I started off with a company, InfoSpace, with my own funding. The company was listed among the most successful companies and I went on to start Intelius and Moon Express. Now, I focus my time on using the skills of an entrepreneur to solve many of the grand challenges facing us in the areas of education, healthcare, clean water and energy.

Because I was poor I had one special advantage. When you are poor, and basic survival is your concern, you have no alternative but to be an entrepreneur. You must take action to survive just as you must take action to seize an opportunity.

Success is not how much money you have in a bank. Success is how many lives you have touched.

It's really easy to create a $1 billion company - you just have to solve a $10 billion problem.

My children have been learning lessons about entrepreneurship since they were in kindergarten, and these lessons are paying off: even though they are only 22, 18, and 15, they have already collectively launched three nonprofit organizations and several new businesses.

We owe it to our children to equip them with all the capabilities they'll need to thrive in the limitless world beyond the classrooms.

When you experience a failure as a leader, don't hide it - talk about it. Your missed opportunity will encourage others to take risks.