424 : Alan Taylor – Stop chasing conferences, put your head down and do the work
Plain and simple talk from a humble seller. Alan admits he needed to step out and let the dust settle to move forward. You have to look long term. This is a marathon not a sprint if you want long term success. Also pay attention when he talks about partnering up with another seller. She has leveled him up.
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Transcript:
Cool voice guy: 00:00 Welcome to the e-commerce momentum podcast where we focus on the people, the products, and the process of eCommerce selling today. Here’s your host, Steven Peterson
Stephen: 00:14 20. It seemed to have a whole bunch of these episodes coming out where I’m, I’m talking about a success and where they found it. And I’m telling you there’s something happening, um, in the Amazon seller tribe and it’s just amazing to see. And this is another good example of somebody who stepped up and stepped out who found a home and all of a sudden it’s like his bearings, uh, hers bearing went straight, right? All of a sudden he found this compass pointing to the same place he wanted to go and some people helping guide him. And um, if you’re looking to learn, if you’re looking for a home, this is probably going to be the group for you. Um, just just pay attention to when he talks about chasing conferences. If you find yourself going to the next conference to learn the big secret, there isn’t any, it’s hard work.
Stephen: 00:59 Um, it’s focus. It’s, uh, understanding who you are and then capitalizing on that and hiring out those things that you’re not, and when you’re honest enough to admit it, when you can see it, and when you have other people leading you in demonstrating you, um, all of a sudden, or you hear these examples of people who just figured it out and there’s no magic to it. Um, it takes hard work. Um, I’m talking about the Amazon seller tribe run byby Gaye Lisbey and Gary Ray, a phenomenal group. Um, and I’m very fortunate to call them a sponsor of the podcast because I’ve seen so many examples. It’s so easy for me to endorse them. So go do amazing freedom.com, forward slash momentum hyphen arbitrage. That’s a lot momentum, hyphen arbitrage. And you could sign up for free 14 days and that’s exactly what I suggest you do is try for 14 days and sit back and say, Hmm, okay, I how much it costs.
Stephen: 01:53 I do this and it’s paid for. Okay, now I get another 30 days for free. Now let me try that and then see if you can build out your business. But more importantly, don’t just go there and use their list. Go there and learn. Go there and really step out and uh, maybe take a little leap of faith and figure out where you want to go and have, have other people help you get in line, help you get your compass straight. So amazing. freedom.com, forward slash momentum hyphen arbitrage. Um, go check it out. Get the 14 days for free. Um, and reach out to me if I can help you in any way. I’m in there. Uh, I’m ready to help you take care. Welcome back to the e-commerce momentum podcast. This is episode 424. Alan Taylor in it. It’s funny, I get choked up in this episode talking to another guy about some wishy washy things about selling online and relationships and, uh, you know, finding your way and being led here and all that kind of stuff.
Stephen: 02:56 So, uh, I might get a sappy in here, but it’s true. Um, you can find your way in this industry like no other industry I’ve ever seen or been part of. And no one I talked to, I haven’t found anyone else. I, it maybe I make the reference in there and maybe the military or maybe a sports team. There’s something, there’s a comradery or, uh, uh, uh, uh, connection that people get that is just, some of them are just forever. Um, but I would tell you in this world, you’re gonna make a lot of those. You might make one or two in this world, you’re going to make a lot of them. As long as you’re real, you’re not fake and you’re not trying to take advantage of people or, you know, just going in and being a taker. Um, Allen Allen gives some good advice about that.
Stephen: 03:41 Um, I have to choose between one of three things. He say that, or just so I called them Allen isms. I mean, there’s just so many of them. It’s such a, so his plain speak is just so directed and you can hear it, you can hear the genuineness and it’s just, it’s a very cool story. Um, and it should be encouraging for those of you who are part time, want to go full time. I think Allen’s advice is spot on. Oh, and there is a pitch for um, for a sponsor my show in it. Um, and it’s awesome if you take it through my link. If you don’t, I am not going to get offended. I just want you to, uh, to, to build. And uh, so very, very cool. Um, let’s get into the podcast and we’ll come back to the eCommerce moment of podcasts. I’m excited about today’s guest who’s a little nervous and I understand that, um, because he’s humbled and, uh, being a humble person, uh, it’s probably uncomfortable to come out and talk to a bunch of people, but I think anybody who listens to this is going to be richer for it. I know I am. I already am. Um, but I will be even further. Alan Taylor, welcome Alan.
Alan: 04:45 Hello Steven. How you doing today?
Stephen: 04:47 I’m doing really well now though. That’s Southern boys. He’s got that, that you don’t have that Johnny Cash voice. You’ve got that. Ah, I wonder who it would be. I have to think about that. You’ve got that Southern thing. Have you lived in the South your whole life?
Alan: 05:01 Uh, no. I was born, raised in Indianapolis and then went in the military and when I got out I moved to Tennessee. Good there for 32 years and now I live in Florida.
Stephen: 05:13 You picked up that, that slang down there, didn’t you? Did you, did you, uh, you did a pretty long tour in the military, did you, did you always plan on going in the military?
Alan: 05:25 Yes, but um, I ended up there, um, I ended up skipping school one day and my mother come in and she said, what are you going to do with your life? I said, I’m going to join me, honor me. She said, get your coat. And that was, that was the beginning of my military career I guess.
Stephen: 05:44 Well she, so she was in favor. Was she in favor of that then or? Oh, yes. Okay. So she’s like, this is going to get this rebellious young guy. He’s going to get the discipline he needs. You know, when I was younger, you and I are the same age. When I was younger it was the mill. A lot of times that this was actually even before I was, uh, cause I remember hearing these stories. So it wasn’t really, but it was, you know, military or jail for some people, you know, that was what it was. Yeah. No, no it was prior to that. But you know, I’m talking about there was a time when there was that and what I’ve seen, the military people that I’ve met, there’s, there’s something, especially in this e-commerce world, they have an advantage that discipline, the fortitude, I don’t know what what it is, but almost every single example. And you, you know, that you guys have a kinship. I mean, have you seen that same thing? Yes.
Alan: 06:34 Oh yes. Yes. As you know, it’s a work ethic and it’s a, it’s um, you know, when you try to be honorable to other people and
Stephen: 06:43 yeah, yeah. That, that means a lot. How serious do you take that? How do you, how serious do you take that honorable thing? Cause I, I think that’s a, that’s a pretty important thing. And yet it’s competitive, right? You’re competitive and yet you’re friendly. How do you, how do you take that?
Alan: 07:00 Well, to me your honor is everything. You know, if you don’t have a, if you don’t have honor thing yourself or you have, you have to be honest with everybody and, and hold to your word. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way you want to be known, you know? So if I was gone tomorrow, I’d want to know that I was an animal person, you know.
Stephen: 07:23 Hmm. So you go in the military and did you learn a trade in the military or a skillset?
Alan: 07:31 Yes, I was, um, as a assistant gunner on a one five, five Howitzer, um, in army reserves. And I actually went to basic training when I was 17. I was the youngest one in the company. Uh, it was between my junior and senior year. It was rough. And yeah, I cried a few tears on that letter sending them. My mom went to, you know, apologizing and all that, but had done Mason a lot of good. And then I went active duty air force and um, worked on avionics, uh, radar navigation for F1 11 aircraft.
Stephen: 08:06 So you, you got the focus that you were missing, I mean, is that fair? Oh yes. Yes. Would you recommend anyone, you know, today’s day and age, and I know it’s so different, the military today versus when you went in, I’m sure it’s different, but would you recommend, uh, to people to, to look at that option today? No one wants to know because you’re on the other side of it.
Alan: 08:30 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, I’d like my son, he has a, he has a career now, but I mean, I’d like to see him go in, but, um, it’s a, it’s a great opportunity to go see [inaudible] go see the world obviously. But also that training is, you know, unmatched really. And I think it’s great opportunity that they, and, and they also pay for your college. Yeah, 100%.
Stephen: 08:58 Yeah, that’s, that’s a huge deal because it breaks my heart, you know? And, and I have, I have a college degree and I have an advanced degree, but my company paid for my advanced degree. Um, and it was related to the job. When I see people spending a quarter of $1 million for an undergraduate degree and then going onto grad school, I don’t know how you ever get out that was a house. I mean, that’s an expensive hat. Wow. You know, it relative, but I mean, depending on where you live. But that’s crazy now.
Alan: 09:26 And I think now the military, as far as I know, I believe they will pay off your past school loans. So I’m thinking that’s the way it is now. Um, but absolutely, I’d encourage anybody to do that, you know, and do it and do Amazon on the side.
Stephen: 09:43 Yeah, let’s get into that. Okay. So, so you, I want to make sure I say this correctly. You, you still had an entrepreneurial spirit about you as a young kid, correct? Yes. So walk us through how you start getting into sell or how you get the bug. Okay.
Alan: 10:02 Well for one thing, and you know, you live in Indiana, you’re going to, you’re going to be shoveling snow. So, so we couldn’t wait for school would be out and which is six inches or more snow. And I’d put on my snow boots and my snow coat and I’d go out and shovel smooth to the elderly people and, and make money that way. And, and this sounds funny, but it also made like, uh, uh, potholders you know, these loop thing potholders not sell them door to door really? And Oh yeah. I probably wasn’t eight years old then.
Stephen: 10:40 So no fear at all. You just walk up and say, Hey, I’m cute. Would you buy this? I had no problem making money. That’s awesome. Yeah. Well that transitions perfectly into this world. So, so you get out of the military and you decide what are you going to do with your life at that point? All right. You got disciplined and I assume your relationship with your mom. Cause like you said, you apologize to her, you got everything great there. What were you going to do?
Alan: 11:07 Um, well, I actually at that point, um, uh, ended up starting a family and went to work for a Japanese, uh, [inaudible] auto manufacturer for, um, seven years. Okay. But, but during that time I was sit on a tee shirts, sweatshirts and handbags and everything else I could get my hands on, you know, basically out of the back of my vehicle and going to flea markets every weekend. And, um, that was my side deal. And I basically made enough money on my side deal that I was able to quit the factory. And which was my goal was to get out of factory. So you saw a way out? Yes. I’m looking for it. I mean, other than money, what were you looking for there? Oh, well, just my freedom. That’s what I was looking for, man. Best thing I ever done. It was the, um, and, and I must say, when their economy crashed, um, I did go back as a, as a quality engineer for three years and, um, which really helped me, you know, during the, during this, uh, slow economy.
Alan: 12:21 And then in 13 I went back out and started my business again. So wait, I think what’s important there to hear is that when, when things change, you can step back that, did you see that as a failure, Allen? Oh no. I mean, I love it. It’s stepping back, stepping out for a moment and let ever, you know, let everything, let the dust settle and then I got to write that day and that’s a good step out and let the dust settle. We’ll see. I love Southern guy. They just have good phrases. It just makes sense though, because I would say people would say, Oh my God, it’s just not for me. I’ve given up no. Why? Why? Why not? You learned a specific set of skills probably as a young guy, it sounds like all the way through, and then you get some discipline on top of that.
Alan: 13:11 That’s a pretty good formula for success for the future, wouldn’t you say? Ah, I think so. Here’s the thing though, but the outside external forces, like the economy going down, you can’t control that. Oh no, no. But you don’t know your skills, right? No. Yeah, you just have to, you know, you have to understand, uh, you know, things change and you just have to, you have to be able to pivot. And it’s, you know, well, you know, Jason Clark, that’s is his favorite phrase is you need to pivot. So that’s what I did. Pivoting is not failure. Pivoting is adjusting to, you know, sometimes I don’t know about you, but I have found things that we have done and we’ve given up a lot in our, in our business because it’s just, it gets old. We don’t like it or it’s just not enjoyable. Does that mean we failed in it?
Alan: 13:59 I don’t think so. I mean, knowing that I think is healthy. Yes. I believe so. And I knew, I knew at some point I would go back and I gave him my, uh, my word for two years that I would stay and I stayed. I actually stayed two and a half years and then, um, went back out into my own business again. So now you just look at it as a, not a loss, but again, a, uh, an investment, right? It gives you a chance to reload? Uh, we’re doing it this year. I mean, a couple other guys that I chat with, I’m doing a reset in January. I’m just kind of resetting, you know, uh, doing a no alcohol January, I’ll put that out there. And a, a just really working back on my focus diet and just trying to really focus back mentally. Does that mean I failed? No, that’s a healthy thing. I think that’s right. Yeah. I actually, I actually didn’t do any drinking on new year.
Stephen: 14:56 You know, that’s a start, right? Yeah. Yeah. Did you just adjust? Right. [inaudible] you know, just, it’s, it’s healthy to do that. All right, so you, uh, in the meantime, you, you had a construction business and you had it for a long time. Yes, correct. Yes. 20 years, 20 years
Alan: 15:13 tractor. Well, I started out doing assisted living facilities and then doing high end trim work, and then I got into doing home depots, you know, travel all over the Eastern United States.
Stephen: 15:26 So you’re one of those installers that you can hire through home Depot when they say we’re going to have an installer.
Alan: 15:31 Oh, no, no, no, no. I, I’m, I worked on new construction, putting in underground electric and sideloading the parking lot lights.
Stephen: 15:39 Oh, for like for a home Depot. Yeah.
Alan: 15:42 For new home Depot’s targets Lowe’s. And then I got into doing big distribution centers like Aldi and O’Reillys and, and facilities like [inaudible].
Stephen: 15:54 I mean you definitely have been in my area then because those are all around me here. Yeah. Okay. So you’ve been doing that. Did you, were you always all that time still selling on the side or when did that get back into your, okay, so you kept doing it?
Alan: 16:08 Yes. And, and uh, to be honest, I was, um, I stayed, uh, stayed very focused on my construction business and let’s say the economy went down and come back up and I went back out and I stayed very focused on it. Um, and I went to visit my son and, uh, his wife and we were, we were actually thrifting in Goodwill and, and I’d always been playing with eBay, um, for years, since in the 90s. And she picked up a remote control and said, Oh, this remote controls where the a hundred dollars. I’m looking at her like, are you crazy? She’s, she said, she said, uh, well this Amazon, it’s $100. And she showed me on the Amazon app and I’m like, a light bulb went off a Mo. That was a moment. And that was a moment, not that I need to figure out this Amazon, you know, how many years ago was that one? That was four years ago.
Stephen: 17:09 Okay. So four years ago you saw, uh, an opportunity, um, how do you start that opportunity? Because I think that’s another place I see a lot of people like, Hey, can somebody teach me Amazon? And I’m always like, no, I don’t think so. You know, I don’t, I don’t think that’s the way to approach things. What, how did you start or how would you, how would you recommend people to start?
Alan: 17:29 Oh, well, I started with RA and, um, first thing I did, I went into, um, I believe it was, um, Dick’s sporting goods and started looking for clearance stuff. And, and, um, I, I created an Amazon account and just started going in and scanning and started buying and don’t think I didn’t make my mistakes cause I got, I got my mistake pile too, you know, like everybody and, and it just, uh, it, it grew from there. But, but I, yeah, I’ve had my struggles the last, you know, since I started up until, um, several months ago,
Stephen: 18:08 well, we’re going to talk about specifically what changed there, but I want to stay on this. So you put in the work you had to scan and how many things do you scan before you find a, a jewel? Right. And you don’t know what kind of Joel, you hope it’s gold, but you don’t know. Right. Or diamond or whatever. I guess a better example, but I mean, how many, cause I think that’s another thing that people don’t understand. Um,
Alan: 18:31 this is hard work. Fair. Oh yeah, absolutely. When at the end of the day you’re tired.
Stephen: 18:38 Even, even though you’re not swinging a hammer or putting in, like you were putting in new giant light poles and doing this physical stuff, right. You’re still exhausted,
Alan: 18:46 correct? Oh yes. Oh yes. Mentally too. You know, it’s a, it’s a, it’s work, but I wouldn’t call it a job. Oh, interesting. What would you call it? Um, I call it enjoyable. I mean, it’s, you know, it’s only a, it’s not job if you love what you do. And I’ve always, and I’ve always believed that.
Stephen: 19:08 Yeah. You, you were good in [inaudible]. I mean, you were really good in control, you had a lot of success, but did you have the love for it that you have for your reselling business?
Alan: 19:16 I had the love in the beginning, but then, you know, when you’re fighting the weather and the elements and, and the high prices of material and, and, and then the liper factor, that’s what kinda kind of pushed me away from, you know, not, not enjoying it as much. Um, you know, you have to go with the economy too. It goes up and down.
Stephen: 19:39 Okay. So you start selling, you get into it, you have some success. How did you find,
Stephen: 19:47 Um, this is years now. You’ve been, I mean, I’ve seen you in the green room. You’ve been around for a long time. When did you realize that networking is the biggest secret benefit of this
Alan: 19:57 world? Well, it just, it just, uh, I love to travel. If they might follows anything I do. They, that’s, they know, that’s my number one favorite thing is to travel. And me and my son, we, uh, we decided to go out to ASD and, uh, with the green room group. And, um, it was just, I didn’t do that in order to, to, um, to gain friends or I went out there just to, to go see what the ASD was all about. But also I met all these incredible people. And to this day we’re still friends and, and they’re, they’re all intermixed into Amazon and eBay and private label. And I met you and I met Lauren and I met Andy and Nathan and Gaye I mean, I’m that everybody through ASD really.
Stephen: 20:57 I, I think to me, this is Steve’s opinion. I think that’s the best part about this business. You know, in the business that I came from, you’ve met a lot of people, but it always, you know, it just never developed the relations. You couldn’t develop the relationships you have. Um, this to me, how about in the construction world? Could you do that? Oh no, no, no. Maybe the military, maybe the military. Right. I guess there’s, there’s probably a comradery. Yeah. Or like sports team. I always think in the military, like sports, I mean it was the best of the best put together and I’m sure there’s relationships, but outside of that,
Alan: 21:32 nothing like a, um, the Amazon, uh, people and uh, um, all the networking get to do with all the events and the conferences. It’s just amazing.
Stephen: 21:42 One of the things that I’ve admired about you watching you is like you said, you’ve traveled extensively as a part time seller and you utilized your business to be able to travel extensively, soaking it up. Not, I, I’ve never seen you ask for anything. I told you this and Nicole, I’ve never seen you ask for anything, but you were always, you know, friendly. Just stood in on a conversation. You’re always part of it. Um, and you were able to utilize that time to really hone in and identify the parts of the business you like. Is that, is that fair to say it that way? Yes. Yes. That’s fair. But you never hit the million dollars in sales. You never the outlet, right. That wasn’t, was that your goal? I mean, I know you want to make money.
Alan: 22:24 My goal, that was not my goal. And, and uh, and even my son, he even said, somebody asked him, why don’t you want to be a, or why don’t you be a million dollar seller? And he just said the way it is, he said, I don’t need to be, I don’t need to be a million dollar seller. Um, but I enjoy the business and I enjoy the chase. That’s, that’s what it is.
Stephen: 22:50 And you still have that to this day. I mean, you’ve been selling a long time and you still have that. See, that’s what’s so cool about this is that where like with construction, I’m sure every so often it’s great. They’re swinging a hammer, but it’s not the love like it. I don’t think you can get that passion back. Is that fair? No, I could not get it back. Yeah, it’s a young man’s game. All right. So let’s talk about selling. So you’re plodding along, you’re plodding along. What made you decide to go full time? What was the trigger? Because I think that that’s, I mean, you see this, how many times have you heard this? Uh, you know, Alan, when’s the right time? What, when should I go full time? What’s the, you know, do I need this number in the bank? Do I need this? There is no magic answer. What was it for you? Well,
Alan: 23:34 um, actually it was a may join in the tribe, Gaye Lisbey, and Gary Ray’s tribe that’s totally changed my whole direction and, um, gave me a greater outlook. Yeah. There they have, and I’ve said this so many times, you could tell the hearts of teachers. I mean, is that, I mean, that’s the way I look at. I honestly at the only way I think of Gaye is as a teacher, you just, when she starts talking, you pull up a chair, you sit there and listen. Or Gary, Oh yes. I’m thinking about being out at Gaye’s place and Gary leading a conversation. This is like this giant circle surrounding them listening and just like, wow, you know, everybody’s not in their head. Right? Oh yeah, they’re amazing. And they’re so, uh, giving her the time and, and their knowledge and, and they take the time that, you know, cause and Gary will tell you that, you know, people learn at different speeds and, and he’s really good at that.
Alan: 24:36 Um, Heisen people, um, you know, to learn on their own. You ha you’ve had your business. Pivotal for me. You had your best month in sales. That’s why I was going to say your best month in sales. You just had it and you 100% told me, you told me Steve, it’s because of that group. Is that fair? Yes, that’s exactly right. And you did ask what, what changed my, uh, construction, uh, why I went full time. And it’s because the tribe gave me the courage to let go of the rope. Oh, how hard is that as a guy? How hard is that as a guy? And I’m speaking specifically as a guy because I don’t know if we’re, I mean, we’re not the smartest sex out there, that’s for sure. Yeah. I just wonder, how do you, because it’s, it’s, it’s a faith issue at that point.
Alan: 25:29 Correct? Absolutely. Cause I didn’t have those, I didn’t have the big numbers and I just had to have it. I had to have the faith in myself to do it. And you Dan couldn’t find that on your own. Is that fair? And that’s not a criticism that’s real. Oh, I couldn’t find on my own. I had, I had people that were supportive of me and had been for four years. Um, you and Dan Wentworth and Andy Slomin’s and, and all these multiple people that I’m always, you know, cheered me on and said, you know, I don’t wanna go do it. Go do it. And, and Dan Wentworth, he’s a wonderful person. I loved Dan, one of the most giving people I know. And every time I seen him, he’s like, Alan, when are you going to start selling shoes? And, uh, and you know, at one time I couldn’t sell them and no I can and, and so every time I seen him he’d bring it up and I said, you know what? It’s time you’re ready. That’s what I did. So I’ve turned in my time and I haven’t seen him as that. I took the leap. You took a jump. October did, did it feel, I mean obviously it’s scary. That’s a stupid question. Did it feel,
Stephen: 26:45 I mean, but did you have like a, I don’t know how to describe it cause it’s going to sound really corny the way I’m saying it, but like a shield around you, like all of a sudden you just knew whatever came your way. You could get through it. I mean, is that a weird way to say it? Do you know what I mean?
Alan: 26:58 Oh yeah. Once I did it, it was like, it was a relief. It was like, okay, because in my business I could not, I could not do both. Well so I had to give one or the other up.
Stephen: 27:12 Well how did, you know, that’s a good question cause I think people run into that. Ellen, how did, you know, cause you’re sitting there, you know, Hey, I, the safe route is for me to stay in construction. I know what I’m doing. Everything’s good. I made a good living. But then I have this urge over here. How did you, how did you know?
Alan: 27:28 It’s just a gut feeling. I had to have faith and I have faith in the Lord and, and I’ve had a, had a lot of people be supportive and you know, and I started another business that helped, uh, help that also. And that’s what gave me the courage to, to I’d say cut that rope.
Stephen: 27:51 You know, you have a, it’s called express ungating services. Correct. Express. Is it.com? Is that this site?
Alan: 28:00 It’s to express on gating services@gmail.com
Stephen: 28:05 at gmail.com. That’s how you would get into if you’re wanting to interested and you offer services to help people get ungated in certain brands. Correct? Yes, that’s correct. And, um, well we can talk about that in a little bit, but what I think is very cool about that is it’s your chance. I mean, I understand that you charge people for it cause you’re putting in the time and doing the work. I get that. But it’s also your chance to give back. And, and is that, uh, I mean to me, and this was kind of our pre-call we were talking about, to me that giving back is where I’ve gotten the most help. Is that, have you experienced that same thing?
Alan: 28:43 Yes, that’s a, and that’s actually how that, uh, that business come about was, um, it was actually by accident. Well, um, me and some friends went to, um, uh, the Branson, uh, conference that Gaye Lisbey was having the tribe conference. I was not in the tribe at the time. And, uh, we actually canceled, or another event that we had put money on and because we all wanted to go see this, you know, we wanted to go to the conference and learn, you know, and network. So we did that. And while I was there, um, Andy Slamon’s come up to me and he said, uh, uh, I heard you recently got engaged in, in, uh, the big shoe brands. And I said, yeah, I don’t, I said, I did it myself and, but it, you know, it took me three years and 14 tries to get not to get Nike brand.
Alan: 29:41 Yeah, it was, it was tough. And he said, can you help a friend of mine? And I said, sure, you know, I’ll do the best I can do. And, and so we went on the next day and Wentworth come up to me and he asked me the same thing. He said, I have a friend over here that ran into an issue with the another service. And I was wondering if you could help him out. And I said, sure, you know, I’ll see what I can do. And, and I helped those two gentlemen out and they were approved in five days to sell Nike and Adidas. And um, then I got a phone call. It said, Hey, you know, you need to, uh, you should start a business. Yes.
Stephen: 30:27 Charge for those services now to your business differently. You don’t do it alone all the time. How important, how, how helpful is it because you’re competitive, you’re working with a competitor to buy inventory. And I tell this story, this is the truth. Maybe five years ago, Andy and I went out, we met through Chris green cause we live relatively close. So we’d go have breakfast and then we’d go out sourcing and people were like, what? This was like five years ago. They’re like, wait, you guys went to the store together? And they were like, wait, what did you do when you found five items? Who got the fifth item? And him and I were both like, you can have it, I don’t need it. You could have. And he was like the same way. And that’s where our friendship took off right from there because it was like, I don’t need to get ahead of you and you know, if you want to go for it, you know, how, how, how is that for you, um, in this, uh, not really partnership, but I mean just that, that accountability partner that you’re have right now.
Alan: 31:26 Yes. So, um, um, I, to answer that, well
Stephen: 31:32 I don’t want to get uncomfortable, but it’s just, you know what I’m saying? No, because I just think don’t pee. I don’t think people understand that if you want to grow, you’ve got to be around other people like you that have the same interests that at her, that will build you up. Right?
Alan: 31:47 Oh, absolutely. Because of where, um, um, the person who has source with, um, is Amy peers and a wonderful person and she, um, she had a lot of experience sourcing, uh, off-price stores and I had never done that. And I had some experience sourcing outlets, um, for Adidas and Nike and such, and she didn’t have that experience. So we kind of merge both experiences and, and we started working together. And it’s been phenomenal because both ours have, you know, two or three acts since then.
Stephen: 32:32 [inaudible] and what it is, is that institutional knowledge is what I like to call it that you had on your experiences that she brought with her experiences, ramps up your learning or speeds up your learning time fair?
Alan: 32:45 Yes. And we share, we share our ideas and, and um, the workload and, and um, we do the prep and ship together and, and which we’re going to be changing that a little bit and, but it works out great. And by the way, she does get the, the fifth item.
Stephen: 33:06 Oh yeah. Always. Yeah. I was going to say, cause I can’t take it. I’d be like, ah, you can have it. Yeah. That’s cool. That’s as a, as a guy that’s a pro move right there. All right. Relationship guy. That’s pro. That’s a tip. Um, I think though that it’s so important. I think it’s just so cool. All right. It’s going to get sound weird for people. Do you think you were led here? Is that a, is that a weird question? I don’t want to get weird on you, but interpersonal of, do you think you were led here?
Alan: 33:35 I believe so. I believe, I believe that the Branson conference
Stephen: 33:42 [inaudible] changed my life. Really changed the direction. Well, let’s stop there before you go too far in that. Not that your life was bad. No. You weren’t lost. You weren’t circling, you weren’t spiraling out of control.
Stephen: 34:00 is it, did it point to you describe that cause life changing is a big statement.
Alan: 34:07 Well, it uh, it definitely, Hmm. You might have to edit this.
Stephen: 34:18 No, I don’t want to edit it because this is real. That one right here. Right now. I want to hear it. I want you to say it, be a guy and it’s hard. I get it. Um, I’ll cry on air if you need me to. I will.
Alan: 34:28 Okay. So, so when I went to Branson, um, which we never intended on going, Hmm. We changed our whole plans and we were supposed to be on another event, like I said, and we got there and just the, the people and most of the people I’d never met. Um, I knew a few, but the information that I got, the friendships that came, the, um, gave me the opportunity to serve other people, which in a, um, it led me to my ungating business and I met Amy there. And just all that together has changed. Uh, basically changed my, my personal life and my business lodge.
Stephen: 35:29 Thinking about that now again, uh, having witnessed it, I get to see some of that. Um, I told you this story that my wife and I sat with Amy at lunch at one of the days and I mean my wife and her hit it off instantly and he could just see the connection and it’s just such a real genuine person. And to see that and then to see and knowing you and you’re real and genuine and to see the two connection later on didn’t happen there. But whatever, um, is, is, was one of the coolest things. It was one of the things that we’re like, is that possible? Wait, I heard that from somebody. I’m like, Whoa, that’s cool. That’s cool. But how do you get, you know, here’s the other thing I would say is that you had to put yourself out there then you Allen.
Alan: 36:12 Oh yes, yes. That’s hard.
Alan: 36:16 there was something that led me there. Yup. And in turn it’s changing my future in business and you know, in relationships and friendships and it was all worth it. And I wish everybody could experience that.
Stephen: 36:35 You know, let’s talk about that group one more time because at Branson conferences coming up in June, they’ve announced it, the dates and it’s not open, but it’s just that it will sell out. It’s sold out last year. Um, I think they hopefully could add another fifties what they originally told me, um, they’re hoping to do because I mean the venue is incredible. Now, you’ve been to a lot of conferences, you’ve been to a lot of meetups in that. Have you ever, have you ever been able to meet and talk with the number of people that at that event? Like any other event? I mean, I’ve been to a zillion of them. I speak out a lot of them. I’ve never been able to get a connection with so many people. I don’t know what it was about the environment that made it so comfortable.
Alan: 37:17 Well, I totally agree with you. And, uh, the, uh, um, the conference in Denver, uh, that was, yeah, I would say, yeah, they were great. It was really nice. You know, Travis? Yeah. I love those guys too, but nothing is as good as Branson was not left there. Oh, I’m sorry. No, no, go ahead. I’m sorry. When I left there it was like, it, it, I could just feel it. You know what I’m saying? You can just feel it.
Stephen: 37:47 Now there’s a buzz [inaudible] let me ask you this, and this is, I don’t want to put words in your mouth. Has the buzz continued?
Alan: 37:57 Oh yes. Because, um, I went from there into the tribe and the tribe group and then I joined tribe too, which was a, a training. Um, and that was amazing. An intimate training. I mean, that’s intimate. Oh yes. Best investment I ever made in my, in myself, my business, and, and I’ve recently signed up for tribe three, um, because it’s helping me grow, it’s helping me scale my business. So
Stephen: 38:34 it’s almost education
Alan: 38:36 that you could have came out of the, uh, the military with, right? I mean, think about that, right? You know, if you, if you come out and you go to college, I mean, that’s an education, right? What you’re doing. And the same thing you’re going through semesters, almost like with them because it builds on each, I think it builds on each other. You’re not going to go in with the same lack of knowledge. You’re going to go in with more knowledge and then you’re going to build even deeper roots on that knowledge. And to me, that’s powerful. So this is, um, and I have a link and I have, if you joined through my link, I do benefit. So I don’t want anybody to hide. But I do have a link where you can get a, I think it’s 14 days free trial, um, and gaze group.
Alan: 39:12 Um, and you could join their lists and stuff like that. But that’s how you get in. And then what I always tell people to try, join it for free and just recognize, look around and see what they’re saying. And you’re like, Whoa, wait a second. I just learned that rather than just going to buy this thing, here’s why. And then boom, it opened up this rabbit trail where there’s 50 other things that I could do. And then you can go in for the teachings at the tribe level, um, the really intimate tribe level that they’re, they, they’re doing right now. As a matter of fact, after I think that’ll be closed by the time this comes out. Um, but to me that’s, you just don’t see that, that intimate and the caring and the questions get answered like all the time. Um, it’s phenomenal and very impressive.
Alan: 39:52 I mean, it’s, it’s impressive for me to sit back and watch because, uh, I’m very fortunate a whole bunch of people have come through and they stay with them. They just don’t leave because they have found a home. No, that, and that’s where I feel, that’s what I feel like that there’s, I’m saying close to 400 people in that group, probably maybe a little more. And I feel like they’re all family because no matter what, every single one of those people are givers. Every one of them, they’ll, they will, they will share something, they will, uh, ask questions. So you’re constantly learning, you know, and earn people. All the people care about each other also in that group. It’s not like takers takers take or you know, or, or almost, I’m gonna hide my eggs over here so nobody else can, can see them. [inaudible] that’s not the way to tribe
Stephen: 40:47 what I, I think it’s also a safe place to ask a stupid question, you know, because I think people forget that they had stupid questions. Just like I have stupid questions. I mean, we all do, right. And then you realize a wait, it’s not that stupid. That’s a legit question. Other people have it too, so you can’t be the only one. And then all of a sudden you’re like, Oh, can I ask this? Or somebody else asked it for you and then you’re like, okay, now I feel safe for asking a question. To me that’s one of the things, and I probably guilty of this over time, is that you forget where you came from. You started with nothing out and right. You didn’t know what you were doing. You made all those, you describe when you were doing RA scanning at, you were making, you know, you had some success but you never had ultimate success. Everyone, right? No,
Alan: 41:31 and I never really had a a plan and, and that’s what, and, and I make nothing from the tribe, you know, I paid just like everybody else does to be in that service and in that group and, but they have helped me create a plan and, and I’m grateful for that. It’s not, and it’s not about what you have to pay. It’s what, what are you willing to, to do for yourself to grow yourself in your business?
Stephen: 42:00 Uh, the, the planning is probably, I just did a podcast with Andy Hill and we were talking about budgeting cause I’m a budget nut. And so it was one of those things without a plan, where are you going? How do you know? Did you hit success? Well, I don’t know what success is relative, right? Was, did you have success? I don’t know. We didn’t really know how we were going to do, so I don’t know that I beat it cause I didn’t plan to beat it, you know, or anything. So I just think it’s powerful. Um, I’m very, it’s very moving to me to hear somebody say what I’ve been reading as I look in the group. I read it all the time and it’s just blown away how many people are saying join tribe three, join tribe three and they’re not benefiting either. And uh, invest the money, invest the money because it’s going to pay off for you. And uh, I just see so much of it. It’s uh, it’s very heartwarming. Um, did you think, you know, looking back right, and you have, you have some, some time to look back, even sell for a long time. Did you think you’d be where you are right now at this point?
Alan: 43:03 I was hoping someday I would be. Yeah, no,
Stephen: 43:06 but you didn’t have a plan to get there, right? It was just you were, you were hoping.
Alan: 43:09 No, I never had a plan and that’s why I ha, that’s why I was tasting conferences all the time and to try to, to try to figure out a plan
Stephen: 43:20 chasing conference abandoned. Got you. You’ve got some great phrases. Oh, that’s true. It’s true. I mean, that’s a good way to describe it. You were looking for the answer, weren’t you?
Alan: 43:30 Yeah. And you even asked me at one time why, why are you going all these conferences? Well, I was looking for a, you know, I don’t, I won’t, I don’t want to call it a business in a box because that, that’s too, uh, that sounds too easy anyway. It’s all hard work. Every bit of it’s hard work, but I think the benefit, you know, of that hard work, um, is worth what you have to put into it. An investment in yourself. You know,
Stephen: 43:58 I love that there’s no business in a box with Amazon. Oh my God. You can be some brief titles. I have to now choose from three really great titles, uh, you know, step out and let the dust settle and pivot chasing conferences. And now there’s no business in a box with Amazon. Oh, Alan Taylor, you are, you are a philosopher.
Alan: 44:20 I don’t know about all that.
Stephen: 44:21 Well, you can put these on merch shirts. That’s what you should be doing. Okay. So I’m going to close out and I always have the same question in a, um, but I want to make sure that, again, if somebody is interested in your services, it’s express gating services@gmail.com. Um, send him a note and uh, you know, um, what I’ll tell you what I do know is I see the postings of, I’ve never seen somebody recommended so much. Um, I see it every single time. They’re always like, Oh, contact Alan Taylor, period. That’s it. Contact Alan Taylor, contact Alan Taylor. Uh, so you must be doing something right, my friend, and I applaud you for it. And just keep that sincerity in that honesty. Um, and that heart, um, will just continue to grow. And so anyway. Okay. All right. And that’s the best way to get in touch with Alan if you have a question. So let me ask you that question cause I think you’re a good example of somebody, you weren’t stuck, you just wanted to change and you didn’t have a plan. So what’s your advice for those people who are in the same situation you are? What’s your advice?
Alan: 45:19 Oh, well it’s all about um, the people you surround yourself with for one. Um, you know, if you surround yourself with, um, you’re, you know, you hope that it would, you know, their habits will rub off on you and also, you know, seek out, um, a group that you can learn from and, and then get into specialized more in depth training to help you grow because you can be around all the people and create a lot of friendships and through networking and being in these groups. Um, but you still have to, you know, you still have to, you know, you have to go up for the education
Stephen: 46:05 and you have to take action, right? You have to go and implement what you learn, how many times if you learn stuff. And you’re like, Oh yeah, I should do that. And then you go back and you go right back into what you were doing.
Alan: 46:14 Well, that’s, that’s damn white was right there. Tell me every time, you know, I’ll, I’ll re new house and do it, but I was not implemented now. And uncle man,
Stephen: 46:26 now you’re implementing and you’re doing it again. You’re doing it with somebody else who has those same desires and magically you both are having success. One in one does not equal two. It equals three, four, five in this world. So very awesome. Well, my friend, I, I wish you well, I’m looking forward to seeing you, um, at the unconference. Am I correct? Yes, I will see you then. I’m looking forward to that. And again, I always say this, reach out to me. Reach out to Alan. As you can see, Allen’s there. He has a heart of a teacher. And so reach out to him if you, if you can relate, because that’s one of the things too, is that if somebody has struggles, you’re willing to talk to them, right?
Alan: 47:02 Oh, absolutely. And an arm and hair’s arm, mantra motto or whatever, you know, we’re here to serve. I mean it’s not a money thing. We are here to serve. So you know, someone needs it’s help them and they have questions and, and uh, if I can give him, you know, point him in the right direction or if I can assist them, I will.
Stephen: 47:24 That’s awesome. Well, thank you so much. I wish you nothing but success.
Alan: 47:28 Thank you very much Steven.
Stephen: 47:30 Now tell me, that’s not a guy you can’t hang out with. Um, that’s a guy that you could just sit there and listen to all night and just that is a conversation and I said that to him cause he was a little nervous and I said, let’s just have a conversation. And every time we talk, that’s exactly how the conversation goes. You know, just talking about people and you know, the people that have sewed into both of our lives, you know, none of us got here on our own. Anybody who tells you that they’re full of it. They watch somebody YouTube, they listen to my podcast. They listened to smarter people than my podcast and they learn from them, right? And so they got there with somebody else helping them. Maybe they didn’t write him a check. Nobody wrote me a check, but I helped you write you.
Stephen: 48:10 I brought you Andy sandwich. I brought you Dan Wentworth. I brought you somebody and they brought you the great information. Well, there took effort so everybody has a, everybody has a cost. Everybody has time into it, and so when you get a guy like Alan who you can just sit there and have this conversation, he was real. Who’s like I said, I got a little choked up in there because it’s just so cool to sow into others’ lives and look at what you get from it and look how much richer I am after that. Call e-commerce, momentum.com e-commerce momentum.com take care.
Cool voice guy: 48:41 Thanks for listening to the e-commerce momentum podcast. All the links mentioned today can be found at [inaudible] commerce, momentum.com under this episode number, please remember to subscribe and like us on iTunes.
