People often ask me, “how did I get involved with the world of business?” Note that I still consider myself an aspiring entrepreneur and not an actual entrepreneur. I have some experience, but there’s plenty that I’m yet to learn.

I see entrepreneurship as divided into two three big categories: Entrepreneurs, Managers, and Engineers. The best entrepreneurs are competent at all, but specialize in one. When you’re just starting off as an “entrepreneur,” you need to pick one to start with. If you come from a programming or mechanical engineering background, you’re probably the engineer type. You know plenty about making a solid product or providing a good service, yet you know little about actually managing people, business, marketing, sales, and more. So you ask, what would the engineer or wannabe entrepreneur do in order to get started in the actual world of business?

Many people rush to the book store, eager to learn the insider secrets of getting rich. If I saw an old guy reading a book called “Starting a business for dummies,” I’d feel like telling him to get on his feet and actually go out in the world to start one. Who learns everything there’s to know from reading books anyway? If you asked any successful person in their respective field how they became to successful, they’re not going to tell you to read books or go to college. They’re going to suggest you go out and get real life experience. Sound intimidating? Well, it’s the only real way!

So you ask, what’s the best way for me to get real world experience?

Good question! Well, plenty of ways… like, um… start your own company? But it’s so intimidating!

One of my blog readers suggested that I introduce the idea of affiliate marketing as a good way to get started. I’ve been bashing the idea of affiliate marketing and MLM pyramid schemes since the beginning of time, but I’ll admit that they’re a good way to get started. And only that! In a nutshell, MLM pyramid schemes involve a person selling a product or service and earning a small percentage of the profit — the hope is that when someone gets involved, s/he could recruit others to also get involved, and more residual income can be made. Affiliate marketing is slightly different, and also varies from company to company. You find a good product or service that you’re willing to promote, and you make X% of the profit or price. There’s more of an emphasis on selling and less of an emphasis on recruiting other fo-entrepreneurs. Blog readers have agreed that affiliate marketers are much more respectable than those MLM people.

And while I very much despise the idea of being an MLM or affiliate marketer, (read here) both can help a person learn the art of selling, marketing, recruiting, and more — without needing to spend the time or money on creating a legit product.

Jessica Mah… used to be … an affiliate marketer?

Like many, I was once an affiliate marketer. In fact, it was my first online “business.” (if I can even call it a business…) I didn’t know what to make or what service to sell, so I decided to get into the world of selling website templates for a company called templatemonster.com. I made about 20% of everything I sold, and learned about everything from direct sales to SEO to Google Adwords marketing. Did it make much money? Of course not! But it was a great way for a 12 year old to get acquainted to the world of business and money. But after that experience, I’ve found that taking part in making a LEGIT company with an ACTUAL service is much more exciting and makes much more money.

So for all of you who complain to me about how much you want to start a company, go out and start one! Entrepreneurship is the new cool! (*as long as it doesn’t involve being an affiliate or MLM marketer for the rest of your life!) Again, if you’re just getting started in the world of doing business, and you’re content with mediocre at best income, affiliate marketing is a-OK. Now go out and get some real life experience!