[Music] thank you for having me it’s great to be
thank you for having me it’s great to be
thank you for having me it’s great to be here at Lake Forest College so at five
here at Lake Forest College so at five
here at Lake Forest College so at five years old today
years old today
years old today I run one of the fastest growing public
I run one of the fastest growing public
I run one of the fastest growing public relations firms in New York City and I
relations firms in New York City and I
relations firms in New York City and I started that company and began my
started that company and began my
started that company and began my journey as an entrepreneur at 15 years
journey as an entrepreneur at 15 years
journey as an entrepreneur at 15 years old so I’ve had an interesting and
old so I’ve had an interesting and
old so I’ve had an interesting and unconventional 10 years in business and
unconventional 10 years in business and
unconventional 10 years in business and today I’m gonna talk a little bit about
today I’m gonna talk a little bit about
today I’m gonna talk a little bit about how I did it and how I think other
how I did it and how I think other
how I did it and how I think other people can do it as well thanks to
people can do it as well thanks to
people can do it as well thanks to technology the the playing field has
technology the the playing field has
technology the the playing field has never been more level for young people
never been more level for young people
never been more level for young people who want to start a business the
who want to start a business the
who want to start a business the Internet it’s created access its created
Internet it’s created access its created
Internet it’s created access its created cost-effectiveness and it’s created an
cost-effectiveness and it’s created an
cost-effectiveness and it’s created an opportunity for people all over the
opportunity for people all over the
opportunity for people all over the world and from every background to be
world and from every background to be
world and from every background to be able to compete no matter what kind of
able to compete no matter what kind of
able to compete no matter what kind of background would come from how much
background would come from how much
background would come from how much money you might have or what kind of
money you might have or what kind of
money you might have or what kind of education war relationships you might
education war relationships you might
education war relationships you might have and that was something that I was
have and that was something that I was
have and that was something that I was able to take advantage of and now it’s
able to take advantage of and now it’s
able to take advantage of and now it’s something that I’ve devoted my energy to
something that I’ve devoted my energy to
something that I’ve devoted my energy to helping other people and showing other
helping other people and showing other
helping other people and showing other people how to take advantage of it as
people how to take advantage of it as
people how to take advantage of it as well so first I’ll tell you a little bit
well so first I’ll tell you a little bit
well so first I’ll tell you a little bit about how I did it and how I started my
about how I did it and how I started my
about how I did it and how I started my company because that’s what usually
company because that’s what usually
company because that’s what usually people here that I started the company
people here that I started the company
people here that I started the company at 15 years old and they’re like okay
at 15 years old and they’re like okay
at 15 years old and they’re like okay how did you do that so I was a normal
how did you do that so I was a normal
how did you do that so I was a normal kid growing up I was a little bit of a
kid growing up I was a little bit of a
kid growing up I was a little bit of a computer nerd but like most 15 year olds
computer nerd but like most 15 year olds
computer nerd but like most 15 year olds I wanted to find a way to make more
I wanted to find a way to make more
I wanted to find a way to make more money and it started out as simply as
money and it started out as simply as
money and it started out as simply as that I wanted to find a way to make
that I wanted to find a way to make
that I wanted to find a way to make money and I wanted to start my own
money and I wanted to start my own
money and I wanted to start my own business so I started thinking about
business so I started thinking about
business so I started thinking about what kind of business I could start
what kind of business I could start
what kind of business I could start given that I was I was 15 years old and
given that I was I was 15 years old and
given that I was I was 15 years old and I looked at the tools and resources that
I looked at the tools and resources that
I looked at the tools and resources that I had at my disposal and what I might be
I had at my disposal and what I might be
I had at my disposal and what I might be able to do with them I I had a computer
able to do with them I I had a computer
able to do with them I I had a computer and I had an internet connect
and I had an internet connect
and I had an internet connect and I realized that I needed to find
and I realized that I needed to find
and I realized that I needed to find some way to use that to make money
some way to use that to make money
some way to use that to make money product of my generation technology is
product of my generation technology is
product of my generation technology is what I turn to so I started learning
what I turn to so I started learning
what I turn to so I started learning about everything that I could about the
about everything that I could about the
about everything that I could about the internet and about technology and how to
internet and about technology and how to
internet and about technology and how to build a business I started going to the
build a business I started going to the
build a business I started going to the library every week at 15 years old and
library every week at 15 years old and
library every week at 15 years old and checking out every book that I could
checking out every book that I could
checking out every book that I could find about advertising marketing
find about advertising marketing
find about advertising marketing building a business entrepreneurship
building a business entrepreneurship
building a business entrepreneurship which was a totally new term to me to
which was a totally new term to me to
which was a totally new term to me to begin with and I started teaching myself
begin with and I started teaching myself
begin with and I started teaching myself like things things like how to code
like things things like how to code
like things things like how to code things like how to build a website how
things like how to build a website how
things like how to build a website how to market and sell products online I
to market and sell products online I
to market and sell products online I learned about this new concept called
learned about this new concept called
learned about this new concept called search engine optimization to drive
search engine optimization to drive
search engine optimization to drive traffic to your website using search
traffic to your website using search
traffic to your website using search engines and I started teaching myself
engines and I started teaching myself
engines and I started teaching myself all these things and I started building
all these things and I started building
all these things and I started building small websites I started kind of getting
small websites I started kind of getting
small websites I started kind of getting my feet wet in driving traffic to
my feet wet in driving traffic to
my feet wet in driving traffic to websites and building small online
websites and building small online
websites and building small online businesses and while I was doing that I
businesses and while I was doing that I
businesses and while I was doing that I realized that the skill that I was
realized that the skill that I was
realized that the skill that I was developing was something that other
developing was something that other
developing was something that other businesses might need as well especially
businesses might need as well especially
businesses might need as well especially local businesses in my neighborhood keep
local businesses in my neighborhood keep
local businesses in my neighborhood keep in mind that this was 10 years ago
in mind that this was 10 years ago
in mind that this was 10 years ago so internet marketing was still
so internet marketing was still
so internet marketing was still something that was very new most small
something that was very new most small
something that was very new most small businesses weren’t marketing themselves
businesses weren’t marketing themselves
businesses weren’t marketing themselves online at this point and even most major
online at this point and even most major
online at this point and even most major corporations weren’t really paying
corporations weren’t really paying
corporations weren’t really paying attention to digital and online
attention to digital and online
attention to digital and online marketing at the time so in in one way I
marketing at the time so in in one way I
marketing at the time so in in one way I might have haven’t had an advantage in
might have haven’t had an advantage in
might have haven’t had an advantage in that way that it was something new and
that way that it was something new and
that way that it was something new and and there weren’t a lot of people
and there weren’t a lot of people
and there weren’t a lot of people selling it but at the same time it was
selling it but at the same time it was
selling it but at the same time it was something so new that most businesses
something so new that most businesses
something so new that most businesses didn’t even see the value in it they
didn’t even see the value in it they
didn’t even see the value in it they didn’t see the opportunity in being able
didn’t see the opportunity in being able
didn’t see the opportunity in being able to sell their products online yet so I
to sell their products online yet so I
to sell their products online yet so I started out very small I started
started out very small I started
started out very small I started marketing myself as a web designer and
marketing myself as a web designer and
marketing myself as a web designer and as an internet marketer and keep in mind
as an internet marketer and keep in mind
as an internet marketer and keep in mind this was priests most social media it
this was priests most social media it
this was priests most social media it was pre Facebook it was pre LinkedIn and
was pre Facebook it was pre LinkedIn and
was pre Facebook it was pre LinkedIn and getting clients on the internet back
getting clients on the internet back
getting clients on the internet back then was something that most businesses
then was something that most businesses
then was something that most businesses were not doing it was very difficult
were not doing it was very difficult
were not doing it was very difficult especially for somebody who had no
especially for somebody who had no
especially for somebody who had no experience in business whatsoever no
experience in business whatsoever no
experience in business whatsoever no sales experience so it was difficult but
sales experience so it was difficult but
sales experience so it was difficult but I started marketing myself as a
I started marketing myself as a
I started marketing myself as a marketing company
marketing company
marketing company as a web design agency and I used
as a web design agency and I used
as a web design agency and I used websites like Craigslist and classified
websites like Craigslist and classified
websites like Craigslist and classified s online forums where business owners
s online forums where business owners
s online forums where business owners were exchanging ideas and networking and
were exchanging ideas and networking and
were exchanging ideas and networking and I was marketing myself and I had a
I was marketing myself and I had a
I was marketing myself and I had a little bit of success in the beginning I
little bit of success in the beginning I
little bit of success in the beginning I started very small like I said selling
started very small like I said selling
started very small like I said selling my services to build a website for about
my services to build a website for about
my services to build a website for about $250 or $500 and I I started to see a
$250 or $500 and I I started to see a
$250 or $500 and I I started to see a little bit of success every once in a
little bit of success every once in a
little bit of success every once in a while
while
while I would find a client who might buy a
I would find a client who might buy a
I would find a client who might buy a website from me or who might buy some
website from me or who might buy some
website from me or who might buy some kind of a marketing services from me but
kind of a marketing services from me but
kind of a marketing services from me but it started out very small about about
it started out very small about about
it started out very small about about six months into it
six months into it
six months into it I was on an online forum for
I was on an online forum for
I was on an online forum for entrepreneurs to to network and share
entrepreneurs to to network and share
entrepreneurs to to network and share ideas and I ended up seeing a post from
ideas and I ended up seeing a post from
ideas and I ended up seeing a post from somebody who ran a consulting firm in
somebody who ran a consulting firm in
somebody who ran a consulting firm in Washington DC and he was looking for a
Washington DC and he was looking for a
Washington DC and he was looking for a company to help him with search engine
company to help him with search engine
company to help him with search engine optimization now
six months ago I had no idea what it was
six months ago I had no idea what it was but being the expert that I now
but being the expert that I now
but being the expert that I now considered myself to be I reached out to
considered myself to be I reached out to
considered myself to be I reached out to him through the forum and let him know
him through the forum and let him know
him through the forum and let him know that he had found a search engine option
that he had found a search engine option
that he had found a search engine option expert and I was going to help him grow
expert and I was going to help him grow
expert and I was going to help him grow his business long story short he decided
his business long story short he decided
his business long story short he decided to give me a shot he was a very small
to give me a shot he was a very small
to give me a shot he was a very small shot I think he gave me something like
shot I think he gave me something like
shot I think he gave me something like $250 to help him drive more traffic to
$250 to help him drive more traffic to
$250 to help him drive more traffic to his website and market his web site over
his website and market his web site over
his website and market his web site over about a month’s time it went well
about a month’s time it went well
about a month’s time it went well we helped his website to rank on Google
we helped his website to rank on Google
we helped his website to rank on Google for a couple key terms for his business
for a couple key terms for his business
for a couple key terms for his business and it drove more traffic to his
and it drove more traffic to his
and it drove more traffic to his business that increased his sales and we
business that increased his sales and we
business that increased his sales and we had proven ourselves I had proven myself
had proven ourselves I had proven myself
had proven ourselves I had proven myself I was I was going around talking about
I was I was going around talking about
I was I was going around talking about how I had this agency but it was just me
how I had this agency but it was just me
how I had this agency but it was just me obviously doing all the work and doing
obviously doing all the work and doing
obviously doing all the work and doing all the sales but we had proven
all the sales but we had proven
all the sales but we had proven ourselves and he liked the results that
ourselves and he liked the results that
ourselves and he liked the results that we got him and he gave me another order
we got him and he gave me another order
we got him and he gave me another order and after getting results on on that
and after getting results on on that
and after getting results on on that order he gave me another one and over
order he gave me another one and over
order he gave me another one and over the course of about six or seven months
the course of about six or seven months
the course of about six or seven months what was a $250 client ended up scaling
what was a $250 client ended up scaling
what was a $250 client ended up scaling up to a six-figure contract to do search
up to a six-figure contract to do search
up to a six-figure contract to do search engine optimization for his company and
engine optimization for his company and
engine optimization for his company and keep in mind that I was still you know I
keep in mind that I was still you know I
keep in mind that I was still you know I was about 16 years old at the time so
was about 16 years old at the time so
was about 16 years old at the time so this was huge for me this was this was
this was huge for me this was this was
this was huge for me this was this was you know this completely changed my
you know this completely changed my
you know this completely changed my perspective on you know what was
perspective on you know what was
perspective on you know what was possible for building a business and and
possible for building a business and and
possible for building a business and and you know the fact that I could even make
you know the fact that I could even make
you know the fact that I could even make this a business this was like the first
this a business this was like the first
this a business this was like the first real result that I saw this was my first
real result that I saw this was my first
real result that I saw this was my first real client having him as my first
real client having him as my first
real client having him as my first client gave me the platform and cashflow
client gave me the platform and cashflow
client gave me the platform and cashflow that I needed to reinvest into my
that I needed to reinvest into my
that I needed to reinvest into my business reinvest into my marketing
business reinvest into my marketing
business reinvest into my marketing reinvest into my own website and
reinvest into my own website and
reinvest into my own website and actually start to build a real company
actually start to build a real company
actually start to build a real company and that’s when we started to market
and that’s when we started to market
and that’s when we started to market ourselves better I started to hire some
ourselves better I started to hire some
ourselves better I started to hire some freelance contractors to help me with
freelance contractors to help me with
freelance contractors to help me with the workload
the workload
the workload I started getting a better website
I started getting a better website
I started getting a better website getting better advertising and I started
getting better advertising and I started
getting better advertising and I started getting referrals from that first client
getting referrals from that first client
getting referrals from that first client who was referring his other friends who
who was referring his other friends who
who was referring his other friends who were in companies to come work with us
were in companies to come work with us
were in companies to come work with us and to grow their own online marketing
and to grow their own online marketing
and to grow their own online marketing and that’s what started at all and from
and that’s what started at all and from
and that’s what started at all and from there we grew organically over the year
there we grew organically over the year
there we grew organically over the year largely through referrals through
largely through referrals through
largely through referrals through word-of-mouth marketing through you know
word-of-mouth marketing through you know
word-of-mouth marketing through you know networking through speaking it at
networking through speaking it at
networking through speaking it at conferences but you know at 15 years old
conferences but you know at 15 years old
conferences but you know at 15 years old I was running this business completely
I was running this business completely
I was running this business completely through a computer in my parents home
through a computer in my parents home
through a computer in my parents home and not a single client knew that I was
and not a single client knew that I was
and not a single client knew that I was 15 years old and in fact that client we
15 years old and in fact that client we
15 years old and in fact that client we met in person for the first time when I
met in person for the first time when I
met in person for the first time when I was 20 and so he was visiting New York
was 20 and so he was visiting New York
was 20 and so he was visiting New York on business and we met for the first
on business and we met for the first
on business and we met for the first time he wanted to meet up and have a
time he wanted to meet up and have a
time he wanted to meet up and have a face-to-face meeting and kind of put you
face-to-face meeting and kind of put you
face-to-face meeting and kind of put you know a face to the name and we met at
know a face to the name and we met at
know a face to the name and we met at this restaurant in a hotel in New York
this restaurant in a hotel in New York
this restaurant in a hotel in New York City and he was like do you want to have
City and he was like do you want to have
City and he was like do you want to have a drink and I was 20 years old at the
a drink and I was 20 years old at the
a drink and I was 20 years old at the time so I was like no you know I’ll pass
time so I was like no you know I’ll pass
time so I was like no you know I’ll pass them I’m not gonna have a drink and we
them I’m not gonna have a drink and we
them I’m not gonna have a drink and we started talking and talking about his
started talking and talking about his
started talking and talking about his business and talking about my company
business and talking about my company
business and talking about my company and about a couple you know 15 20
and about a couple you know 15 20
and about a couple you know 15 20 minutes in he was like so so how old are
minutes in he was like so so how old are
minutes in he was like so so how old are you and I was like that’s a good
you and I was like that’s a good
you and I was like that’s a good question I am 20 going on 21
question I am 20 going on 21
question I am 20 going on 21 in a few months and he was and obviously
in a few months and he was and obviously
in a few months and he was and obviously he was extremely surprised he was I
he was extremely surprised he was I
he was extremely surprised he was I would have had no idea because you sound
would have had no idea because you sound
would have had no idea because you sound like an old man the way do you conduct
like an old man the way do you conduct
like an old man the way do you conduct business through the internet so I was
business through the internet so I was
business through the internet so I was like thank you
but none of my clients up until that
but none of my clients up until that point had ever met me face to face I’ve
point had ever met me face to face I’ve
point had ever met me face to face I’ve never had to actually face any of them
never had to actually face any of them
never had to actually face any of them in person to in the business but yet
in person to in the business but yet
in person to in the business but yet still at that point in time where the
still at that point in time where the
still at that point in time where the time I was 20 years old I was running a
time I was 20 years old I was running a
time I was 20 years old I was running a multi six-figure business completely on
multi six-figure business completely on
multi six-figure business completely on a laptop at home in my parents house and
a laptop at home in my parents house and
a laptop at home in my parents house and it completely changed you know my
it completely changed you know my
it completely changed you know my perspective number one on on on business
perspective number one on on on business
perspective number one on on on business and it also changed the whole trajectory
and it also changed the whole trajectory
and it also changed the whole trajectory of my life so that that kind of led to
of my life so that that kind of led to
of my life so that that kind of led to where we are today we since then we’ve
where we are today we since then we’ve
where we are today we since then we’ve we’ve grown organically and we’ve
we’ve grown organically and we’ve
we’ve grown organically and we’ve bootstrapped
bootstrapped
bootstrapped to now where we’ve become a million
to now where we’ve become a million
to now where we’ve become a million dollar company that works with
dollar company that works with
dollar company that works with companies from startups to Fortune 500
companies from startups to Fortune 500
companies from startups to Fortune 500 companies political institutions
companies political institutions
companies political institutions politicians government clients to this
politicians government clients to this
politicians government clients to this to where we are now where we have
to where we are now where we have
to where we are now where we have offices in Rockefeller Plaza in New York
offices in Rockefeller Plaza in New York
offices in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City so it’s it’s been a pretty amazing
City so it’s it’s been a pretty amazing
City so it’s it’s been a pretty amazing journey and I realized a couple years
journey and I realized a couple years
journey and I realized a couple years ago that there’s so much potential out
ago that there’s so much potential out
ago that there’s so much potential out there and there are so many young people
there and there are so many young people
there and there are so many young people who want to do something where they’re
who want to do something where they’re
who want to do something where they’re starting their own business and they’re
starting their own business and they’re
starting their own business and they’re starting to see the potential of the
starting to see the potential of the
starting to see the potential of the Internet has but they still don’t really
Internet has but they still don’t really
Internet has but they still don’t really know how to do it and that’s when I
know how to do it and that’s when I
know how to do it and that’s when I started deciding that you know I wanted
started deciding that you know I wanted
started deciding that you know I wanted to reach out to more young people who
to reach out to more young people who
to reach out to more young people who want to do it and kind of show them the
want to do it and kind of show them the
want to do it and kind of show them the path that I took and how they might be
path that I took and how they might be
path that I took and how they might be able to do it as well I started speaking
able to do it as well I started speaking
able to do it as well I started speaking at schools I started speaking at high
at schools I started speaking at high
at schools I started speaking at high schools and colleges and and talking
schools and colleges and and talking
schools and colleges and and talking about how I did it and and talking about
about how I did it and and talking about
about how I did it and and talking about just my experiences and I was surprised
just my experiences and I was surprised
just my experiences and I was surprised how many young people wanted to do it as
how many young people wanted to do it as
how many young people wanted to do it as well but thought it was out of reach for
well but thought it was out of reach for
well but thought it was out of reach for them because they didn’t have the
them because they didn’t have the
them because they didn’t have the education maybe or they didn’t have the
education maybe or they didn’t have the
education maybe or they didn’t have the money or they didn’t come from the
money or they didn’t come from the
money or they didn’t come from the background it’s interesting that now
background it’s interesting that now
background it’s interesting that now that that’s that’s starting to change a
that that’s that’s starting to change a
that that’s that’s starting to change a little bit because now I speak at high
little bit because now I speak at high
little bit because now I speak at high schools and I have kids telling me about
schools and I have kids telling me about
schools and I have kids telling me about how they want to be become a YouTube
how they want to be become a YouTube
how they want to be become a YouTube star when they grow up or they want to
star when they grow up or they want to
star when they grow up or they want to become an Instagram influencer when they
become an Instagram influencer when they
become an Instagram influencer when they grow up
grow up
grow up so with so it’s changing and the
so with so it’s changing and the
so with so it’s changing and the question that I started to ask was what
question that I started to ask was what
question that I started to ask was what what would it take to be able to create
what would it take to be able to create
what would it take to be able to create more young entrepreneurs more young
more young entrepreneurs more young
more young entrepreneurs more young people who want to create a product or a
people who want to create a product or a
people who want to create a product or a service and build a business it’s
service and build a business it’s
service and build a business it’s amazing if you look at most of the
amazing if you look at most of the
amazing if you look at most of the devices that we spend most of our time
devices that we spend most of our time
devices that we spend most of our time on every single day a lot of those
on every single day a lot of those
on every single day a lot of those products were created by young
products were created by young
products were created by young entrepreneurs were created by people
entrepreneurs were created by people
entrepreneurs were created by people sometimes in college if you look at
sometimes in college if you look at
sometimes in college if you look at Facebook or if you look at snapchat and
Facebook or if you look at snapchat and
Facebook or if you look at snapchat and Instagram or even if you look at the
Instagram or even if you look at the
Instagram or even if you look at the products there too now Microsoft and
products there too now Microsoft and
products there too now Microsoft and Apple both started when they were in
Apple both started when they were in
Apple both started when they were in college so I started asking myself what
college so I started asking myself what
college so I started asking myself what are the what are the factors we know
are the what are the factors we know
are the what are the factors we know what are the things we need to do to be
what are the things we need to do to be
what are the things we need to do to be able to create more of these young
able to create more of these young
able to create more of these young entrepreneurs and the answer that I came
entrepreneurs and the answer that I came
entrepreneurs and the answer that I came up with was there were three things one
up with was there were three things one
up with was there were three things one of them is technology which helped me
of them is technology which helped me
of them is technology which helped me the second is culture
the second is culture
the second is culture and the third is education the first one
and the third is education the first one
and the third is education the first one obviously technology like I was saying
obviously technology like I was saying
obviously technology like I was saying the Internet has leveled the playing
the Internet has leveled the playing
the Internet has leveled the playing field for so many people and the more
field for so many people and the more
field for so many people and the more places in the world that the internet
places in the world that the internet
places in the world that the internet spreads to the better off the world is
spreads to the better off the world is
spreads to the better off the world is it’s created access to markets for
it’s created access to markets for
it’s created access to markets for people anywhere in the world that’s why
people anywhere in the world that’s why
people anywhere in the world that’s why we’re seeing startups from 16 year old
we’re seeing startups from 16 year old
we’re seeing startups from 16 year old entrepreneurs that are competing with
entrepreneurs that are competing with
entrepreneurs that are competing with fortune 500 companies it’s created that
fortune 500 companies it’s created that
fortune 500 companies it’s created that access to a market where literally
access to a market where literally
access to a market where literally somebody at 15 years old in their
somebody at 15 years old in their
somebody at 15 years old in their parents house can use a laptop to
parents house can use a laptop to
parents house can use a laptop to compete with a major company for for a
compete with a major company for for a
compete with a major company for for a client or for business and never have to
client or for business and never have to
client or for business and never have to leave their home and actually have an
leave their home and actually have an
leave their home and actually have an opportunity to win that business it
opportunity to win that business it
opportunity to win that business it becomes based on merit and based on
becomes based on merit and based on
becomes based on merit and based on being able to get results versus be you
being able to get results versus be you
being able to get results versus be you know how much money you might have or or
know how much money you might have or or
know how much money you might have or or how much marketing you may be able to
how much marketing you may be able to
how much marketing you may be able to afford it it’s created an opportunity to
afford it it’s created an opportunity to
afford it it’s created an opportunity to reach people nowadays you can use
reach people nowadays you can use
reach people nowadays you can use Twitter and you can reach millions of
Twitter and you can reach millions of
Twitter and you can reach millions of people with your message virtually for
people with your message virtually for
people with your message virtually for free whereas 10 years ago or 20 years
free whereas 10 years ago or 20 years
free whereas 10 years ago or 20 years ago that would have cost millions of
ago that would have cost millions of
ago that would have cost millions of dollars to buy television advertising to
dollars to buy television advertising to
dollars to buy television advertising to buy radio advertising and it’s it’s also
buy radio advertising and it’s it’s also
buy radio advertising and it’s it’s also created productivity higher higher
created productivity higher higher
created productivity higher higher efficiency it’s it’s now easier than
efficiency it’s it’s now easier than
efficiency it’s it’s now easier than ever to be able to go online and start a
ever to be able to go online and start a
ever to be able to go online and start a business and you use tools that enable
business and you use tools that enable
business and you use tools that enable you to keep up and create a product and
you to keep up and create a product and
you to keep up and create a product and create a service by yourself at home on
create a service by yourself at home on
create a service by yourself at home on a limited budget it costs less than $100
a limited budget it costs less than $100
a limited budget it costs less than $100 to build a professional website now and
to build a professional website now and
to build a professional website now and then reach your customers for free on
then reach your customers for free on
then reach your customers for free on social media those tools have created
social media those tools have created
social media those tools have created access they’ve created cost efficiency
access they’ve created cost efficiency
access they’ve created cost efficiency and they’ve also created productivity
and they’ve also created productivity
and they’ve also created productivity efficiency so technology is important
efficiency so technology is important
efficiency so technology is important making sure that we educate people on
making sure that we educate people on
making sure that we educate people on the power of technology and making sure
the power of technology and making sure
the power of technology and making sure that we do what we can to get technology
that we do what we can to get technology
that we do what we can to get technology out to the world and to the people who
out to the world and to the people who
out to the world and to the people who need it and can use it to better
need it and can use it to better
need it and can use it to better themselves better their community and
themselves better their community and
themselves better their community and better their market the second is
better their market the second is
better their market the second is culture I started finding that when I
culture I started finding that when I
culture I started finding that when I was speaking at schools and and even
was speaking at schools and and even
was speaking at schools and and even just visiting other countries and
just visiting other countries and
just visiting other countries and meeting with entrepreneurs in other
meeting with entrepreneurs in other
meeting with entrepreneurs in other countries whether it was at schools
countries whether it was at schools
countries whether it was at schools whether it was at store
whether it was at store
whether it was at store incubators there’s a huge stigma around
incubators there’s a huge stigma around
incubators there’s a huge stigma around failure kids are taught not to fail
failure kids are taught not to fail
failure kids are taught not to fail you’re taught in school not to fail
you’re taught in school not to fail
you’re taught in school not to fail you’re taught not to do poorly on tests
you’re taught not to do poorly on tests
you’re taught not to do poorly on tests you’re taught not to know the answer to
you’re taught not to know the answer to
you’re taught not to know the answer to not not know the answer to a question
not not know the answer to a question
not not know the answer to a question when a teacher calls on you and failure
when a teacher calls on you and failure
when a teacher calls on you and failure gets stigmatized it gets stigmatized as
gets stigmatized it gets stigmatized as
gets stigmatized it gets stigmatized as a negative thing and that translates
a negative thing and that translates
a negative thing and that translates through when you become an adult and you
through when you become an adult and you
through when you become an adult and you want to start a business and your first
want to start a business and your first
want to start a business and your first thought is well this doesn’t work out
thought is well this doesn’t work out
thought is well this doesn’t work out I’m gonna hear about it at Thanksgiving
I’m gonna hear about it at Thanksgiving
I’m gonna hear about it at Thanksgiving or you know I’m gonna it’s gonna look
or you know I’m gonna it’s gonna look
or you know I’m gonna it’s gonna look bad on Facebook it’s gonna look bad if I
bad on Facebook it’s gonna look bad if I
bad on Facebook it’s gonna look bad if I have to go back to my old job and that
have to go back to my old job and that
have to go back to my old job and that kind of negative stigma associated with
kind of negative stigma associated with
kind of negative stigma associated with it is holding so many people back
it is holding so many people back
it is holding so many people back especially young people in school who
especially young people in school who
especially young people in school who you haven’t even gone out into the world
you haven’t even gone out into the world
you haven’t even gone out into the world yet and they’re already afraid of
yet and they’re already afraid of
yet and they’re already afraid of failing and they’re already thinking
failing and they’re already thinking
failing and they’re already thinking about well what would be the safest path
about well what would be the safest path
about well what would be the safest path what would be you know the more
what would be you know the more
what would be you know the more conventional path that I can take so
conventional path that I can take so
conventional path that I can take so bringing more acceptance and embracing
bringing more acceptance and embracing
bringing more acceptance and embracing that risk of failure and knowing that
that risk of failure and knowing that
that risk of failure and knowing that you need to fail before you can succeed
you need to fail before you can succeed
you need to fail before you can succeed and helping ingrain that into the
and helping ingrain that into the
and helping ingrain that into the culture and and build a better
culture and and build a better
culture and and build a better acceptance for it is going to be key to
acceptance for it is going to be key to
acceptance for it is going to be key to making sure that the young people who
making sure that the young people who
making sure that the young people who are in school now who are in college now
are in school now who are in college now
are in school now who are in college now feel like they can go out there and they
feel like they can go out there and they
feel like they can go out there and they can try something different that they
can try something different that they
can try something different that they can try to break the mold that they can
can try to break the mold that they can
can try to break the mold that they can curve the straight line that they can do
curve the straight line that they can do
curve the straight line that they can do something that you know maybe their
something that you know maybe their
something that you know maybe their parents didn’t do or in previous
parents didn’t do or in previous
parents didn’t do or in previous generations it wasn’t really something
generations it wasn’t really something
generations it wasn’t really something that you did if you didn’t come from a
that you did if you didn’t come from a
that you did if you didn’t come from a certain background so we need to find a
certain background so we need to find a
certain background so we need to find a way to change that culture we need we
way to change that culture we need we
way to change that culture we need we need to talk about it we need to open up
need to talk about it we need to open up
need to talk about it we need to open up that conversation and number three
that conversation and number three
that conversation and number three education obviously education has
education obviously education has
education obviously education has advanced greatly over the past couple of
advanced greatly over the past couple of
advanced greatly over the past couple of generations and obviously there there
generations and obviously there there
generations and obviously there there are more colleges now who offer
are more colleges now who offer
are more colleges now who offer entrepreneurship classes and
entrepreneurship classes and
entrepreneurship classes and entrepreneurship centers than ever
entrepreneurship centers than ever
entrepreneurship centers than ever before and that’s great but there’s
before and that’s great but there’s
before and that’s great but there’s still a ways to go there’s still
still a ways to go there’s still
still a ways to go there’s still technology changes very quickly the
technology changes very quickly the
technology changes very quickly the economic landscape changes very quickly
economic landscape changes very quickly
economic landscape changes very quickly especially now we’re seeing innovation
especially now we’re seeing innovation
especially now we’re seeing innovation happen over five-year periods now that
happen over five-year periods now that
happen over five-year periods now that would have taken 40 years just a
would have taken 40 years just a
would have taken 40 years just a generation or two ago and it’s been
generation or two ago and it’s been
generation or two ago and it’s been difficult for education to keep up with
difficult for education to keep up with
difficult for education to keep up with that it’s been difficult for there to be
that it’s been difficult for there to be
that it’s been difficult for there to be education for people about how to market
education for people about how to market
education for people about how to market their business using social media or how
their business using social media or how
their business using social media or how to take advantage of opportunities
to take advantage of opportunities
to take advantage of opportunities online that frankly are popping up new
online that frankly are popping up new
online that frankly are popping up new opportunities are coming up every day
opportunities are coming up every day
opportunities are coming up every day now you can be a YouTube influencer and
now you can be a YouTube influencer and
now you can be a YouTube influencer and Instagram influencer and that didn’t
Instagram influencer and that didn’t
Instagram influencer and that didn’t even exist you know five years ago so we
even exist you know five years ago so we
even exist you know five years ago so we need we need to encourage not only just
need we need to encourage not only just
need we need to encourage not only just creating better education and more
creating better education and more
creating better education and more access to education but also self
access to education but also self
access to education but also self education remember that when I started
education remember that when I started
education remember that when I started my company I learned 90% of what I
my company I learned 90% of what I
my company I learned 90% of what I learned building my business from going
learned building my business from going
learned building my business from going to the library from checking out books
to the library from checking out books
to the library from checking out books now we have Google now we have a tool on
now we have Google now we have a tool on
now we have Google now we have a tool on the internet that the greatest knowledge
the internet that the greatest knowledge
the internet that the greatest knowledge tool ever created you have more
tool ever created you have more
tool ever created you have more information at your fingertips right now
information at your fingertips right now
information at your fingertips right now then we’ve ever had in history you have
then we’ve ever had in history you have
then we’ve ever had in history you have more information at your fingertips now
more information at your fingertips now
more information at your fingertips now then the President of the United States
then the President of the United States
then the President of the United States had 40 or 50 years ago but we use it to
had 40 or 50 years ago but we use it to
had 40 or 50 years ago but we use it to look at cat videos on YouTube we use it
look at cat videos on YouTube we use it
look at cat videos on YouTube we use it to look at what our friends are eating
to look at what our friends are eating
to look at what our friends are eating on Instagram and there needs to be more
on Instagram and there needs to be more
on Instagram and there needs to be more awareness around the value that that’s
awareness around the value that that’s
awareness around the value that that’s in that tool and how you can use it to
in that tool and how you can use it to
in that tool and how you can use it to change lives change communities change
change lives change communities change
change lives change communities change economies and how we can help young
economies and how we can help young
economies and how we can help young people become more aware of that
people become more aware of that
people become more aware of that opportunity how we can encourage them
opportunity how we can encourage them
opportunity how we can encourage them more and how we can help enable them
more and how we can help enable them
more and how we can help enable them with the tools to be able to go out and
with the tools to be able to go out and
with the tools to be able to go out and innovate and create the next generation
innovate and create the next generation
innovate and create the next generation of products that are going to advance us
of products that are going to advance us
of products that are going to advance us forward and keep advancing our society
forward and keep advancing our society
forward and keep advancing our society and our communities and our families so
and our communities and our families so
and our communities and our families so that that’s what I want to do I hope
that that’s what I want to do I hope
that that’s what I want to do I hope I’ve done with this talk is just open
I’ve done with this talk is just open
I’ve done with this talk is just open your eyes to the opportunities that are
your eyes to the opportunities that are
your eyes to the opportunities that are out there the opportunities that are
out there the opportunities that are
out there the opportunities that are there for anybody no matter what your
there for anybody no matter what your
there for anybody no matter what your background is to go out there and learn
background is to go out there and learn
background is to go out there and learn about it figure out what your passion is
about it figure out what your passion is
about it figure out what your passion is create a plan most likely thanks to
create a plan most likely thanks to
create a plan most likely thanks to technology you can figure out a way to
technology you can figure out a way to
technology you can figure out a way to build a life or a business or a career
build a life or a business or a career
build a life or a business or a career around that passion and I hope that
around that passion and I hope that
around that passion and I hope that you’ll find that
you’ll find that
you’ll find that thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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