Confessions of an entrepreneur: Darren Herman '04

Buy Darren Herman's first book as a paperback, and it will cost you $14.95. Buy it as a download, it will cost you 76 cents.

Why 76?

"That's my lucky number," he says. "It was my hockey jersey growing up."

It's a bit surprising to hear Herman played sports at all, given the way he describes his youth in Coloring Outside the Lines: Confessions of a Digital Native.

"I wanted nothing more than to be with my Apple Mac LC and my books, learning the intricate graphics programs. I can't tell you how many times I was screamed at by my folks to get off the computer," he writes.

"At a young age, I committed my life to technology ... As all parts of my life became engrossed by the computer and its entire ecosystem, I quickly became a Digital Native."

So networked was Herman that a teacher at White Plains (N.Y.) High School nominated him for Sony's "Most Wired Student in America" contest?and he came in second. By the time he finished his junior year at Skidmore, he had launched profitable ventures in computer graphic design, Web site design and technology development, Web hosting, and music marketing and management.

By the time he was two years out of Skidmore, the in-game advertising company he had co-founded, IGA Worldwide, was being hailed by Digital Media Outlook report as the "Breakout Company of 2006," and Herman was listed by BusinessWeek as one of the nation's top entreneurs under 25.

Throughout most of this remarkable journey, Herman has been maintaining a blog. Now, looking back in his newest role as group director of digital media at The Media Kitchen, he has reassembled hundreds of posts in C oloring Outside the Lines. The result: a look into the world of startups and digital media, covering topics such as funding, branding, outsourcing, and other issues Herman has faced in starting multiple companies.

Herman dedicates the book to his father who, he writes "took a huge risk" in migrating from South Africa to North America in search of better job opportunities. He plans to donate all profits generated by the book to help entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia and Europe.

To order Coloring Outside the Lines as either a paperback or a download, click here.