.

And while family support can be complicated, you will find your community. You’ll find mentors who want to see you win. Customers who become loyal fans. Friends who understand the hustle.

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, expect it to be hard. Expect to feel let down sometimes. But do it anyway.

Because the world needs what you have to offer.

And while your family might not buy in at first, there will be people out there who see you, truly see you and choose to believe in you from day one.

They might be strangers now. But they won’t stay strangers for long.

Best wishes, 

Muskaan Rudhra