Damond Philpott is a shining example to all young budding Bermudian entrepreneurs who want to achieve their dreams.

For Mr. Philpott's interest in computers and web design has taken him from studying the subject at school to running his own business, all in the space of four years.

The 21-year-old self-taught web/graphic developer literally moved from designing websites wearing his pyjamas in his bedroom to a fully fledged businessman running his very own office.

"It is going how I wanted it to go," he said.

"I have focused on my website design business and took it to the next level and have now got an office space.

"It is very exciting for me to have my own space now and to be able to get my clients into the office to do a business deal - it makes a huge difference to sitting in my pyjamas at home.

"At 21 years old I've developed a passion for business and managed to surround myself with successful people.

"There is still a lot for me to learn and I know as long as I am eager to, it could be done."

Mr. Philpott moved into his new premises on the former site of the Berkeley Institute in Berkeley Road, Pembroke, a month ago and his business 'Inspired Interactive' has been going well ever since, according to the young computer genius.

"It is funny because most of the places that have been rented out are to artists, of which website design is part of, so I am just in the place I want to be really," he said.

"I am still very much a one-man band, but I do other stuff with other freelancers I work with.

"I have always had clients since I worked at Fresh TV and I picked them up myself."

Among some of his client base are Government, for whom he has done work for Department of Social Insurance and on the Governor's Throne Speech, as well as the design of website for Cycle Care, Fort Knox, the International and National Showcase Associations and Sapori Restaurant, to name but a few, and branding for real estate agents Progressive Realty.

Next year he plans to go to study web design and maintenance with an Associates in Interactive Media at university in Toronto, while still keeping his business going.

And his advice to any young Bermudians out there thinking about following his lead is to have a real passion for what you are doing.

"You have got to have a passion for it," he said.

"There are lots of young people here that are really good graphic designers and people that do this sort of thing as a hobby.

"But, equally, I believe broadcast companies such as ZBM TV should be trying to get more young people involved in the industry."

Mr. Philpott got into digital media in his first year of high school at Berkeley Institute when he discovered his passion for web design and website management.

Finding the college did not offer any further courses in advanced web design or computer science, he turned to self-help books for inspiration, including titles such as 'Making Work-Work' by Julie Morgenstern, John Maxwell's 'Winning with People' and leadership skills publications 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' and 'The Eighth Habit from Effectiveness to Greatness' by Stephen Convey.

"These books helped me determine who I wanted to be in 20 years time," he said.

"After reading more self-help books and benefiting from their strategies, I decided to take my web design interest to the next level. I read and read until I knew almost everything there was to know about building a website using a computer language called 'Hyper Text Mark-up Language', better known as 'HTML' or "HTM'.

Because of his other interest in digital media, Mr. Philpott decided to join a team of young, talented Bermudians who were selected to write, produce and broadcast a live show for television station Fresh TV.

"The show gave me my first hands-on experience with a video switcher and taught me some of the basics in the broadcast industry," he said.

"This opportunity was extremely appreciated as it was unheard of for a person of my age to oversee such an important role as technical/creative director."

During his time there he played a key role as technical/creative editor, on screen graphic artist/operator and video switcher in promoting teenage reality show 'Strictly Gage and Crew' among the local media and younger public audiences and going on to direct the Fresh on 3 live newscasts and working on the set of Bermuda's first community television morning show, BDAM Live.

"I was at the top of my game, receiving offers to direct or prepare graphics for many events around the island," he said.

"I was only 17 and with every new book I grew more knowledgeable."

A graduation in the General Equivalency Diploma from the Adult Education School followed, before Mr. Philpott returned to Fresh TV full-time as a technical director for a number of shows such as 'Fresh Radio TV' and 'Tanzoui Takes On'.

"As my interest in television broadcast grew quickly, so did my fascination with on screen graphics and Fresh TV's new approach away from traditional television," he said.

From there he was hired to design and display graphics for numerous on-location broadcast events including The Bermuda Annual Sports Awards and The Bermuda Annual Quiz Contest and then started out on his own from his Devonshire home, and he also designed an online classifieds website, GoFishAds.com, which was sold to Fresh TV for use as an online catalogue.

"I have been told and, indeed, am still told, that Bermuda will never reach the quality of overseas work when it comes to the field of video/audio production and web authoring," he said.

"I beg to differ. I believe what we need is fresh, young minds with new ideas and outstanding innovation to make it happen.

"I, for one, am very excited about where I am going and where I want to go in the future."

Mr. Philpott's website is www.inspired.bm