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Getting Ahead with Ben Kaufman
What was your first business?
When I was 12, I started BK Media—a really creative name. My mom was a product merchandiser. She'd created this huge point-of-purchase merchandising system for a cosmetics company that took six hours to set up. I said, "What if I make a video so you don't have to send people—you can just send the DVD showing how to install it?" I finagled my way into making all these videos for big companies and wound up making a ton of money.
Do people ask you for business advice?
Yes, and I don't necessarily like it. What I can give them is just this one piece: I can't tell you if your business is good, I can't tell you if your idea is good, but I can tell you that if you feel passionate about it, do it and don't be afraid to fail. In fact, failure should motivate you—that's what it does for me.
Why did you drop out of college your freshman year?
I learn a ton more on a daily basis here at Kluster and on the streets than I would in a classroom. I'd rather do it and fail, and do it again.
Do you have a business philosophy?
I'm a firm believer that you don't have to be the first or the only one—you just haveto be the best.
Will you get bored with Kluster?
Our investors have always worried about my short attention span. But when I pitched them, I said, "If we build Kluster correctly, any idea I have—for a business or a product—can be put through Kluster." That's what's cool about it.
How do you spend your downtime?
I'm a Facebook addict. I don't really understand the business, but I understand the product. I love the product.
Why are you so confident?
Confidence comes from not being afraid to fail. And when I do fail, I just say, Okay, I'll fix it.
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