e-dreams: A Film by Wonsuk Chin

..A Film By Wonsuk Chin





		The silent co-founder of the Internet delivery service Kozmo.com chats it up about the making of the documentary e-dreams, the TV show Survivor and what it was like to be a dotcom prez during the digital gold rush.

	What are your reflections on being the president of a dotcom during the Internet gold rush?
	It was both a strange and wonderful time. The gold rush came and went very quickly. When the sector was hot, it seemed like you could accomplish anything and capital was always readily available.

	What advice would you give to a 27-year old today, interested in starting his own company?
	Don't be afraid to admit to inexperience and always surround yourself with the best talent. Delegate wisely and keep an even, patient temperament.

	"It was all about the excitement of the unknown and building something that has never been done before."

	If you didn't start up Kozmo.com, what would you have done?
	Probably would have gone to business school, or looked for a career in Hollywood.

	Ken Li of The Industry Standard once described you as Joe Park's alter-ego, his Spock. Is that analogy valid?
	Captain Kirk and Spock are about as different from each other as Joe and I and we collectively added to the management of the company. Our talents complement each other well.

	What did you think about the production process of making the documentary? Did you start to identify with cast members of reality-based shows?
	It was a little difficult in the beginning, but after a while you get used to them as part of the scenery. Towards the end, they were almost invisible. It was another version of The Real World, only from a solely business perspective.

	Compare someone in the Kozmo workforce to a cast member of a reality show (i.e.- Survivor).
	Joe [Park] would be Puck from Real World since they both are crazy bike riders, been in accidents, are very opinionated and were both kicked out. Gerry [Burdo, the current CEO] would be Richard Hatch from Survivor, both are smart, calculating with more going on than meets the eye.

	What was your favorite phase of the company's development and why?
	The early years at the first warehouse on 12th street. I wasn't fond of the bicycle riding, but it really felt like a mom-and-pop shop ready to explode. It was all about the excitement of the unknown and building something that has never been done before.

	What was your least favorite part of the company's development?
	The contraction of the business, the subsequent layoffs and the market closings starting in mid 2000. The culture was so great before and it suddenly crashed like a ton of bricks. It was difficult to layoff friends and explain the downsizing to business associates.

	Any e-dreams planned after this?
	Perhaps, after a couple years of R&R.

	Anything else you would like to say?
	Stay positive. It's never as bad as it seems; the reverse is always true.

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