AJ Yager

AJ is a dynamic speaker, success coach, author, blogger, mentor and entrepreneur. His adventures have included several business ventures before the age of 27 ranging from; farm produce selling, odd jobs business for the elderly, agribusiness, direct response marketing, advertising, internet marketing, web design, computer training for individuals/businesses, and publishing.

His most recent business was Long Beach Magazine, which he sold in the beginning of 2009. He was voted as one of the top young entrepreneurs in the nation by YoungBiz Magazine and was rated by Business Week as one of the Top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 in America.

More about AJ

Biggest obstacle overcome...

Learning the importance of placing lifestyle first, in other words I figured out that building a business that would GIVE ME MORE LIFE is a much better model. Many times I and other entrepreneurs are so caught up in the idea and the execution of that idea, we don't consider how that business might take over our lives and drive us into a corner down the road. Experience has taught me to bjuild business models that will give me more free time to enjoy my money, family, travel, etc.

Biggest business mistake...

Didn't cover my own butt and lacked the confidence to stand up for what I had built! In one of my companies I allowed investors to come in and overrule me since they had a lot of money. I was young and didn't understand that I was the value for the company. I most shares and lost out on control of my company.

Biggest vice...

My biggest vice is that I enjoy life and make the most of every moment! I don't understand people that don't want to succeed or simply don't make the obvious changes that are staring them in the face. I don't like to see people NOT try!

Biggest advice for others...

2 steps that young people can go take right now if they think they have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. #1 Go find a Mentor: Better yet go find someone who is successful doing what you want to do, take them to lunch, ask them to be your mentor, impress the heck out of them, do what it takes to get in on the "inside", and learn veraciously! Put your time in now to learn the real-life lessons from someone who will cut your learning curve in half. #2 Get STARTED NOW, write down your ideas, keep the momentum, and start...even if you have no idea how it will all work out, just start failing as fast as possible. It starts with ONE step.

What I do for fun...

Read books, Go out on the water in yachts, Workout, Enjoy outdoor challenging activities, driving race cars and travel

Most embarrassing business moment...

When I was speaking to a group of 500 students at a summer camp, under the assumption that all the students there had read a specific book that had been a tradition since the 1940's. I designed almost my entire presentation around the principles of this book. The guidance councilors didn't think to mention that not many of the young peple at the camp even read that book anymore (which was a disappointment). I had an hour to fill with content, I got REALLY embarrassed once I learned that only 5 people in the audience had read the book...lol. So with the feeling of a frog in my throat and nerves running wild I B.S.'s my way and presented off the top of my head. Moral of the story that I learned: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE and ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS POSSIBLE BEFORE GOING ON STAGE. I was 18 so glad I learned it then.