He has vowed that he will not
stop building his business until it is worth £100
million. But hard-working Owens can stop for at least a moment's celebration
after making his first £1 million at the age of 16.
Owens, who has used a computer since the age of seven, began teaching himself
basic web design at the age of ten when he was given his first Mac computer. He
used his pocket money to fund his first business project, website Mac Box
Bundle at just 14 which has made £700,000 since its establishment
in 2008. Mac Box Bundle sells a combination of popular Mac applications which
are worth up to 400togetherforunderjust100 and donates 10 percent of the
money to charities.
He then established an
advertising company Branchr a year later and worked on the business after
school and at weekends. Branchr made a surprising £500,000 in its first year. Branchr works as
a platform for website owners to sell advertising.
Owens, from Northampton,
currently employs eight staff---all adults---around the UK and America as sales
and technical assistants. The young man lives with his parents. His mother who
is a company secretary said he was inspired to go into business after observing
the huge success achieved by Apple's chief executive officers(首席执行官) Steve Jobs.
Owens said, "I think
everyone has business sense in them, and they just need to gain experience and
be determined to make it. There is no magical formula(法则) for business, It takes
hard work, determination and the drive to do something great. My aim is to
become a leading name in the world of Internet and mobile advertising and push
myself right to the top of the game.
The teenager insists his
professional success has not affected his personal life, and says his interests
include photography and playing the guitar. "My friends and I don't really
talk about my success. To them I'm just a normal teenager and it doesn't change
anything between us."
1. What can we know from Paragraph 1?
A. Owens' company is
worth £1 million now.
B. Owens learned to
use computers at the age of 10.
C. Owens made £700,000 from Mac Box Bundle in 2008.
D. Owens is
successful and enthusiastic about public welfare.
2.From Paragraph 2 we know that Branchr
_____________.
A. takes up all
Owens' spare time
B. offers a platform
for advertising business
C. designs practical
software for website owners
D. takes up
advertising business for Nac Box Bundle
3.Why did Owens come up with the idea of doing
business?
A. Because eight
adults were ready to help.
B. Because it was
easy to establish web companies.
C. Because his
parents wanted him to have a try.
D. Because he drew
inspiration from Steve jobs.
4.Owens tends to think that ____________.
A. every person has
potential talent for business
B. getting
experienced in business needs determination
C. it is hard work
for people to decide to do something great.
D. he is sure to
play a leading part in the world of the Internet.
5.What do Ownes' friends think about him?
A. He sets a good
example. B. He does quite well in music.
C. He is a common school boy. D. He puts friendship above anything else.