Ben Sampson Headshot

Hey, I'm Ben!

I build, buy, and invest in businesses.

I've had 2 successful exits. Way more failures.

I send one action packed email a week called a 1x1x1 covering crazy cool businesses I spot, updates on what we're building and buying, and lessons from the journey of an entrepreneur. Ā 

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Ben's 1x1x1 - The Infinite Game - April 24, 2026 šŸš€

For those of you that are new here, every week I send what I call a 1x1x1.
​
One thought from my week.
One interesting find/tool from my week.
One image from my life.

Let's dive in šŸ‘‡

Thought from the week

If you’re a founder, here’s your friendly reminder:

You’re playing an infinite game.

Unlike chess. Or my stash of HƤagen-Dazs ice cream bars (RIP, gone too soon).

Those games end.

This one doesn’t.

And yet… I catch myself constantly trying to force it to end.

ā€œOnce we launch thisā€¦ā€ ā€œOnce we hit this numberā€¦ā€ ā€œOnce V11 is outā€¦ā€

Ah yes. V11. The version that will finally fix everything and bring me inner peace.

Narrator: it did not.

Don’t get me wrong, deadlines matter.

Urgency matters.

Momentum is everything.

But that feeling we’re chasing?

That clean, satisfying, ā€œI’m doneā€ feeling?

It doesn’t exist here.

You ship the campaign → there’s another one.

You fix the bug → three more pop up like a hydra.

You hit the goal → congrats, here’s a bigger one.

It’s an infinite loop disguised as progress.

And the dangerous part is… it almost feels like you’re about to arrive.

You’re not.

There is no arrival.

Just more:

  • problems
  • opportunities
  • ā€œstrategic conferencesā€ where you somehow end up poolside with a margarita explaining to your partner that this is, in fact, work

So every once in a while, I have to mentally grab myself by the shoulders and go:

ā€œHey idiot. Wrong game.ā€

Because while business is infinite… life is not.

My kids are getting older.

My grandparents’ memories fading.

My ability to eat deep dish pizza and get away with just one Tums.

Those are finite games.

Those actually end.

And those are the ones that matter most.

The business? It’ll still be there tomorrow.

No matter what CNBC says.

Interesting Tool/Find

The quote I've had written on the top of my todo list all week:

"Winners are just losers that never gave up."

Image from my life

Parker has been a massive help covering the town of Bend with Luna posters.

See you all next week!