Harley Finkelstein

We all have dark places we go to, and the question is, how do you get out of those dark places? So things were things were about as dark as they could have gotten. It was desperation. I didn't really know what to do.

I used this tool called entrepreneurship when I was 17 to solve this problem. It changed my life. You can start a business today. It's an incredible time to be an entrepreneur right now because the tools like Shopify and some things you're doing at Leap Academy have made it easier to learn these things. You can build something faster, more effective.

I used this tool called entrepreneurship when I was 17 to solve this problem. It changed my life. You can start a business today. It's an incredible time to be an entrepreneur right now because the tools like Shopify and some things you're doing at Leap Academy have made it easier to learn these things. You can build something faster, more effective.

So I had a mentor of mine who convinced me that... How did you even start? Actually, I'm going to show you something I've never shown anyone.

So I had a mentor of mine who convinced me that... How did you even start? Actually, I'm going to show you something I've never shown anyone.

So as you said, as a kid, I was always entrepreneurial. I always had, I guess what would now be called side hustles. When I was 13 years old, I started a little DJ company. I was always tinkering and toying with little businesses when I was a kid. But it was only when I was 17, I moved from South Florida, where I was living, to Canada to go to McGill University.

So as you said, as a kid, I was always entrepreneurial. I always had, I guess what would now be called side hustles. When I was 13 years old, I started a little DJ company. I was always tinkering and toying with little businesses when I was a kid. But it was only when I was 17, I moved from South Florida, where I was living, to Canada to go to McGill University.

And within about a month into school or so, my parents got into some real financial hardship. My dad was no longer around. He got into some trouble, and I didn't really know what to do. I felt this wave of angst, this wave of uncertainty come over me. I have too much younger sisters that were living down back in Florida with my mom. And things were about as dark as they could have gotten.

And within about a month into school or so, my parents got into some real financial hardship. My dad was no longer around. He got into some trouble, and I didn't really know what to do. I felt this wave of angst, this wave of uncertainty come over me. I have too much younger sisters that were living down back in Florida with my mom. And things were about as dark as they could have gotten.

And I decided at that point that in a similar vein to when I was younger and I wanted to be a DJ and nobody would hire me, I started my own DJ company and hired myself. I once again used entrepreneurship when I was 17 to solve this problem, which was not... passion or interest or novelty like being a DJ, it was desperation. I had to pay my tuition. I had to pay for my rent.

And I decided at that point that in a similar vein to when I was younger and I wanted to be a DJ and nobody would hire me, I started my own DJ company and hired myself. I once again used entrepreneurship when I was 17 to solve this problem, which was not... passion or interest or novelty like being a DJ, it was desperation. I had to pay my tuition. I had to pay for my rent.

I had to support my mom and younger sisters. And I started a little t-shirt business to make t-shirts for universities in 2001. And changed my life. It changed my life from a financial perspective. It changed my life from a place of responsibility, helping my mom and sisters.

I had to support my mom and younger sisters. And I started a little t-shirt business to make t-shirts for universities in 2001. And changed my life. It changed my life from a financial perspective. It changed my life from a place of responsibility, helping my mom and sisters.

But entrepreneurship was then and is today still the tool that I take out most often, most readily when I'm trying to solve a problem. It's not to say everyone does it that way, but in my darkest times, and also, frankly, even my happiest times, maybe we'll talk about, I just wrote a kid's book for my daughters about entrepreneurship.

But entrepreneurship was then and is today still the tool that I take out most often, most readily when I'm trying to solve a problem. It's not to say everyone does it that way, but in my darkest times, and also, frankly, even my happiest times, maybe we'll talk about, I just wrote a kid's book for my daughters about entrepreneurship.

I use this tool called entrepreneurship to solve problems, and it has been the most effective tool, the most effective way for me to resolve something that is deeply concerning or deeply of interest throughout my entire life.

I use this tool called entrepreneurship to solve problems, and it has been the most effective tool, the most effective way for me to resolve something that is deeply concerning or deeply of interest throughout my entire life.

Actually, I'm going to show you something I've never showed anyone.

Actually, I'm going to show you something I've never showed anyone.

This was actually my very first business card. And if you can see it, it says Fresh Vibe Entertainments. The reason I have this is because my mother recently found it and gave it to me. But this business card is dramatic to me. It is incredibly meaningful. Why? Because when I came home, I was 13. I'm Jewish. I went to a lot of bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs.