Hello my name is...
Hi, I'm Benjamin Gott...some people know me as Benjamin Edgar.
I represent...
Creativity, blending scenes, current culture, Peter Pan lifestyles, having fun, making a difference, really good friends, and www.thebrilliance.com.
The reason that you are reading about me is...
Cause William Yan thinks we're taste makers here at THE BRILLIANCE, ha. Pretty flattering.
Right now I'm working on...
THE BRILLIANCE! as always. Also this incredible project called TheCommon.org that I've been super lucky to be a part of with my friend Rick. It's a real side-step from how I came up in business - its pretty incredible to work on something that is humanitarian related. And a handful of other projects - I'm kind of living out my dream of simply being really creative and passionate about new business for a living.
I am inspired by...
So much!!
Simplicity, creativity, my friends, growth from nothing, really intense people, romantic ideas, tour de france, sunny days just as much as rainy ones - but for different reasons, Steve Jobs, Rob Bell, Jay-Z, Nelson benches, new projects, really huge art work, all white spaces, being content, travel, watching my friends follow their dreams, really classic pieces of clothing that you buy once and wear forever, the whole crew of kids who started the projects that became Connected Ventures - seriously - love what they did.
I can not live without...
My friends first obviously, but thats a more 'real' kind of thing. So I guess laptop and phone - and a large part of that being for my music. Not sure what I'd do if I didn't have my music tomorrow.
I love...
DOING things. Forward movement. Super, super simple all white spaces with a single piece of really vintage baroque style furniture sitting in the middle. Riding my bike, a lot. Having a cold Coors Light with cheap snow crab legs.
Commissioned oil painting by Dennis Nagelkirk (right).
My favorite brands are...
Rapha.cc, the Dior Homme that Hedi Slimane created, Apple, Vans, Louis Vuitton, Campagnolo, IKEA, J.Crew.
You need to listen to...
Track: Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown. Just doesn't get old for me, always puts me in this interesting state of mind - relaxed, creative, and feeling a bit like I'm somewhere else. I'm also really into Babyshambles right now...kind of out of no where.
I would love to give a shout out to...
Chuck and Virgil for making THE BRILLIANCE so much fun to run. All my friends! Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. All the people I (get to) work with directly.
You can get more info about Benjamin at THE BRILLIANCE!