Cool Stuff Media, Inc. - Exclusive Interview with Darren Olstad

Exclusive Interview with Darren Olstad

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Exclusive Story from Darren Olstad

Quick Facts:

Has owned five different companies, the first at age 13
Author of, Ultimate Secrets of Real Estate
Became a professional speaker at age 20
Addressed audiences in the United Nations
Shared the stage with Bill Rancic (The Apprentice), Arun Ghandi, Kathy IrAt age 23, he now manages a private investment fund for high net worth individuals and celebrity clients across North America
Has a grade ten “conventional” education

I grew up surrounded by plenty of fields, dirt trails, and scummy ponds to investigate in rural Alberta, Canada. My dad tells me my uncle had me on a quad (four-wheeler) as early as 18 months. While I don’t remember that, I do remember most of my childhood revolving around motocross and getting my hands dirty—but perhaps even more so around entrepreneurship.

By my 9th birthday, Dad taught me how to use the tractor to build tracks and ramps on our acreage to practice and hone my motocross skills to my heart’s desire. At first I built motocross tracks because I loved to ride, then I did it because it became an art for me. To this day I build professional motocross tracks in my spare time, sometimes earning upwards of $4000 per day. This showed me early in life that if you do what you love, the money will follow.

By the age of 12 I had the opportunity to compete in motocross on a provincial level. Naturally, I assumed my talent combined with a newer, better bike would guarantee me the win. My parents supported the idea, but they made it very clear that I’d have to pay for it myself. I assure you that my creative juices began to flow. Ultimately, I started fixing whatever bikes and 4 wheelers I could find rusting away on our property and selling them in the classified ads. Eventually, I earned enough money to pay for a new bike.

I entered my first race with big dreams and high hopes so you can imagine my surprise when I didn’t win. I expected to win. I was also one of the first in my community to start racing motocross so when I received some press in the local newspapers I felt even more pressure to succeed! However, my first loss only motivated me to work harder. I wanted to place better and I wanted to race professionally.

I was so focused on motocross that I didn’t realize a new passion beginning to grow. Little did I know, a new dilemma at school would soon change my life.

During my ninth grade year in Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada, while in junior high my school decided to remove all vending machines from campus in order to renovate the campus. This, of course, angered a lot of students. But I decided early in life not to waste energy complaining about things that are beyond my control. Instead I focus on what I can control and change. In this instance I purchased my own drinks and snacks in bulk and stored them in my locker. Before long, my private stash caught the attention of fellow students. This gave me an idea. I bought some plastic shelving and an ice cooler, threw out some school books, shifted my stereo to the side, and started my first business: retail vending. Office space, after all, was cheap.

I never asked for permission. In fact, I never ask permission for the things I do. I ask myself, “Will my actions hurt anyone else?” If the answer is no, I simply do it. The problem with asking is that you open up opportunity for negativity. ‘No’ is the easy answer, while ‘yes’ requires courage and commitment. At first the faculty didn’t support this perceived defiance, but eventually even the school principal became a customer.

My first registered business soon followed when yet, a newer bike required more than the $300 per week I averaged tax free in candy sales. My dad became too busy to take on the many landscaping projects various people asked of him. He taught me how to run the equipment and lay sod, while my brother handled job estimates and was--most importantly--old enough to drive us to the job location. Mom offered to help with the accounting, and they supported us in being in control of the daily operations and managing the profits. Year after year, school books failed to interest me, but I couldn’t take in the world of making money and business fast enough.

I still remember the first landscaping project I worked on at a new housing development. The contractor (Dale) asked for my boss. “You’re looking at him,” I said. He was reluctant to leave me unsupervised to do the job, but nonetheless, I pushed forward and proved my quality of work and efficiency. Despite the 40 year age gap between us, that same contractor and I ended up working several jobs together, even after my brother moved on to pursue a career as a pilot. To this day Dale and I remain friends.

At 15 years old, I won the junior class Western Canadian Motocross National Championship. I was absolutely elated. I had finally accomplished one of my motocross goals. During that same time, I was also earning up to $100 per hour landscaping. High School, however, was not so good. I felt it was a waste of time and wanted to quit so I could focus on business and advance my career. Being the youngest in a family of scholars, this news was not well received at home. My sister holding a Masters Degree and my brother being a pilot set a high standard.

My parents tried every and any tactic to change my mind. I was told things that should scare any rebellious teenager straight: society doesn’t accept anybody without a diploma and no girl’s parents would encourage her to marry somebody without a diploma. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to belittle education. I simply didn’t feel conventional education was for me. I had much to learn and every intention to educate myself. I proposed home schooling as an option, but secretly never wanted to follow through with a diploma.

By what would have been my grade 12 year, I had conquered the world. I was self-sufficient and had it made… or so I thought. Consecutive dirt bike accidents immobilized me for two years. I could barely walk and my dreams of professional motocross racing fizzled out. I dropped out of school, lost interest in my landscaping business, was dumped by my first love, and ultimately became a victim to the world’s view that you need school to succeed. My self-esteem was at an all time low. It was one of the longest, most difficult periods of my life, and I remember not caring if I lived through it.

I wanted the fun and joy that I once had in my early teen years to continue into my adult years. Easier said than done. First, I had to recognize my need and ability to be both creative and resourceful.

One day as I was showering and listening to the radio (which happened to be a gift from my now ex-girlfriend), I heard an ad for a free seminar on buying real estate with no money and no credit. I distinctly remember the voice in my head grumbling, “Sure, someone else may be able to do it, but not me.” Nonetheless, I felt compelled to record the number with no real intention of ever calling. Since the towel around my waist had no pockets for a pen, I wrote the number in the steam on my bathroom mirror. I left the room to carry on with my dismal day without another thought about it.

When I returned some time later, the number was surprisingly still visible on the dried glass. After it beat the odds and remained on the mirror that long, how could I not call? I then decided to register for the event. Excited, I told my family and friends, who weren’t shy about telling me it was crazy or that I was crazy. Buying real estate with no money and no credit? It must be a scam. Despite their attempts to protect me, my curiosity over-ruled and I attended the event. Finally I had something to be excited about again.

That one seminar changed my life. It was a valuable event, and I instantly began applying everything I learned. I also discovered one of the most powerful concepts I have learned to date: mentorship. From that day forward I was on a mission to seek information from the right people--people who had the life, the income, and the friends, and businesses I wanted. I often say: Don’t ask a soccer player how to play hockey, and don’t ask an employee how to be an entrepreneur. I am very selective on who I take advice from and who I allow to mentor me. I made the conscious decision to ignore the negativity of those who stood in my way and disregard the feedback of those who didn’t have the results I was seeking… just as I had when I wanted a new dirt bike, when my candy supply was cut short, and when my first landscaping client raised his eyebrows with concern. I did it my way, not because of pride or ego but because it’s your life and nobody else is qualified to make decisions for you.

I met one of the most influential people in my life at a conference when I was 19: Bob Schumacher. What struck me most about Bob was his passion and how he responded when I approached him after the conference. He had time for me. I learned he didn’t base his business decisions on what he heard on the news. Instead, he had insight and advice from his first hand experiences. He did the research and enjoyed passing information on to me as well. He assisted me and a friend through the process of buying our first property for only $4,100 and it was valued at $20,000, the numbers weren’t big but when you think about it, I got an 80% Discount

Within a year, I owned multiple properties across North America. This initial success caught the attention of some of the nation’s top real estate experts and before I knew it, I was asked to be part of a commercial that would air on national TV where I would appear alongside my good friend and business partner. I was truly humbled. Together, my business partner and I wrote a program called, “Ultimate Secrets of Real Estate” which has now helped thousands of people becoming financially successful. Today, I am blessed to have the opportunity to tour the nation and share the stage with the exact same experts who I witnessed at the first real estate event I attended—something I thought was impossible! This helped me realize that the only limits to my success were the limits I was putting on myself. After learning this, I expanded my vision and set even bigger goals.

However, this did not mean I no longer faced disapproval. Despite my initial success in real estate, my family still emphasized the value of completing my conventional education. They told me I had to finish high school and get a degree or start paying room and board. As much as I love and respect my parents, my gut feeling told me to listen to the people who had amazing careers as entrepreneurs because the odds of me fitting my parent’s mold was almost zero. Instead of going back to school, I chose to venture out on my own and move to Santa Barbara. On my way down from Canada my friend, Dustin, and I travelled across the United States and we visited the properties we had recently bought with the help of my mentor. Some of the properties were just vacant lots so we simply pitched a tent and stayed on the land. One morning, we woke up to the cops trying to kick us off my own properly! We had the time of our lives on that trip, but most importantly, I began believing in myself again. I was excited about my new life because I was now independent and free to make my own decisions without the influence of anyone else.

Looking back, I never consciously sought success in everything that I was doing. I simply took on a resourceful attitude, accepted full responsibility for my actions and choices in life, and never gave up. After 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb, Thomas Edison was noted saying: I’ve never failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work. I basically applied that same frame of mind to my life. If I didn’t enjoy what I was doing or if I didn’t get the result I wanted, I knew I had merely discovered one more thing I didn’t love and one less thing to continue doing. I look at every past attempt at success in my life as a stepping stone and an education that has led me to where I am today doing the things that I love the most.

And I must not overlook one of the most important influences in my life: my parents. I know it sounds a little lame, but if you can try to see things from their perspective it’s much easier to build your relationship with them. Love your parents for being parents and understand that because they brought you into this world, it’s difficult for them to set you free. Ultimately, they only want the best for you.

Today I do three things I love: speak to young adults about leadership, business, and self-esteem; build professional motocross tracks; and make people money while they sleep. In 10 years I have experimented with everything from Oilfield Transport to Model/Actor Management. After discovering the passion for investing, I founded a firm called Crowne Equity Trust. Our sole mandate is to create income for our clients while they sleep, through our exclusive investments. It’s a lot of fun to work with extremely talented successful individuals who have made millions in their professions but don’t have the time to learn how to invest and protect their income. We set these individuals up to minimize taxes, and most importantly, grow their fortune so it outlasts their profession.

Making other people money is a rewarding endeavor. My investment motto is simple: don’t lose money. Six years later I have yet to lose a cent for myself or for my clients despite the recent economic chaos.

I’m told that some people think I’m just lucky, but I am where I am today because I defined success on my own terms and took full responsibility for my life. Don’t ever forget those important fundamental lessons that you’ve been taught by your parents and people to whom you look up, and don’t ever be scared to throw out some of the things they told you that don’t serve you and your dreams of doing great things for this world.

It wasn’t easy, but I am living a life I created. Anyone can do what I have done; they just have to be willing to get in the driver’s seat to their life… even if it feels a bit uncomfortable at first.

Much Love,

- Darren Olstad

You can learn more about Darren at www.DarrenOlstad.com

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I hope you found this interesting. Thank you for spending this time with Darren and me. Much success to you,

- Kent Healy

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