I started my first business at the age of 5, selling my water paint depictions of life. Yeah right! I sold them for 10 cents each (in 1978) and although the quality was sub-standard, no-one could resist a cute and friendly little boy. I made ‘millions’ and was the richest 5 year old I knew.My first real obstacle in life came at the end of Grade 2 when they took 'play' away. My world came tumbling down, and I ended up being moulded into a square, although I was born a triangle (or a star in my Mom’s words).After school I followed the traditional path and went to University. I ended up with a Master’s Degree in Medical Sociology; a Master’s Degree in Education, and; a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Why three Master’s Degrees? Well, instead of facing the ‘real world’ as a square, I decided to rather stay with the University, keep studying and use my ample free time to dream of being a triangle.Throughout the years there were glimpses of my “stardom”. I started various businesses and two I want to highlight are ILSC, a consulting firm, and the Centre for Business Dynamics, self-sustaining commercial unit of the Business School at the UFS.It was in my years with the Business School that things would forever change. I was confronted with realities that I couldn’t ignore. School and universities are ill preparing our kids for the world of work & business and nothing is going to change in this regard. We need to capacitate and equip our kids with the necessary skills and competencies to become the authors of their own destiny.Now, why then you may ask did it take me so many years to get to this point? The answer is simple …. my own kids. It was with shock and disbelief that I realised that, if I didn’t step in, the energy, enthusiasm and creativity of my three triangles (stars) would be drained by a system that only recognised squares. I couldn’t allow this to happen …. All of this gave birth to YE Young Entrepreneurs, the Young Entrepreneurs Foundation, the Young Entrepreneurs Virtual Academy and LaunchPad!