A Letter To A 20 Year Old Entrepreneur

Last week I received the following message from a friend of mine:

"Hey Ivan, I feel completely lost in life and am on the verge of quitting college. I feel like I enrolled just to satisfy the expectation of others (which is weird as that's never been me and this is the first time I've done something like that), I am swamped with ton of college work I don't like doing and as a result I am procrastinating on everything else in my life including my business, any tips?"

Context: She's 20, comes from a very small town in Macedonia, has been running a small e-commerce business since she was 16, and in September she moved to Skopje and enrolled in Skopje's University with a major in Marketing.

This topic hit close to home so I sat down on the pretence that I need to write the weekly LinkedIn post anyway and wrote her a long letter sharing basically what I wished someone shared with me when I was in her situation 10 years ago. I believe these advices are applicable to a lot of people at that age so I am sharing it with all of you.

The full letter 👇

Okay, so first off, the fact that you're thinking about quitting college and going all in with your business—rather than the other way around—already tells me you've got that entrepreneur gene. If it was the other way around, I'm not sure I could help you, hahaha 😅.

Now, let's talk about the two things you mentioned:

1. Feeling lost
2. Making a massive life decision (in this case - college) because of outside pressure

On Feeling Lost

I'll be brief as the only thing I want you to realise on this topic is that it's a completely normal feeling —you're in your early 20s, that's what they're for: figuring shit out, trying new things, and learning what does and doesn't work for you. So just accept that being lost for the next 10 years is part of the normal journey of learning and growing. The only people who don't feel lost are people who never try anything new, and by doing so they self-impose a life of mediocrity just so they don't feel any discomfort.

On Making a Huge Life Decision Because of Others

This one's personal for me because I never really wanted to go to college either. Still, I ended up enrolling—twice—and never finished 😅🔫. Back when I was 18, I was passionate about going pro in e-sports. I could grind for 12 hours straight and still be pumped. (Side note: If you ever find something that makes you feel that level of excitement, hold onto it. Trust me, that kind of passion is rare.)

But I was young and naive. I figured I'd find that passion in something else eventually. My parents didn't see eye-to-eye with my plan to take a gap year and try to go pro, and after more than a few intense arguments—some even getting physical—I caved and enrolled into Mechanical Engineering instead of chasing my dream.

That day was basically the start of my long bout with depression. I hated the teaching style, saw no value in the curriculum, and couldn't connect with any of my classmates. I just didn't belong there.

Here's the thing most people don't mention about major life decisions: you might get advice (or pressure) from family or friends, but you're the one who's going to deal with the consequences. I listened to my parents, and that decision cost me three years (that's how long I lasted before quitting) of feeling lost, depressed, and completely out of sync with myself.

My parents love me, no doubt, and they genuinely believed college was the best path. But their limited perspective on how the world (and their 18-year-old son) really operates still had real consequences on my life. It also took a toll on our relationship—anger, resentment, you name it.

I've worked through those feelings over time, but those three years are still gone.

So for the few-in-a-lifetime decisions such as:

• Do you enroll in college or not?
• Where do you enroll?
• Where do you live?
• Who you date?
• Do you start a business?
• Do you take that job?
• Should you have kids?

You can ask for advice from friend and family but the decision should be only your own to make as you will pay the price if you choose poorly.

So, Should You Quit?

I don't know you super well, so I can't give you any advice with complete certainty, but here's what I do know:

You told me you plan on being an entrepreneur for life, not an employee. Colleges are designed to produce employees, not entrepreneurs. Combine that with how you've been feeling lost and how college is taking up all your time—meaning you can't focus on your business—and it's no surprise you're asking this question.

If it's not working, don't let the sunk cost fallacy trap you. You've spent one semester testing the waters, and if the experience is telling you "this isn't my place," there's no reason to torture yourself for seven more. Don't let your family's wishes and expectations chart a course for your life that you do not agree with. Remember, you're the one who's going to have to live with the outcome, so make a decision you can stand behind—even if it means disappointing other people at first - they will understand, trust me.

What Does This Mean for You?

It means you can love and respect your family's opinions, but remember: you're the one living your life. If college is draining your energy and you see a better path elsewhere, give yourself permission to explore that route. If you're not sure yet, that's okay too. The key is to recognize that nobody else will pay for your choices in the long run—you will.

Ultimately, no decision is set in stone, but some choices cost more than others. So take a moment, weigh your options, and do what you truly believe is right for you—not just what other people think you should do, including myself.

If you can live with it—and hopefully thrive with it—then you've made the right call.

Good luck, and trust that feeling of being lost—it's the best sign you're actually out there living, experimenting, and learning, rather than staying stuck in one place.