I have a side business and a friend of mine had been struggling with minimum wage jobs since we both graduated college. I'm fairly successful in the tech world, and I've always thought the world of this guy, so when I had the opportunity to hire him for my side biz, I did it instantly. He struggled a bit at the beginning because he wasn't used to having autonomy. When you're an entry-level person, you expect a to-do list every day, but I started mentoring him into being self-directed. These days, he's kicking butt.

I'm hoping in a year or so he'll have enough confidence to apply for a "real" job, and that this gets him off the ground. I'd lose him for my company, but I can deal with that. I'd rather he get further into the industry and make a gazillion dollars, and that won't be possible with me.

Sometimes I think it's just a matter of giving people a step up, even if it's not to the top floor.