ENTERTAINMENT CAREER CONNECTION “RECORDING, RADIO, FILM CONNECTION” INTERVIEW WITH: BRIAN KRAFT TAPE#: N/A JULY 15, 2010 TRANSCRIBED BY SAY IT BACK (RS) Q : Okay are there? [00:00:04] BRIAN KRAFT : I’m here. Q : Perfect. So I guess you got the questions I sent you, right? [00:00:11] BRIAN KRAFT : Yeah but I honestly didn’t read em. Q : Yeah, not a problem, okay. So first one is, let’s talk some about some of those insinuations we see on the net that, you know, recording connection or radio connection or film connection is a scam. What’s your first reaction to those?
Don't believe it if someone tells you about the so-called Recording Connection scam.
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ENTERTAINMENT CAREER CONNECTION“RECORDING, RADIO, FILM CONNECTION”INTERVIEW WITH: BRIAN KRAFTTAPE#: N/AJULY 15, 2010TRANSCRIBED BY SAY IT BACK (RS)
Q : Okay are there?
[00:00:04]
BRIAN KRAFT : I’m here.
Q : Perfect. So I guess you got the questions I sent you,
right?
[00:00:11]
BRIAN KRAFT : Yeah but I honestly didn’t read em.
Q : Yeah, not a problem, okay. So first one is, let’s talk
some about some of those insinuations we see on the net that, you
know, recording connection or radio connection or film connection
is a scam. What’s your first reaction to those?
[00:00:30]
BRIAN KRAFT : Well, unfortunately, we live in the age of
uber technology and while the Internet is a wonderful thing for a
variety of reasons, um, it also is -- it can be a very damaging
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 2
thing to, you know, entrepreneurs, business owners, business --
businesses, um, schools, organizations, etcetera.
[00:01:03]
And, you know, we all have -- I think many of us have experienced
this in one form or the other. I mean all over the radio now you
have ads for companies that manage your reputation, um, and
there’s a reason for that. The reason is because a lot of these,
uh, a lot of people can get on the Internet and say whatever they
wanna say. [LAUGHS]
[00:01:27]
Um, the computer, the laptop and the desktop, have given the
common person, the average person, um, a lot of power, the power
of words. And that’s a good thing. I’m definitely a fan of
that; I’m a proponent of that. However, um, how does the
Internet filter false complaints?
[00:01:53]
I mean each and every one of us, whether we’re a business owner
or just a private citizen and a business owner or even public
figures and famous people and non famous people, all of us, we’ve
all been at one time in our life, probably more than once,
subject to, um, you know, false claims about us. Whether it be
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 3
an ex-girlfriend or an ex-boyfriend or an ex-wife or an ex-
husband or a parent, or, you know, someone who’s upset with us
because they didn’t feel they got treated right, that’s fine and
it’s important that people voice their opinions.
[00:02:31]
But there are two sides to every story. Is recording connection,
radio connection and film connection a scam? Absolutely not.
You know, I’m a man of integrity. I would never be a part of
anything that was a scam. We’ve made -- I would say honestly --
if you look at our student body, I would say nine -- I could
honestly say 90 percent of our student body and graduates are
happy with the education they received with the radio, recording
and film connection programs -- 90 percent.
[00:03:10]
Ten percent -- then there’s ten percent who are unhappy. Now
five to six percent of those people are unhappy for their own
reasons. They wanted to finish the program but they couldn’t
because they got a divorce. Or they got sick or they had to
move. Okay so now we’re at 95 percent and then there’s five
percent who are unhappy with us and I would say two and a half
out of that five percent have actually really good reasons.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 4
[00:03:40]
No company’s perfect, no school is perfect. But we do do our
best to make sure that each and every one of them get what they
paid for, get what they deserve.
Q : Okay.
[00:03:55]
BRIAN KRAFT : I’m not sure if I answered your question
directly but --
Q : That was a good answer. And you kind of like actually
answered question two in a way, too. But just to kinda like go
back, I know you’ve probably perused a few of these Internet
posts. Did anything leap out at you, I mean as a source or
something? I mean it -- to me the analogy is a postal, you know,
worker going postal.
[00:04:23]
BRIAN KRAFT : Well here’s the interesting thing about the
Internet and the complaints about recording, radio or film
connection on the Internet. I, yes, I’ve seen many of the
complaints on the Internet. Um, and I will honestly tell you
that many of them -- many of them -- are from people who have
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 5
never ever transacted business with us. They’ve never done
business, they’ve never come to our school, they’ve never
attended any of our classes. Um, and or --
Q : And I assume they never paid you any money as well?
[00:04:57]
BRIAN KRAFT : They never paid us a dime. So in other
words, these are people who visited -- who -- who may have
visited our school like on an orientation day and decided not to
do the program. And then went home and wrote a complaint about
us. Or it’s someone -- could be someone who never ever has even
visited an orientation but just has an axe to grind with life.
[00:05:29]
Or I have seen complaints, um, from anonymous people on the
Internet that I have no idea what their gripe is. They’re just
seeming -- sitting behind their computer and complaining. And
then finally I’ve seen complaints from former employees who, you
know, don’t work for the school anymore. So I would caution
parents and students when they see negative complaint about any
company on the Internet to take it with a grain of salt.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 6
[00:06:02]
Um, to do your own research. Um, don’t always believe what you
read because some person sitting behind their, uh, computer
posted a negative response. Now having said that, if you peruse
the Internet you’ll see overwhelmingly there’s more positive
reviews than there are negative reviews. But you asked about the
negative and so there you have it.
Q : Okay. What would you -- you know, obviously I think
that students going into your programs dream of being successful.
Do you guarantee that they have success?
[00:06:40]
BRIAN KRAFT : Absolutely not. In fact, I would, um,
absolutely not. What we do say, in fact, is this is going to be
a very difficult process. What they’re trying to achieve is
extraordinary. Let me be clear on that. People who want to make
it in the music business, the recording business, the film
business, the acting world, the radio broadcasting world -- and
remember, 80 to 90 percent of the people that come to us, they
don’t wanna just make it in those fields, they wanna be the
Howard Sterns, the Colin Cowherds, the, um, the Rush Limbaughs.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 7
[00:07:27]
They wanna be the Puff Daddys, the -- they wanna not only make it
in these careers but they wanna be at the top of their pyramid or
the top of that career period -- pyramid, excuse me. So the
chances of them making it are -- are slim. I’ll be honest, and
we tell them that right from the first phone call. We say to
them, what you are about to embark on is extremely -- is going to
be extremely difficult, extremely challenging.
[00:08:01]
We do not guarantee success to anyone. What we guarantee them is
the opportunity to sit in front of and to learn from one on one
from a person who could, if the student does everything in their
power to be successful, then that -- they -- they have positioned
themselves properly in front of someone who could change their
lives. That’s what we say.
Q : Okay so basically you provide the opportunity but it’s
up to the student to provide the effort and the passion and --
and then utilize that opportunity and seize it?
[00:08:47]
BRIAN KRAFT : That’s correct. Look, it’s very simple. Let
me us an analogy that a lot of people will understand. If you
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 8
wanna be a famous basketball player, right, and there are many
kids out there who want that.
Q : Right.
[00:09:06]
BRIAN KRAFT : They -- and I -- and I’m over here saying let
me set you up with a scrimmage in front of Pat Riley and Phil
Jackson. Or I can set you up and you can go to school for
basketball and play in front of nobody whose making their living
in the NBA. Which school would you rather go to? You would much
rather play in front of Pat Riley and Phil Jackson because if
you’re good enough, if you’re hard working enough, Phil Jackson
and Pat Riley will notice that and they’re connected enough to
get you into the NBA.
Q : Okay.
[00:09:49]
BRIAN KRAFT : In school, the scrimmage example can never
get you into the M-- NBA because it’s filled with people who
aren’t making their living in the NBA. Does that make sense?
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 9
Q : Absolutely that’s a -- nah, I think that’s a great way
to put it and even -- and so you provide the opportunity to play
in front of Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. But if you don’t have
game, if you don’t have size, if you don’t have effort, you’re
gonna lose the opportunity. It’s gonna be meaningless. But if
you have those, now you’ve gone someplace. You have -- you’ve
certainly bettered your chances.
[00:10:24]
BRIAN KRAFT : That’s absolutely correct. Now let me give
one more analogy because sometimes the baskul-- basketball
analogy may confuse people. In addition to that, let’s add one
more analogy. Let’s talk about the business analogy. Let’s say
you want to be -- one day you would like to be a successful
entrepreneur, a successful businessman or woman. If I could tell
you that you could tomorrow be working as an apprentice [COUGH
SOUND] inside Donald Trump’s company or instead you could go to a
college, community college or a trade school or a vocational
school and learn real estate, where would you rather go?
[00:11:08]
Where would your parents rather you go? Where would any parent
ra-- have their kid go? Which would the parent choose? Would
they choose for their son or daughter to apprentice under Donald
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 10
Trump, a man who’s done it, who’s proven himself to be successful
or would they choose to send their kid to Real Estate College on
a campus to learn from an instructor who may be a very good
person and a -- a great Father, a great, you know, a great
husband. But he’s not successful in real estate. If he were,
you can bet he wouldn’t be teaching at that college campus.
Q : Okay.
[00:11:53]
BRIAN KRAFT : What our school does is our school provides
the opportunity to show your stuff while you’re learning one on
one from an industry professional.
Q : Perfect. Okay, let’s talk briefly about your role at
Entertainment Connection which is film and radio and recording
connection.
BRIAN KRAFT : Okay.
Q : You started as a mentor. So, you kind of came in like
any successful businessman. You kind of started at the bottom
and worked your way up. And I think along the way because of
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 11
that knowledge of being there, doing it, you probably also, you
know, have helped improve the programs. So -- [OVERLAP]
[00:12:42]
BRIAN KRAFT : I did start as -- go ahead.
Q : I’m sorry. So, take us through that, I guess, that
sequence.
[00:12:48]
BRIAN KRAFT : I did start off as a mentor. I’m a -- a
professional documentary filmmaker. I’ve made four professional
documentary films. My latest film which I just completed last
year is called The Fall of America and the Western World, um,
which is a ten part, ten hour documentary about the economic
collapse of 2008, um, and the ongoing economic troubles of not
only America but of, um, the Western World, Western civilization.
[00:13:31]
Um, this documentary that I made, by the way, you know, features
extremely notable people. Uh, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, the Father
of Reaganomics, is in it. Um, the imminent economist, Doug Casey
is in it. Um, Professor Mark Crispin Miller of NYU, New York
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 12
University, is in it. Best selling New York Times author, Naomi
Wolf is in it. Um, so I know what it is to make movies.
[00:14:02]
I’ve, like I said, made four professional ones, uh, thus far. I
-- as much as I am a filmmaker, I’m also and have always been
obsessed with education. I love education. Um, I spend
countless hours every day educating myself. I’m a veracious
reader. I loved school. I was a geek. I loved school.
[00:14:30]
I remember each and every one of my favorite teachers, and the
reason I love those teachers, um, was because they were great
mentors to me. I’ve always been engaged and encouraged and
intrigued by the idea of mentors. So, in addition to being a
filmmaker, I always wanted to be a mentor and I was a film
connection mentor to start. I mentored students.
[00:15:00]
Um, I helped students with their screen plays. I helped students
with their, um, making their films. I helped students, um, break
into the film business, and that’s how I got started with the
film connection from sort of the bottom up. I was a mentor.
And, uh, and, yeah, and after, uh, doing that for four years, um,
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 13
I realized there was a side of me that wasn’t being, um, said, as
it were. And, uh, that side of me was I’ve -- I love business.
[00:15:31]
I love the i-- the challenge of perfecting or trying to perfect a
business. From making a business not only successful but to make
a business, um, you know a proud member of community, to make a
business interesting in the community. Um, and so, the marriage
between being a mentor, a filmmaker, and a businessman, you know,
really appealed to me. And five years ago, I became the Chief of
Operations at the Film Recording and Radio Connection, and, uh,
and that’s my story.
Q : Okay, here’s a statement. From what I gathered just in
my own personal experiences, if you’re mentored by someone,
you’re going down the path of being an entrepreneur and self
sufficient whereas if you go to school, you’re learning how to be
an employee. Do you think that’s kind of a fair statement?
[00:16:38]
BRIAN KRAFT : I’m sorry. Say that again.
Q : Mentoring kind of develops entrepreneurs, self
sufficient people, whereas going to school kind of puts you as an
employee.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 14
[00:16:51]
BRIAN KRAFT : I think that, uh, I haven’t heard that
before, but I really do like that. Um, school is a part and when
we -- when we talk about school, I think it’s important we should
make note we’re talking about higher education right now. We’re
talking about college. We’re talking about universities, trade
schools, vocational schools, technical schools, things like that.
Um, those kinds of schools, of course, they have merits.
[00:17:22]
Yes, but those kinds of schools do indeed promote the heard
mentality, absolutely. They put you in a room with twenty,
thirty, forty, fifty -- sometimes I’ve seen a hundred people, one
teacher and an aide teaching a hundred people or twenty people or
thirty people.
Q : Per class [OVERLAP] per class, right?
[00:17:53]
BRIAN KRAFT : Per class, exactly. Now, this is all well
and good. I’m not saying you’re not going to learn anything.
You’re gonna learn something. I went to college. I learned. I
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 15
loved some of my lecture classes. I learned a whole bunch about
history from lecture class, and politics and they’re great.
They’re wonderful, and the teachers are great if you -- if you’re
lucky to get a good one. What we’re saying, though, is how does
that help you get a job?
[00:18:24]
How does that help you access your dream career? It doesn’t.
The answer, folks, is it doesn’t. It doesn’t help you with that,
and I think this is a huge problem with the American and, you
know, the world education system. The idea that college is the
best way to break into a chosen field, I think, is going the way
of the dodo bird meaning it’s going extinct.
[00:18:57]
I really believe that. We’ve got too many colleges with too many
students who are all then graduating at the exact same time every
year, by the way, and all then going out and competing for the
same jobs. How could that -- just do the Math. How could that
possibly work to get people employed in the careers they want to
be employed in?
[00:19:27]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 16
The answer is it can’t work. It doesn’t work. Parents know it
don’t -- doesn’t work. Students know it doesn’t work, and most
of all, graduates of these prestigious colleges and universities
and -- and -- and -- and technical trade school and vocational
schools know that it doesn’t work. They’re the ones who right
now are sitting at home with a meaningless piece of paper called
a degree waiting, uh, to -- a few hours before they go to their
shift at the bar or the restaurant where they’re a waiter or a
waitress.
[00:20:05]
These are the people who are suffering. There are the people who
are suffering under this system in which we go and educate our
children or ourselves in classrooms of fifty to one hundred
people. I’m saying this is no longer valid, okay? It’s very
important that, though, that I’m -- that people hear what I’m
saying. I’m not saying don’t go to college. If you want to get
educated because you love to read and you love to write papers
and you’re just hungry for knowledge, if you’re one of those rare
few, absolutely go to college.
[00:20:44]
Or if you need to get a degree where degrees matter like law and
medicine, absolutely go to college. But if you’re looking to be
a filmmaker, if you’re looking to be a radio broadcaster, if
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 17
you’re looking to be a, um, audio engineer or a music producer,
it you’re looking to get into graphic design, if you’re looking
to be a photographer, if you’re even looking to get into cul--
the culinary arts, I would suggest a different path than
traditional college or a technical trade school.
[00:21:22]
I would suggest you find yourself a mentor, pay that mentor
money, [LAUGHS] and have that mentor teach you one on one.
That’s the best way to learn anything.
Q : Is it -- do you think it’s a fair statement that it’s
also -- you probably get a bigger bang for the buck that way?
[00:21:45]
BRIAN KRAFT : You absolutely get a bigger bang for the buck
that way. Let me add one thing to what I’m saying. For parents
out there who’ve always had their -- their -- their heart set on
their child going to college or the person who’s now, right now,
reading this thinking yeah, but I need to learn how to cook or I
need to learn how to cut hair ‘cause that’s what you’ve always
wanted to do. Okay, I got news for you. Then go to college and
learn those skills. But in addition to that, if you want to be
employable when you’re out of that school, get a mentor.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 18
[00:22:19]
Now, while you’re in school, I would love it if every college
student on the planet right now, while they’re attending classes
at USC, UCLA, or any other -- or any trade school of The
University of Phoenix or DeVry Institute or Vidal Sassoon or --
or CIA, the culinary place. I would love if while they’re in
class doing what they’re doing, they came to me and let me
introduce them to a mentor in the business who’s making a living
doing what they want to do.
[00:22:55]
And do it in tandem with the regular education. That’s one group
of people. Then there’s another group of people, a second group
of people and I would say to those people, if you don’t want to
go to college or you can’t afford to go to college -- this is
another big one now days. You can’t afford college. Then let me
get you a mentor. Let me help you get a mentor. That’s what we
do at Radio Recording and Film Connection and ECC. We connect
people. Now, could I, Mike, can I say one thing?
Q : Sure.
[00:23:28]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 19
BRIAN KRAFT : Someone just walked into my office. I forgot
I had this appointment. Is there any way we -- I can call -- we
can start again in a half hour or are you busy?
Q : I’m gonna be gone but I can get back to you like maybe
either one or about four?
[00:23:43]
BRIAN KRAFT : Perfect, one o’clock is perfect.
Q : Okay, we’ll try for one. Does four work as a backup?
[00:23:49]
BRIAN KRAFT : One is better but four could work. Yes, I
apologize.
Q : No, no problem. I just wanna make sure I download this
before [LAUGHS] before we do the other one or it’ll zap
over and I’m running a little bit tight.
[00:24:00]
BRIAN KRAFT : Okay, that was -- that was -- was that good
stuff?
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 20
Q : Yeah, yeah, and maybe 1:30 -- if 1:30 is good, that
would work, too, probably better.
[00:24:09]
BRIAN KRAFT : Okay, 1:30 is fine.
Q : Perfect, see you then.
[00:24:12]
BRIAN KRAFT : Alright, Buddy.
Q : Bye.
[00:24:14]
BRIAN KRAFT : Take care. [PRODUCTION CONVERSATION]
[00:24:32]
[END BRIAN INTERVEW, PART 1] [BEGIN FILE 2]
Q : OK. There's -- there's an old saying, “Imitation is
the sincerest form of flattery.” I think that there's a certain
amount of that that applies, you know? What would you say?
[00:00:17]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 21
BRIAN KRAFT : There's no doubt that -- there's no doubt
that the Radio, Connection, Recording Connection, Film Connection
has imitators. But to be honest, um, you know -- well, you know
I got to stop for a second. To be ho- -- who is imitating us?
We've got one guy.
Q : Well -- well we've had -- there have been people who
haven't made it cause they didn't understand how much work it
was. Maybe that's the angle. Cause we had to learn by doing,
and --
[00:00:47]
BRIAN KRAFT : Uh-huh.
Q : Well, you know, there's -- there's been a few others
that have come and gone. Um, cause it's a long --
[00:00:52]
BRIAN KRAFT : Well I would say this. I would just say
this. Um, right now as it stands, uh, students have really two
decisions -- uh, two choices I should say. Not decisions.
Students have two choices. One -- they could go to a traditional
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 22
university or technical trade locational school. Or two -- they
can come to the Radio, Recording, or Film Connection. We have
had imitators in the past.
[00:01:28]
People who, um, tried to do what we do. But the reality is all
of those companies at this point in 2010 have fallen by the
wayside and have not been successful. They have all gone out of
business. The reason for that is simple. No other mentor
apprentice program has the connections that Radio, Recording, and
Film Connection has. This business -- this school has been in
business for 26 years.
[00:02:00]
Twenty six years we've been building contact in the industry.
And at this point in time -- in 2010 we have some of the biggest
names in music, broadcasting, and film serving as mentors for our
program.
[00:02:21]
Tim Palmer is a music producer, audio engineer and mixer for U2
-- for Pearl Jam. In fact he mixed Pearl Jam's most successful
record “Ten,” which sold I don't know -- somewhere upwards of 20
million copies. Um, you might want to check the math on that.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 23
David Bowie -- the Cure -- now this is the guy who works --
remember -- I've said produces and mixes and audio engineers for
U2, the Cure, Tears for Fears, David Bowie, Pearl Jam.
[00:02:59]
We also have as a mentor for our program a gentleman named Warren
Hewart who mixes -- produces for the band Korn. Who has
composed, mixed and produced for hit T.V. shows like “Grays
Anatomy.” Um, we have mentors in film.
[00:03:30]
Like Alex Colesian who was the creator, along with Matt Damon and
Ben Affleck of the famous -- infamous reality show, uh, “Project
Green Light.” Basically started reality T.V. ten years ago.
He's a mentor from our program. We have radio mentors at major
stations all over the U.S.
[00:03:59]
That means that you will get to go into a radio station and
literally learn one on one under people who are on the air for
big radio stations -- Cumulus, Clear Channel, Beasley, CBS. So
our mentors I think speak who we -- the company we keep I think
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 24
speaks volumes. The people who teach for us -- who are our
mentors.
[00:04:30]
Would they be working for us -- working with us if we were a
scam. No. The que- -- the answer is no. They would not be.
Q : Right. And you're -- you're also a -- a member of
some, you know, just basically industry associations and stuff.
I -- I -- I think they're quite numerous -- all those
affiliations --
[00:04:55]
BRIAN KRAFT : We are fully accredited mentor apprentice
program. Fully accredited with the USDAAS, the NPSAA, MENC M-E-
N-C. We are endorsed by the American Music Producer's Union, by
the Audio Engineering Society, the AES. Um, all in all to date
we have over 12 accreditations and sponsorships, um, from both
non-profit and, uh, for profit accreditation agencies.
Q : OK. Cool. Now do we want to talk about the BBB at all
or just leave that out?
[00:05:41]
BRIAN KRAFT : Sure. I'll talk about it.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 25
Q : OK. Um, so what do you -- what do you say to people
who go, “What -- uh, we -- your -- your grade isn't very good
with the Better Business Bureau? Um, you know -- w-what's the
deal with that?
[00:05:57]
BRIAN KRAFT : It's an unfortunate scenario. Um, the Better
Business Bureau as most Americans are finding out here in 2010 is
not what it used to be. Uh, the B-B-B, much to my chagrin, and
much to my dismay -- much to my surprise is a -- not a government
organization at all. But a for profit telemarketing company that
literally sells memberships.
[00:06:29]
What they do is they call business owners -- small, medium, and
large sizes. And they offer them a membership at a price. If
you pay some -- depending on the size you pay between $400.00 and
I think $10,000 per year to be a member of the B-B-B. Anybody
who pays -- anybody who pays receives an A grade.
[00:07:01]
Let's not mince words. I just said if you pay them, you receive
an A grade. If you pay them and receive complaints from
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 26
consumers, they are more lenient on you and your complaints than
if you are not a member.
[00:07:17]
So what you have -- if you have prestigious well known and
celebrated companies who have -- who are not members -- who have
maybe one to ten complaints, who have F ratings. One of those
companies -- I think most of your readers have heard of it. It's
called Starbucks. That's right -- Starbucks coffee is not a
member of the B-B-B.
[00:07:45]
Meaning Starbucks has refused to pay the Better Business Bureau
for a grade. And has an F -- an F rating. Um, now Verizon
Wireless is a member. They do choose to pay the Better Business
Bureau thousands of dollars every year. They have an A grade and
they have over 1,000 complaints.
[00:08:10]
The Better Business Bureau is not a government organization.
It's not what you think it is. Um, and it's not to be trusted.
Moreover, the Better Business Bureau does nothing to help
consumers get clear -- well, you know what? I don't want to get
into it too much.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 27
Q : Yeah. Uh, here -- here's the question. Here's the
question then that -- that I think will wrap this up. Um, so
when you -- when you did get this grade from the Better Business
Bureau, did you try and contact them, and -- and -- and -- and
see what you could do to improve you grade?
[00:08:44]
BRIAN KRAFT : So when we first received a grade that was
lower than a B with the Better Business Bureau, the, um, chief of
opera- -- uh, I'm sorry.
[00:09:01]
The Chief Executive Officer, James Petula, did contact the B-B-B
to say, “Hey. We're surprised at this grade. What -- what can
we do to better our grade?” And we got in touch with a gentleman
over there by the name of Gary Allman, and unfortunately the
conversation degraded into, um, you know, an argument.
[00:09:29]
Now I think it's important to state that since we've done further
research, it seems like Mr. Gary Allman likes to pick fights with
a lot of businesses. We're not alone. And so yeah, we did reach
out to them. We did try and get clarity on why we had -- at the
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 28
time it was a C grade. After the argument on the phone, the very
next week our grade was lowered to a D. And then eventually an F
grade.
[00:10:00]
And we are currently in a -- in litigation proceedings, uh, in
Cal- -- California Superior Court fighting the F rating. I
should point out that many companies across the United States are
currently suing the B-B-B for the exact same reason. There are
law suits in Las Vegas, New Mexico, um, and other cities and
states that, um, where -- where the B-B-B has been, um, put on --
put on trial.
Q : OK. And I noticed that they -- they seem to have
misclassified what you do as a business. Have -- have you like
tried to you know, get 'em -- schedule a meeting and -- or invite
them to your place to go over what you guys do?
[00:10:44]
BRIAN KRAFT : Well, that's the other thing. Is the Better
Business Bureau, um, also has no idea what we actually do. Now
think about this. They have no idea what we actually do. They
think we are something else. They think we are a job placement
service. No where on our web site or on any of our literature
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 29
does it mention anything about a job -- being a job placement
service like an Apple One.
[00:11:14]
Um, so they don't know what we do. We pointed this out to the
Better Business Bureau. Invited the Better Business Bureau --
president or vice president or any of his employees to come down
to our office to see what it is we do. To explain what it is we
do. And they refused to talk to us. So the Better Business
Bureau -- a Company -- private, for profit company that is
grading companies refuses to talk to the very companies they are
grading.
[00:11:47]
Think about this. This is like a teacher in a college classroom
or a high school class room who hands out an F grade, and then
refuses to talk to the student that she's handing the F grade out
to. Absolute insanity.
Q : And that actually sounds like hands out the F grade
without even reading the paper.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 30
BRIAN KRAFT : That's right. That's right.
Q : OK. OK. Um, OK, let's -- let's shift gears and, um,
you want to do some -- some of the Wiki stuff?
BRIAN KRAFT : OK.
Q : Um, let's see, uh, we -- we talked earlier about --
[00:12:21]
BRIAN KRAFT : Can we talk about -- can we talk about the --
should we talk a little bit more about the company, or you got
enough?
Q : I think we've got -- I think we're pretty good. Um,
you know, if -- if we need more I think we can always fill it in.
[00:12:32]
BRIAN KRAFT : OK.
Q : OK? But I mean between the first one and this one I
think -- I think we're pretty good.
BRIAN KRAFT : OK.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 31
Q : Well, you -- you -- you discuss quite a bit, you know,
about the mentor apprentice method and how you got involved with
it. But now for your Wiki, um, where do you want to take the
mentor apprentice, uh, method of teaching, and -- and you know,
careers and stuff?
[00:12:58]
BRIAN KRAFT : So it is my stated, um, intention -- my
mission in life, to bring the mentor apprentice approach to
learning. Uh, to wor-- to the world. Um, right now, um -- well,
let me just say it this way. It is my mission in life to make
sure that every high school student -- that every graduate of
high school -- that every college student, and as many adults as
I can get -- um, I want to get them all mentors.
[00:13:39]
Everybody on the planet needs a mentor. One at least. Three or
four ain't bad either. Let me explain. The only way you can get
where you want to -- not the only way. But one of the best ways
to get where you want to get in life is to find yourself a
mentor. To pay that mentor to help you -- to educate you. Why
do I say pay?
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 32
[00:14:15]
A lot of people -- not a lot of people, but some people might
have a problem with that. Well, why do I have to pay a mentor?
Aren't mentors -- don't mentors do it for free? Don't mentors do
things from the kindness of their heart? The answer is yes and
no. Yes mentors do things from the kindness of their heart.
[00:14:30]
Yes mentors do this because they want to teach, and give back.
And explain their crafts to some willing apprentice -- yes. But
what's wrong with paying them? When you pay someone to help you,
you're assured a certain amount of feedback -- of time, of
education with that person. We pay for food. Nobody has a
problem with that. I mean, you know, couldn't we argue that the
food companies are morally obligated or ethically obligated to
provide food for free to us?
[00:15:04]
Um, uh, in my opinion where we -- what -- what I would like to --
well, let me say it this way. I would like to see every student
in high school have a mentor. What kind of mentor? Well, one at
least -- two would be perfect. That's my motto. One at least.
Two would be perfect. What is the one? The one at least is a
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 33
career mentor. High school students while they're in 11th and
12th grade -- right -- juniors or -- or seniors in high school.
[00:15:40]
While they're taking their classes, and they're doing whatever
there is that they're doing. Whether they're surfers or baseball
players or basketball players. Or they're into music. And
they're into a band. Or they're a D.J., or they're smoking pot.
Whatever they're doing -- in addition to their regular studies, I
believe their parents should pay a small fee to get that kid a
career mentor.
[00:16:03]
How do you do that? You first and foremost ask the kid what it
is he or she thinks they want to do when they graduate -- right?
And then you get that kid exposed. That student exposed once or
twice per week to whatever that student wants to do. So for
example, let's say you have a kid who's in a rock band.
[00:16:30]
Right? That's what he does when he's not in high school. Well,
wouldn't it just be amazing if we could get that child -- that
student a mentor in the recording business? Or a music executive
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 34
to mentor them. Someone who's in A and R. Those are the people
who sign record acts -- or music acts when they're -- if they're
good enough.
[00:16:56]
What if a child or a student said to you “I want to -- I know
what I want to do. I'm in 11th grade, but I -- I know what I
want to do. I want to be a chef. Well, imagine in addition to
going to regular school, once or twice a week they also went to a
restaurant there in their local town or city. And they
apprentice under an actual chef once or twice per week? And
learn the ropes of the restaurant business. I could go on with
the example. But you see where I'm going with this.
Q : Um-hum.
[00:17:30]
BRIAN KRAFT : It would be an amazing experience. You would
first and foremost expose people to -- young people to the -- to,
um, to the -- to the workforce. You might even save yourself and
your family a whole lot of money should that student decide that
college is not for them. They know what they want to do. Now
that brings me to my next point. Let's say you absolutely as a
parent want your child to go to college -- a degree is important
to you. You must -- they want.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 35
[00:18:00]
You want them to go to the best college they can get into and get
that -- put their four years in and get that piece of paper.
Great. I want to be -- make very clear. I am a fan of higher
learning. I love university. I love col- -- college. This is
not excluding universities. If you want your child to go to
school, or if you're a student reading this and you want to go to
school -- go to school. Absolutely. Take your electives.
[00:18:28]
Take your history classes, and your math classes. Learn as much
as you can about economics and business or -- or the fun things.
You know -- whatever -- what's another example, Mike? Um, like,
uh, taking college.
Q : Um, let's see -- um, drama.
[00:18:48]
BRIAN KRAFT : Whatever -- drama and politics. And take
your music classes and your broadc- -- I mean acting classes.
Like you said -- drama. Take your fashion classes. Go be a
fashion -- take classes for fashion --
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 36
Q : Yeah. Physics -- Chemistry -- yeah.
BRIAN KRAFT : Physics -- whatever it is --
Q : Yeah.
[00:19:5]]
BRIAN KRAFT : Whatever you want. Go -- if you're set on
going college -- go to college. Spend the $30,000 a semester, or
$10,000 a semester. Or even go to co- -- a community college if
you -- if that's your bag. And spend your $60.00 a class. Fine.
All I'm saying is that in addition to that you better get
yourself a career mentor.
[00:19:31]
A career mentor while you're going to college, or while you're in
high school along -- in tandem with your regular education will
help you -- will assist you in understanding what it takes to
make it in the real world.
[00:19:53]
Will connect you to the people that you want to be connected to,
right? Um, and will give you un-equaled life experience. So you
can put it on your resume too should you decide to do something
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 37
else when you're done. Now I also mentioned a second mentor would
be perfect I said.
Q : Um-hum.
[00:20:14]
BRIAN KRAFT : One mentor is good -- two are perfect. I
believe that each and every one of us could use guidance. This
is life guidance. Some people might want to call it spiritual
guidance. This is not about -- you know, Mike. I'm going to
have to work on that part.
Q : OK. That's fine.
BRIAN KRAFT : You know what? I don't want to say the
spiritual stuff.
Q : It's like help skills. Right? Life skills?
[00:20:43]
BRIAN KRAFT : Let's just say this. Exactly -- the second
mentor could help you with your life skills. The problem that
most people are faced with when they graduate high school or they
graduate college, or wake up at 43 years old and find themselves
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 38
in the same boat is people don't really know how to be effective.
They don't know how to be effective. They're not good at
communicating. They're -- they don't understand their point in
life. They don't understand what they want out of life.
[00:21:16]
They're lost in a spiral of disinformation, pain, and suffering.
And they don't have anyone really to talk to. Now I know this
sounds like therapy. But it's really not. It's a mentor who is
not really curbing mental problems. It's a mentor that's helping
people get clear on how to be effective in life.
[00:21:46]
How to communicate to employers, family and friends. How to get
the most out of your life. How to write a mission statement and
stick to it. How to talk -- how to write a resume. How to write
a cover letter. How to walk and be happy and in peace. Again,
one mentor is good -- two is perfect. It's my goal to bring the
idea and the concept of mentoring both for professionals -- or
people who want to be professionals, i.e. career, and for people
who want to be more effective in their personal and private and
professional lives, i.e. life skills mentor. One would be good.
Two would be perfect.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 39
Q : OK. And touching real briefly on that life skills
thing. Um, you had mentioned people who are you know at 40 or
whatever -- all of a sudden they wake up and they've gotten the
pink slip and they're out on the street. A lot of these people
don't really -- kind of -- they're -- they're self awareness and
self evaluation seems to be lacking.
[00:22:55]
They've been at a job. That's defined them for their entire
life. And all of a sudden they're kind of starting from scratch.
And they don't really know what their skills are. What they --
you know, they don't know how to sell themselves. They don't --
their -- their sense of self worth or -- or self evaluation --
they -- they don't know how to do it. And that would seem to be
part of that life skills.
[00:23:12]
BRIAN KRAFT : That's absolutely right. Um, one of the
things that I have found in my work -- working with people -- is
that, um, many of us have graduated high school and or then
college, and we pick -- we pick their career. You remember that?
Q : Um-hum.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 40
[00:23:38]
BRIAN KRAFT : You were somewhere between the ages of 18 and
25 for most of us. But what's with going on in the world now,
it's really, you know, 16 to 40, right?
Q : Or fifty.
[00:23:48]
BRIAN KRAFT : Yeah, sometimes people now a days are waking
up a little later. And they're saying to themselves, it's time
for me to pick something to do. I'm going to pick something to
do. Great. The problem is our culture teaches the wrong lesson
as it were. They're teaching people to choose something that
motivates them. What motivates you, Johnny? What motivates you,
Kim? What motivates you, Susie? And so these people of all ages
sit down with themselves often times in -- in a rush, right?
Q : Um-hum.
[00:24:27]
BRIAN KRAFT : And they say, “I want to be a lawyer. Yeah.
That seems fun. That seems like I could be motivated to do that.
If you could hear people's inner monologues it may sound
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 41
something like this. “Well, I don't know what the hell I want to
do. But maybe law. Those dudes make a lot of money. You know,
or I don't know what I want to do. I guess journalism, because
it looks -- it would look cool to be a reporter.
[00:24:50]
Or I don't know what I want to do. I mean maybe I'll go into --
yeah, I'll go into acting, because that would be living a life
less ordinary. Or some people's inner monologues may sound like
this: “You know what? I don't have any clue what I want to do.
I -- I don't really feel good about my talents. You know, I
think I'll just go into -- I don't know. Work for the city. Or
I'll work for the state. Right? I'll go into, you know,
something like that. Or I don't have any idea what I'm going to
do. I mean, my mom and dad told me when I was a kid I was sort
of like I -- I was -- I was -- had influence over p- -- maybe
I'll go in and I'll start selling cars.
[00:25:31]
I'm not disrespecting any of the aforementioned careers. Please
understand that. But what I am trying to illuminate is that a
lot of people choose what they want to do on this planet for the
rest of their lives from a place of motivation. What motivates
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 42
me? The problem, Mike, is this. Motivation never made anybody
happy. What does? Inspiration. Inspiration.
[00:26:02]
We don't know how to access that part of ourselves that tells us
what inspires us. We're -- it's very easy in our culture to
access that part of us that tells us what motivates us. Look.
Let's be honest. What motivates most Americans or most Western
Europeans, or most Japanese, or most Australians? Money. Right.
Q : Um-hum.
[00:26:17]
BRIAN KRAFT : Let's be honest. What motivates us? We say
when we're 18 -- 25 -- 30 -- 40 or 50 and on and on? I want to
make a lot of money. I want to make a lot of money, because
money equals liberation. Money equals freedom. That's what they
say to themselves and or to their friends. And if they don't say
it, they're thinking it.
[00:26:47]
The problem is -- the problem is that's a lie. Money doesn't buy
freedom. And while there's nothing wrong with making a lot of
money, you can't approach -- you can't look to m- -- to money to
set you free. What does set you free? Meaning what makes you
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 43
happy inside where you're at peace while you're driving to work?
Or you're at peace when you put your head down on the pillow at
night? Or even most importantly when you're at -- what makes you
at peace?
[00:27:20]
When you wake up in the morning most people I know -- they don't
wake up happy. They wake up miserable dreading the day. Or go
to sleep miserable dreading tomorrow. Or sit in traffic on their
way to work with a donut and a cup of coffee going, “I hope this
traffic jam prohibits -- or stalls my time from getting into
work. So I can have an extra four minutes when you're at peace
-- to myself. Right?
Q : Um-hum. So -- so -- I'm sorry?
BRIAN KRAFT : So -- go ahead.
Q : Oh, I was just going to say yeah, I -- no I agree with
you that -- that you know you've made the right choice when you
wake up in the -- when you can't wait to wake up in the morning
to get to work. Or whatever it is you're doing.
[00:28:07]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 44
BRIAN KRAFT : That's right. Now -- right. And
unfortunately, I -- I -- you can quote me as saying what you just
said, cause it's great. I'm not even going to try to improve
upon it. Well said. But reality is this. Most of us are
unhappy with our careers. And therefore since what -- most of
what we do is in our careers -- most of the time we spend is at
work, right?
Q : Um-hum.
[00:28:31]
BRIAN KRAFT : We're therefore unhappy with ourselves. Not
because we're flawed human beings. Not because we're bad or --
or stupid. Or we're unlucky. I hear that one a lot. I'm just
unlucky, you know? Well I'm not a lucky guy. Whatever. That's
why I work at this insurance company. I'm unlucky.
[00:28:49]
No. You're not unlucky. You're not stupid. You're not wrong.
What you are is you chose poorly five -- ten -- 15 years ago or
more. And you're paying for the poor choice. Life has
consequences. Right?
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 45
Q : Um-hum.
[00:29:05]
BRIAN KRAFT : You can't get -- you know -- life has
consequences. So what I'm saying is if you're going to choose
wisely, you better choose from what inspires you. Not what
motivates you. And the reason is this. Let me just reiterate.
When you choose what motivates you, you will always choose money
or sex or power. And those things as the -- as reality T.V. is
showing us, you know, right in our living room, those things
don't breed happiness.
[00:29:42]
They don't breed peace of mind. What does breed peace of mind?
When people choose what they want to do for the rest of their
lives from a place of what inspires them. Look at the word
inspiration. Inspired -- in spirit -- one with spirit. That's
where that word comes from. When people choose to do something
that really gets them exited regardless -- regardless of what --
of -- of -- it's just like something that can make them millions
of dollars. They're almost always going to be happy to go to
work.
[00:30:21]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 46
Let me give you a quick example. I have a client that I work
with. She always -- she's currently a lawyer. She makes high --
well mid to high six figures a year. High pressure lawyer. OK?
Big -- big firm. A litigator. Makes a lot of money. Miserable.
Hates her job. Hates her job. Why is she miserable? Because
she picked a career that motivated her.
[00:30:56]
She picked something that she could make a lot of money at. And
frankly make her parents hap- -- her parents were thrilled when
she graduated from Harvard Law. Thrilled. And it worked on her
even too. She bought into the myth for a few years.
Q : Um-hum.
[00:31:13]
BRIAN KRAFT : Well now she's approaching her 40s and she
doesn't like her career? Why? She picked from what motivates
her. So all of her money -- the Porsche that she drives in --
all of her fancy clothes -- the prestige she gets from being a
litigator in a top firm -- her clients who are major players --
none of that can satisfy her soul.
[00:31:35]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 47
So what is she doing? Well, through the work we're doing, she's
realizing that what she always wanted to do -- believe it or not
-- talk about ironic. What she always wanted to do is be a yoga
teacher. So she started on the side a little yoga business. And
she's about to cycle out of her law career, and open up a yoga
studio.
[00:31:59]
But hold on folks. Those who are reading this, don't get
discouraged. She's also an entrepreneur. Her goal is to make a
lot of money through yoga -- not through law.
Q : Um-hum.
[00:32:14]
BRIAN KRAFT : Why is this working for her? Because she's
inspired. She was in other words put here to spread the word of
yoga and fitness. Not the word of law. That doesn't mean that
you weren't put here to be -- to spread the word of law. You
could be inspired to be a lawyer.
[00:32:31]
I guarantee you whether you're a lawyer, a doctor, a business
man, a truck driver, a bus driver, or a sanitation person. If
you're inspired by it, you have peace of mind and happiness.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 48
Q : Cool. OK. Last thing on mentoring -- um, just in sort
of a random survey that I've done. It seems that almost every
successful person at one point in their life had a mentor.
Whether it was somebody, a co-worker, their boss, a friend.
You know somebody they stumbled across. You know a film shoot ,
whatever it is, um, would you [AUDIO GAP].
BRIAN KRAFT : Would I what? Hello -- hello , I lost you.
Hello?
Q : Hello?
BRIAN KRAFT : Oh hey.
Q : Yeah, sorry. The phone died on me. Um -- anyway I was
saying, you know, do you think uh -- um, you know success -- a
lot of successful people it seems have somewhere in their life
have stumbled across a mentor that gave 'em a -- a nudge in the
right direction at one point?
[00:33:50]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 49
BRIAN KRAFT : That's absolutely right. And as soon as I
finish taking this leak, I'm going to talk about that. Give me
one second, brother.
Q : Sure. We'll have fun transcribing this. [LAUGHS]
[00:34:31]
BRIAN KRAFT : Hey there. Sorry about that.
Q : No problem.
BRIAN KRAFT : So yeah. Um, I would encourage -- you know
if you're in the research phase of you know, what I say. In
other words, if you're thinking about using my, you know,
services to help you find a mentor -- um, and you're researching
whether, you know, if you're like I believe in mentors. Is this
the way to go? Should I be paying for mentors? These are all
very valid questions.
[00:35:01]
I would encourage that person to sit with themselves in a quiet
room for the next few days, and make a list of maybe 20 people
they admire. You know, known people. Or I guess it could be
unknown people as well. But people that they admire. Make sure
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 50
your list has people in there that you admire for the way they
can make money.
[00:35:30]
That could be someone you know, or it could be Donald Trump. Um,
make sure your list includes an athlete or two that you admire.
Right? Make sure your list includes a bi- -- a small business
owner that you admire. Someone who you think has a cool bis- --
you don't even have to know them. Let's just say you've driven
by their shop. Or you stopped in on -- in on their business.
[00:35:53]
And you are wow, what a cool life that is. What a cool shoe
store that guy has. Or what a cool dry cleaning business that
guy has. Make sure in other words your list has a variety of
people that you either know and or want to know. Or at least
admire.
[00:36:15]
From all facets of life. Once you're done -- and -- and say
you're going to commit to writing 20 names down. I guarantee you
that everyone on your list, once you go and do a Goggle search to
-- to confirm my -- my -- what I'm saying -- I guarantee you that
everyone on that list will have had a mentor.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 51
[00:36:40]
A mentor that helped that person stay focused or get focused.
And be successful. I would submit to you that you cannot be
successful without a mentor. You may have mentors and you don't
even know their mentors. And so it begs the question -- what I'm
saying begs the question -- well then, what do I need Brian Kraft
for?
[00:37:05]
The answer is, you don't. If you are the kind of person who can
go out into the world and organize a mentor for yourself -- if
you are the kind of person who could make it happen on your own,
then you don't need me. The reality is though, my service
provides you not only with the mentor, and organizes the mentor,
and provides you with, you know, structure, so as you men- --
your apprenticeship is successful. But it also connects you to
people that you may not be connected to. Or that you may have
never known without me.
Q : OK.
BRIAN KRAFT : It is my -- go ahead.
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 52
Q : No. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
[00:37:51]
BRIAN KRAFT : I was just going to say that I want to make
it clear to the readers of this that it is my goal to bring back
the idea of a mentor, number one. Number two -- to those who are
aware of the value of a mentor to professionalize it -- if that's
a word.
[00:38:13]
To commercialize it. I want mentors being paid for their
services. And I -- I'm not shy about that. You should pay your
mentor. Don't let -- don't do it for free. Pay him so you have
Mondays and Wednesdays with him for two hours. Pay her so you
know she's going to show up on Saturday and deliver what you're
expecting.
[00:38:40]
Would you hire an electrician for free? Would you hire a
gardener to just come in and do your lawn for free? Would you --
if I told you I had a Mercedes Benz for you and I was just giving
it to you, would you trust me if I owned a car dealership? You
need to -- we need to get the word out that the time is now to
start paying mentors to help you so you can -- you know, on a
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 53
consistent basis -- Mike, this is all great stuff. And forgive
me if it's all over the place. But I'm try- --
Q : No, this -- this is good. Is -- cause I -- I think one
of the other things that -- one of your other goals would be, um,
to expand the availability and accessibility of mentors to more
and more people.
[00:39:28]
BRIAN KRAFT : Absolutely. I mean, I'm envisioning a --
like a website that has like hundreds of thousands of people who
are available to be paid as a mentor.
Q : Um-hum.
BRIAN KRAFT : All of who are bonded by us. You know, maybe
they pay in $1,000 to be for life. And we train them. And you
know, from -- from pastry chefs to bus drivers -- you know what
I'm saying?
Q : Right. OK. Um, let's talk now about [SOUNDS LIKE:
“MAM.-HHELMANTOF”]
[00:40:09]
Int. w/Brian Kraft - 54
BRIAN KRAFT : I don't even remember what they are.
Q : [LAUGHS] Good. OK.
BRIAN KRAFT : I don't think we need to talk about that yet.
Q : OK.
BRIAN KRAFT : I like where we were going with this. And
I'm just, uh --
Q : Yeah. No. I think you've got some great stuff.
BRIAN KRAFT : Yeah.
Q : OK. Um, I'm trying to think how to stop the recording.
Um, you -- why don't we -- I think we're good here. Um, I --
let's talk about the four insights in Paul. But you want to do
that on like not this call?
BRIAN KRAFT : Yeah. Sure. You want to call me back?