Got a great idea for a business? Do research, audit a business class, interview local business owners, or talk to your mentors and find out what it takes to start your own business. 

Career

Learn how to start your own business. 

Read tips for aspiring entrepreneurs from Twitter's cofounder on how to start a business, create a valuable product, and build a team. You can start now with the first tip: Put your ideas on paper!

Advice

Read a CEO's tips for young entrepreneurs.

Start taking lessons online, in school, through a mentor, etc. that will help you build your leadership skills and prepare you to take charge. 

Skills

Take some lessons in leadership. 

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

First Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.

Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.

Analyze operations to evaluate performance of a company or its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.

Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of organizations or businesses to ensure continuing operations, to maximize returns on investments, or to increase productivity.

Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.

Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.

Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.

Direct human resources activities, including the approval of human resource plans or activities, the selection of directors or other high-level staff, or establishment or organization of major departments.

Establish departmental responsibilities and coordinate functions among departments and sites.

Preside over, or serve on, boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards.

Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.

Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes.

Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.

Deliver speeches, write articles, or present information at meetings or conventions to promote services, exchange ideas, or accomplish objectives.

Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.

Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting businesses or program services.

Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups.

Administer programs for selection of sites, construction of buildings, or provision of equipment or supplies.

Direct or conduct studies or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility.

Direct or coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.

Make presentations to legislative or other government committees regarding policies, programs, or budgets.

Refer major policy matters to elected representatives for final decisions.

Direct or coordinate activities of businesses involved with buying or selling investment products or financial services.

Conduct or direct investigations or hearings to resolve complaints or violations of laws, or testify at such hearings.

Direct non-merchandising departments, such as advertising, purchasing, credit, or accounting.

Prepare bylaws approved by elected officials, and ensure that bylaws are enforced.

Serve as liaisons between organizations, shareholders, and outside organizations.

Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees.

Represent organizations or promote their objectives at official functions, or delegate representatives to do so.

Organize or approve promotional campaigns.

Nominate citizens to boards or commissions.

10-key calculators

Desktop computers

Laptop computers

Personal computers

Personal digital assistants PDA

Smartphones

Universal serial bus USB flash drives

Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat

AdSense Tracker

Atlassian JIRA

Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge

ComputerEase Construction Accounting

Database reporting software

Databox

Email software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Exact Software Macola ES Labor Performance

Extensible markup language XML

Fund accounting software

Graphic presentation software

Halogen e360

Halogen ePraisal

HCSS HeavyBid

HCSS HeavyJob

Human resource information system HRIS

Infor SSA Human Capital Management

Intuit QuickBooks

Listserv software

Lyris HQ Web-Analytics Solution

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Dynamics AX

Microsoft Dynamics GP

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft FRx

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft Word

Nedstat Sitestat

Norchard Solutions Succession Wizard

Online advertising reporting software

Oracle E-Business Suite

Oracle PeopleSoft

Oracle Siebel Server Sync

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

Relational database management software

Sage 50 Accounting

Structured query language SQL

Web browser software

Try and fail. Then try again and look at how good you've gotten.

I lead a team; come up with new ideas; balance the books; sell our services; talk to the media; write copy and blog posts; use social media; prepare a plan to launch new ideas.

You should stay in grad school and get your degree.

Sam Davidson

CEO

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Entrepreneurship

Non-Profit Organizations

Being Creative

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Peers:

Interviewed By

Anonymous Student

Sam Davidson

CEO

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Entrepreneurship

Non-Profit Organizations

Being Creative

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Peers:

Interviewed By

Anonymous Student

Related Leaders