Could sharing your interests with others be your breakthrough business venture? That’s exactly what Dominic May asked himself, which led to his creation of CoastXP. Dominic grew up in Coffs Harbour, Australia, and always loved being near the ocean and the beautiful coasts of Australia. Dom worked as a commercial boat master and scuba diver instructor before going to college. While at the University of Newcastle, Dom pursued a Bachelor’s in Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurships and majoring in Tourism and Management. During the end of his time a University, Dominic dove into starting his business, CoastXP, at 23 years old.

CoastXP combined Dominic’s interests of marine biology and tourism into a profitable business that benefits his community. Dom’s elevator pitch goes a little something like this: “Aboard a fast, custom-built boat, guests get the opportunity to learn about our coastline, history, Aboriginal heritage, local geology and interact with magnificent marine life – all while in a fun and safe environment.”  The Newcastle area of Australia is a beautiful coastal metropolitan area with a rich history going back to 1797. It is also a top tourism destination, so Dominic was risking a lot going into the tourism industry, but he offered it from a new perspective. CoastXP is a unique opportunity for tourists to see a portion of the Australian coastline for themselves, learning about it while it is in front of their eyes. CoastXP has expanded to include five local marine and wildlife experts that give both land and boat tours in Newcastle and in Lake Macquarie.

CoastXP was named the 2023 Newcastle Young Citizen of the Year. This was given in recognition for Dom’s contribution to local tourism, especially his contribution to the city’s “post-pandemic economic recovery.” CoastXP has personally benefitted many in Dominic’s community.

Now, Dominic’s story was not without hardship. Like many of us, he struggled to know where to focus his time. Dom focused on many details that took up his time for very little return. But he has learned from that and advises that investing in your community network always pays off, especially when your product can grow and enrich that community.

The triumph of Dominic’s story is that he combined his interests into a business. He saw the potential in the community and landscape around him, and created a business that strengthened that community.

About CoastXP:

https://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/insider-guides/meet-dom-may-from-coastxp

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/hippocampus/story/2023/young-entrepreneurs

GamerSupps was founded in 2015 by a multitude of different people and is an energy drink brand that is targeted to the gamer community. During this time the brand had a lot of controversy and was not doing too well, this was until a YouTuber by the name of “JSchlatt” took over. Jschlatt started his YouTube career in 2013, but he didn’t take off until about seven years later in 2020 during Covid. It was at this time he gained his fame which allowed him to buy and turn around the falling company of GamerSupps. As stated previously, GamerSupps is an energy drink brand that is targeted towards gamers and E-sports players. It has zero calories and is sugar free which makes it a great alternative to sodas and other energy drinks. Although the brand started in 2015 it didn’t really get its start until Schlatt took over the company. The reason for this is because he has such a big following of fans that he is able to advertise to, he uses his connections and influence to showcase the brand. Another reason the brand is doing a lor better now is because of all the collaborations they do. Schlatt is a very sociable creator and makes friends with a lot of other people on the platform, this is where he gets most of his collaborations from. These collaborations allow for the other creators to get their name out and also make a profit while doing so. If you watch several of the creators that Schlatt and GamerSupps have partnered with you’ll notice them, also say use code “Blank” and get 10% off. This code benefits the customer, the creator and the company, which I think is great. This brand doesn’t just sell their powdered drink, but it also sells shaker cups to go with it. Overall JSchlatt is a great creator who used his name and likeness to turn around a company that is now doing well with their sales and brand name.  

At the age of 13, Hart main wanted to buy a $1,500 bike in order to start competing in triathlons. He brainstormed ideas on how to achieve that goal and he landed on starting his own candle company. He always teased his sister for her candles because they had girly scents, so he decided to make candles that had scents more tailored for men. Hart named his creation Mancans. At first Hart and his family were making the candles out of their home. The unique part about the candles are they are made using soup cans. As the demand for the candles grew their house became overcrowded with soup cans so they moved the business to a warehouse. They hired some employees and in 2014 the company began manufacturing with the Beaver Creek Candle Co. in Lisbon. All of the candles are masculine themed including campfire, bacon, sawdust, fresh cut grass, and grandpa’s pipe.  Many of the scents are created by the Main family but others are suggested by customers. As of 2016 Hart’s candles are sold in every state and sales above 6 figures each year. His business is also focused on giving back. He gives a percentage of the sales to soup kitchens in multiple states, 75 cents for every candle sale to be exact. His candles are also produced by a workforce consisting of people with developmental challenges.

Hart has continued to grow his successful candle business, and he also wrote a book. His book is called “One Candle, One Meal”. Main wants to teach young entrepreneurs the lessons he learned through his business and encourage other young people to follow in his footsteps. His book can be bought on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Total Fusion Press. Hart then went to Kent State to study economics and plans to be a sports agent while continuing to reap rewards from his business.

Here is the link to the story if you would like to read more.

https://www.timesreporter.com/story/news/local/2015/07/21/young-entrepreneur-hart-main-17/985981007/

With American society seeming to divide more and more as each day goes by, the country needs people who are solid and their beliefs and morals to step up and fight for the truth as well as be bold! One of the most outspoken and popular individuals that fit that description right now is a man named Charles J. Kirk. He is from Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Kirk is well-known for being a conservative political activist, author, talk show host, and YouTuber. Since his high school years, Kirk actively engaged in politics, supporting local politicians and campaigning against things in his school such as price increases in school cafeteria food. His ambition and knowledge were gaining the attention of many people including Tea Party member Bill Montgomery. Through Montgomery’s influence, Kirk was inspired to found what would be one of his biggest accomplishments and impacts to society, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) TPUSA is a nonprofit student organization aimed at advocating for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. Since its start, it has grown exponentially, attracting several doners who have helped propel the organization forward! In recent years, Kirk has gained popularity in regard to his promotion of Donald Trump, and his views on other controversial topics such as COVID-19, critical race theory, and climate change. Though he has grown more popular, not all that know of him agree with his views or even like him. Kirk is known for his strong opposition of liberal education and democratic party. Kirk remains respectful in his opinions but is never afraid to back down from a debate and express what he believes to be the truth about life. He spends much of his time now touring college and university campuses around the country educating students on the current condition of our country and how they can actively be a part of making a better America and honoring God through it all!

A nine year old boy started a company. Moziah Bridges, the CEO and founder of Mo’s Bows. This young child was passionate about fashion. Flashy bow ties fit his personality as he was outgoing and a happy child. He had dreams of starting a company to help him look sharp because it was difficult for him to find clothing that was not his style. So he launched his company, Mo’s Bows at the age of nine. Mo’s Bow ties company sells bow ties, neckties, and other apparel. There is a wide array of different colors and styles.  This company quickly drew attention as this young entrepreneur told his story and his passion. 

Moziah made a sales pitch to the shark tank in February of 2023. He nailed his pitch and passion for the company. He made this company as others do not fit his style. So, with the help of his grandma, he made his own bow ties. According to Influence, his mission was to have people look and feel their best while catering to the sometimes conservate, loving lady or gentlemen. His pitch expressed his passion and that he is proof to be anything he wanted to be. His pitch impressed the judges and he had help with one of the sharks. Soon after, he was invited on other shows and his brand was increasing awareness. He was on the Steve Harvey Show, The Oprah Magazine, Good morning America, and even the Disney Channel (Natfluence). With such success he was traveling and spreading his story of the company. He also made partnerships with retailers and even the NBA (Natfluence). 

This young entrepreneur is an excellent example as he started a thriving company at the age of nine. He found his passion and pain and turned it into a business with his grandma.

Bryce Crawford is a 21-year-old evangelist who posts his interactions with people on YouTube. In his youth, Bryce grew up in Georgia and was raised in a Christian household. Bryce was surrounded by faith. However, he struggled to understand why certain authority figures preached about right and wrong but didn’t live by their own teachings. He started to drift away from God for a lot of his life, and at one point, he even decided he was going to take his own life. At what he thought was his last meal, at a Waffle House, Bryce had a special encounter with God. This moment opened his eyes, lifted his anxiety and depression, and brought him back to faith.

Since that moment, Bryce has been pursuing God with his life, posting content on YouTube. For his videos, he walks around the public and evangelizes, sharing the gospel and his testimony and praying for those who need it. While growing a large following, Bryce’s mission is to spread joy and bring others to Christ. In addition, he has a clothing brand that sells inspiring Christian merch with a meaningful message, aiming to further spread the Gospel through a simple design on a t-shirt or hoodie. 

We can learn from Bryce as he strives to glorify God with his actions and takes on his call to help others and spread the word of God. He found his passion and pursued it to the fullest, creating a successful platform and brand that inspires many children, teens, and even adults around the world.

@BryceCrawford

In 2021 me and my family moved from Boston Massachusetts to Knoxville Tennessee. The move was for a variety of reasons, but that’s not the point of what I am writing about. After the move, two of my siblings (one of which went to GCC) moved on a farm. After 2 and a half years of hard farm work, they bought a retired school bus, renovated it out, and launched a mobiles farmers market called Farmbus. Farmbus is a ‘project’ that turns our farmed produce onto profit. Since launching it my siblings have been working on the business and have been very successful. Something that drives them to work on the bus is money and legacy. Legacy is important as it makes an imprint of our futures. Something that is both interesting an innovating about this business is that while there have been mobile’s farmers markets, one on a bus is something that is innovating, and even if it has been done before elsewhere, it is innovating for the Knoxville area, and people often comment on the uniqueness of it. Principles that I have learned from it is that innovation exists in almost every field, including in farming which to some feels like a super old-fashioned thing. While it has only been less than a year since Farmbus’s launching, the business seems to be on the up and up, and our church connection certainly helps to augment its growth and solidification as well.

Reaching the “Top Christian Album’s” billboard in June of 2024, with his first independently released album, The Prodigal, Josiah Queen has begun a new phase of Chrisitan music.
You may be wondering why Josiah Queen is any different than the many other Christian artist creating today?
The simple answer is this… his songs are taken directly from scripture. Every one of his songs connects back to a Biblical principle, and most connect back to a specific passage or story within scripture. Other artists often find themselves being inspired by one or two verses from the Bible, but Quen incorporates Bible stories into his music, helping listeners meditate on the power found within the stories and retain the Biblical truth with more ease. His continuous drive to consistently incorporate biblical truth into his music solidifies a foundation for his music career on truth, but it also connects his listeners directly with God’s word and provoke curiosity within their faith. Not only is he incorporating Biblical truth into his music, but his ultimate career goal is also to bring the divine to his listeners. Every concert, fan interaction, and song released is intended to glorify God and enrich the lives of individuals on a spiritual level.
Josiah Queens music has reached a very specific age demographic and quickly taken off as he has bridged a gap in the demand of indie style music that promotes the truth of the Bible. Queen tours with his brothers, wife, and close friends to perform across the globe, all while being an independent artist.
Josiah Queen to me is the epitome of the entrepreneur that I want to strive to be. He took the risk of not attending college to pursue a greater calling in life and grow the Kingdom with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Josiah Queen also has not strayed from his beliefs and stands firm in who he is in Christ despite the pressure of the music industry and being an independent artist. Queen has carved a path for himself in the pursuit of his career, while fully relying on the Lord to provide the necessities to continue to glorify him in all he does.