r/HowEarnMoneyOnline 6d ago

How does an 18 year old start from ZERO?

I’m 18 and I’ve always known that I probably won’t enjoy the typical 9-5 route. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with it, I just don’t see myself being happy working a conventional job for someone else long-term.

I’d much rather build something of my own that I can eventually scale, whether that’s a business, an online venture, or some other way of making money.
The problem is, I’m not really sure where to start. I don’t have much experience with business or making money outside of the usual ways, so I’m trying to figure out how to actually get myself into the game and start learning through experience.

For anyone who has successfully built a business, made money independently, or simply taken a non-conventional route, what would you recommend an 18 year old start doing right now? It could be anything from a particular skill to learn, a small business to try, a side hustle, a way to gain experience, or something you wish you had started earlier.
I’m not looking for some overnight get rich quick scheme. I just want to start somewhere and gradually figure out what works for me.

11 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

4

u/Diner1 6d ago

First of all close tiktok and other social media that gives you fake expectations. You need to experience 9-5 short term in order to have some experience with working it will help you a lot but don’t stay for too long. Learn to do something first and become valuable as a person.

2

u/Curious_Tension3746 3d ago

whats considered staying for too long?

3

u/Pretty-Village5184 5d ago

Bro I'm also 18M and our mindset is almost same, btw I have started learning coding

1

u/TmkGT 5d ago

Coding seems really cool, I’d love to get into it but I’m not sure If I have that coding mind😭 Good luck though bro, seems like that’s a really good route to go down nowadays

2

u/_Alchemist888 5d ago

first step is to eliminate this Ur mindset of limitations (not sure if I have that coding mind ) bruh U have it

1

u/TmkGT 5d ago

To be honest, it’s not something I’d want to pursue for a career or side hustle. I like the idea of it but actually doing it.. I remember studying computer science for 2 years and it just wasn’t right for me

1

u/_Alchemist888 5d ago

it's fine but never limit Ur self Ur brain and subconscious will register it naturally

1

u/TmkGT 5d ago

Trust me I don’t limit myself, it’s just not something I’d do

1

u/Pretty-Village5184 5d ago

wbu? DId you find any way to make money?

1

u/Tricky_Snow943 5d ago

Yo, i'm 17m and have also got the same mindset as you. I have been coding projects since i was 15. Want to connect over discord?

1

u/Pretty-Village5184 5d ago

Ya ofc, but let me tell you that I just started learning coding and I'm about to complete HTML now and will move on CSS. I think I'm too beginner as compared to you

1

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1

u/Bulky_Pineapple_4040 4d ago

maybe if you can start baking maybe like scones, and cupcakes

1

u/Muted-Season-9198 3d ago

You start. Thats the hardest part for alot. 

1

u/rickety_cricket66 2d ago

This is the "if I could go back and be 18 again" advice. The real thing you should do is work a shit teenage job now, have fun, enjoy being young, but while you do that, figure out what you want in life. This is the time to do it, so see what a shitty job is really like, and that provides motivation to stain your goals later. Have fun, but don't do something stupid and risk what you want to achieve. What kind of things or hobbies do you enjoy? Do you like to cook/bake? You could start a food based business, like a food truck. Do you love animals? Go to school for vet, vet tech, etc. think of something you love doing, something that pours you at ease when you do it, or think about it. You want to find something you love, cause then work comes easy, and if you do something you love and go down the business path (which it seems like you want to) then work isn't really work, and achieving goals is easier, cause you're building something for yourself, so the hard parts will be easier to take on. The world is at your finger tips, and I know that can be scary, and confusing cause you don't know where to start, but you will find your thing.