I'm a 13 year old and I want your help..

Firstly, my english isn't the very best. I get A's/6's on most english tests at school, but I live in Norway so I may I have a bit of grammar errors and stuff like that, but hopefully
you're able to understand what I write.

I'll probably spend a long time making this post, so I would appreaciate serious answers and not like "you'll never make it kid". Whatever people say I'll make it to the point where I can buy my own supercar and hopefully get the "millionaire" status.

My dream: Have my favourite car by the age of 25-30 or before.

Hi. My name is Simon. I'm a normal 13 year old living in Norway. Well, no, actually. I'm not that normal guy that plays football all day like my other friends.

I'm that guy that likes to sit inside, with my computer/PS4. Most of the time I play games, but from time to time I like to sit down and try some programming, even though I suck atm.

I've read and watched videos about people that have been able to buy their dream car (mine: Ferrari 488/Lamborghini Huracan) and live the millionaire dream. I want to get to that point too.

I've realised that the "easiest" way to get rich at a young age is by programming apps, or something like that. So I want to be an iOS developer. Yes, I should probably wait and "enjoy my life as a kid", but I'm often actually tired of being a kid. "No, you can't play that game! You're too young", or "Haha, you're only like a 13 year old ****kid".

I thought about being a doctor when I grow up. But that's kinda boring, and I don't want to be a doctor. I have never wanted to be a doctor, but it's a good way to earn a lot of money. Since I have a big passion for PC's and stuff like that, I would really, really want to live of making apps.

Not just earning enough money to survive, but preferably enough money to buy my dream car and live a good, amazing life so that when I die, if it should be in 30 years of cancer or in 80 years, just because of a natural death, I can truly say calmly to myself "Simon, you've lived an amazing life with amazing people, and you've had a lot of experiences".

Basically I want to ask all you developers out there - where should I start? I tried to follow a "How to make a Tower Defense game" video (with Eclipse, Java on Windows, made for PC) but I mostly just copied what he did (he wasn't really a good "teacher"), and now I don't really member anything of it.

Coding seems so complicated to remember, how do you remember everything? So you guys that have been able to buy your dream cars from making iOS apps. Where did you start? Can you tell me about your history? Like what inspired you, what you started watching, did you start straight at creating apps or did you start at like PHP (making simple websites)? I probably want to use Swift to make apps. Is that a complicated program?

I need to buy a mac to develope, right? Any other things I need to buy? I know I need like a $99 dollar license a year to be an Apple developer or something. So I just want someone to teach me everything (if they can).

A lot of people probably think that I'm stupid, but I can't really pay money. I don't want to tell my mom yet. Oh, I haven't told you.. My dad died in 2009, only a few days before christmas because of cancer. He was an amazing dad. He used to play games with me since I was little, and was a huge inspiration. I'm so sad that he passed away. He wasn't a developer, but I think he could help me a lot out just by watching video tutorials and stuff with me.. I don't want to get emotional here, so let's not talk more about that.

My "dream" of what I can get out of this post is: Someone decides to be one of the best persons in the world and add me on Skype or something like that, and we can talk about developing, and you can learn me stuff, tell me where to start etc?

Thank you so much for reading this. Even though you probably think I'm a retard, liar or something else I don't care. I just want to get the most out of my life.

Don't tell me that "you have a lot left of your life, don't start yet". I want to get into this.

Thanks for all the inspiration yet. I hardly believe that I will get replies on this post, but it's worth a try..

- Simon

PS: I should probably post this on like a developer forum, but I want help from the guys that have successed. Which ideas did you have? Which kind of app? How did you go from being a "noob" to be a millionaire? What did you do? Everything.. Even though, as said, probably no one will tell me or care. Have a great day!

 

"you'll never make it kid"








j/k

 

I can't offer any specific advice about App development, I'm afraid. It's not my area of expertise at all.

However I did want to respond to say two things. First, welcome. With the drive and ambition evident in this post, I'm certain you will go far.

Second, don't let anyone tell you that you are too young to get started. If this is something you are passionate about, start now and give it your all. Should someone your age spend more time 'just being a kid'? Only you know what is the right balance for you. All work and no play is not good. Neither is all play and no work. Find your own balance, and you will do well. Find your own balance, but never forget that it must be a balance.

Again, welcome. And even though I can't advise on your specific questions, I hope something I have said may encourage you to keep pursuing your dream.

Good luck!!!

 

Start thinking about what you can earn money on, and eventually you will come up with an idea that will suit you. Sometimes you will sit on an idea for years without having the money you need to start - but that isn't a bad thing at all, because when you eventually will have the money your idea will have been perfected in preperation.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the replies so far. And btw when i said "i dont want to pay" i meant for a tutorial.

Hopefully a developer answers too

 

Oh, and you guys that already commented - how did you buy your dreamcar(s)?

 

Read, read and read some more. Plenty of tech guys have written volumes on what you are wanting to do.

WIRED is a nice launching point for info.

Also believe in yourself to an extreme. You will have people telling you every reason under the sun why you won't make it. Listen to the critiques but also be knowledgable enough to know when the critiques are just bs.

 

ROB: Give this kid a free pass to SILVER! I'm impressed!

 

Well Simon as someone who has been told all their life that they cant do something I can tell you one thing, BELIEVE YOU CAN, and if you do anything is possible. Just one thing I will say, nice cars are a good goal, but being a good man is a much better one!

 

There's no shortcut to wealth. Work hard, at whatever you do. You can start a business now, do it. Doesn't have to be high tech. Mow lawns. Learn to do handyman stuff. Charge people for putting together their Ikea furniture. My son taught himself to repair iPhones and made about $2000 over a few months while he was in high school, reparing phones for other students. It was good pocket money. He started another business a few months ago that barely broke even, but he's learning. My other son has an online business and is making more $ per week than his friends that have part time jobs. He works MAYBE 30 minutes a week. A friend in college started mowing lawns with his brother for extra cash. It grew into a landscaping business. When was 35, he was making $250k a year from it and by then all he did was keep the books on the side while he had a full time job. Wealth is cumulative. It builds. Knowledge is the same way. Eventually it adds up.

I was at a car event a while ago and a friend was there with his F50. He and I were chatting and a young guy came up to him and asked "what do you do?". His answer was "I have a lot of businesses". Don't get hung up on the app development, use it as a piece of a larger strategy. Try lots of things and keep them all working until you realize they aren't viable or something else proves more valuable.

 

Ask this question over on Quora.com

It's heavily trafficked by the Silicon Valley crowd. Will get better answers there.

 

The first dollar you save will make you the most money.

 

Keep in mind programmers are a dime a dozen these days. The vast majority make an o.k. living , not getting filthy rich.

My brother was about 11 or 12 when he got his first computer. Back in 1982/3 time frame. Predates the world wide web. He learned to program and even got programing jobs as a teenager. He's made decent money, but wouldn't consider him rich. Through him I know a lot of tech people. Only a handful that I would consider rich. They didn't make it off their programs, it was on stock options.

 

+1

I went through 4 "failed" startups - Many, many, worthless options before the 5th one worked out. I went into *all* of them believing this was the one, but learnt a lot in all of them before one turned out to be worth anything........

And as others have said. "Welcome". Don't worry about your English - Believe me, we have many "adults" here who don't communicate as well as you!

Good luck,
Ian

 

A long read but well worth the time for anyone who's interested in coding.

Paul Ford: What is Code? | Bloomberg

 

The vast majority of start ups fail. I've been involved in a countless number of them, including tech companies. Fortunately, I only needed a few cents to make good money. My father did several tech companies in the 80's as a securities underwriter. Its how we got computers in the home early on.

My brother has been programming seriously since 1988. He's come close to hitting a home run, but most of the companies he has been involved with end up bankrupt. The problem he has with getting new jobs is formal education. He skipped university and college, he knew more then the instructors. No degree means he is often over looked.

I believe he would have had more success with a degree. He now works for a company doing some kind of app for the government. He makes nearly $10k per month, not rich, but a decent living.

 

Best advice I can think of

If you like doing Apps, focus on that & get really good at it. If you enjoy your work wore not really working.

Move to a country w less tax. No point in making lots of $$$ if your country's going to take most of it.

Invest in something you like cus you might get stuck with it

Invest in something you know, better chance of getting a good deal

 

Good luck my friend. My advice, is find a mentor and a coach. All the best.

 

Any more replies/developers?

 

Simon,
The wealth of experienced knowledge you can/will receive here is a good start and good on you for jumping in face first. Grow thick skin.

Keep your dreams alive because that is all that really matters.

 

I can only say get a degree. My brother started his own company at 25. He turned his bulletin board (precursor to web pages) into an internet provision company in 94. It was tough raising money, nobody would bet on someone with no provable education. His second problem was the big phone and cable companies began providing internet and crushed him like a bug. He turned to web page development, he worked for the designer of a program called Dbase, so he had extensive database experience. Did well for a few years designing e-commerce sites. He lost several large government design jobs because of no education. Self taught, is not the best route.

 

Norway and the US are vastly different in terms of how people define success and the infrastructure/support systems for entrepreneurs. There's not many startups in Norway for a reason. I spent about 3 months in Oslo and Tromso so I know a bit about the landscape over there.

My suggestion is that rather than trying to revolve your life around an object of desire, you actually live and enjoy your life. Material objects come and go, enjoy the journey. I'm not saying you shouldn't save and work hard, you should, but there must be a balance between goals, realistic expectations and enjoying life.

If you're looking to learn how to code, you're in luck since the industry is really eager to teach young generations like yourself how to do so and we have setup an awesome resource just for this purpose.

Anybody can learn | Code.org

For reference I have over 10 years of software engineering and management experience at a large multinational with 100s of millions of users using the products I've worked on every day. This is a really awesome field if you enjoy challenging problems and changing people's lives.

 

^Simply this.^
Life is terribly short but when you are young it is not so. Play football (if you like it) play your computer games or play out (as we did in the 70's) think of "Stand By Me" or another great SK movie, "It". Though there weren't any monsters we had a great time being out and doing stuff.
I'm telling you to enjoy childhood. My Ferrari is only worth about £70k and my other two cars about £6k between them. I'm not wealthy, but I have a rich life, with good people for friends and a great family.
My father died in 2013 and he'd worked most of his life retiring late (75) as a joiner. My parents were (mum is still alive and well) not wealthy but had/have a good life.

Don't put too much emphasis on what you are going to do as an adult. Let it happen and enjoy being a kid.
I have very, very few regrets in life and would change very, very few.

I work in IT and do a little programming, not a lot but a bit. I too find it interesting and I am average at best. The thing is as mentioned to do something you enjoy, you need enough money to live life but seriously you will spend 7/8 hours a day in work. You have to like it a bit . Making [a lot] of money comes second.

I never longed to own a Ferrari, in fact for me it was always going to be a Ford Mustang. Not done that yet but there is still a little time.

 

I don't see anything wrong with trying to plan to be wealthy. Sure you can still have a good life without wealth. But its a lot better with money then without.

My father grew up in poverty. His father was enlisted Canadian Navy, so not paid well. His father joined the Navy during WWII and never left. He was also in Korea during that war. Non officer pay was very low in the 50's and 60's when my father was growing. It was maybe as good as welfare. At 11, my Father got a job at a grocery store, he also had another job delivering newspapers, and another cleaning out chicken coops. At 14 he read an article in the paper about a successful stock broker. He thought to himself, this buying and selling stock is a much easier way to make money! He opened a brokerage account at the same firm the stock broker was at. He lied about his age. Well he didn't make much money, but amazingly he didn't loose much money either. He graduated high school and got into university. Got some finance degree (forget what degree he has). At university a prof told him he'll never make money in stocks. For some reason out of university he joined the Navy as an officer. Met my Mom and got married. I was born and he decided raising a family in the Navy doesn't cut it.

He ended up joining the brokerage firm he opened his first account at. This was in 1975. By 1979, he made over $1million dollars a year. In the late 70's, early 80's a million was a lot of money. He underwrote securities, had several successful hits. By the late 90's, he semi retired, only had five big clients. His commissions with these clients averaged a million per year.

His goal was that his children would never have to work like he did. So far he has succeeded. Normally Id say become a stock broker, but now the clients are not there. You can succeed if you find something you like and do it well. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be rich!

 

Don't try to find a way to make loads of money... that is not a goal but an outcome.

Find something you really enjoy doing - become really good at it, and then use that knowledge to generate your wealth. That way even if the monetary wealth does't materialise you are still living a great life (it is a journey not a destination after all)

What he said! ^


PS: it took me two degrees,lots of hard work, and starting a company to get my dream car (the journey was great - still have the car too!)