Today i interview Michael Furdyk the co-founder of TakingITGlobal,A global online community for young people, engaging hundreds of thousands of youth in over 200 countries and territories.

Michael has shared his opinions about Youth Engagement and experiences as a member of the Net Generation by speaking at dozens of events, including the World Congress on IT, the US Government’s National Youth Summit, Microsoft’s Anytime, Anywhere Learning Summits, The Business Council, and TED. He has made numerous media appearances, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, CNN, MSNBC, and USA Today.

Today Michael speaks to us about his journey as an entrepreneur.

• Making a Millionaire at 17, what he spent it on.
• Why he started TakingITGlobal and how he is planning to change the world with it.

• His Views on personal development.
• Managing your resources during the recession.

• Advices for young entrepreneurs.

Hello Michael, How are you? Can you give us some background information about yourself?

Sure. I grew up using technology from a very young age – my first computer at 2 years old was a Commodore 64. As the Internet exploded in popularity, I had started a technology magazine online with a group of friends that became quite popular. After selling that company in 1999, at age 17, I realized that many young people didn’t have the support (family, friends, school) for their ideas and ambitions that I did, and so I co-founded TakingITGlobal.org as a charitable organization. It’s an online community to network and support young people to get involved in global issues and realize their potential.

How has your business changed to keep pace with the new technology?

We continually improve and develop new features and ideas to support young people in using their social media networks and tools to grow their impact. We developed technology to allow our members to act as volunteers and translate the web site into an infinite number of languages, which now provides an engaging community for youth across 12 languages.

How did you manage your money? You were a millionaire at 17

It was a good learning experience. I bought some of the things I’d always wanted, a car and a boat to enjoy while camping and relaxing in Canada’s great outdoors! But ultimately, I used some of it to help start TakingITGlobal as a charity, and the rest to help purchase my home. Beyond that, after taxes, there’s not much left! Of course, at one point the theoretical value of all the stock options we had was pretty impressive, but I never really thought about it too much. I knew how fragile the markets were, and didn’t count on too much more ever coming my way. I was just happy to have my basic needs met. After travelling in West Africa in 2002, and seeing how happy people were with the basics they had, I realized that I wasn’t too interested in focusing my time on creating another commercial venture, but saw a bigger opportunity for impact in the non-profit sector.

You sold two of your businesses to a big company? Why did you decide to sell them?

We only sold MyDesktop – our second venture raised venture capital, but was not sold. We decided to sell MyDesktop because we could only go so far without more experience and exposure. Imagine me at 16, my business partner Michael at 18 – trying to raise venture capital to scale and grow our business! It’s too bad we didn’t, because we could have been a force to be reckoned with in the sector… but I’m happy with how things turned out and what I’m working on now!

What are your takes on personal development?

I think the amount of knowledge and resources on the Internet provides a huge opportunity for people to take control of their own personal development. Connecting with mentors, developing new skills, collaborating on an idea. It’s all possible now in ways we couldn’t imagine just a few decades ago.

What would you do if there was no internet?

I have quite an entrepreneurial spirit, so I’m sure I would be running some kind of creative venture related to technology in some way, even if the Internet didn’t exist

What are the best ways for businesses especially start-up to manage their finances during tough times especially in this financial downturn?

I think that it’s quite important to preserve resources and find creative ways to get things done with less. In the non-profit sector, we’re definitely very used to this kind of creativity with managing costs. One great thing about recent improvements in technology is that they enable travel and meetings without travel costs, which is saving lots of many for many organizations!

What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?

At TakingITGlobal, we strive to create a culture that grows leadership, and provides a democratic opportunity for decision making and influence at every level. We’re quite proud to have won the WorldBlu Most Democratic Workplaces award for the last three years – http://www.worldblu.com/scorecard/list2008.php – which highlights our culture’s commitment to the principles of organizational democracy, including decentralization, fairness and dignity, transparency, and integrity.

How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?

First of all, we have many more active volunteers than paid staff, so to start with, typically someone willing to support your vision and work on a volunteer basis is doing so because they do truly care about making a difference. Without the critical contributions of our volunteers, we’d never be able to do as much as we do! When we do have a paid position available, we often hire people who started with us as volunteers, showcasing their commitment to our work through offering their services as volunteers. However, ultimately I believe that all of us want to have a job that’s not just financially sustainable, but that provides a connection to a meaningful contribution. The opportunity we offer our team, both staff and volunteers, is a unique one – to run and support educational and cultural programs that reach over 4 million users every year!

Where do you see in yourself and your business in the next 5 years?

I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to help teachers and schools use our learning and community platform to support and enhance global education. We’ll do this by connecting them with schools all over the world, to participate in collaborative programs on pressing global issues. This has been referred to in recent research as “Challenge-based Learning” – and we’re proud to have helped to pioneered this type of learning for students. One recent program we launched, Tread Lightly (http://www.treadlightly.me) provides this engagement for schools on climate change, and included a live video conference with youth attending the COP15 Climate Change summit in Copenhagen, connecting over a dozen schools around the world with those actually at the event.

What advice can you give to young entrepreneurs out there?

I feel like both one of the most important qualities and pieces of advice I can share is to not be disappointed by failure – but instead to quickly learn from it and move on to your next challenge or product. We’re constantly learning from trying new ideas at TakingITGlobal, and I think that’s key for any new entrepreneur. Here’s one of my favourite quotes on this topic from Jeff Bezos: “If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate”

How important have good employees been to your success?

We’re so lucky at TakingITGlobal to have so many amazing team members – staff, volunteers, and even members, that are essential to our innovation and success. From the beginning, many of the best ideas that have led to new programs have come from our members or volunteers. Giving everyone the opportunity to contribute their suggestions to every aspect of our work has led to continuous improvements over the years! We’re also lucky to have the support of UserVoice, providing us with an online idea sharing forum for our members, letting them submit and vote on improvement ideas.

Thanks Michael for being so open and giving us some much information about your entrepreneurial journey, We wish you the best in the future.

Connec with Michael on Twitter
Take a look on the TakingITGlobal Website.

YHP had the opportunity of interviewing a young, exciting and a future leader in the world, Elliott Bisnow.

A young entrepreneur, only 23 years old and already creating a scene in the entrepreneurial world, Co-founder of Bisnow Media- a niche publishing business with about 30 employees, also Founder of Summit Series- Summit Series, A company he created to connect and inspire the world’s most influential young innovators, company founders.

Elliott is not all about making money, spending his time raising money for charities across the world with the likes of The United Nations Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Grassroots Soccer, Charity: Water, Invisible Children.

He also spends time travelling around the world (Already visited 44 countries), playing tennis and creating new businesses.
Definitely someone to look out for in the future or now really!!

Hello Elliot, it’s so nice to finally speak to you, welcome to YHP and how are you doing?

What could you be doing if you weren’t doing this interview?

I’m living in Central America right now. I’m here from August until November and have been surfing every morning before I jump on conference calls and start working. It’s 7:53 AM and I’m just back from a 90 minute surfing session in Costa Rica.   I’m pretty happy to be relaxing now and answering questions.

Can you give us some background information about yourself?

I grew up in Washington DC and my focus growing up was on tennis. I would practice for 3 – 4 hours every day after school.  I was ranked as high as 37^th in the United States and was able to get a tennis scholarship to the University of Wisconsin.  Now I’m 23 years old and focus on traveling, adventure sports and running two businesses.

Elliot, Can you give us some insight on what you do?

I co-own two companies. The first is called Bisnow Media and is a niche publishing business with about 30 employees. The goal of the company is to pick local business industries in different cities, which have no daily news- For example, the legal industry in Washington DC or commercial real estate in Chicago.  In each industry we bring on a reporter and send out free daily emails all about that industry. We also host tons of events/market conferences/etc. The business makes money from advertising, tickets to events and event sponsorships. I started this business with my dad 3 years ago when I was in my college dorm room.

The second company is called Summit Series. The goal of Summit Series is to create a community of the most amazing young people in the world.  There are so many young company founders, entrepreneurs, non-profit founders and well known figures and there is no home for these people. They generally don’t join most groups or go to traditional conferences which have an older demographic.  We’ve had hundreds of attendees in the past year including the co-founders, founders, presidents or Chief Executives of companies like Twitter, Zappos, CollegeHumor, Facebook, Youtube, Virgin Records, Mint.com, CAA, MTV, and Blackboard.

Elliot, what project are you working on at the moment,Can you give the YHP Readers some insight on this?

Summit Series just finished a Summit in NYC with President Clinton, which Russell Simmons hosted at his residence in the Financial District. We were able to raise $265,000 for the Clinton Foundation, and this money will be used to fight a number of global epidemics such as aids in Africa and childhood obesity in the United States.

Our next major Summit is in Miami from November 5^th -8^th.  We’ll have 250 of the leading company founders in the world. The average age of our attendees is 29 years old. There is some cool information on it here: http://summitseries.com/events/

Bisnow Media currently publishes in DC, NYC, NJ and CHI. We’re in the process of adding a few more cities in 2009.

Elliot, you’ve met some really cool people, Who has been your favourite so far?

We did a Summit at the White House in March and met a number of amazing young people working there.  One of them was Yosi Sergeant who worked with Shepard Fairey to create the Obama Hope Posters/Pins.  In less than a year, these two guys, Yosi and Shepard, created a global movement without any outside help and played a major role in the election of the President of the United States- that’s pretty awesome.

What has been your most memorable moment so far?

In 2009 there have been a lot: The White House Summit, going to China with my family and experiencing a new culture, presenting President Clinton with the Summit Series Catalyst Award, learning a new sport (surfing) in Costa Rica, moving to the West Village in NYC for three months and learning all about a new city, finally getting an Apple computer, and watching my brother try out for American Idol.

What are your hobbies away from work?

Traveling and adventure sports are a huge hobby. I’ve been to 44 countries. I’m currently traveling for three months all around Central and South America, staying in a different country for 3 weeks at a time. I travel with 4 of my closest friends who all work with me. One person is our head of online, one person is our head of strategy, etc.

What inspired you to start a business?

When I was a freshman in college my Resident Advisor in my dorm, Anthony David Adams was printing  t-shirts.  I will take this moment to give Anthony a thank you and shout out! This was the first time I’d ever seen a young person have their own business. My mind was blown. From this moment on, I knew I had to start businesses.

How do you motivate yourself when things aren’t going so well?

As soon as you realize things aren’t going well you take a step back. You figure out what went wrong, what mistake did I make, why aren’t people buying my product, why is this person mad at me, etc. You figure out what went wrong and you dive back in.  You put aside your ego and you apologize if you are wrong. If people don’t buy your product then you and all your sales staff wake up two hours earlier and sell harder. Or you make the necessary changes to your product.

I would say that I make a couple small mistakes every day and a major mistake every week or two.  The world is a good place. People are good.  When you make a mistake and you realize it and you apologize second chances are given.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?

I would like to create a large media company which publishes in the United States and Europe.  I’d like for Summit Series to host events on each major continent. But it’s hard for me to see out more than one year. Even 6 months is hard.   Things move so quickly. We did the White House event in less than a week. So to dream about years away is really hard for me.

Is it true you’re currently on course to raise more than $1 million for non profits in 2009?

We are on pace to directly raise more than $1 million this year for non profits.   It’s pretty amazing when I step back and think about this.  We’ve worked with great organizations like The United Nations Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Grassroots Soccer, Charity: Water, Invisible Children.

What was your reason for starting the summit series?

Summit Series started 18 months ago as a trip for young company founders. As soon as we realized there were thousands of young people who wanted to be part of something, we created a real organization. Our goal is to connect and inspire leading young people.

Not too long, you were invited to the white house, how was the experience?

It was humbling. The opportunity came up quickly. And, to be given the chance to host a Summit at the White House was thrilling.  We had 35 attendees, each of whom ran large businesses: Tony Hsieh the CEO of Zappos, Jared Kushner the Owner/Publisher of the New York Observer, Evan Williams the CEO of Twitter, Ivanka Trump who runs Development and Acquisitions for the Trump Organization, Rob Speyer the Co-CEO of Tishman Speyer, Catherine Levene the COO of Daily Candy, Jessica Jackley the co-founder of Kiva.org.

You are only 23 years old, you’ve achieved so much. How did you become this successful?

Instead of writing business plans and day dreaming ideas, I just use the “Ready, Fire, Aim” technique. I put my ego aside and I just go. And, I have a tentative plan. But I accept that I’ll make mistakes along the way.  Mistakes are ok as long as you don’t make the same one twice.  The only way to build a big company is to move quickly and keep moving forward.  Learn by doing. And have fun. Don’t go to the office from 8AM- 8PM and put in a 50% effort all day because you’re wasting time.  When I work I go at 100% efficiency. And, we make it rain.

What advices would you give to young entrepreneurs out there?

Make it rain. No one will make things happen for you. Pick up the phone and make the hard phone calls, close deals yourself.  No one else makes it rain. You need to make the rain.

Thanks Elliott for your time.

Contact info:
Elliott Bisnow

Bisnow.wordpress.com
www.bisnow.com
summitseries.com

Vicky Mariano is the brains behind the SH (Spiritual Haze).

Spiritual Haze is a SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (meaning it has a social mission rather than profit mission) was created by four Clark University students for their Entrepreneurship class project. After a year and a half of hard work, struggles, and problems trying to open while maintaining its social mission base, they finally opened to the public November 8th, 2007.

Vicky, how you doing? Thank you for the opportunity.Welcome to YHP.

What made you start SH?

- I’m a social entrepreneur! But the story is, SH was formed in a class at Clark University in the Entrepreneurship program. I came with an idea for SH, and it evolved in the class as a project with other classmates. I presented my concept of SH, which essentially is a community venue/social enterprise, in which is always available for people to feel comfortable and de-stress. The products and services of SH are purely to sustain itself and to fill the social mission. I got the idea because I was sick of people not having a space consistently available to de-stress. I saw so many people turn to drugs and alcohol abuse just to de-stress or socialize due to no other options, and it ended up having lots of negative effects on themselves and the community.

Briefly give us some background information about yourself?

- I grew up in Colonie(Albany), NY, and got my bachelors at Clark University in Management with an Entrepreneurship track in 2008. I’ve had a number of different jobs, anywhere from Customer Service to Business Development. I’ve always been a social entrepreneur, I’ve had my own money making projects since I was 10.

I know some people are still curious about what SH is about?

- I guess I answered this in the first question! But I consider it a community venue, a grassroots approach to strengthening the community. We help people truly feel good and de-stress from life troubles, with hopes this will help them lead productive and happy lives, at least at that time. Our main products we sell are hookah (flavoured tobacco) and food and drinks from our cafe, selling these products both sustains us economically, and helps to create an atmosphere that’s social and comfortable. Daily/weekly/monthly entertainment, benefit/organization/private or public events, and the art gallery is decided on by our employees or customers (we call hazers). 4 out of 7 days a week something is planned, whether it’s an open mic, benefit show, art gallery opening, college orientation party, and lots more.

How did you market your business?

-Word of mouth primarily, also Clark Universities Entrepreneur program helped us with getting the word out through articles and such, flyering, and of course the internet!

How did you get funds to run the business?

- Friends and family

How has the journey been so far?

- Lots of ups and downs. It’s amazing just to think about how much SH has positively changed people’s lives in the community. Nothing feels better than when a hazer will sincerely tell me how happy they are I created SH, which happens all the time. Not to mention how much it’s positively changed my life, and how much fun I’ve had running it the past almost 2 years. Although I think there has been much more good than bad, I’ve dealt with a lot of bad things, mainly involving stealing and being harassed (which is common in the area SH is located).

Do you have anyone you model yourself around?

- I wouldn’t say I model myself around anyone, but two of my professors, George Gendron and David Jordan, and my dad were very inspiring.

What is your definition of an entrepreneur?

- Someone who inherently can see trends in their surroundings which leads them to a business concept that they take a financial risk to create and operate.

Do you have any books/audios you read that you would like to advice to the readers?

- Not really a book reader, but one book I really liked was “Growing a Business” by Paul Hawken

What advice can you share to our readers, especially young entrepreneurs starting their business?

Make sure you do the most preparing you possibly can before beginning to act on your business idea. By preparing I mean; get advice specifically on your idea from professionals, do as much research as possible on all topics of business.

“Do good for yourself, by doing good for others!” Shape your idea not just around making money, but around what people actually need and want, this way you’re helping your community and making money off it (social enterprise).

Thanks for the time.

Contact Vicky Mariano
www.spiritualhaze.com