I was born in '88, currently 26 years of age.
Started my own business while still in highschool. Moved out on my own the summer before Grade 12. Graduated on time in 2006.
After highschool I got a job at a small-time advertising agency doing mostly graphic design and minor IT stuff. I had a feeling business wasn't going so well for the owners, and after 6 months or so, I left and focussed on growing my own business. The ad agency failed shortly after.
A while later my girlfriend (now wife) became pregnant. I jumped on job opportunity that brought in around $1200/week. My first child was born in Nov. 2009. I stuck to the job because it paid well. But I was working 12 hour days, my own business lacked my attention, and my wife became pregnant again.
I picked up a few decent sized projects under my business to bring in additional money to put away for the new baby.
The first week of January/2011 I arrived at work after a Christmas/New Years holiday. We were all brought in for a meeting and told the Government had frozen their accounts as they weren't remitting sales tax. We were all let go. My second child was born two weeks later.
I decided to try to put my attention to my business, but I wasn't able to pick business up quickly enough to keep up with the income I had been making. I worked a couple different part time jobs, from Fire Protection Inspector to Locksmith helper.
In 2013 I decided it was time to spruce up the business. I changed the business name and incorporated in 2013. I picked up a couple of good recurring paying projects from local businesses. I quit my job (the locksmith at the time) in April 2014. My wife picked up a part time (evening) job as to help supplement income on our slower months.
Since then we've continued to grow the business. I've already told my wife she can quit her job, but she's continuing because she enjoys the work and getting out of the house.
We're now looking to hire some employee's as things have been growing rather rapidly in the past year.
I did this without wasting $40,000-$70,000 on a bullshit piece of paper. I'm not saying it was easy, but kids these days need to understand that its not a requirement.
My younger brother, in contrast, went to University for technical theatre (lighting, sound, stage design, etc.). He's working as a delivery driver for pizza hut, while sitting on a mountain of debt.