The Cool Kids

David Young may be a former magician, but there's nothing tricky about his impressive career.

From ages 11 to 19 he mowed lawns, sold greeting cards and studied magic. At 21, he returned from an LDS mission to Australia (where he was named "Australian Magician of the Year," nonetheless), and paid for college by performing 350 magic shows in three years with crowds of 800 to 4,000 people. At 23, he bought a diet center franchise - and grew it to 10 franchises. At age 25, he opened Maaco Auto Painting in Orem. And in 1986, he started Paragon, a business that's had stability and success - even when the stock market has not.

But his coolest accomplishment? Being a BusinessQ columnist. (Duh.)

Time you wake up/go to bed:  7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Favorite business book:  "The tipping Point" or "The Wealth of Nations"

Favorite local lunch spot:  Magleby's Fresh.

Most-played on your ipod:  Michael Jackson

Biggest pet peeve:  Drivers on their cell phone who have no idea what they are doing.

Favorite superhero:  Batman. I like the anonymous good guy taking out the bad guys and getting away with it.

Favorite movie:  "Braveheart." It's based on a true story that shows the drive of the human spirit.

Favorite TV show:  "King of Queens." I think it's hilarious

Something people would be shocked to know about you:  I'm a very serious hunter. I've taken an elk and a mountain goat that are ranked in the Top 10 in the world. I've also taken a grizzly bear and two leopards, one from Zimbabwe and another from Botswana.

Car you drive:  2011 BMW 535 xi.

In business, what is "cool" to you:  Companies who make the world a better place.

Leadership style:  I try to find the best staff possible- help them understand exactly what the desired outcome of their job is - and then give them full latitude to make it happen.

Riskiest thing you've ever done in business:  Placed a $45-million trade against the market in extreme market conditions.

All - nighter food of choice:  Coke. Nuts. Chocolate.

Biggest business blunder you've ever made:  When I was 25, the first manager I hired to run a franchise for me couldn't add or subtract and had a real problem getting the decimal point in the right place. That cost me a lot of money and almost put me out of business.

In business, what gets you nervous? What gets you giddy? Every time Barack Obama announces a new program makes me nervous. The thought of him getting tossed out of the White House in 2012 makes me giddy.

Where do you go to "think like an entrepreneur?"  I have my best epiphanies when I get out of the thick of things and go up in the mountains - into the backcountry - by myself.

Type of person you were in school:  I had long hair, performed magic and played sports. I had lots of friends and was the designated driver.

Why are you an entrepreneur? Ever since high school I have never been employed by someone else. I love change and like seeing and doing new things. Managing money for investors and being involved in new enterprises has allowed me to never get bored.