We had the good fortune of connecting with Korey Kalman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Korey, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was extremely fortunate to find my calling early on in life. I always had a love for sports, had interest in starting my own business and learned very early on that I was able to positively impact youth. I decided to start my first camp at 18 years old, right after graduating high school, and never looked back. It allowed me to combine my interests, strengths and passion all in one. I fell in love being my own boss, and it was so rewarding to have a positive (and measurable) impact on my community. My business was a true “snowball effect” and never in a million years did I think, when I first set out, that it could grow into what it has.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I had my first job at 14 years old on the Ocean City boardwalk in New Jersey. Between then and the age of 19, I held almost 10 different jobs ranging from restaurant busboy, host and waiter, golf caddy, retirement home dishwasher, Philadelphia Inquirer, UPS store, gutter helmet canvasser, cutco knives and more. These different work experiences at such a young age gave me a plethora of experience and interaction with a wide range of people. Seeing so many different positions so early on gave me experience and skillset that you cannot learn in a textbook.

After college, I “joined the real world” with a job in equipment financing, working with business owners around the country writing loans for capital purchases. I took this job in Los Angeles on the other side of the country from where I was born and raised, and did not know anyone. I was interested in a new adventure. I left this position after about 8 months without telling anyone from my family, and was on my own in an unknown city.

I look back fondly on those times, although they were certainly difficult while being in it. I learned that there is no replacement for determination, grit and a positive attitude. It sounds simple, but it’s not, to just not accept defeat and to never stop plugging away. There is no alternative for doing the hard work. There were many occasions where I sat in school offices for hours on end, just waiting until a decision-maker was ready to see me for a few minutes!


Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a lot of people that were part of my village and had a hand in my story. First and foremost, my dad is the most influential person when it comes to my business. He taught me through example what hard work was all about. He gave me the original idea to try and run a camp, and taught me about cold-calling before I knew what that term meant. He supported me in the early years of my business, and taught me how to be successful on the phone and selling myself.

My mom always instilled in me the idea that I could be and do whatever I want in life. I credit the fearlessness that it takes to be an entrepreneur to that mindset she instilled in me at a young age.

My uncle was my first ever accountant, and the only person early on that allowed me to “make sense” of the numbers, and put a business hat in in a way I could digest.

If I had to point to one book, it would be “ReWork” by Jason Fried. It changed my perspective and gave me further confidence that I could write my own story. I highly recommend this quick read, and am fortunate I stumbled across it at a young age.

Website: www.gotgamecamp.com

Instagram: gotgame_co

Facebook: Facebook.com/got.game.sports

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