Young People Do

What do you want to do, and what are you going to do about it?

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Ofo Ezeugwu: Energetic Entrepreneur

Interview by Chris Asroff Click here to like Young People Do on Facebook

So you have an idea. But what does the path to success look like? If you're unsure, you may want to consult with Ofo Ezeugwu. Ezeugwu is a 21-year-old entrepreneur who currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, who helps others reach their goals while simultaneously pursuing his own.

He graduated college in May of this year with a degree in Entrepreneurship from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Ofo explains what experiences through his college career led him to where he is now as the CEO and President of Untapped, Inc. and WhoseYourLandlord, LLC (possessive form of whose intentional, more on that later).

Young People Do: So, it seems like you made the decision to become an entrepreneur relatively early in college. Can you explain to our readers what your aspirations were prior to your business ideas, and what finally pushed you to pursue them?

Ofo Ezeugwu: I was working at MassMutual as a life, accident, and health insurance producer, in the summer of 2011, when the idea for Untapped was born. Prior to that, I was still an entrepreneurship major and I had just picked up my management and information systems minor. So, I knew I wanted to do something in business and my strong preference was marketing. My life intentions, at that point, were to start a business, be very successful, and have fun along the way.

I always had the bug for entrepreneurship and I enjoyed helping others develop leadership skills and strengthen their self-confidence I realized the summer of 2011 that I really wanted to dictate my own schedule and start something that was special to me.

YPD: Can you tell our readers more about Untapped and Whose Your Landlord? What's the idea and when were they founded?

OE: Untapped, Inc. was founded in July 2011 and its primary purpose is to work with young entrepreneurs on cultivating their ideas and seeing them through to fruition. We provide the training, support system, and, eventually, financial capital to assist these young CEOs in seeing their visions materialize.

WhoseYourLandlord was founded in February 2012 and officially launched on October 24, 2012. In addition to the rating platform, we’re creating a housing hub for college students to use in assessing, finding, and managing their housing situations/ We’ll be rolling out our mobile app this upcoming winter. So, I guess you guys are the first to know.

YPD: You just graduated from college, Temple University, this past May. Share with everyone what it was like to already have a career well underway while still in college and why you made the decision to get started when you did. Also, why did you choose the marketing industry?

OE: Yup, I’m 100% #TempleMade. I had a lot of fun in college but I also was on top of managing my time properly. Senior year was easily the craziest year; I was acting and modeling with several agencies, serving as vice president of Temple’s student body, and was the president of two growing companies. It’s safe to say, time ran very fluidly for me as there was always something to do.

I decided to get started with both companies when I did because I knew the resources and connections I made in college would go a long way towards making the beginning stages very successful in our growth. Our target demographic was my fellow peers and they would listen to what I had to say and help us achieve our goals because everything was aligned correctly.

And, lastly, I’ve always enjoyed marketing and getting a grasp of what people do, what they respond to, and why. Naturally, once I garnered the educational background in marketing, I knew the next step would be putting my knowledge into action.

YPD: How important was it to you and your business’s success that you have a great surrounding cast that is on the same page as you? At what point in the process of beginning your business did you find it absolutely necessary to build a team?

OE: A strong supporting cast is necessary to succeed at a high rate. We have people who exhibit specialty skills in tech, marketing, finance, operations, etc. This is important in making sure we cover all bases of business operations.

I found it necessary to build the team organically as we saw fit; so, once we were approaching a crossroads where we needed to add a specific specialty, I would begin looking for someone who fit that bit.

YPD:  Pretend I'm a potential customer/user for either “Untapped, Inc.” or “Whose Your Landlord;" what's the elevator pitch?

OE: Untapped: Today, colleges spend much time teaching “what.” We teach “how.” We don’t focus on pure business development; rather we incorporate the intangibles, ideals, and life lessons associated with every day realities in life. Our focus lies in creating great leaders and encouraging young people to step out of their comfort zone and achieve greatness (as they define it). This new age of entrepreneurship doesn’t solely lend itself to business. Entrepreneurship falls in line with a mindset of looking to achieve more and rally others around you to achieve a common goal. Bring your ideas, concepts, and questions. We’ll figure it out together. WYL: WhoseYourLandlord.com is a website that allows college students to rate their on and off campus housing: this includes, their landlords, residence halls, and housing complexes. In the name, we use the possessive form of the word “who” because we’re giving students ownership of their situation by putting housing in their hands. WhoseYourLandlord puts the power of information in the hands of the tenant.

By providing an open platform which invokes a community of past and current renters to contribute ratings and reviews of their home providers, we will foster an environment by which landlords are compelled to provide quality services. We create a housing hub, preserving time, money, and effort on the parts of those looking for housing and those providing it. WYL gives our users ownership of their situation enabling tenants to make informed decisions on housing by reviewing the personal experiences of others that may not be available through any other platform.

YPD: On your Facebook page for “Untapped, Inc.,” there is a quote from you: “No steps backward, just forward progress.” What's the significance of that statement?

OE:  That statement means the world to me. Through mistakes, triumphs, and through all the work, you must have a short memory. It’s cool getting coverage in news articles and in publications; but, if that was our sole goal, we would have stopped a long time ago. Persistence is key in all that we do and it’s the determining factor in regards to who becomes successful and who does not. “No steps backward” focuses on not dwelling on the past. “Just forward progress” means, no matter what the past held, we’re going to continue to succeed in the future.

YPD: What is your strongest piece of advice for other 20-somethings?

OE: My strongest piece of advice is to keep working. If you have a dream in mind, think of the preliminary steps you must take to allow it to formulate into something tangible. For example, if you’re creating a blog about technology; write out what the first several posts will be about.

Determine what informational fortitude you already have in that area and determine what you need to know. This step is crucial in realizing how you’ll go about researching and staying abreast as to what’s going on in any specific industry. Start with the small steps first and the accumulated steam will power you through the following steps on the path to success.

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Jasmine O'Neill: Bikini Athlete

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose Click here to like Young People Do on Facebook

Jasmine O'Neill, 24, is a bikini athlete, which means she competes in the bikini category at bodybuilding competitions. In other words, she's sculpted.

But O'Neill is actually new to the game. Although an athlete of one variety or another her entire life, O'Neill was admittedly not fully satisfied with her fitness and weight through high school and college. Then came a moment of inspiration, and less than a year later she's trimmed more than 30 pounds and gotten into competition shape through diet and exercise.

But where does the inspiration come from? What changes did she make, and how does she fit them around her 40-hour-a-week marketing job? And what advice does she have for the casual exerciser looking to achieve a new level of fitness?

Young People Do: Tell us about what you do-- the bodybuilding world is probably a bit foreign to most readers.

Jasmine O'Neill: It’s a little confusing to explain to someone who hasn’t ever watched a bodybuilding show, but I’ll try to break it down as simply as possible. There are five main categories in which females compete: fitness, bodybuilding, physique, figure, and bikini. Fitness competitors include a lot of gymnastics and theatrics in their stage performances, while the other divisions are more based on aesthetics. In terms of muscle, bodybuilders are the largest, followed by physique, then figure, and bikini girls are the smallest. While having muscle tone and conditioning is important in all categories, bikini is often thought of as being the most “girly” division because the competitors are able to come in a little bit softer, without as many cuts. But it's not as simple as looking cute in a bikini; the judges don’t look for the girls who are the skinniest; they look for the ones with the nicest overall shape combined with muscle tone.

There are a lot of different organizations, but I compete exclusively in the NPC (National Physique Committee). There are shows all over the country and even around the world, and the season goes from the spring until the end of the fall. At the amateur level, trophies, medals, etc. are awarded. As a professional, the top five in each class get money on top of those things. It is an expensive hobby, so I really hope to become a sponsored athlete at some point.

YPD: Bodybuilding is something your mother does as well. Can you talk about your experiences growing up and how you arrived at a place where you decided you also wanted to pursue bodybuilding?

JO: My mom, Bren Lauver, has been competing (first in bodybuilding and currently in figure) since I was 8 years old. This was a natural hobby for her to pick up as she is a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. My mom has accomplished a lot over the years, earning professional status in seven different organizations and being featured in numerous publications.

While I always thought that my mom was an inspiring woman and enjoyed going to shows with her and cheering her on, I was never interested in competing myself until last fall. I have always enjoyed working out. Growing up I was involved in sports, dance, and cheerleading, and even after high school I went to the gym, but I had struggled with weight my whole life.

At a certain point I think something just clicked in my mind that complaining that my friends could eat whatever they wanted and stay thin wasn’t doing anything to solve my problems. I knew that I had to do something to take control. When I saw my mom win the NPC Natural Northern USAs in Cleveland, Ohio, last October, I decided that my goal would be to get into competition shape and enter that same competition in 2013. And I made it! That was my first show.

YPD: So you decided to do this, and then you started at Day 1 of training. What changes did you make to your life and how did you know to do them?

JO: The biggest changes that I’ve made are making major shifts in my nutrition and adding weights to my workout routines, which used to be almost all cardio. At first, because of advice that I received from one of my mom’s friends who is a nutritionist, I began eating five times per day to keep my metabolism moving. I would have three balanced, well-portioned meals and two protein shakes as meal substitutes.

Before beginning contest prep I kept my workout routine the same since I was already going to the gym a lot. I cut out junk food and alcohol, and allowed myself cheat meals about once a week (which I still do now) to prevent myself from going crazy or feeling extremely deprived. By changing my nutrition, I lost about 30 pounds on my own.

At the end of March, I applied and was accepted to join a fitness team called Team Bombshell to help me get into competition shape. I receive a new plan each month that includes meals, weight workouts, and cardio workouts. I have one main coach and one main nutritionist. I have weekly email check-ins with my main coach on Mondays: I send progress pictures and let her know how my training and nutrition is going, and she gives me feedback and will make changes to my program if necessary.

In addition to the coaching staff, Bombshell also has its own social network. We have team members all over the world so it’s great to have a place where we can all connect and share experiences, concerns, advice, and questions.

YPD: How did these changes affect your lifestyle outside of training and competing? Do you ever struggle with them?

JO: There is a big difference between living a healthy lifestyle and being an athlete. It’s not easy, and I think that if it was less difficult more people would be involved in the sport. I am done competing now until the spring, so things are less hectic than they were when I had shows coming up, but there were times when I definitely wanted to throw in the towel.

My competition weight, in the low 120s, is about 60 pounds lighter than my heaviest weight, so I was already happy with what I had achieved, and in a way that made me lose motivation at times-- I would look in the mirror and love what I saw and think, “Do I even need to keep doing this? Do I really want to compete? Is it worth all of this?”

I’m really lucky to have a mom who truly understands this process because I would call her in tears sometimes and she would always be able to talk me through it and get my focus back on track. I’m so glad that I stayed the course because the minute I stepped on stage for the first time I felt a rush that made all of the hard work completely worth it. I’m addicted to that feeling! It’s never going to be easy. I want to look better at every show, so it’s important to keep pushing my limits.

YPD: How many hours a week to devote to your training, and how do you make that work with life’s other activities?

JO: I work full-time during the week as the marketing assistant at a concert promoter called SLP Concerts in Haddonfield, N.J., and I also work at a gym in Philly most Saturdays, so fitting in time to train is not the easiest thing in the world. 

Things are much more intense close to competition time. For the most part, I spend about 10 hours per week training. I do weights and cardio Monday to Friday, cardio Saturday, and have a rest day on Sunday to let my body recover.

For the seven weeks leading up to my first show on October 5, and for a shorter time before my second show, I had a morning cardio and a night cardio plus a weight workout Monday to Friday, as well as one cardio on Saturdays for a total of about 16 hours a week.

I basically had time to shower, eat a meal, and get everything ready for the next day before it was time to go to bed so that I could do it all over again the next day. Those days were the ones that led to the occasional mental breakdowns and serious mental and physical exhaustion. As a single woman, I have an immense amount of respect for people who are able to do this with spouses and children, because I felt like I barely had time for myself, let alone time to take care of other people.

YPD: What are some of the successes you’ve achieved so far?

JO: I took home my first trophies on October 26 at the NPC Gold’s Classic in Paterson, N.J. by placing 4th in both my novice and open classes. While it was great to get some awards and I hope to continue to place in future competitions, this sport is very subjective.

A lot of times the results on score sheets are nowhere near unanimous. Additionally, I know that every time I compete I’m going to be up against other girls who have gone through similar rigorous training routines and look amazing. For those reasons, the most important thing to me is to look my personal best at every show and just enjoy the experience.

YPD: I think there’s probably a lot of people out there who would like to make significant changes to their health, whether it be exercise or diet. Do you have any advice for the casual “switch-flipper” when it comes to health? There’s so much information and differing opinions out there, but what have you seen achieve results?

JO: Eating small, balanced meals every few hours is crucial. As someone who loves to eat, I’ve learned the sad reality that while going to the gym is obviously great for you, diet is more important than exercise. It’s also helpful to work out first thing in the morning to get your metabolism going.

Additionally, your metabolism naturally drops in the late afternoon/early evening, so for people who have time to do so, it’s great to split up your cardio and weights. I like to do my cardio right when I wake up before breakfast and then go back to the gym for weights after work when I don’t have anywhere that I need to be at night.

YPD:  What’s next,both in the short and long-term? JO: Short-term I want to work on building my abs. I love my flat tummy, but judges have been going for girls with more sculpted abs so that’s going to be my main focus for next time I compete. I have also become very interested in the science behind how different kinds of food combinations can work together for the best results, so I’m going to start working on getting certified as a nutritionist. Long-term, my ultimate goal is to become a fitness model/spokesmodel. Competing in shows can open a lot of doors for that kind of thing if the right people are in the audience. My mom and I are also in the process of starting a business. She has been working in the fitness business for a long time, and since I’m getting my nutritionist certification, it seems natural for us to combine our knowledge to create training programs for people. The company is going to be called Body By Bren and will be up and running at some point in 2014. We are both really excited to start a new chapter together and hope to be able to inspire and help a lot of people to reach their fitness goals!

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Kwesi K: Soulful Songwriter on the Rise

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose Click here to like Young People Do on Facebook

Kwesi K is a fast rising music artist with a tremendous personal story. Now 25 and living in Philadelphia, Kwesi was formerly a standout football player, who was scoring touchdowns for Division 1 Lehigh University as a freshman running back. However, his heart wasn't in it and he left the team, causing family friction that ultimately resulted in the loss of his financial aid, requiring him to return home to Ohio. However, he rethought his goals, and re-enrolled at Lehigh to earn his degree in architecture. But it wasn't until a semester abroad in Barcelona that life really called out to him. Instead of studying the city's architecture, he began playing his guitar publicly for the first time. He decided he had found his passion, and just a few years later has successfully kicked off his music career. With several extensive tours under his belt, some of his music licensed by ESPN, and a brand new, professionally-recorded EP, he seems to be on the cusp of big things. But more importantly, he's doing what he loves.

How scary were his decisions to change the course of his life? Would he have done anything differently? What are the challenges he faces, and what advice does he have for others?

Young People Do:Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your music.

Kwesi K: My music is folk music, or I hope it becomes folk music-- that it's passed down to younger generations and sung way after my time is done. I'd say my performances are like interviews kind of, not with the pressure or difficult questions, but my performances are a way for people to get to know me. I open up and tell stories about my songs and experiences in hopes the audience builds a stronger connection to my music. 

YPD: You grew up in Ohio and ended up going to Lehigh University to play Division 1 football. However, you realized your heart wasn’t in it anymore and quit. Can you talk a little bit about the difficulty of that decision? 

Kwesi K: It was a tough decision and I really only consulted my older brother, Kwaku-- sorry mom and dad. He pretty much gave me the go ahead. I didn't feel honest playing football. I feel honest now, however, writing songs and sharing them with others.

YPD: Once you returned to Ohio, you now had to figure out a new life path. Was that exciting, scary, or a little of both?

Kwesi: Definitely both. But I wouldn't have traded that new beginning and pushing the reset button for anything else. It allowed me to zoom out, switch my major, put academics at the forefront, and continue down a more thought-out path than freshmen year at Lehigh.

I returned to the East Coast in spring '09 as a regular sophomore and architecture major with a new energy about learning. I was obsessed with the fine arts and design. However all my creative fervor switched hands when I went to Barcelona to study abroad. Instead of designing models for architecture I started writing songs. Park Güell became my busking and musical sanctuary and  I really fell in love with writing; songs, thoughts, ideas, anything that involved self-expression. It wasn't too long after when I decided to pursue songwriting.

YPD: Now that you’re well into a lifestyle of recording, touring, and promoting your music, can you share some of the major lessons you’ve learned? What would you tell the 2010 Kwesi K?

Kwesi K: I would say just to continue being crazy and psychotic about your passion and ignore all the negativity you'll inevitably run into. Alternative lifestyles or anything entrepreneurial requires you to be obsessed with your work. Whatever drives you should be the first thing you think about when you get up and the last thing you look at before you go to sleep. Keep close to your craft, as I like to say. 

YPD: Are you currently able to comfortably pay your costs of living? Do you ever question your choice of pursuing music instead of something else?

Kwesi K: For the most part, but it's a lot of making ends meet. It's inevitable, but pursuing dreams requires a lot of willpower. Incomes will vary month-to-month. Some months you're living like rappers you see on TV and some months you're living like their broke cousins. 

YPD: What is it about music that you love so much? Do you have a vision for your music and career or are you just taking things one step at a time?

Kwesi K: I have an ultimate vision, yes, and that's why I don't ever question my choice of pursuing music over architecture or anything else. But for me, music allows me to travel, connect, and express, which are three very very important aspects of my current livelihood.

YPD: Where can our readers listen to and buy your music, and where can they see you live?

Kwesi K: The new record Pronouns is available at http://kwesikankam.bandcamp.com/ and you check out shows at www.kwesik.com/shows. Also stay tuned, as we'll be releasing a new single for a brand newer EP in January 2014. Thanks for the support! Kwesi K is currently on a fall tour that will take him through New England, the Great Lakes, and Philadelphia. Check for a date near you.

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David Swartz: Autonomous Artist

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose Click here to like Young People Do on Facebook Jon and David Swartz are brothers who operate their own art studio, Black Ink Art, in Philadelphia. They decided to start the company in 2012, shortly after graduating with degrees in graphic design a few years apart. But why did they choose to leave their degrees in the drawer, and pursue a more financially risky self-employment operation? What has their experience been like so far? And where can you see more of their awesome art? David was kind enough to provide some answers for these questions from the road, as he and his brother embark on an art show road trip through the southern United States:

Young People Do: Tell us about Black Ink Art: who is it, how did it get started, and what art or services do you specialize in?

David Swartz: Black Ink is the collective artwork of my brother, Jon Swartz, and myself. I guess it got started because it made sense for us: we've both always worked side-by-side and have very similar styles, so it came naturally to work together. In terms of services, I'd say we offer crazy-cool, awesome visual stimulation through our artwork. We can also custom make that awesomeness.

YPD: Your artwork is super trippy and creative. Where do you get your inspiration?

DS: Inspiration... that's the most frequently asked question. There's not really any one place in particular. Just life, I suppose; music, conversations, other art, nature, urban life, and sometimes we're even lucky enough to find some inspiration on sale at Walmart.

YPD: How difficult is it these days to make a living as an artist? Are you able to pay your bills only through Black Ink or do you work on the side as well?

DS: It's hit or miss. There are months where the money is coming in constantly, and others where we're uncertain if we can get by. I've found that as long as you keep producing and getting the work out there, it'll work out in the end. And yes, for about a year and a half we've been living off the art money.

YPD: On your website, it says that you and your brother chose specifically to start Black Ink, instead of pursuing graphic design, which you both hold degrees in. What was the reason for this move, and what are your feelings about that decision now that more than a year has passed?

DS: Well my brother graduated before me and looked for a job for a while, and found a few. But he hated the work and the workplace. I never really liked doing graphic design all that much myself. After I saw that he could get by strictly by doing art, I followed suit after graduation. After a year there are no regrets. I'd rather be broke than doing something I hate for a paycheck.

YPD: What advice do you have for current college students, or perhaps a full-time professional who may be considering a similar leap to pursue their artistic passions?

DS: I would say that college shouldn't be taken too seriously, I guess. I mean a lot of what I learned in college has no application to real life. If you want to pursue something in art, it's really up to you and how hard you work, the connections you make, and the time you dedicate to it.

College can teach you a thing or two about technique and introduce you to different mediums, but it's just a tool in the end. To anyone considering changing careers I would say don't quit your job until you try it out first. But I also feel kinda dumb giving advice: I'm still figuring shit out.

YPD:  Tell us about some of the cooler experiences you'd had happen to you and Black Ink.

DS: I think just traveling itself is the coolest thing, most people don't get to move around for their job. We've meet a few well-known musicians and people, but honestly the best part is the random people we meet. Strange conversations and forgotten places in the country we stumble upon. It's the little things.

YPD: What are your hopes for your career as an artist? Are you thinking that far ahead or just focusing on doing your thing now?

DS: I've found that as long as we're making as much shit as possible on a daily basis, things seem to work themselves out. We all have hopes and fantasies, but I'll just let things happen naturally.

YPD: Where can people buy your work? Any shows coming up in the next few months where people can stop by and check it out in person?

DS: We have a website with an online store which you can find at blackinkart.com. Other than that we'll be in Philly's Christmas Village from Thanksgiving to the new year selling our work. We might find some shows here and there, and people can follow us on Facebook to find out.

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Douglas Williams: Playwright in Pursuit

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose PROLOGUE

"I'm a playwright... You know, I write plays."

What would your reaction be if somebody under 30 told you that? Personally, when Philadelphia-based playwright Douglas Williams said that to me, I was a little skeptical-- in the "father meeting his daughter's philosophy major boyfriend for the first time" kind of way.

Turns out I was just ignorant. I've since seen two of Williams' plays, and discovered that there is a thriving, exciting world of theatre alive in well in my current city of Philadelphia. The actors cuss, they drink during the show, they stare intensely at you. And playwrights take old works like Breakfast at Tiffany's and bring them into modern times, and you, as a viewer, leave both entertained and contemplating how what you just saw applies to your own life experiences.

But what does being a playwright mean for Williams? How does he pay his bills? What does long-term success as a playwright look like? What doubts does he face? 

ACT 1 DOUGLAS WILLIAMS enters

Young People Do: So you’re a playwright. For those who aren’t familiar with the art, an image of Shakespeare probably just popped into their heads. Enlighten us: who is the modern playwright?

Douglas Williams:  It’s funny you say that about Shakespeare. I feel like a lot of people, especially people our age who don’t have a vested interest in theatre, picture it as either Shakespeare or a Rogers and Hammerstein musical. That’s honestly how I pictured it too for a while, but the theatre is a lot more than that.

There are a lot of young, exciting playwrights producing gritty, innovative work that, I think, really speaks to our collective experience. I would challenge anyone who is unfamiliar with the theatre to pick up a play by Annie Baker, Amy Herzog or Will Eno – three incredible American writers. They’re writing about us. It’s work that can speak to a larger (younger) audience, an audience that might mistake the “theatre” as an art form geared only toward old white people.

It’s hard to say what other playwrights do on a weekly basis since it’s a pretty lonely process – meaning that most playwrights work for long periods of time in a room by themselves. I try to sit down and work every day but that gets pretty difficult.

YPD: At least in Philadelphia, it seems to me (as an outsider) that there’s a big dividing line between the major theatres showing traditional productions, and the smaller venues. What is the state of theatre, in this city and in a broader sense?

DW:  There is a division like that in a lot of cities. Bigger theatres have to appeal to larger audiences, which means they have fewer opportunities for risk. Philadelphia has a lot of smaller theatres that take those risks though. Those theatres want to produce new theatre and there is an audience that wants to see that kind of work. 

It would be difficult to define success as having your play produced in a major theatre. I would love to have a major theatre produce something I wrote, but it’s not the most realistic goal for me at this point in time. There are so many writers and so many plays that just having your play produced-- having an audience engage in your work-- is my ultimate goal. 

YPD:  Let’s talk about your personal story. You graduated with a degree in film and relocated to New York City, to get where the action is. How’d that work out for you, and what advice do you have for others contemplating a move?

DW: It was both wonderful and difficult. I actually decided to pursue a career in theatre after graduating, so really, I moved to New York for the theatre. I had an incredible internship at Manhattan Theatre Club that, among other things, was really a crash-course on the current state of American theatre.

I was seeing a new play just about every three days and even had a few of my one-acts produced. Then after nine months, when my internship ran out, I had a string of jobs that were pretty horrible and paid basically nothing.

I was scraping by on an embarrassing budget, with no time to see theatre and, worse, no time to write. New York can be a tough town if you’re not subsidized in some kind of way, or if you don’t have a great job. I didn’t have either, so after two years I decided it was time for a change. Luckily I had an incredible city I was already familiar with in my back pocket so I moved back to Philly. It really has made all the difference. I’ve been doing a ton of writing, have a great job, and a very tight group of people who support me and my work.

I’m glad I lived in New York-- I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without that experience-- but I don’t think I would ever consider moving back until I’m a little further along in my career as writer or until I’m more financially stable.

YPD: I think if a lot of people had that experience, they’d really start questioning what they were doing, and what they picked to study in college. There's often that internal war between following your personal passion and seeing friends buying really expensive things and wondering if you shouldn’t have listened to your uncle, the accountant, on his career advice.

DW: Of course, but I also know that I would make a pretty shitty accountant. In all honesty, I’m aware there is a career path out there that I could have taken that would make me a lot more money and give me a lot more free time. But if I wasn’t making theatre, I honestly don’t know what I’d be spending my money on. I could have a bigger apartment and a nicer car, but spending money on the theatre is what makes me happy. It’s an investment in the work that matters to me. 

YPD: You recently have had some success, with a number of your plays getting stage time in Philly, including Holly’s Dead Soldiers, which was well-reviewed and had critics from high profile publications calling. Is this success due to you writing really good stuff in the past year, changing your networking approach, or something else?

DW: I feel like I got really lucky when I moved back to Philly. The theatre community here is incredibly inclusive and encouraging. Right off the bat, I met several writers and producers who wanted to work on something new, so we developed a project for this year’s Fringe Festival that people really seemed to like.

Honestly it was a combination of writing something that was actually going to be produced, working with an incredible group of actors, and developing a project with a few tight-knit writers who were ready for a challenge.

YPD: Let’s get real for a second: you have a day job working for a beer distribution company that has nothing to do with theatre, with the exception of impressing your fellow playwrights with seasonal beer knowledge at the bar. Does anybody you know pay their bills through theatre? What are your goals, or fears, about doing this as a sustainable career?

DW: I know quite a few people who make their living through theatre, but no playwrights. The few that are closest have to teach to keep their head above water. It’s hard to think of playwriting as something that’s going to pay the bills for me one day soon, which is a little scary. Why am I investing this time if it’s not going to pay me anything substantial in the next few years? I try my best to stifle that feeling.

Right now I have a great desk job at a wholesaler and write grants for a Philadelphia theatre company. Having that kind of security is about as much as I need as a 25 year-old. In the future, it would be great to write for a living but that feels a ways off.

YPD: You’re a writer. Tell us an entertaining story that you wouldn’t have if you didn’t keep pursuing this passion since your move from NYC.

DW: Our Fringe show had great word of mouth, we sold out every show and even extended for three additional performances. At our second performance, the Fringe office called us up and asked if we could fit two more people in -- it turned out that Scott Heller from the New York Times wanted to see our play.

Unfortunately he didn’t end up writing anything about Holly’s Dead Soldiers (or any of the Philly Fringe shows for that matter), but he told us he really enjoyed it. He even stayed afterward and had a few beers with us on my friend’s porch. That’s not something that ever would have happened if I was still writing plays in New York, which feels fairly ironic. I had to move to Philly to get the New York Times to see a play that I wrote. 

YPD: Talent, education, hard work, and outside help. Can you put these in order of how important they are to your success?

DW: Yikes, that’s difficult. I guess I’d go with hard work first and foremost, talent, outside help and then education. Education is last for me only because I didn’t actually go for theatre. I went for film. Trying to bring myself up to speed on important writers and landmark plays took hard work.

YPD: Where can people catch your plays? Anything on the horizon?

DW: Right now I’m taking it easy after a busy Fringe Festival. I’m developing two new plays with several artists I’ve worked with before and working on one that I’ve been writing for the past six months, but I won’t have anything major going up until this summer most likely. Stay tuned.

END INTERVIEW

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Nexus Cook: Nail Polish Entrepreneur

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose

How does a 26-year-old start their own company? What's someone who holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master's degree in creative writing doing starting a line of nail polishes?

How do you juggle bill-paying employment and running a company on the side, without going nuts? These are the questions Nexus Cook is answering, from her current home base of North Plainfield, New Jersey. After pursuing the aforementioned academic pursuits, Cook launched her own line of nail polish, 25th & June this past year.

So how'd she do it?

Young People Do: Tell us about 25th & June, and your role.

Nexus Cook: 25th & June Nail Elixir is a new high quality, toxin-free nail lacquer for passionate, ambitious, trendsetters. I’m the founder and owner, and I currently oversee every aspect of the company.

YPD:  So what is nail polish made out of anyway?

NC: Most nail polishes are made of nitrocellulose and then dissolved into a variety of solvents, resins, and pigments. But what sets my polish apart from others are the ingredients that are not found in its composition. We are a 5-Free nail polish company, meaning our polishes don't contain the five commonly found toxins that can damage nails and affect your health: DBP, Camphor, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Toluene.

YPD: I'm sure this is just one of the many, many things you've learned in launching this company. You have what the polish is actually made out of, how to get the right colors, the production, and the creative/design side, plus whatever else I don’t know. Then the whole business side. That’s a lot; how’d you learn all that and how long did it take?

NC: There is still a lot to learn, and I’m nowhere near where I plan to be, but I did countless hours of research before I actually moved forward with making 25th & June Nail Elixir something real. Starting a business is a constant learning process; so everyday I have a new challenge to tackle and new information that I have to absorb. I would say it took about a year of learning and researching as much as possible about the beauty/cosmetic industry, manufacturing, marketing, etc., before I felt comfortable enough to start moving forward. After I chose my bottles, logo, and colors, it was almost six more months before I launched my website.

YPD:You pursued psych for undergrad, and then a master's in creative writing. Where'd the idea and ambition for 25th & June come from?

NC: Yes, it may seem a little out of the blue, but I am and have always been a nail polish junkie. I have so many bottles that I can paint my nails a different color almost every day of the year. So starting my line didn’t come as a shock to people close to me.

My background in psychology and my master’s degree gives me an advantage when it comes to creating interesting and appealing collections, and I definitely feel confident in writing about the things that inspire me for each color and each collection.

YPD: Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the afternoon, and eventually find the motivation to order a pizza, which I then eat while watching Netflix until the sun goes down and it’s time to go to bed again. Are you a superwoman who never had days like that, or did you have to dig deep at some point to come up with the motivation to start this company?

NC: I can definitely be the captain and MVP of Team Procrastination at times, but I’m the type of person that if I get an idea and constantly think about it for more than a couple days in a row, I have to take action. I knew that I wanted to start my own business, but I wasn’t sure how, when, or why I would do it. But I made it a priority to take one small step towards my goal every single day. I started creating 25th & June while I was in grad school, so I just added “research the history of nail polish” or “find out where the heck nail polish is made” to my homework list.

It all just became a part of my life and my daily routine to the point where moving forward and making it real seemed natural. Even now, four months after launching, I have to continuously push myself to keep learning, keep thinking of ways to be successful, become relevant, and stay appealing. It may sound cliché, but the hustle never ends– and that is one of the most challenging and exciting things about being an entrepreneur.

YPD: I think people often will see somebody who has started their own business and say damn, they’re so successful! But often, that person is in scary amounts of debt from starting, or they’re living back with family, or encountering other challenges or doubts. Are there less-than-glamorous aspects of your experience?

NC: Of course there are less-than-glamorous aspects when taking a huge risk like starting a business. I definitely try to do everything strategically and intelligently so I don’t have to go through some of the disheartening things that other people have. But right now I can’t always spend money the way I want to, I can’t always go to the places that I want, and relaxing has essentially become a thing of the past because my mind is always thinking about the next goal I need to accomplish.

But honestly, that’s what it’s all about. I didn’t start this for a get-rich-quick glamor story. I want to build slowly, steadily, and efficiently, and become an internationally-known household brand.

YPD: Talent, education, hard work, and outside help. Can you put these in order of how important they are to your success?

NC: I don’t think I can put these in a particular order because they are all equally important. I would definitely add passion and foresight into the mix, because if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, and if you don’t have a vision for your future, then you won’t accomplish much.

YPD: Hit us with the plug: why are your products great and where can our readers find them?

NC: 25th & June Nail Elixir is a vibrant, long-lasting, 5-Free nail lacquer for girl who dreams in color, the lady who paints with passion, and the woman who makes a statement before she even speaks. I want each bottle of 25th & June Nail Elixir to spark a new journey to feel confident, inspired, and gorgeous as you move forward with any situation life may bring. 

Bottles are currently sold online at 25thandJune.com. They're also on Facebook.

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Christopher Miller: Nomadic Mountain Climber

Interview by Kyle Bagenstose

How does one go from a college student, partying by night and eating shitty cafeteria food by day, to traveling to some of the world's most exotic locations and climbing their mountains, full-time, in just a few years?

Tonsai, Thailand. Photo by Marcel Heemskerk

That's the story of Christopher Miller, age 23. I first met him at Temple University around 2008, and he struck me as being as typical as any other college student. Not in a personality sense (we're all unique snowflakes, after all), but in terms of lifestyle. Now he's posting the most amazing photos from around the world, combining his developed talents of photography and rock climbing. You can tell he's living life on his terms.

So how'd he do it? Christopher kindly sent us these responses from his current home base of Yangshuo, Guangxi, China.

Young People Do: Tell our readers about what you do, and how long you’ve been doing it?

Christopher Miller:  I have been living a rock climbing lifestyle for almost four years now and it has single-handedly been the most beneficial and influential part of my life (second only to my parents Paul and Laura Miller). Rock climbing is a sport that challenges you both physically and mentally in way that words cannot describe. 

Yangshuo, China. Photo by William Chan

YPD: When I think living in another country, and traveling a lot, the first thing I think is that it sounds expensive as hell. How have you financed your travels, and are you getting help?

CM:  Many people, especially Americans, tend to hold tightly to this belief that traveling or living internationally is difficult and expensive. The truth of that matter is that traveling can be quite the opposite. Sure, if you fly from one five-star resort to another, the costs will be incredible, but if you travel by land when possible and budget your necessities and luxuries properly, the nomadic life can be very affordable.

That being said, in my case my sponsors, GoalZero and Discrete Clothing, also help to subsidize some expenses through free gear. As helpful as that is, as an international rock climber, free gear doesn’t pay for food, rent, or transit costs. To cover those expenses I put my skills in climbing, photography, and graphic design to use to make money while on the road. Whether it’s through freelance design work or contract work as a rock climbing guide, there are many outlets to make enough money to live and experience a full life as opposed to working nonstop to save money for a life that’s never lived.

Vedauwoo, Wyoming. Photo by Christopher Miller

YPD: When I knew you in college, I never knew you had an interest in rock climbing. To me, you seemed more interested in music and art, and the college and city life. Where’d rock climbing come from?

CM: My older brother Mike was the first to introduce me to rock climbing in 2010 and it has permanently changed the course of my life. It was the most physically challenging thing I had ever tried in life, and I was immediately hooked. 

YPD: You told me part of the reason you agreed to be interviewed was that you like the idea of people getting out of their “ruts.” Were you in a rut? What motivated you: was it one moment or gradual?

CM: I use the term “rut” to describe the overwhelming situation that many people find themselves in, with regards to work and life. I’m talking about the job you hate, but can’t change for fear of being without one and not being able to afford your bills. The paychecks that you love to get, but serve only to keep you rooted to where you are, leaving no option to travel or experience anything outside of your daily work week.

These payments wouldn’t exist if people could just realize and understand how few possessions/luxuries they actually need in order to be happy in life. Instead they remain addicted to buying “things” because spending money has become their only source of freedom and enjoyment.  

Golden, Colorado. Photo by Christopher Miller

YPD: I think when people hear of a situation like yours, they kind of picture this cheesy deodorant commercial where some guy goes from couch potato to bearded adventurer, and the spot ends with him on top of a mountain clutching a stick of mountain-air scented deodorant and saying “I’m a new man.” Are you a new man? What do your experiences really mean to you, and are there parts that suck?

CM: Haha! I guess I’ll open this one with a shameful testimony. Depending on where I live I don’t always use deodorant, especially when I’m climbing in rural areas of some countries. As long as you still shower each day, you don’t smell that bad really.

As for the question, it doesn’t matter where you live or what you do, there will always be difficult times in all of our lives. For some those tough times come more frequently and to them I remind you to never give up. For others, many of these hardships are created by yourself through stress.

Thakhek, Laos. Photo by Marcel Heemskerk

Instead of making the problem worse by stressing out, just take a deep breath, relax and allow yourself to think clearly about the problem at hand and the steps to take in order to solve it. I’ve been faced with many experiences that suck throughout my travels. Some of the scarier times would be contracting an unknown, immobilizing sickness that kept me in excruciating pain. It was the middle of the night and the closest doctor was a several hour bus ride away.

Another would be the time my [climbing buddy] Seth Ritchie and I got caught in a severe/unexpected storm while we were a few pitches up a multi-pitch route [editor's note: a pitch refers to the length one can climb on one anchor point. Typically about 150 feet]. While attempting to rappel down to get off the cliff, the strong winds ripped our rope into a finger crack, lodging the soaking wet rope inside without any chance of getting it out. Lucky to have a knife on him, Seth cut the rope and we continued rappelling down the remaining pitches on the small amount of rope we had left.

Then there are also the experiences that suck, but in a more humorous way. It was my first time on a Chinese “sleeper train," a ride that can last anywhere from several hours to more than a day. My last few meals didn’t agree with me, and after what felt like ages of waiting in the long line for the bathroom, I barely made it inside without shitting my pants. Luckily, however, I did make it into the bathroom in time and went about my business, only to find that there is no public toilet paper supplied, I was supposed to bring my own. In the end I felt that my socks were more important than my boxers, so my briefs were sacrificed to the cause.

YPD: On the other hand, you are on a freakin’ modern day adventure. Tell us an awesome story.

CM: This has to be the most difficult question thus far, as there are far too many awesome things I have gotten to experience in my travels. Some of the best have been alongside my best friends Bryn Thomas and Alex Jack. Whether we’re running up multi-pitch climbs along the coast of southern Thailand, living the hammock life while climbing in the jungles of Laos, or going on a wild goose hunt at night for medical herbs in the valley systems of Li Ming, China, there’s never a dull moment when in the company of these two. 

Yangshuo, China. Photo by Sam Lowe

YPD: Talent, knowledge, hard work, and outside help. Can you put these in order of importance of allowing you to live the lifestyle that you do?

CM: Hard work, talent (or non-academic skills), knowledge (academic skills), outside help.

With everything in life, you get out what you put in. Work hard at something and the rewards will be great. If you want something in life you must truly go for it. Along the way others will come and go either aiding or hindering you in achieving what you want. If you surround yourself with good people, you will be on the path to a life of happiness. I have worked hard to live the life that I do and continue to do so. To quote Bob Marley, “Love the life you live, or live the life you love.”

To follow Chris's adventures, visit Facebook.com/AmatoryDesigns. To see more of his photography, head to Instagram deadpointexposure

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Yangshuo, China. Photo by William Chan