1. Where were you the moment you decided your business plan?

Sitting in an office on Morton Street, working as an Information Architect for a massive Web site project. It was one of the best "jobs" I ever had -- a three-month consulting contract I took in the two years between selling my first company and starting Gotham Dream Cars. It was a blissfully welcome break from the stressful process of figuring out what my next move in life was, and it let me clear my mind and not worry so much about what I would be doing day-to-day. Nobody I worked with had any idea I'd gone to MIT or that I'd just sold my first company -- they just knew me as That Nerdy Guy That Doesn't Exactly Fit In With The Other Web Consultants.

2. What was the one thing you didn't know that you had to bluff your way through? 

When we were getting insurance coverage for the cars, I had to meet with underwriters and demonstrate that I had "years of experience in the automotive / rental industry". Nobody wants to insure the guy who's getting on-the-job training. But that's precisely NOT the path of a young entrepreneur -- five, two or even one year spent "working in" the rental business would have been a complete waste of my time -- I learned by thinking logically, talking to my customers, and asking the right questions to other people with years in the industry.

3. What one life lesson did you learn that helped you build your business?

90% of everything is crap. This applies to so many things in life and business -- potential deals, potential employees, potential customers, potential investors. It's so important to have a filter and be able to sift the real from the fake, the good from the bad.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard entrepreneurs say things like "I met a guy today who said he liked my idea. He's totally going to invest $5 million -- I'm going to go start hiring people tomorrow!" The reality is that as an entrepreneur, you have to recognize when something is real and when something is talk. Most things are talk.

4. Who is your role model or inspiration?

I have several. I admire Warren Buffett's sense of business -- not necessarily his investment success per se -- but his appreciation for what a real, genuine, operating, profitable, sustainable business is all about. He's not into gimmicks and has a rare ability to see past the quarter-by-quarter world of a company.

I also look up to Norm Brodsky -- an author, columnist for Inc. magazine, and serial entrepreneur in his own right. He's a self-described "street smart entrepreneur" -- he loves teaching others, he's sharp as a tack, and he, too, has a love for real, solid, long-term businesses.

5. What do you wish you had more of: time or money?

Time, hands-down. There are so many things I'd like to be able to do, preferably all in a single day. I've lobbied to have days extended to 28 hours. That's not going too well.

6. What is the one word your employees would use to describe you? 

Meticulous. They know that if a car has water spots on it, I'll catch it before it goes to a customer and make them re-wash it. They know that if the office is filthy and papers are strewn everywhere, I'm going to make everyone stop and clean up. They know that if someone goes out and spends $500 on the company credit card in the hopes that I "won't notice," I will.

Want to know who's next? Check back every other week for more Young Guns...And if you know a young entrepreneur with an interesting story, e-mail us at youngguns@foxbusiness.com.