9 answers
Misti
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
680 views
What does it take to be a business manager?
I’m a 7th grader at Crane Middle School and I want to do business management. It’s interesting to me because I want to have my own company and do things on my own, like making plans and setting up projects. A time I planned something was when I had to schedule a babysitting meet up so I could pick up the client's child. I would love to have my own company focused on project management. I can show leadership and I am a good communicator. I usually manage the time I have to do things well. What is the most important skill I should work on now in middle school if I want to run my own project management company one day?
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9 answers
Joe Seegars
Business Planning
8
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Joe’s Answer
Misti,
Kudos on beginning to think about where you want to focus your career. I would encourage you to do a few things:
1. Learn by doing. Get exposure to multiple types of businesses - babysitting is great start as you're dealing with 2 sets of customers, the child and their parent. Find opportunities to work in a team environment once you're old enough - fast food, grocery, retail are entry-level roles that provide insight into the processes that enable a company to function.
2. Find opportunities in school to lead - whether in a class project or as an organization leader, these provide vehicles to practice building project plans and managing tasks and team members.
3. Leverage project and program management resources, like the Project Management Institute (pmi.org) to get familiar with the concepts. Research project management software (Jira, Monday, even Microsoft Project) to learn how these tools support all kinds of projects.
You need to be very experienced in any field in which you want to run a business. Starting to get that experience now will help you achieve that goal. You might also consider beginning your career in management consulting post-college, as I did. This is a great way to get exposure to a lot of industries, companies, systems and processes in a compressed time period.
Best wishes for success on your journey.
Kudos on beginning to think about where you want to focus your career. I would encourage you to do a few things:
1. Learn by doing. Get exposure to multiple types of businesses - babysitting is great start as you're dealing with 2 sets of customers, the child and their parent. Find opportunities to work in a team environment once you're old enough - fast food, grocery, retail are entry-level roles that provide insight into the processes that enable a company to function.
2. Find opportunities in school to lead - whether in a class project or as an organization leader, these provide vehicles to practice building project plans and managing tasks and team members.
3. Leverage project and program management resources, like the Project Management Institute (pmi.org) to get familiar with the concepts. Research project management software (Jira, Monday, even Microsoft Project) to learn how these tools support all kinds of projects.
You need to be very experienced in any field in which you want to run a business. Starting to get that experience now will help you achieve that goal. You might also consider beginning your career in management consulting post-college, as I did. This is a great way to get exposure to a lot of industries, companies, systems and processes in a compressed time period.
Best wishes for success on your journey.
Anthony Kofi Hene-Amoah
Translation, Editing, Project Management, Research and Evangelism
210
Answers
Jema, Brong Ahafo Region
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Please, note the following, relating to how to be a business manager:-
1. Being a manager, you would be in charge of "MANAGING" the various activities of the business.
2. There is the need to have the requisite INTEREST and KNOWLEDGE about the business.
3. Positive attitude at all times.
4. Be punctual in all your activities.
5. Good interpersonal relationship with your subordinates at all times.
Best regards.
1. Being a manager, you would be in charge of "MANAGING" the various activities of the business.
2. There is the need to have the requisite INTEREST and KNOWLEDGE about the business.
3. Positive attitude at all times.
4. Be punctual in all your activities.
5. Good interpersonal relationship with your subordinates at all times.
Best regards.
Rick Kneisley
Retired Investment Broker and Investment Sales Manager
47
Answers
Georgetown, Texas
Updated
Rick’s Answer
Hi Misti,
I really enjoyed reading your question because something jumped out at me right away. You’re already doing what project managers do. That babysitting meet-up you scheduled? That’s real-world coordination, responsibility, and planning. Most people don’t recognize those moments for what they are, but I do.
I spent about 40 years in the investment business working with thousands of people, and I can tell you this: the ones who eventually run things—the ones who build companies, are the people who can see what needs to be done, organize it in their minds, and then bring others along with them.
If there’s one skill I would encourage you to build right now, it’s learning how to take something that feels big or complicated and quietly break it down into something simple and doable. That ability will separate you from almost everyone else over time. It’s what allows someone to turn an idea into a plan, and a plan into something real.
What I like most about what you wrote is that you’re already showing leadership and communication skills, and those are incredibly valuable. But underneath all of that is something even more powerful, you’re starting to think like someone who wants to create something of their own. That mindset is where it all begins.
There’s something I’ve come to believe after a lifetime of working and now screenwriting: everyone is brilliant at something. The key is discovering it early and having the courage to keep building on it. You may be closer to that discovery than you realize.
Keep paying attention to the things you enjoy organizing and planning. Keep noticing how you bring structure to situations. That’s not just a skill, it’s a direction for your future. And you’re already on your way.
One last thought. This is something I learned early in life, and it made a big difference for me. We all have a conscious mind and a subconscious mind. The conscious mind chooses the goal, and the subconscious mind goes to work figuring out how to achieve it. So choose your goals carefully, believe in them, and then take action toward them each day. You might be surprised what you can accomplish.
Best regards,
Rick
I really enjoyed reading your question because something jumped out at me right away. You’re already doing what project managers do. That babysitting meet-up you scheduled? That’s real-world coordination, responsibility, and planning. Most people don’t recognize those moments for what they are, but I do.
I spent about 40 years in the investment business working with thousands of people, and I can tell you this: the ones who eventually run things—the ones who build companies, are the people who can see what needs to be done, organize it in their minds, and then bring others along with them.
If there’s one skill I would encourage you to build right now, it’s learning how to take something that feels big or complicated and quietly break it down into something simple and doable. That ability will separate you from almost everyone else over time. It’s what allows someone to turn an idea into a plan, and a plan into something real.
What I like most about what you wrote is that you’re already showing leadership and communication skills, and those are incredibly valuable. But underneath all of that is something even more powerful, you’re starting to think like someone who wants to create something of their own. That mindset is where it all begins.
There’s something I’ve come to believe after a lifetime of working and now screenwriting: everyone is brilliant at something. The key is discovering it early and having the courage to keep building on it. You may be closer to that discovery than you realize.
Keep paying attention to the things you enjoy organizing and planning. Keep noticing how you bring structure to situations. That’s not just a skill, it’s a direction for your future. And you’re already on your way.
One last thought. This is something I learned early in life, and it made a big difference for me. We all have a conscious mind and a subconscious mind. The conscious mind chooses the goal, and the subconscious mind goes to work figuring out how to achieve it. So choose your goals carefully, believe in them, and then take action toward them each day. You might be surprised what you can accomplish.
Best regards,
Rick
Supreeti Sehra
15
Answers
Updated
Supreeti’s Answer
Running your own company one day is an awesome goal and great way to plan ahead. You already are thinking like a future business owner. The babysitting meetup you planned is real project management. The most important skills that will hone and shape you in this area for future are: Planning, Communication, Organization and helping others to solve problems and working together to achieve a common objective.
Reading your question I felt you are incorporating these skills in your current activities already; when thinking about what needs to be done first, next, last, being polite and confident, listening to others, explaining your ideas clearly and tracking tasks to finish them on time - that's huge for this age. Keep practicing and building on it!
Some examples where you can continue working on it in middle school that I would recommend are:
Leading group projects - Take charge in group assignments, help your team stay organized and on track , keep the teacher in the loop on status
Creating weekly homework planner - Try finish your tasks on time, make a checklist, divide between homework, play or other activities
Hope this helps. Keep up the good work. You will do great.
Reading your question I felt you are incorporating these skills in your current activities already; when thinking about what needs to be done first, next, last, being polite and confident, listening to others, explaining your ideas clearly and tracking tasks to finish them on time - that's huge for this age. Keep practicing and building on it!
Some examples where you can continue working on it in middle school that I would recommend are:
Leading group projects - Take charge in group assignments, help your team stay organized and on track , keep the teacher in the loop on status
Creating weekly homework planner - Try finish your tasks on time, make a checklist, divide between homework, play or other activities
Hope this helps. Keep up the good work. You will do great.
Ghada Adel
Service manager
12
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Ghada’s Answer
That’s honestly such a strong start—you’re already doing things (like planning that babysitting meetup) that real managers do 👏
If I had to pick one most important skill for you to focus on right now, it would be:
👉 Problem-solving
Because being a business manager isn’t just about making plans—it’s about what you do when things don’t go as planned (and that happens all the time). Plans change, people cancel, things go wrong… and the best managers are the ones who stay calm and figure out solutions quickly.
What that looks like for you right now:
If something doesn’t go as planned → ask: “What can I do instead?”
Practice thinking of 2–3 solutions to every problem
Take small leadership roles in school projects or group work
Keep organizing things like you did with babysitting (that’s real experience!)
Why this matters for your future goal
Since you said you want your own company in project management, your job will literally be:
planning projects
managing people
fixing problems when things go off track
So the earlier you build that mindset, the better.
Quick honest advice
You already have:
leadership ✅
communication ✅
time management ✅
That’s amazing for your age.
Now just add:
👉 “I can handle anything that goes wrong”
and you’ll be way ahead of most people.
If I had to pick one most important skill for you to focus on right now, it would be:
👉 Problem-solving
Because being a business manager isn’t just about making plans—it’s about what you do when things don’t go as planned (and that happens all the time). Plans change, people cancel, things go wrong… and the best managers are the ones who stay calm and figure out solutions quickly.
What that looks like for you right now:
If something doesn’t go as planned → ask: “What can I do instead?”
Practice thinking of 2–3 solutions to every problem
Take small leadership roles in school projects or group work
Keep organizing things like you did with babysitting (that’s real experience!)
Why this matters for your future goal
Since you said you want your own company in project management, your job will literally be:
planning projects
managing people
fixing problems when things go off track
So the earlier you build that mindset, the better.
Quick honest advice
You already have:
leadership ✅
communication ✅
time management ✅
That’s amazing for your age.
Now just add:
👉 “I can handle anything that goes wrong”
and you’ll be way ahead of most people.
Rajib Choudhury
Customer support
3
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Rajib’s Answer
That’s an awesome goal—thinking about business and project management in 7th grade already puts you way ahead. You’ve also clearly shown early project‑management behavior (planning, scheduling, communicating), which is great.
The single most important skill you should work on right now is:
- - Turning plans into finished results (follow‑through)
A lot of people can make plans. Great project managers are the ones who finish them—on time, even when things change.
Since you already like planning and organizing, this skill will make you stand out.
What “follow‑through” really means (in simple terms)
It’s the ability to:
Break a big idea into small steps
Start on time
Keep going even when it’s boring or hard
Fix problems instead of giving up
Finish what you started
Your babysitting example is a perfect start—you planned, scheduled, communicated, and executed. Now you want to do that consistently.
How you can practice this skill in middle school (right now)
> Break everything into steps
Whenever you have a task, ask:
What’s the goal?
What are the 3–5 steps to finish it?
Example:
Goal: Group project
Step 1: Understand the assignment
Step 2: Decide who does what
Step 3: Set deadlines
Step 4: Check progress
Step 5: Submit on time
That’s real project management.
> Track your time (even simply)
You don’t need fancy tools.
Use a notebook or notes app
Write:
What I need to do today
What I actually finished
This builds discipline, which business owners must have.
>Learn to handle small problems calmly
Things won’t always go as planned:
Someone is late
Plans change
You make a mistake
Instead of getting frustrated, ask:
“What’s the best next step right now?”
That mindset is what real managers use every day.
4️⃣ Practice clear communication
You already said you’re a good communicator—keep building it by:
Explaining plans clearly
Listening before responding
Saying things politely but confidently
Project managers succeed because people trust them.
Why this skill matters for your future company
If you run a project management company one day, people will hire you because:
You finish projects
You solve problems
You keep your word
You make things easier for others
That all comes from strong follow‑through, not just good ideas.
One sentence to remember
A project manager isn’t judged by their plans—they’re judged by their results.
You’re already on a great path. If you keep practicing this skill now, high school, college, and running your own company will feel much more natural later.
The single most important skill you should work on right now is:
- - Turning plans into finished results (follow‑through)
A lot of people can make plans. Great project managers are the ones who finish them—on time, even when things change.
Since you already like planning and organizing, this skill will make you stand out.
What “follow‑through” really means (in simple terms)
It’s the ability to:
Break a big idea into small steps
Start on time
Keep going even when it’s boring or hard
Fix problems instead of giving up
Finish what you started
Your babysitting example is a perfect start—you planned, scheduled, communicated, and executed. Now you want to do that consistently.
How you can practice this skill in middle school (right now)
> Break everything into steps
Whenever you have a task, ask:
What’s the goal?
What are the 3–5 steps to finish it?
Example:
Goal: Group project
Step 1: Understand the assignment
Step 2: Decide who does what
Step 3: Set deadlines
Step 4: Check progress
Step 5: Submit on time
That’s real project management.
> Track your time (even simply)
You don’t need fancy tools.
Use a notebook or notes app
Write:
What I need to do today
What I actually finished
This builds discipline, which business owners must have.
>Learn to handle small problems calmly
Things won’t always go as planned:
Someone is late
Plans change
You make a mistake
Instead of getting frustrated, ask:
“What’s the best next step right now?”
That mindset is what real managers use every day.
4️⃣ Practice clear communication
You already said you’re a good communicator—keep building it by:
Explaining plans clearly
Listening before responding
Saying things politely but confidently
Project managers succeed because people trust them.
Why this skill matters for your future company
If you run a project management company one day, people will hire you because:
You finish projects
You solve problems
You keep your word
You make things easier for others
That all comes from strong follow‑through, not just good ideas.
One sentence to remember
A project manager isn’t judged by their plans—they’re judged by their results.
You’re already on a great path. If you keep practicing this skill now, high school, college, and running your own company will feel much more natural later.
Kathleen Dadekian
Chief of Staff/Business Operations
1
Answer
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Kathleen’s Answer
It's great that you recognize your strengths! Clear communication, building relationships, and being accountable are so important. If you're thinking about starting a business, learning about money management through budgeting and investing is a smart move. For example, if you're babysitting, make sure to pay yourself for your time, save some money, and invest a little in your business. You could buy things like slime or coloring books for the kids you babysit. Business management offers lots of exciting opportunities and can be really enjoyable. You're on the right path, and I wish you the best!
Anton Jones ...
IT Network Architect Engineer
5
Answers
Updated
Anton Jones’s Answer
That's a fantastic question! Being a business manager is a lot like leading a sports team or directing a play. It's not just about giving orders; it's about helping everyone work together to achieve success.
Here's what you need:
- Be a Good Leader: Inspire your team, support them when they face challenges, and make sure everyone knows the goal.
- Problem-Solving: When things go wrong, like running out of supplies or a changing deadline, stay calm and find a solution.
- Organization: Keep track of money, schedules, and projects all at once.
- Good Communication: Explain ideas clearly so everyone understands.
- Learn How Businesses Work: Understand how to make a profit, manage money, and keep customers happy.
How to start practicing now:
- Lead a group project at school.
- Organize a bake sale, lemonade stand, or pet-sitting business.
- Practice budgeting your allowance.
It takes patience and hard work, but it's a really rewarding job if you love helping people and solving puzzles!
Best wishes, Anton Jones
Here's what you need:
- Be a Good Leader: Inspire your team, support them when they face challenges, and make sure everyone knows the goal.
- Problem-Solving: When things go wrong, like running out of supplies or a changing deadline, stay calm and find a solution.
- Organization: Keep track of money, schedules, and projects all at once.
- Good Communication: Explain ideas clearly so everyone understands.
- Learn How Businesses Work: Understand how to make a profit, manage money, and keep customers happy.
How to start practicing now:
- Lead a group project at school.
- Organize a bake sale, lemonade stand, or pet-sitting business.
- Practice budgeting your allowance.
It takes patience and hard work, but it's a really rewarding job if you love helping people and solving puzzles!
Best wishes, Anton Jones
Anthony Kofi Hene-Amoah
Translation, Editing, Project Management, Research and Evangelism
210
Answers
Jema, Brong Ahafo Region
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Please, note the following, relating to how to be a business manager:-
1. Being a manager, you would be in charge of "MANAGING" the various activities of the business.
2. There is the need to have the requisite INTEREST and KNOWLEDGE about the business.
3. Good communication skills.
4. The necessary capital for the business.
5. Favourable marketing conditions.
Best regards.
1. Being a manager, you would be in charge of "MANAGING" the various activities of the business.
2. There is the need to have the requisite INTEREST and KNOWLEDGE about the business.
3. Good communication skills.
4. The necessary capital for the business.
5. Favourable marketing conditions.
Best regards.