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Arni Thorsteinson was a businessman even as a child. Today, he is at the helm of a large Winnipeg real estate development company.
The executive vice-president of Shelter Corp. of Canada (builders of 7 and 11 Evergreen Place) was, as a youngster, the newspaper carrier with the fastest-growing route in Winnipeg.
"I was a young entrepreneur and I was interested in the opportunities that job gave me. My family encouraged and supported me in my various business enterprises when I was younger. They stressed independence and self-sufficiency, helping to create the self-confidence I needed to go out and do things on my own."
For example, at 17, Arni was president of a lawn mower company. He learned more from that venture that how to manicure yards.
"I acquired a lot of experience in employee relations dealing with the friends I had working for me. I learned about customer relations from 70 or 80 customers. Quality control and service to customers were made clear to me at...