The Entrepreneur · by Jon Paul

Brad Edelson is a great example of taking risks to pursue an opportunity in the unknown. Brad is a well traveled American who moved up to Toronto to become partners with the founder, Jonathan Nyquest, of an organization titled NYQUEST Training Placement. It is an organization that recruits young adults from around the world who are interested in working as outdoor educators, camp counselors and experimental facilitators throughout Canada. Together the two entrepreneurs won the 2006 Toronto Entrepreneur Award. He was asked by Jonathan to drop everything and move up to Toronto with him and be part of something with potential. He decided that it was a “no brainer” so he decided to take that risk and move north of the border to see where things progressed.

Here’s a little Q & A about Brad’s story thus far:

Where did you go to school?
Michigan State

What did you take?
Commercial Recreation and Tourism Resources Management

How many jobs have you had since graduation?
None, I was actually working for NYQUEST while I finished off my last year of school.

What do you do now and how long have you been doing it?
I work for NYQUEST as the Training and Placement Director.

What did you want to do when you were 10 years old?
A soccer star

What did you want to do when you were in grade 10?
Thought about going into the family furniture business, but my parents gave me the freedom to choose my own path, which had to do with the outdoors.

What made you decide this was the path you wanted to go down?
Jonathan approached me with his idea and there was absolutely no way I could turn down this once in life time opportunity.

Did you have mixed feelings concerning whether or not this is what you wanted to do?
Of course, but I saw growth, potential which made me excited about my decision.

What are the benefits your decision has had on your life thus far?
Biggest benefit is that I’m living in a new country and a totally new city with a different culture and the people are fantastic.

How did you deal with the travel bug?
Well, after traveling all over (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Italy Hong Kong, the Mediterranean, Peru, etc) you never want to stop traveling. But you have to put your feet on the ground in order to get reacquainted with reality. A still have the travel within me and fortunately I am able to travel and work from wherever I am. Something I never want to stop doing.

What does the word “success” mean to you?
To me, it would be to see this organization grow and be able to say we built it from nothing into something. Success = Growth

What does the word “failure” mean to you?
All the eggs in one basket. Letting everything fall apart after only a few things get in the way.

What aspects of the education prepared you for this position?
The Life experiences I learned from fending for myself. I don’t remember many classes, but I remember having to do everything myself or nothing would get done.

Who do you admire the most?
Other than my father, I would have to say my business partner Jonathan. He motivates me so much more because he is very driven and his passion and excitement he possess is most admirable.

What would you do if you were not doing this?
I’m not quite sure. Perhaps I would be working with my father at his furniture store. I’m lucky to be where I am right now.

Do you have any underground advice for others looking to get into your field?
Stepping back is not always such a bad thing to do now and again. Baby steps, really small steps is incredibly important to remember. Master every little thing before moving to the next. Take your time and don’t rush into things. It is going to be a slow process and make sure you are aware of that.

THE ODD Q’s

What is the one thing you could never throw out?
Old cell phones, I guess because of the sentimental value they hold.

If you had any super power, what would it be?
Teleportation, so I could be everyplace I wish to visit any time I want.

What is the worst trend of the present time?
Ugh boots – It looks like an inside out shoe to me.

You can’t sleep. What do you do?
I watch sports highlights on rerun about 4 or 5 times

What was your favourite subject in school?
Phys-ed. But for a real subject, Math

What was your worst subject in school?
Science – What the hell am I going to do with the Periodic table?

Do you follow your head, or your heart?
My heart – tough question though.

What is your weakness?
Organization – I’m very unorganized.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would go back to New Zealand in a second. I want to eventually go to South Africa.

Would you want to be cloned?
Nope

Best thing ever invented?
The Computer – we would be nowhere without the computer.

Brad has currently been living in Toronto for the past 2 years. After Jonathan and Brad began their organization recruiting 90 individuals their first year, they have 250 signed on this year and that’s only because they capped it off at 250 to ensure quality in their service. Brad couldn’t be happier pursuing something he is truly thrilled about and says there isn’t anything else he would rather be doing at this point in time.
The website: go-nyquest.com.