How Does Retiring at 21 Sound? – Young Entrepreneurs Making it BIG Online
The following is a paid review and has only been slightly influenced by the fact that I was paid to do it.
Did the thought of “retiring at 21″ ever cross your mind? For many of us, that thought is nothing but another fantasy we like to daydream about every now and then.
Apparently Michael Dunlop’s site – Retire at 21 – proves otherwise!
Who is Michael Dunlop?
Michael Dunlop is one of those awesome young entrepreneurs you hear about every now and then 
that has blown away the blogohsphere with his amazing site: RetireAt21.com He has many other websites with the most popular being WebDesignDev and Retire at 21.
Michael has had the entrepreneurial spirit ever since he was 5. When his mother had asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he had answered that he wanted to have a large superstore like Walmart or Tesco. At age 16, Michael decided that he wanted to create a website, and so Retire At 21 was born!
Here are is a picture to show you the kind of success Michael has achieved online (More photos)
Retire at 21 – The site. The interviews. The idea.
I consider Retire at 21 to be a site each young (and old) blogger/entrepreneur should read when looking for inspiration and great content.
The idea - The main concept behind the site is to show you how young entrepreneurs have made it big online and how you can too. Browsing through the website will both inspire and motivate you while causing you to be jealous at the same time.
It is very inspirational to see how college dropouts turned themselves into millionaires using the power of the Internet. If that doesn’t make you get off your lazy butt and start working, then I don’t know what will!
The interviews - One of the things that Retire at 21 excels at where no other blog or website has, is its interviews section.
Michael has gone to great lengths to secure interviews with some of the biggest and most popular names on the net, here are some of interviews that really had me impressed!
- Catherine Cook Interview | Young Entrepreneur Success at MyYearBook.com
- Harrison Gevirtz, Interview with a Teen Entrepreneur
- Aaron Wall Interview, SEO Book Founder Talks Life and SEO
- Matt Mickiewicz – Interview with the Co-Founder Of SitePoint.com
The design - Michael’s site has a very clean and simple design that uses every available bit of space to showcase some of the site’s best work. The only piece of criticism I have regarding the design is that the eBook subscription box is way down at the bottom instead of being right at the top of the sidebar.
Everyone know how helpful eBooks can be in gaining subscribers, so I think that Michael should put the “About” box in the footer and move the subscription box to the top. I’m sure that will help him get many more subscribers.
The content – Not only does Retire at 21 have some inspirational interviews, but it also has a great blog with some extremely helpful posts. But one of things I love best about his website are all the awesome lists:
While browsing some of the lists, I noticed that some of the information was incorrect since it’s outdated, so I think Michael should update the lists on the site to make them more accurate. Another thing I noticed when browsing the site, was that the “Directory” link at the top leads to a page with no apparent use – still under construction. I think if would be best if the link was removed till that page is sorted out.
A Bit of Constructive Criticism
There’s not much to criticize over at the site, Michael’s got pretty much everything sorted out properly. The only things I would say that he needs to check up is the “Directory” page subscription box.
If you check out the blog, you will probably notice that the posts don’t get as many comments as they should. I don’t know if that is because he doesn’t promote the blog that much, or because it isn’t directly on the front page. Another place I noticed there wasn’t much activity was the forums, perhaps he could get a few paid posters to start things off or have a contest.
Other than that, there’s pretty much nothing else to criticize with Retire at 21!
My Final Thoughts
Retire at 21 is definitely a great source for all young entrepreneurs that want to learn how young people are making it big online. It’s also a great resource for anyone looking for a bit of inspiration to start that project he’s always been putting off.
I would like to wish Michael success with all his current and future projects, I’m sure that his name will be on those million-dollar lists very soon!
Fun fact – I did a few calculations, and finally came up with the following:
If you were to live till you were 100-years old and wanted to retire at 21, then you would need at least 10 million dollars to live. (100 million to live comfortably.)
19 Responses to “How Does Retiring at 21 Sound? – Young Entrepreneurs Making it BIG Online”
I have been to those blogs. I hate retiring at that young age. What ever it may be or what ever the advantages may me I deny retiring at the age of 21. Life is to enjoy and not to retire so soon. Any way great post
I think retiring at a young age would be the best thing ever. I mean I find blogging fun and exciting but if I was able to retire than I could do it without the element of making a profit.
This way I could live my life to the fullest. Who wants to spend their time working? I know I don’t. Even though blogging is fun and all, there is still a lot of work to do that isn;t all that fun. By retiring you wouldn’t have to do all that garbage and just focus on the stuff you like.
I’ve seen reviews about this blogger before and it looks pretty kool. I’m only 17 myself so it’s always inspiring to see younger bloggers doing great in the blogging buisness.
I find it a big young for retirering… If you achieve this kind of success at that age… Why not do something bigger?
Nice review Rajaie.
I like the look of the website. Very clean and good to eyes!
The concept behind the blog and the domain name compliment each other pefect! And the interviews he has published are amazing, in depth, and inspiring.
Though I won’t like to retire at 21, it’s still exciting
Swastik
Harish – But how will you enjoy it and try out all the new things if you’re busy working your entire life?
Rob – Well, I do like challenges, so I can’t see myself being a couch potato after a few years. Facebook’s creator is the youngest richest kid in the world (valued at $1.5 billion) at 24 and he still gets up to work everyday. Now that’s inspiriting.
Coupon Dude – I know what you mean, but maybe you would just like to travel the world and see new things
Swastik – I don’t think anybody would. Just look at Warren Buffet, the world’s richest man and he still hasn’t retired. Goes to prove that for some people, money isn’t everything.
You would only need about 3 or 4 million to retire at 21 and live until 100. To say you need 10 million is to say that you need an income of 125,000$ for the entire time you are 21 to 100, which is highly unlikely. Saying you need 100 million to live comfortably is even more ridiculous. You are saying you need an income of over a million dollars a year to live comfortably which just isnt true.
Matt – Some calculations:
100 – 21 = 79 years.
$10,000 (average per month) x 79 x 12 = $9,480,000
Now, I would say that $100,000/month is enough to make you live very comfortably.
= $90,480,000
If you were only to retire with $4,000,000:
$4,000,000 / (79 x 12) = $4,219 a month
I guess it just boils to down to how how would define living and “living comfortably”.
Nice new look, I ve been a regular at micheals blog
Nice calculations Rajaie.
Good review, retireat21 is an inspiration to all of us young bloggers. I really wish he would post more on the blog part, but the content already on is incredible. I really appreciate his reviews, they are very impressive. Good constructive criticism, that should be helpful for him to improve his site with.
ZK – It’s quite popular around the blogosphere
Swastik – Thanks.
Master of SEO – I also would like it if he could make more posts on his blog, but I guess he’s just too busy with other, more important projects.
These types of sites inspire me, they prove to me that it is possible to make it big online even at my young age (17).
Anywayz, nice review
Hi Rajaie – I wish him all the success in the world, but boy does his story make me feel old. Heehee.
Blog for Bloggers – That’s what I love about them, they show you that it’s never too late (or early)
Barbara – Hehe, there’s always time
There are a lot of intelligent young people nowadays and that site must be their inspiration.
For Michael to retire at age 21 is a great inspiration. He shows people that anything is possible. He should never stop setting goals to achieve. Good Luck!!!
I have always been a big believer and hopeful about things like this. I have always told people I wanted to be one of those people that went to work in his pajamas (work at home). So things like this, and real life examples like this kid really inspire me.
I think he is joking,to retire at 21 is quite senseless.Does he feel exausted already?Has he known everything in this life? I don’t believe so.Many rich people retired early from their business and nothing good went out of it. They lost their goals,motivation,fell into deep depression and ill. Any psycologist will recommend to change the sphere of activity that air the life.
I think it is good to believe for few moments. Its just the beginning to think about work and work only.
What's Your Take?