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Visitor Comment:

If you know at your age that you want to live in the world of business, then it makes sense to learn the basics of finance, accounting, marketing, economics, psychology, history, philosophy, science, computer systems design & operation, and art history.

You will use the substance of most of those academic studies at various times over the course of a successful business career. If you learn concepts and discern the relevant substance of these courses, you will be prepared to test your business acumen in nearly any industry. You will be prepared to accept a wide variety of challenges, learn industry basics, and hold a job while making personal progress.

Also, you will have acquired the broad knowledge to pragmatically handle the world. You will have the potential to adapt to the world as it changes and presents new opportunities for those who are able to perceive them early.

There is little need to focus on business administration per se because if you learn a broad range of subjects, you will know how to operate successfully in business environments.

Select a college that offers a broad liberal arts curriculum and is populated with people who have goals and lifestyles similar to yours. You may be fortunate and meet people in college who you befriend and stay friends with over your lifetime.

Start your college career by taking a wide variety of courses. That way you will experience first-hand some advanced thinking in areas that present concepts and thoughts that you may not have ever considered. During your first or second year if you are serious thinker, you may become intrigued by specific subject material and -- if fortunate -- meet a special teacher who is knowledgeable in that area. Discuss your evolving career thoughts selectively with your teachers. It is possible that some of them have real-world experience in a field that interests you.

Acquire functional skills first. Before starting a business you must know and understand concepts and operational aspects of the underlying business and its products. Therefore, select your first job as if it were exactly what it will be:  Your first career learning experience. The optimal first job may not pay the highest salary, but may prepare you best for later career situations when you are older, more settled, and your choices are limited.

It is helpful to know business administration and accounting, but unless you know the products and how to market well whatever it is that your employer or your business produces, you will not sell much product and, therefore will not have revenue to account for nor employees to administer.

Once you understand and can sell product, you can hire -- with great difficulty & perseverance -- honest, competent employees to help you build your own business or your division of an existing corporation.

Peter K., IL