Shantaram Enterprises

Starting from scratch

by Courtney Hunt

The Eureka Reporter 2006

Shantaram Jones is the epitome of a young entrepreneur.

From the time he was in elementary school, the 23-year-old Arcatan has been interested in owning his own business and started making decisions early on to shape his future as an self-employed businessman.

After reading books about magic as a child, Jones began performing tricks in middle school and was doing professional shows by the time he was in high school.

His first paid magic show was for Juell's Nursery School in Bayside for the bargain price of $20.

From that point on, Jones continued to practice his tricks and perform them for small audiences, including casually during lunch breaks at Arcata High School, where he was a student.

After graduation in 2000, he began working full time at Hutchins Grocery in Arcata and developing the company he calls “Shantaram Enterprises.”

According to Jones, he is currently working to build a foundation for this company, which “will be comprised of grocery stores, real estate and other businesses that I find profitable, and, last but not least, magic shows.”

“I hope to be the co-founder of my own corporation by the time I'm 32,” he said.

When asked why he picked age 32 in particular, Jones replied, “By 32, I feel like I'll have enough time to get all my ducks in a row.”

And getting his ducks in a row is exactly what Jones is doing.

While trying to save money to buy real estate, Jones is working 70-80 hours per week at a variety of jobs, including at Hutchins, for a local beer distributor, doing magic shows and landscaping for a few clients.

He is also working to start an online business selling books on eBay on the side.

Making smart financial decisions is something Jones learned from his father. During high school, Jones said his father advised him not to buy a car but to invest his earnings in the stock market.

“Instead of buying a car in high school, I bought stock in Microsoft,” he said, adding that in his opinion, this was one of the best pieces of advice he could have ever received.

These days, he turns to Microsoft founder Bill Gates for inspiration.

“He's my role model,” Jones said. “He's the epitome of an entrepreneur and I'm trying to do what he did. I'm trying to build the foundation to my enterprise.”

As soon as his company is established, Jones hopes to travel the world performing in magic shows. Eventually, his goals include becoming an entertainer and performing on cruise ships, in Las Vegas and around the United States with his bag of tricks.

So far, the aspiring magician is on the road to success, with 180 performances in 2005 alone, almost half of which were done on a volunteer basis. Shows in the past have included children's birthday parties, local fairs and impromptu performances to small audiences.

A big fan of giving back to his community, Jones has started a scholarship fund through the Humboldt Area Foundation for Arcata High School students. He said he is working hard to give back to the community that has given him so much.

In addition, he is working to spread his passion about magic to young people on the North Coast and share his experience as a young man working to build his own business, including turning to role models for inspiration.

Perhaps the person who has most helped Jones in his quest to become an entertainer is Steve Johnson, who owns the Grand Illusions magic shop in Carmichael, Calif.

Johnson sold Jones his first magic trick years ago and continues to serve as a mentor to the budding entrepreneur and professional magician. Although Jones has no intentions of opening his own magic store, he looks to Johnson as someone who has made a living in the magic industry.

“Steve Johnson is very important to me,” Jones said. “He's had a big influence in my life.”

Until his company gains ground, Jones plans to continue working to save money and performing magic for local audiences. His advice for other young entrepreneurs is to “follow your dreams. People have the power instilled within them to do whatever they want.”

Citing his positive outlook as the driving force behind his successes thus far, Jones thinks attitude can have a great influence on a person's life.

“If a young person has the right attitude, they can get whatever they want,” he said.

For more information about Shantaram the Magician, visit his Web site at www.shantaramenterprises.com .