In the Philippines and some parts of Asia where Iʼve spoken and gave some business seminars, Iʼve made some discoveries of the things that matter in starting a business, maintaing one, or putting a business model to a higher level.

[caption id="attachment_2796" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Business evangelist Lloyd Luna"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_8159.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2796" title="Filipino business consultant" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_8159-300x225.jpg" alt="Filipino Business consultant" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Here are some ideas if youʼre trying to gather some “relevant stuffs” in business. Take note of these essentials and make sure to feel its message.

Age.
Business is not about the age. While many people would still try to say, “age does matter” in case youʼre starting a business or attempting to run one, there are many instances that tells us itʼs only absurd to hang on to that old belief. People who make a big deal about “age” may not understand that age is simply a number—nothing more and nothing less. So what if youʼre only in junior high or have failed to take college education. So what if youʼre already a retired employee. Does it have anything to do with your quest to entrepreneurship?

The answer is no. Hereʼs why.

People believe that, “Experience goes with age.” I donʼt think so. I think experience and age donʼt exactly go together. Look around you and I guarantee you, youʼre going to see people in their 50s and yet they still donʼt gain necassary experience to create a better quality of life. Look around some more and youʼre going to see people in their 20s and theyʼre already making something work.

In business, age doesnʼt matter. Itʼs only a “common belief” that we will have to grow old so we can gain some wisdom. Oppps. Not always true. There are many gray-haired people out there who never gotten any wisdom at all. And hey, look for some young people in your neighborhood and viola, they seem to gain some wisdom from somewhere.

How old is the founder of Facebook? How old was the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken? I rest my case.

Connection.
If youʼve heard of this: Itʼs not what you know; itʼs who you know. Iʼm afraid youʼre trying to believe in something that donʼt work. Connection for me means something else. Itʼs not what you know. Itʼs not who you know. Itʼs who knows you.

Now, thereʼs a big difference between “who you know” and “who knows you.” When you know some business leaders older than you are, it doesnʼt count and therefore itʼs irrelevant. There may be a million of people more who know who you know. And itʼs not really a noteworthy idea to be proud about it.

I know Donald Trump. But does The Donald know me? No. But if Trump so happened to know me, can I make a deal (regardless of my age)? The answer is yes.

Connection is important. But it must be put in a proper perspective. Donʼt be comfortable knowing people. It can be a good start to know things about these business leaders who are in the position and inﬂuence. But the second great challenge is how they will know things about you. If they know you, then thatʼs the only time you can present or prescribe something.

Family and Education Background
Donʼt get overwhelmed by these Masterʼs or Doctorʼs degree. If you came from a rich and well-established family, you cannot be comfortable either. What you take in college or your social status has a very little to do with business.

While I donʼt fully discount that they can help you create a better leverage with the people you talk to every day of your life, I think education and family background do well if youʼre an employee.

Iʼve discovered that most entrepreneurs are those C and D students. Their employees are those A and B. Why is this so?

C and D students have nothing to lose because they never had anything in the ﬁrst place.

On the other hand, A and B students were able to build a reputation and they simply canʼt afford to commit any mistake in their life so they settle for what is “safe”—therefore they work as employees.

Donʼt make a big deal out of your education and family. Iʼm sure when you start looking at the biography of the worldʼs most successful people, youʼre going to ﬁd out that they donʼt make a huge issue about their degree or family background. At the end of the they, people will do business with you not because of what you ﬁnished in college or who your parents are but because of your contribute to them.

So those are the three thoughts that every aspiring entrepreneurs should know and understand. There are just too many people to insist what they want you to believe. But if youʼre going to take a closer look, youʼll ﬁnd out that what separates the successful people from the rest of the crowd is their ability to work on whatʼs relevant and forget about what is not.