Finding Purpose in Entrepreneurship | Brett Kaufman at Startup Grind

This episode is a recording of Brett Kaufman speaking at Startup Grind Columbus about combining blockchain and the startup financing world with Rhove and Calvin Cooper, the core philosophy behind the conscious living space Gravity, the roles of coaching and therapy in his life, and more.

Brett talks about:

• Why Brett got involved in Rhove
• What interested him in the startup and investment space
• Pelatonia’s new HQ at Gravity
• Why Brett cares about spaces
• His passion to impact the human experience
• What pushed him to start Kaufman Development
• When things began to align in Brett’s life
• Being intentional vs. taking advantage of the opportunity
• The role of synchronicity in life
• How to get out of your own way
• How Brett brings the Burning Man vibe to Columbus every day
• Being good versus being in a good market
• The lonely life of an entrepreneur
• Building a time management system into your life
• If entrepreneurs all fundamentally the same, regardless of the business they start
• Getting out of the day to day as a CEO or founder
• What’s next for Kaufman
• Partnership with Greenbay Packers
• Why he chose the location he did for Gravity
• Finding the right business coach
• Identifying your unique abilities
• Screening people who seem unconventional
• What art Brett likes, and whether or not he plans to go to Burning Man

Lessons for intentional living:

• Your passions don’t necessarily have to translate directly into what you do for a living—it’s possible you can just incorporate those things into whatever career you end up doing. With Gravity, Brett has been incredibly conscious of the kinds of companies that occupy the building. They don’t all have to be philanthropic, but they are curated with a specific mindset that will allow different people and companies to collaborate in ways they couldn’t imagine. Channeling his desire to be an artist and creative, Brett found ways to incorporate all the things he cared about, mainly impacting the human experience, into the space that he was in at the time: real estate.
• Looking back on his life, Brett can’t help but see that the way events played out felt more serendipitous than intentional. It’s led to a belief that he carries through his life: Life is perfect for what it is and what it’s not. While intentionality is important and he does try to be intentional, especially today, with everything he does, it’s impossible to look back and not see how differently things could have played out. What’s important is to keep pushing forward in what feels like the right direction, with intentionality, and letting synchronicity take you the rest of the way.
• We all bring our own problems and traumas and junk to the table in life, and it’s hard to get out of our own way. The only way that Brett has managed to get out of his own way is through getting help and seeing a therapist. He’s seen the work and how the work has worked for him.
• The entrepreneurial journey can be very lonely. Nobody else has the same level of risk or responsibility. Brett has managed to stay grounded by getting into his routines, things like transcendental meditation, working out, and doing yoga. He’s also begun incorporating creativity outside of work, and has made taking time off and truly checking out as part of his schedule.

Resources:

• Instagram: @brettkaufman
• Listen: “The Art of Money: The Balance Between Finance & Philosophy | with Calvin Cooper”