What is your business?

District Six Music Management Company, an independent, socially responsible company specializing in the production, promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of recorded world music throughout North America . Making music more accessible from underdeveloped parts of the world is our goal. I love music more than anything else on the planet. I think a musical revolution is right around the corner. People just got to stop listening to so much fluff and start paying more attention you know?

What did you learn?

I've learned that starting a business is extremely complicated and that focus is of utmost importance. I've also learned that living on minimal income is not so bad when you love what you do

Do you find it hard to be taken seriously as a young entrepreneur?

At times, yes. It's been a long and overwhelming year and a half. Older people sometimes have a hard time grasping the ideas of a younger generation. It's just how things work I guess.

Most young entrepreneurs that I know are determined and motivated people. They are motivated by their work, sometimes self consumed by it and older people sometimes don't take this determination as seriously as they should.

I feel like young social entrepreneurs should sometimes be given more credit than they get.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?

Focus is key. There are a lot of people with great ideas but no follow-through. Don't be one of these people. I have quickly learned that the more focused and goal oriented one is, the more that gets done. Stay the course and have faith in what it is you are doing. I think a lot of young entrepreneurs give up too easily.

Oh yeah...if anyone ever tells you that you are 'crazy' for doing what you've decided to do, tell them that they are 'crazy' back. Honestly, it works.

Where did you get your idea from?

I've been lucky enough to work under Sol Guy for the past year on something that he and k-os have started called LOVEmovement. It is a record label/event production company that is geared towards empowering artists. Sol is a Canadian Hip Hop pioneer and WarChild affiliate. He has done some remarkable things and I was inspired by his work. It was spending the last year working under him that District Six Music really came about into this real thing. With the contacts I was lucky enough to make in South Africa , I just felt like it was worth a shot to make a go at it. We put out the Tumi and the Volume CD last spring and haven't looked back since.

Have you or your ideas been discouraged by anyone? How did you overcome that?

We live in a time where people are extremely cynical and skeptical so people are always telling me that District Six Music is a naive concept that will never work. On a daily basis I am told that because I don't have money, District Six Music has a difficult time of surviving. Money is the obstacle that faces all young entrepreneurs. That's why being efficient with your time is so important. I've always cheered for the underdog though and the skeptics are boring to me anyway. I overcome it by surrounding myself with people who believe in the concept.