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In the early spring of 1997, along with my regular 8 to 5 job, I also worked as a computer consultant for an Orlando firm where I developed and wrote marketing analysis software. One night after working, my client, for whom I have worked for over five years, and I settled down for dinner. On this particular evening we were joined by a third person, a friend of my client, whom I had met before.

Somehow the conversation drifted to the age-old question of 'What would you do if you won the lottery?' I told my client and his friend that one of my dreams was to start a computer training school for inner-city youth. They were intrigued by my answer and probed for more information on what this school would be about. My client stated very strongly that he believed education is the key to success.

After awhile, my client asked me why I had never done anything about my dream. I reminded him that this conversation was about what we would do if we won the lottery, and that I hadn't won yet. The night ended after dinner and we went our separate ways.

Throughout the week, the idea that my client showed such a great interest in my dream stayed on my mind. You see, my client is a wealthy man who lives on the Bay Hill golf course in Orlando. We saw each other again the next week, and even though we had known each other for over five years and were very friendly toward one another, we were both strangely silent that day. When I arrived at his office, I went along to my work, and he made himself busy with his. Finally, he broke the silence by stating that our conversation about the computer training school had been on his mind all week. When I expressed to him that the same was true for me, we decided to do some brain storming to see if this was a feasible project. We decided that it would be.