20-year old Millionaire

Not too many people become entrepreneurs, published authors, producers and philanthropists in their lifetime. But don't tell that to Farrah Gray. \nAt 20 years old, Gray has already done all those things and is coming to Bloomington to share his experiences with students at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall. Gray will share his story of how he went from living on public assistance to becoming a teenage millionaire.\n"It is not fair to keep all your secrets to yourself," Gray said.\nGray's rise in the business world is an unlikely story. Growing up poor on Chicago's Southside, Gray said he used to dream he would one day look from his office onto the streets of Manhattan. He dreamed of giving speeches that would inspire millions and making enough money to ensure that his mother didn't have to work two jobs.\nIt didn't take Gray very long to realize his dreams. At age 14, Gray became a self-made millionaire when his company, Farr-Out Foods, which specialized in food targeted at young people, grossed more than $1.5 million in sales. Shortly after, Gray sold his company for more than $1 million, but has continued working to inspire others with his success. \nWhen faced with the task of bringing a speaker to IU this fall, Eric Love, IU's director of diversity education, said he knew there was a great deal of student interest in Gray. Love said he believed Gray's age would make it easier for students to relate to his story. \n"They can learn that anybody can overcome obstacles and that opportunities are out there," Love said. "(Gray's) outlook on life and positive attitude is very refreshing."\nIU students echo Love's excitement about Gray's visit. \n"I'm excited that IU is able to give me the opportunity to hear someone of his magnitude speak," said junior John Holloway.\nGray's entrepreneurial spirit was developed at a young age. He started his first business at age 6, selling homemade lotion door-to-door. Gray said he experienced a thrill from selling something he helped create and was instantly hooked. \n"Ideas are the most precious thing that can come to you. Every big idea starts out small," he said. \nAt age 8, Gray started the Urban Neighborhood Economics Enterprise Club, a fund that invested in the entrepreneurial ventures of young students. Gray said this fund was very successful and later became the predecessor of Gray's New Early Entrepreneur Wonders, a similar fund that was located on Wall Street. Gray is the youngest person to have an office on Wall Street.\nSince age 12, Gray has toured the United States sharing his \nexperiences with audiences. Gray tells audiences that it is important to "believe in yourself when no one else will."\nHe has always strived to inspire others to follow in his footsteps of success, he said. His philosophy is "success is a process that must be taken step by step." He details these steps in his bestselling book, "Reallionaire," which has made its way onto www.Amazon.com's Bestseller list. \nSenior Lisa Iesha said she recommends the book to anyone who needs help knowing how to think outside the box, and is looking forward to Gray's visit. \n"I'm very excited that Farrah Gray is coming to IU," she said. "I can't wait to see him."\nGray's success has not come easily. He has had to overcome many prejudices and barriers in his rise in the business world. Gray acknowledged that the toughest obstacle to success was his young age. \n"Older people don't take you seriously," he said. \nWhen older businessmen dealt with him, they often questioned his credibility because of his age, he said. They didn't believe he was mature enough to run a business. Gray said he'd answer these critics with humor by saying, "I was born yesterday, but I stayed up all night." Now, with a litany of success in his back window, Gray has achieved legitimacy in the business world and no longer has to deal with so many critics. \nIn fact, Gray has an impressive résumé that goes beyond his entrepreneurial ventures. He has served on the United Way board of directors in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce board of advisors and on the National Association of Real Estate Brokers board of directors.\nAn important staple of Gray's career has been his emphasis on philanthropy. His basic tenet is, "The more you have, the more you should give." Gray has stood behind his promise to give to others by donating all his speaking fees -- which can be upwards of $10,000 per engagement -- and royalties from the sales of his books to the Farrah Gray Foundation, www.farrahgrayfoundation.com, which helps fund entrepreneurial ventures by young individuals and after-school programs for inner-city students.\nGray's speech is sponsored by Union Board, Kappa Alpha Psi and the Young Entrepreneur's Association. The event is also sponsored by Groups and the Office of Diversity Education.