How to Start a Business Young: What Actually Works

What does teen entrepreneur success really look like behind the scenes? In a candid conversation on The Profit Connections Podcast, Connor Hiebel — teen entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of Island Microgreens — pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a meaningful business from a young age. From overcoming paralyzing video anxiety to cracking the YouTube algorithm, Connor's story is a masterclass in consistency, patience, and the power of small, intentional actions over time.

The Reality of Starting Young

Starting a business at a young age comes with a unique set of challenges and advantages. One of the most common hurdles Connor faced was judgment. People assumed his business was just a hobby, or that his parents were doing all the work. But as he explains, having parents involved in a teen's business is not a red flag — it's how businesses work. No company is built by one person alone. The support of family is a feature, not a flaw.

The greatest advantage young entrepreneurs have, however, is time. Starting early gives you the runway to make mistakes, learn from them, and build momentum without the crushing pressure of needing immediate results. Connor is clear: the first two to three years of any business are typically filled with errors. Instead of fearing those mistakes, embrace them as the curriculum. Consistency and staying in the game are far more important than getting everything right from the start.

Overcoming the Fear of Video

Public speaking is widely cited as one of the most common human fears, and for Connor, the anxiety was paralyzing. When he first started his YouTube channel, he was so terrified that he could only record one sentence at a time before needing to pause — sometimes on the verge of tears. It took him an entire year just to complete his first 10 videos. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his social anxiety was so severe he could barely stay on a phone call for more than a minute.

His story is a powerful reminder that confidence on video is not an innate talent — it is built through repetition. As Connor puts it, the word "succeed" literally contains the word "suck seed." You have to be bad at something before you can get good at it. Even Mr. Beast's first video was terrible. The key is to push through the initial discomfort, embrace the awkward early attempts, and trust that with practice, it becomes easier and eventually fun. Warren Buffett himself has noted that mastering the ability to speak and communicate effectively can raise your professional value by as much as 50%.

Why YouTube is Your Secret Weapon

When deciding where to focus your social media energy, it's essential to understand the unique strengths of each platform. TikTok skews younger and thrives on fast, entertaining content. Facebook spans all demographics. Pinterest is heavily visual and female-leaning. But YouTube, Connor argues, is in a category of its own — and it's the platform that has driven the most long-term growth for Island Microgreens.

The reason is simple: YouTube is a search engine, and it is owned by Google. When someone searches "how to grow microgreens" on either YouTube or Google, Connor's videos appear at the top — above websites, blogs, and other content. This means that a video created today can continue driving traffic and new customers for years into the future. For any business that involves education, tutorials, or how-to content, YouTube is not just a nice-to-have — it is a foundational growth strategy.

The Power of Mentorship

Navigating the overwhelming early stages of building a business is incredibly difficult to do alone. Connor credits much of his ability to push through his video anxiety to his YouTube mentor, Amanda Vander Gulick — a veteran creator whose tutorials on baking rank at the very top of Google search results. A great mentor does more than provide strategy; they hold space for you when you feel like giving up.

Connor's advice is simple: find someone who has already walked the path you want to walk. They have already made the mistakes, learned the algorithms, and survived the slow seasons. By working with a mentor, you can compress years of learning into months. Whether you're a teen entrepreneur or an adult launching a new venture, investing in mentorship is one of the highest-ROI decisions you can make for your business.

The Slow Burn of Success

Perhaps the most important mindset shift Connor shares is this: real business success is almost always a slow burn. His YouTube channel grew gradually for two full years before experiencing a significant spike. During that time, it would have been easy to quit. But by focusing on 1% daily improvements — a concept championed in books like Atomic Habits and The Slight Edge — those small, consistent actions compounded into something extraordinary.

The proof came in an unexpected way. After years of quietly building his brand, Connor was invited to give a two-minute speech at the United Nations. This kind of opportunity doesn't come from chasing fast results; it comes from building a body of work so strong and consistent that the right people find you. As Connor puts it: allow your business to spike. Sit in the slow season, trust the process, and take care of your health along the way — because your energy, focus, and physical wellbeing are the fuel that powers everything else. Health truly is wealth.