My name is Andrew Young and I’m a magician. It seems I have always been destined to do something different. I am the kind of person who does my own thing. When my friends were playing with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I played with Batman. When my family was watching a rented movie, I was building a fort. Making my own decisions has worked well for me.

When I was eight years old my mom showed me a magic book she had checked out from the library. From that point on, I was hooked. I checked that book out so many times that the library eventually got sick of it and just gave it to me. Magic continued to be my passion. I would entertain my friends and family with new tricks all the time. In 2003, when I was 13, I was asked to perform my first show for a senior citizens home. At that moment I discovered what I wanted to do in life. I also knew that I could make it happen.

I learned the “tricks” I needed to turn my love of magic into money early on. In elementary school I took part in the Marketplace for Kids program that was offered to my class. It showcased innovation and creativity, and introduced me to the concept of entrepreneurship as a career option. This early introduction to owning my own business gave me the confidence I needed to make my own career instead of depending on a company to hire me.

Like I said, I have always done my own thing, so being an Entrepreneur is a natural fit. In the 4 years since that first performance, I have turned my love for magic into a successful business. I perform and speak at business meetings, schools, and workshops. There aren’t a lot of magicians in North Dakota so currently I am doing a pretty good amount of traveling. It all comes with owning my own business. This is a pretty good trick considering I am only 17.

This year I got the chance to give back to the program that got me started. I was invited to showcase my business at several of the 2007 Marketplace for Kids “Education Days” held throughout North Dakota. During my presentation, called “The Magic of Young,” I discussed how I started my business, as well as the importance of believing in your dreams.

It may seem that I have made creating my own career sound easy, but believe me it is not. I like to say, “The road to success is often dotted with many parking places.” In every business there are challenges and obstacles, and I have certainly faced mine. It all comes with the job. I believe that my love for seeing how different people enjoy magic makes the inevitable business challenges seem small.

Some of the secrets to my success include support from family and friends and their belief in me, planning, organization, and most importantly, love and passion for what I am doing. All this, and a little magic, and you can be an entrepreneur too!