| Webmaster of My Destiny |
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From "Future CEO Stars" Magazine - December 2007 by Dirk Monson My experience with Marketplace for Kids is a bit different than most. I never showed off an invention or an idea. Instead, I got involved with and was inspired by Marketplace for Kids in a completely different way. In 2003, when I was a sophomore and student webmaster at Minot High School in Minot, ND, I had the opportunity to participate in Marketplace for Kids. Wendy Altendorf, Region 2 Advisory Leadership Team Co-Chair, asked if the other student webmasters, Rob Scheeler and Peder Rice, and myself would produce a video of the day's events. We jumped at chance and gladly accepted the invitation. We had all been to Marketplace for Kids previously and knew what to expect. However, it was still so inspiring to see students nearly half our age come up with unique business ideas. Feeling inspired, it was at Marketplace for Kids in Minot that year that we began to write our own business plan. We knew it'd be difficult to juggle a business, school, and a part-time job, but we didn't let it scare us. By 2004, our business was growing slowly. However, we were determined to succeed. Again, the three of us were asked to produce a video for Marketplace for Kids in Minot. We were also invited to be closing speakers to discuss the business we had started. We saw this as an opportunity to be recognized in the community and to further grow our business. Rob Scheeler and myself were even interviewed for a Prairie Public documentary entitled "Growing our Future," which focused on young entrepreneurs in North Dakota. It ended up being a tremendous opportunity for our business, all thanks to Marketplace for Kids. In fact, that was really the point where things started to take off. By 2005, we had already built up an impressive portfolio of our work. We had designed and developed well over ten websites between the three of us in just over two short years. Even though we were capable of supporting ourselves financially with our venture, we had learned an important lesson: get an education. Because we had all chosen to go our separate ways for college, we dissolved the business. While it was sad to see my first business end, the entrepreneurial bug had bitten me. Shortly after graduating from high school in 2005 I started my second business, Pixel Movement. I wanted to develop websites that were inexpensive enough so that small businesses could afford them. Through primarily word of mouth advertising, my business grew rapidly. Pixel Movement went from just two clients to nearly twenty in less than two years, and it is still growing. In fact, my newest client is the Marketplace for Kids/Marketplace for Entrepreneurs organization. Marketplace for Kids opened my eyes to how rewarding it could be to start my own business. I can say with all honesty that I love what I do and that I'm excited to "go to work" everyday. I don't know of too many people who can boast that. While it hasn't always been smooth sailing and there have been significant obstacles, starting Pixel Movement has been more than worth it. It is certainly something I don't regret. |