Make Serious Money in College
Article by: Nikisha Thompson
June 6, 2009
The most helpful advice I can offer to college students and new graduates is to take control of your future right now, not later. Your access to a college campus puts you in a great position to earn serious money for yourself. Many waste precious years living off of loans (that must be paid back), working part-time jobs, or pursuing “quick cash” methods that will barely cover your basic needs. If you had the choice between working part-time for a few hundreds per month and working part-time for a few thousand per month, which would you choose? I would assume that because you’re reading this article, the second option is more appealing to you. This is very possible to achieve, but it cannot be done by everyone. Here’s why:
To earn serious cash while in college you cannot depend on anyone’s paycheck; you must create your own. The work involved in creating your own income opportunity can be extensive. The opportunities must be researched, preparation must be done to get yourself organized, and then comes the hard part: putting your plan into action. How serious are you about making money? If you would like to achieve financial freedom now and not have to wait 5 - 10 years down the road, then make the decision to take these steps and commit to being successful.
Many students have the entrepreneurial spirit, but most don’t dream big enough. There are a few who have understood the money making potential that lies in college campuses and have achieved REAL financial success by working smarter. They may put in the same amount of time as someone running errands or washing cars, but their output is much greater. For example, rather than babysitting one child, you could form a network of babysitters and earn income from the work of dozens of others. You are not actually putting in thousands of hours, but your income will reflect thousands of hours of work.
I have met students who actually make more money with their campus-based business than most new graduates make in their first few years on the job. The success is in your reach, but you must actually take the steps you need to get there. The hardest thing about starting a new business is that progress is only made when you are working. Eventually as your business grows, you can hire help and the business will work for you, but you are the only one who can get it off of the ground.
Many student businesses come and go but some of the most successful one I have seen include the creation of a campus directory, food services, and becoming a representative for reputable companies. I go into detail on how to get started in these businesses in an easy to read booklet: College Town Money Making Ideas. This booklet contains 15 ideas that are perfect for college towns, along with startup and marketing advice. Other ideas that have proven to be successful are detailed in my Entrepreneur’s Corner and include: Affiliate Marketing, Student Welcome Service, Ebook Writing, Campus Network, and Tutoring Services.
All of these opportunities hold the key to serious income, but only your preparation and hard work will unlock it. Don’t make the mistake that others have made and assume that by attending college, you are guaranteed income. College guarantees you an education, but only you can guarantee your income. Spend your years wisely, and shoot for an opportunity that put you on a path of financial prosperity.