College Student Leaves Early, To Pursue Start-Up In Los Angeles...

Heart-beating, messages bullet through the inbox. Pressure from the ones closest in life and the wandering eyes that watch in expectation that everything has been planned to a T. Sitting restlessly in the late afternoon on Friday, or what used to be called "Happy Hour". Job applications by the dozens, sent from sea to shining sea. The constant hours replying to recruiters and scheduling interviews has just begun, choices among the hundreds, and what to choose? People have expressed their opinions on, one's knowledge acquired at university might not be the true path in their career. So where would one go? What desires does one act upon? What passion does one follow? Monetary freedom? Ability to change the world? With all these thoughts coming to mind, the anxiety might feel paralyzing.

Don't fear the future, I was there.

Entering college I had an entrepreneurial spirit! Excited for what was to come and hungry to grow my network. One of the most amazing pieces of knowledge that I had stubbled upon early was, "Your net-worth, is only as good as your network". I decided to get a LinkedIn account in high school, due to my dad always lecturing me to start your job search before college. I thought he was being a little preemptive, but now I realize why...

5 Reasons why, you should start building your network AND begin your job search!

1. Start Early

Beginning the search can be exhilarating. At the same time it can take time and diligent follow-up in order to land the job of your dreams, directly out of college. Start searching as soon as you can.

LinkedIn is an inexpensive way to start connecting with business owners, career professionals and company recruiters. Its basically your professional social media hub that opens you up to a world of opportunity. If you don't have one make one, the sooner you start filling up your job experience the faster you get noticed.

Diverting from the distraction of simple pleasures, can allow someone to begin connecting to a world of possibility and accomplishment. 90% of young Americans use social media for an average of 5 hours daily (Huffington Post, Science of Texting). Many sites like Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram take up most of the time spent on mobile devices. By focusing more on job searching, it will provide a social platform to interact with connections while keeping a professional resume handy in case an employer is eager to reach out.

When it comes to searching for the right place to call home, the job has to be the right fit and its better to have time and options then to be stuck waiting for an interview, after graduation. Getting out into the universe of jobs is important at a young age, to show ambition and curiosity on what is on the horizon post-graduation.

2. Jump Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Confidence assures success in mastering your craft. Get out there, go and take massive action! It is imperative that you work your power base. Your goals and dreams are on the other side of your comfort zone. If it was easy everyone would be able to do it.

The key in life is being uncomfortable, its what makes us stronger and more willing and able to succeed. The only way you get better at making phone calls is by, making more phone calls. The same goes for knocking on doors, going directly to business owners and providing consistently great service. Talking to professors, or a friends parent, anyone who might be willing to lend an ear to help a hungry young hustler. Do more, so you can live the life you want to in the future years to come.

If you think the grass is greener on the other side its not, you have the ability to create the positive motivation and the flow of momentum in order to carry you to the next level and get an interview. The grass is green on both sides, the only problem is one side isn't nurtured or taken care of. Get out of your comfortability bubble and face the problems and roadblocks head on.

Apply to positions you are interested in, do your research on the company. Search their social media or Glassdoor pages. Add an employee on LinkedIn. Ask questions about the company. Get noticed and reach out. Its important to understand what you are signing up for and getting a good grasp of the most vital tasks at hand and how important it is to jump in with both feet.

Go all in, the more work you do on finding a job the faster the job will find you. Mr. Opportunity is rewarding to the individuals who are punctual, coachable, diligent and courageous. Proactively searching can lead to securing your position and allow you to choose what skills you want to strengthen while finding the right fit for your future endeavors.

3. Be Curious

Curiosity is the most important factor in growth and development, as well as finding your dream position. It feels as though it was an inner desire or passion in the mind looking to solve puzzles and tinker with the experiences life presents. The dexterity of our questioning allows us to become forward thinkers and expand on what we once dreamed about, to turn it into reality.

As students at a university the main tasks at hand are to succeed in your academia, grow your interests and soak up as much knowledge as possible. It is important that you take full advantage of the college opportunity. It will be the time where you have the most amount of freedom to learn about what you enjoy and see yourself doing most.

By being proactive, one will be able to gain an immense amount of knowledge. As well as life long friends, professor recommendations and business connections. This can produce a job offer quickly and put you closer to a decision and direction for your career. Having a well defined exit strategy on your way towards graduation, lifts those who are prepared into a position of great reward. Focus on being a coachable student of the game.

By doing so an individual can give itself a mental inquiry providing extensive amounts of data that can be used to figure out solutions to huge problems.. This can be extremely valuable to a corporation, small business and mentors that might be looking to take on a new member or an advantageous apprentice. Maybe there might be an idea you want to make a start up, by being curious we dive into our inner creativity.

New ideas and innovations allow us to begin a journey into the future of business and financial achievements that can solve problems and make our planet a better place. Every person has the opportunity to be great, the real advancement is to be curious.

4. Search Nationwide and Internationally

Ever think about expanding your base, moving to an area that is completely foreign to you? Whether it be moving from Florida to California, or from the United States to a foreign nation. There are now so many options that are offered to students looking to join the workforce. So many new outlets and unique opportunities have been introduced, from tech to medical research, from marketing to astrophysics. Students can take advantage early and reach out to these companies to figure out what needs to be done to start a career of excitement and adventure!

Open up the possibility to go work in the top of skyscrapers, in downtown Los Angeles or travel to a foreign nation on a work visa. The more time spent looking for foreign, unique outlets, the better chance you have at including travel as a part of your new career. The best way to start is developing a strong resume, learning a new language doesn't hurt either.

The world is yours and everything in it.

Become willing to go out and take a chance on a passion or a dream that might have always been rattling the mind. Was it to study fashion in London, or to sell solar in California, or produce music in Toronto; To teach students in foreign schools english and learn different walks of life? Try to expand your cultural knowledge and inner interests on the unknown, you may and your strongest passions.

Go to the career center at your university or the business down the street. The more you get your voice and name out into the open, the better chance of hooking an interested employer. Employers look for high performers, people willing to do things that others feel might be busy work. Go to job events and cold call and door knock. Do what others don't do now, so you can live like others can't later.

5. Never, Ever, Ever Give Up

Its important that this last point is taken seriously, at times life might seem hard. It might feel difficult to show up because of the mental and physical battles. The mind and the body face constant challenges on a daily basis. Stay consistent, keep pushing, keep chipping away. One day you will achieve the goals and ambitions, the career and the life most people only dream and fantasize about.

Its important to remember that things will work out. A fundamental flaw is not pushing your potential and striving to get the most out of what your committed to. It might feel like you are unimportant or lesser then what you see on a peers resume's. It might feel like you've hit a wall. The vigor faith brings, is tremendous and can keep you from hitting the surgical bottom. By doing so this lifts you higher into a position that you clash and claw to achieve.

Be yourself, step out of your shell, you don't grow by living in the shadows. Get active. Its important to let go of the fear and nerves that come with searching for a new company. Focus on what unique skills can boost performance, and what classes needed in order to become a top performer post-grad. 

Develop your road map and stick to it, places and people might change but the desire to succeed will keep you on a steady path. One's failure to prepare, prepares one for failure. Get ahead, and stay ahead. If you're behind, start immediately its never too early or too late to put in your full potential.

Believe

So with all that said, I did leave college early to join a start up in Los Angeles. Boosting myself into a high performing corporate vehicle, leading the renewable industry. I still earned my degree after 3 months while in my fast start blitz. That was my path. What is yours?