20 Under 20s | Interviews With The Business Minds Of Generation Z

Colin Campbell is Gary Vaynerchuk's personal writer; he produces an article in collaboration with Gary five days a week and runs Gary’s Monday newsletter. Together, Colin and Gary have grown their page from #10 to #1 on Medium, garnering over 70 million views on that page in just three months.   Beyond his work at VaynerMedia, Colin also started Life of Thought, a publication celebrating knowledge by discussing the importance of philosophy, education, and ideas.   I know a lot of young entrepreneurs, myself included, follow Gary V closely – this conversation offers some incredible insight into how Colin started working at VaynerMedia, what it’s like to work with Gary, and what the experience has taught him about being a better entrepreneur.   Resources: Follow Life of Thought: Medium | Instagram | Twitter | Read even more of Colin’s work at medium.com/@garyvee   Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast Masters

Ben Zettler is an experienced social media expert and entrepreneur specializing in brand growth, lead generation, and sales. He oversees social strategy for Steiner Sports, the leading producer of authentic hand-signed collectibles, and is the owner and founder of Brooktide Sunglasses. In addition, Ben provides digital media consulting services to brands and public figures.   We discuss how he got into digital marketing, how you can get an online business off the ground (without quitting your day job), and generating leads online.   Resources: Learn more at https://benzettler.com/ (BenZettler.com) Connect with Ben: Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn Steiner Sports Brooktide Sunglasses

Mikey Taylor is a professional skateboarder, entrepreneur, and real estate investor.   Mikey started skating, like most kids do, when he was a teenager and his friends were doing it – but it really connected with him. He worked with the one kid on his street who owned a camera and started filming tapes (on VHS) so that he could find sponsors and make it a job.   His first attempt, around the age of 16, took six months... and no one called him back.   So Mikey tried again and tried harder, and this time he got a shoe, clothing, and skate sponsor – and, as it turns out, this determination is the same thing that makes Mikey a great entrepreneur today. He doesn’t take failure as a no, but instead a reason to try even harder.   “Failure doesn’t mean the end. Failure is just part of the process for you to get where you want to go. Once I learned that… and started looking at failure as an everyday occurrence, I really started having more success in things other than skateboarding.”   Now Mikey is working o

Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine and the host of two podcasts: Pessimists Archive, about the history of unfounded fears of innovation, and Problem Solvers, about how entrepreneurs solve unexpected problems in their business.   We discuss how Jason worked his way up to EIC, why Gen Z should learn diverse skills to adapt in today’s unpredictable economy, and the universal experience of entrepreneurs.   Great tips from Jason:   “You need to think about what you’re learning, not just how impressive or how cool a job is.” As long as you’re learning, you’re doing great. When there’s nothing else to learn, it’s time to move on. Seek our diverse experiences so that you can learn diverse skills; Freelance, volunteer, and work with a variety people so that you can learn many skills, in different fields. “We’re not in a predictable economy right now.” If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to be a self-starter. “A lot of people have dreams and aspirations, but they don

Today’s guest is inspiring for anyone who feels like there’s not enough time to get things done.   Trevor Booker is a Power Forward for the Philadelphia 76ers (previously the Brooklyn Nets) in the NBA, but that’s not all – he’s also a Founding Partner of JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital and a serial entrepreneur. On top of all that, he’s a husband and a father of four.   So don’t be afraid to dream big, and dare to do a lot – it IS possible, and there is definitely enough time in the day if Trevor manages to get all of that done.   Resources: Check out JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital: jbfitzgerald.com

Josh Levin is the Founder of Empowered Electric, a commercial electric company that specializes in high-end projects like restaurants, theaters, and other large spaces. Josh is taking an unconventional approach to building a company in an old school industry, and he’s seen tremendous success over the past three years.   Josh had a rough childhood, and he grew up being told that he would fail due to his circumstances.   But, early on, Josh had his first taste of being an entrepreneur – and he was hooked on the empowering freedom that it offered. Although he often had to work twice as hard as someone else to get the same results, he developed grit and discipline that are now invaluable as a business owner.   Josh later had an opportunity to apprentice with an electrician, and this was hugely impactful – unlike college, where you pay to learn, apprenticeships and internships will pay you to learn a skill. He worked harder than anybody else, and it paid off.   “Have a great attitude and work your ass off,

John Ruhlin is the Founder & CEO of the Ruhlin Group, a gift strategy and logistics company, and the bestselling author of Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention.   John’s Ah-Ha Moment   As a kid, John’s life changed when he started working for Cutco – not because he was selling great knives, but because he knew a very generous businessman and they worked out a gift-giving deal.   They started sending gift boxes that included both pocket knives and kitchen knives to the CEOs of multimillion dollar companies. When John asked why they were sending kitchenware to high-powered CEOs, he was told, “If you take care of the entire family, everything else in business seems to take care of itself.”   By the time John got to college, he was the best salesman in the history of Cutco (and found a new niche).   “Nobody was teaching business leaders how to leverage gratitude as a competitive advantage in business.” –John Ruhlin   If y

Right out of school, AJ Vaynerchuk and his brother Gary co-founded VaynerMedia. Together, they grew that business from two people to over 600. Now AJ is following his passion for sports with a new venture, VaynerSports.   We talk about transitioning from one company to the other, and why you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) wait to be an entrepreneur – you can do it in high school, and it’s never been easier than it is today.   Resources: Learn more at http://www.vaynersports.com/ (VaynerSports.com) Connect with AJ on Twitter

Gary Vaynerchuk tells us how Gen Z can hustle harder and sooner than ever before, thanks to the increased connectivity of the digital age.   Resources: GaryVaynerchuk.com Connect with Gary V: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube   Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast Masters

Grant Cardone is a New York Times bestselling author, international speaker, business innovator, social media personality, and one of the best sales trainers in the world.   Grant doesn’t see Generation Z as kids – he sees us as Giants ready to conquer the world, and he has some great advice to help you, as he says, “Go get that money, man!”   Resources: Connect with Grant: GrantCardone.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Read Grant’s books:   The 10X Rule The Closer’s Survival Guide The Millionaire Booklet     Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast Masters

Jeff Hoffman is a successful entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, published author, Hollywood film producer, and even the producer of a Grammy-winning jazz album. He has been part of a number of well-known companies and billion-dollar startups, including Priceline.com. uBid.com, ColorJar, and more.   Jeff now spends most of his time mentoring entrepreneurs, and in this episode he shares valuable tools that the most ambitious and hard-working individuals in Gen Z (that’s you!) can use to design their own future through entrepreneurialism.   Driven by Desire   Jeff isn’t driven by some innate entrepreneurial trait – his entrepreneurialism stems from wanting something he doesn’t have, which no one will give to him.   So it isn’t about simply being born an entrepreneur, but instead having a goal that requires a lot of work hard to achieve.   For example, Jeff started his first company on the second day of college. He went to a school that he couldn’t afford (Yale), but he wanted tha

Alex Charfen is a proud member of a band of brothers and sisters that includes Einstein, Oprah, and Edison – and many people like YOU join this tribe of entrepreneurs every day. We are born with a unique set of gifts and issues that will, for better or for worse, drive us for all of our lives: Entrepreneurs will chase momentum, and even long for it; they will have a hard time fitting into the systems built for everybody else; and, in the end, if they survive and are able to stay unmedicated and unincarcerated, they will likely change the world. Throughout Alex’s http://www.charfen.com/blog/free-ebook/ (free ebook) and podcast, both called The Entrepreneurial Personality Type, he dives into this idea and offers incredible value for anyone who can relate to it. Resources: Learn more at http://www.charfen.com/ (Charfen.com) Listen to The Entrepreneurial Personality Type podcast Download The Entrepreneurial Personality Type ebook for FREE Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast M

Aaron Easaw, at the age of 19, is currently the youngest General Partner in the world. As Founder and General Partner at ACE General Capital, Aaron focuses on investing in the best entrepreneurs under 30 years old...  what's really interesting, though, is the journey that led him there. It all ties into his mantra: "Age doesn't define ability."     You will discover… What venture capitalists do. What Mark Cuban taught Aaron about the world of venture capital. Why ACE operates as more of a Co-Founder than an investor.   Resources: Connect with Aaron: Twitter | LinkedIn Learn more about ACE Venture Capital   Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast Masters

Today we’re sharing an episode from Teens of America Radio featuring Jesse and a previous guest of this podcast, Ben Stern, the Founder of Nohbo who was featured on Shark Tank and accepted a $100,000 investment from Mark Cuban. You will learn... How Ben came up with Nohbo, the world's first single-use eco-friendly shampoo product, and founded it with his grandmother. What it’s like to get on Shark Tank and then have Mark Cuban as an investor. Why Ben is pro-education and pro-entrepreneur. The episode wraps up with Jesse’s special segment: “Turning Your Difference into a Superpower (to Make a Difference).” Resources: Learn more and send Ben an email at NohboBall.com Watch Ben on Shark Tank: Season 7 Episode 18 NOHBO Shark Tank Update - Benjamin Stern - Deal: Mark Cuban - Season 7

What’s the future of ethereum, bitcoin, litecoin, ripple, and other major cryptocurrencies? Paul McNeal is a bitcoin evangelist, and he helps us answer some questions about the past and future of cryptocurrencies. We discuss… Why investing (but not day trading) in these currencies is probably a good bet. The creator of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, and their disappearance. Why cryptocurrencies are valuable for merchants accepting payments. Resources: Connect with Paul: Facebook | LinkedIn Read Satoshi Nakamoto’s White Page on Bitcoin Follow “the bitcoin oracle” Vinny Lingham Research Bitcoin: Coinigy.com | Cointelegraph.com | CoinDesk.com | Bitcoinist.com Production & Development for the 20 Under 20s Podcast by Podcast Masters

Jason Wong is a 19-year-old entrepreneur and social media influencer who has amassed more than 2M followers. Today he owns a digital marketing agency plus several ecommerce stores, and his companies are projected to make $12M in revenue this year. The Value of School Looking back at school, Jason is glad he went because it taught him discipline, time management, and social skills that he was lacking beforehand. All of these transferable skills him get to where he is now. Marketing & The Meme Bible Jason leverages his social media influence to grow his businesses and market products. He likes to to make content that is interesting enough to go viral because it saves marketing costs and allows the product or brand to grow organically. The Meme Bible is a meme coloring book that highlights this strategy, in both subject and marketing. During the book’s first seven days on the market, Jason was able to leverage his, at the time, 1.4M followers (mostly on Tumblr) to generate $100k in revenue. The book has gr

Today we’re sharing an episode of the Access Your Success hour on Teens of America Radio that Jesse co-hosted with Sean Mulroney. The co-hosts interview http://www.dylangambardella.com/ (Dylan Gambardella), Co-Founder of the Next Gen Summit, about growing the Next Gen community, why collaboration trumps competition, and balancing entrepreneurship with college.   Resources: Listen to Teens of America Radio Connect with Dylan: Website | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | https://www.facebook.com/DylanGambardella (Facebook) Learn more about the Next Generation Summit at ngsummit.com   Collaboration > Competition “The way to the most success possible, for any individual, is never going to be through pure competition.” –Dylan Gambardella Success follow people who give significantly more than they ask or take. Too much of business, and live, is transactional. People are often only willing to offer something if they are offered something in return; it’s all quid pro quo. However, you want your relations

Do you have an awesome idea for business? An idea is a good start, but the challenge is executing on that idea and taking the first few steps. Today’s guest will help you take your first step. Stacey Ferreira is an incredible entrepreneur – who, at the age of 24, has already founded two successful companies (and sold one) – and co-author of 2 Billion Under 20: How Millennials Are Breaking Down Age Barriers and Changing the World.   Founding Two Businesses Before 25 In 2011, Stacey Co-Founded My Social Cloud, an SSO company whose investors include Sir Richard Branson, Jerry Murdock, and Alex Walsh. In 2013, My Social Cloud was acquired by Reputation.com, where she worked before going back to college. She is currently the CEO of Forge, an enterprise scheduling software that empowers employees to pick the hours that they work at retail and restaurant locations across the U.S.   Dropping Out of College to Run a Business Originally, Stacey was running My Social Cloud and going to college. After her Fresh

Are you familiar with fidget spinners? Yeah? Did you know the trend was started by two high school seniors? Allan Maman and Cooper Weiss are the Co-Founders of Fidget360. They made $15,000 in the first week of fidget spinner sales... and that was just the beginning.   The Origin Story Allan and Cooper didn’t invent fidget spinners, but they’re the first people to see the opportunity and their marketing kicked off the trend. They produced their first spinners on the 3D printers in their high school, but they didn’t receive any support from the administration. They used the profit from their first week to buy another 3D printer, started making more nonstop, and things have taken off from there.   Promoting a New Product They started promoting fidget spinners on social media. First it was just their own Instagram account, but they quickly created an ad and started paying other people to promote the product on their pages. Paid promotion on Instagram got hundreds of thousands of views, and the focus on

Manu “Swish” Goswami is incredible. He is an award-winning serial tech entrepreneur and innovator who, at 20 years old, has already founded and sold multiple companies.   During this Q&A, we discuss… How Swish puts out so much awesome content every week The best way to to connect with people Higher education   Learn more at www.20under20s.com