Firing The Man

Episode 60

It’s official. David has fired the man. In this episode, David will talk about his rollercoaster journey in the last four years and the satisfaction that comes with arriving at the destination. This is a must-listen for those still in the “grind stage” and those who have not started their journeys yet. 

This is coming from two normal guys who just wanted to support ourselves and our families. We were also uncomfortable at first, probably just like you are right now. But we never gave up. We trusted the process, and now we’re here. 

Let’s listen to David and learn how he fired the man!  

[00:01 - 02:22] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
• David has officially fired the man! 

[02:23 - 08:10] A Memorable 20,000+ Hours

• What happened after David deleted his Outlook app
• David’s thoughts on leaving the public accounting space
• What excites David about going full-time in e-commerce?

[08:11 - 16:44] Living With The Discomfort

• David tells us the importance of learning in his previous full-time job
• The biggest amount of compensation that David has received 
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• David’s main takeaways on his journey in firing the man 

[16:45- 21:11] “The Juice is Worth The Squeeze”

• We exchange insights about this “magical connection”
• We talk about this life-changing call we had
• Our advice for people in the “grind stage”

[21:12 - 23:11] Closing Segment 

• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“We talk about ‘firing the man.’ If that’s your ultimate goal, consider changing who you work for if you feel you’re at a dead end job or you’re not learning anything.” - David Schomer

“Those of you in the grind stage, keep grinding. The juice is worth the squeeze. It is such a good feeling.” - David Schomer

“This is possible: to get your freedom, to take your freedom back and support yourself and your family...” - David Schomer

Resources Mentioned:

• Outlook

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Episode 59

In this episode, Kevin Flaherty from Thras.io joins us to talk about how his company acquires third-party businesses in the Amazon space. In 2020, Thras.io was named the “fastest profitable U.S. company to ever reach a $1 billion valuation.” Before joining Thras.io, Kevin worked as an analyst at Advantage Capital where he would work on providing capital to both start-up and expansion state companies to create growth and strong returns for investors. 

Let’s listen to Kevin and learn how to have an 8-figure exit by selling your Amazon business! 

[00:01 - 05:40] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Kevin Flaherty
• What is Thrasio? 

[05:41 - 14:56] 8-Figure Exits 

• Do you have an Amazon business you want to sell?
• Kevin talks about the huge potential of the e-commerce industry
• Kevin breaks down the Seller’s Discretionary Earnings 

[14:57 - 23:53] Thas.io’s R3

• What are “add-backs” and why should you know it? 
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Hear from Kevin their criteria in acquiring businesses

[23:54- 34:17] Next Generation Procter & Gamble

• What’s Kevin’s vision for Thras.io? 
• Are you ready to sell your business?
  • Kevin tells us how you’ll be compensated
• Kevin talks about their due diligence process 

[34:18 - 38:17] Closing Segment 

• Let’s commence the Fire Round!
• Connect with Kevin! Links below 
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think at the moment...e-commerce is in the second or third inning in terms of a larger game being played.” - Kevin Flaherty

“People can get overwhelmed by the growth or get overly bullish and things start to go sideways from there.” - Kevin Flaherty

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: The Arsenal of Democracy
• Book: Billion Dollar Brand Club

Email [email protected] to reach out to Kevin and check out their website or social media pages: LinkedIn,, Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter.

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Episode 58

Today, we have an awesome guest to talk about his entrepreneurial journey and share the tips that helped him along the way. Joel Bower is the co-founder and owner of Owning the Edge, a high-end consulting and intimate mastermind business, helping established entrepreneurs and executives get personalized advice and training they need to replace cookie-cutter solutions that simply don’t work for growing businesses.

Listen to Joel and learn the tricks to get intentional with your entrepreneurial career! 

[00:01 - 05:59] Opening Segment

• Let’s get to know Joel Bower 
• His motivations for pursuing an entrepreneurial career 

[06:00 - 17:41] Solopreneurs Are Not Alone 

• Joel recalls how he discovered his passion
  • Helping people get “unstuck”
• He talks about one of the toughest challenges for entrepreneurs
  • How to deal with it? 
• He gives interesting insights about the “guilt” in gifts 

[17:42 - 29:40] Protect Your Beliefs 

• Joel walks us through the last goal he set
  • How did he reward himself? 
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Are you a new entrepreneur? 
  • Here are Joel’s tips for you 
• The role of family and friends in your career
  • Joel explains 

[29:41 - 40:43] Just Do Something and Be Consistent 

• Joel shares the beauty of Mastermind and how it works 
• Join us in this exciting game!
• Let’s commence the Fire Round! 
  • His favorite book
  • His hobbies
  • The qualities that set successful people apart from everyone else 

[40:44 - 42:05] Closing Segment 

• Connect with Joel! Links below 
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Entrepreneurs have a tendency of getting so fixated on their dream, getting so caught up in the opportunity, the fear of missing out… that burnout is a constant thing.” - Joel Bower

“When you’re starting a business, you need endless information. You need everything.” - Joel Bower

Resources Mentioned:

• Tony Robbins
• Zig Ziglar
• Denis Waitley
• Mastermind
• Book: Think and Grow Rich!
• Book: The 4-Hour Work Week
• Book: The Road Less Stupid
• Book: The Lean Startup
• Book: Buy Then Build
• Book: Dotcom Secrets
• Book: Awaken The Giant Within
• Book: Blue Ocean Strategy

You can find out more about Joel on his website and on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.

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Episode 57

In this episode, we are going to talk about the goals that Ken and I set for 2021. From 15,000 to 30,000 emails? Why not 50,000? Buying an existing company or starting from scratch? We have set goals this year based on the lessons we have learned and the experiences we have gone through last year. We are sharing all these goals with you to remind us that 2021 is the year of Firing the Man. 

Let’s jump into the episode and raise the bar with our 2021 goals!

[00:01 - 03:44] Opening Segment

• Why we’re raising the bar with our goals this 2021

[03:45 - 09:03] Swallow the Frog 

• Ken’s first 2021 goal is to join a 7- or 8-figure Mastermind class
• David aims to schedule time for his long-term initiatives 
  • 8 hours monthly to “swallow the frog”
• Ken wants to attend 3 live conferences to learn more about these topics
• What’s a “slam-dunk” product for David and why does he want to launch it?

[09:04 - 17:20] Buy then Build

• Ken’s next goal is on transforming from a solopreneur into an entrepreneur
• David’s next goal is building his audience and email list and growing his website traffic 
• How many hours will David allocate for diversification off Amazon this 2021? 
• Why it’s advisable to buy an existing company for David
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[17:21 - 24:16] Fire the Man in 2021

• 100% top-line growth across e-commerce brands
  • How will Ken achieve this goal?
• David shares his financial goals you’d want to check out!
• Ken wants to double the size of his email list
  • David nudges Ken to aim for more
• David announces an important decision

[24:17 - 29:05] Be Comfortable with the Uncomfortable 

• Ken will be going Shopping Mode! 
• We talk about being comfortable with the uncomfortable 

[29:06 - 33:53] Closing Segment 

• The importance of planning your activities ahead of time
• The impact of the words, “Do not disturb”
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“What’s probably made the single most impact for me in 2020, along with my planning sheet, is putting my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb.’” - Ken Wilson 

“I think sharing your goals with somebody, at least one person, is incredibly valuable.” - David Schomer

Resources Mentioned:

• 6: We Share Our Goals for 2020
• 25: Q2 Review of Our 2020 E-Commerce Goals
• Mastermind
• SITKA Gear
• Robert Kiyosaki
• Book: 12 Months to $1 Million 
• 52: Beginner’s Guide to Building an Email List
• Book: Buy then Build
• 45: Buy then Build with Author Walker Diebel

Do you want to share your goals with us? Go to https://firingtheman.com/contact-us/ 

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Episode 56

If you are at the stage of your e-commerce business where you want to talk with suppliers, this episode is for you. Today, Ken and I will drop a lot of golden nuggets you can pick up to turn into a pro negotiator. Based on our experience, negotiations don’t have to be purely business-related. After all, you’re still talking with people who are only living within a different culture and working with their own set of goals. 

Let’s dive right in and learn how to negotiate with suppliers like a pro!!

[00:01 - 02:33] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
• Watch out for a book review!

[02:34 - 09:45] Don’t Split the Difference...Ever

• Here’s an e-commerce tip you can apply to your everyday life!
  • Let the people you’re negotiating with pick their destiny
• How will suppliers respect you?
  • Ken explains
• Ask the supplier’s preferred mode of communication
  • Faster and better responses
• Why ask the supplier of the minimum order quantity?
• When should you accept the first offer? 

[09:46 - 19:51] Ensure Quality of Products 

• Always ask for tiered pricing related to volume orders
• Gather quotes from several suppliers
  • David shares the benefits 
• Why you should ask for a shorter lead time
• David tells us to look for areas of mutual gain 
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400
• Ensure the quality of the products 
  • Ken explains how 
• Build an authentic connection with the other side 

[19:52 - 29:57] Be Respectful and Kind

• Ken talks about the power of negotiation and leverage
• David gives his insights about tactical empathy 
• Here’s a tip from Ken about ghosting you don’t want to miss!
• Amplify positive emotions with your suppliers
  • People appreciate the little things
• When should you ask for a discount or extra units? 
• Treat suppliers with respect and kindness 
• What are “black swans” and why should you look out for them? 

[29:58 - 32:35] Closing Segment 

• Express your desire for a long-term business relationship
• Do you have negotiation tips you want to add? 
  • Get in touch with us! Link below. 
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Price negotiation should be treated like a house purchase. Never accept the first offer put on the table.” - David Schomer

“Relationships are crucial…At the end of the day, [your suppliers] are people.” - Ken Wilson 

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Never Split the Difference
• Worst Experience Dealing with a Supplier - Firing The Man Podcast

Got a negotiation tip you want to share with us? Go to https://firingtheman.com/contact-us/ 

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Episode 55

In this episode, we review our 2020 goals. If you are a new member of Firing the Man Nation, you might want to check out Episodes 6 and 25 where we set our goals and checked their progress. We discuss the lessons learned in accomplishing these goals, whether we were successful or not, and are able to come up with valuable insights that we will carry this new year, 2021. 

Let’s dive right in and join us in Firing the Man!

[00:01 - 03:38] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
• Setting goals and declaring them were new to us

[03:39 - 10:49] Learning is Not Limited to Books

• Ken and I have the same first goal for 2020
  • Connect with people and build our networks 
  • Nothing can beat meeting people personally
  • Zoom fatigue is real
• We have been more successful on our second goal 
  • Ken doubled the size of his team to add value and lessen his workload
  • David has been allotting 2 hours per week to learn something new
  • Here’s a therapeutic activity from David you might want to try too!

[10:50 - 17:31] Solopreneurs Should Not Be Solo Forever 

• Ken has surpassed his 3rd goal of allotting 2 hours weekly to diversify off Amazon
  • He was able to diversify for more than 2 hours weekly
  • Ken’s tip is to build an “online real estate” first 
• David shares how he achieved his 3rd goal of crossing out 1 bottleneck monthly
  • Why the biggest bottleneck in his business is himself 
  • You should not do everything

[17:32 - 27:21] Don’t Forget to Reward Yourself

• Ken is happy to share his 100% top-line growth across e-commerce brands
  • Hear from Ken how he did it 
• Listen to David’s story about “firing the man!” 
• Ken was able to build his email list to 15,000 emails!
• Don’t miss Ken’s tips about setting and accomplishing goals

[27:22 - 29:42] Closing Segment 

• Listen to David’s advice on “smelling the roses”
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think as solopreneurs...at some point, you have to transition away from having to do everything or feeling like you have to do everything.” - David Schomer

“[Life] is a journey of challenging yourself. Set a goal and see if you can hit it and learn along the way.” - Ken Wilson 

Resources Mentioned:

• 6: We Share Our Goals for 2020
• 25: Q2 Review of Our 2020 E-Commerce Goals
• Masterclass
• 33: Bookkeeping Basics for E-Commerce Entrepreneurs with Anna Hill, CPA
• Onlinejobs.ph
• 53: Top 5 Episodes in 2020 – A Year in Review
• Armchair Expert

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Episode 54

Start the year by turning that idea in your head into a business. Contrary to popular belief, starting a business can be quick and easy. You can even start within 10 minutes. If you’ve been thinking about starting a business for a while now, you’ve probably read this suggestion many times: do your due diligence. However, it’s hard to do your assignment if you don’t know the questions at all. That’s what this episode is all about. 

Let’s dive right in and learn our top 5 strategies to start your business!

[00:01 - 02:17] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
  • Strategies to start a business easily

[02:18 - 12:05] Start with an MVP

• Start your business in 10 minutes
• Separate your personal accounts from your business account
• Draft a partnership agreement even without a lawyer
• Secure your website addresses and social media pages
  • What is MVP? 

[12:06 - 22:05] Keep it Simple

• Don’t miss our last strategy to start a business!
• Do business as if it’s worth a million dollars 
• Don’t spread yourself too thin
  • Find out how 
• When should you hire a virtual assistant?

[22:06 - 23:35] Closing Segment 

• Share with us your own strategies
  • Go to our website. Link below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think one thing that I have started to deal [with], which is really helpful, is I tried to document everything.” - David Schomer

“Treat your business as if it’s going to grow and scale to 10 million dollars.” - David Schomer

“If you are really early on [your business], just focus on the core aspects of getting your business going.” - Ken Wilson 

Resources Mentioned:

• Internal Revenue Service
• United States Patent and Trademark Office
• GoDaddy
• Dropbox Business
• Google Drive
• Inventory Lab

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Episode 53

Here’s an appreciation episode for the beloved members of Firing the Man Nation. Today, Ken and I will talk about our top 5 episodes of the year. The top 5 includes two interviews with two amazing entrepreneurs, one book review, and two discussions that will surely add value to your e-commerce career. If you are here for the first time, we suggest that you start with these episodes. 

Let’s dive right in and listen to Firing the Man’s Top 5 episodes of 2020. 

[00:01 - 02:29] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
• Don’t forget to check out our Top 5 episodes after listening!

[02:30 - 07:47] Be Vulnerable

• Know your numbers
• Take action and be consistent
• Build your network

[07:48 - 13:55] Find Value-Adding Services 

• Find and utilize a 3PL
  • Know what is a 3PL below
• Buy then build

[13:56 - 17:25] Closing Segment 

• Connect with us. Links below
• Find the links to our Top 5 episodes below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Being an e-commerce entrepreneur is a long journey. It’s not an overnight success...It’s a long game.” - Ken Wilson 

“When Ken and I decided to start this [podcast] a year ago, we really didn’t know what was going to happen. It was a slow start, but the further into this we get and the more engagements we have from you, the listener, the better things seem to go...We really appreciate your time.” - David Schomer

Resources Mentioned:

• 12: Know Your Numbers with the FiringTheMan Profitability Calculator
• Firing the Man’s Profitability Calculator
• 20: “The Take Action Effect” by Scott Voelker – Book Review
• Scott Voelker
• The Take Action Effect
• 19: Carlos Alvarez on Overcoming Obstacles in Your E-Commerce Business
• Carlos Alvarez
• Wizards of Amazon
• Finding a Third Party Logistics Company (3PL) for Amazon Fulfillment
• 45: Buy then Build with Author Walker Diebel
• Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game
• Walker Diebel

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Episode 52

Today, Ken and I will talk about building an email list. Ken started 2020 with zero emails. Fast forward to Q4, he has 15,000 emails and counting. He used several online apps and services to reach that number, alongside other creative tactics that you can also apply on your business. You will learn about giveaways, lead magnets, email open rates, and more!

Let’s jump into the episode now and learn from this Beginner’s Guide to building an email list. 

[00:01 - 01:53] Opening Segment

• We introduce our topic for today
• Ken’s journey from 0 to 15,000 emails
• Ken’s tips to get 15,000 emails within a year

[01:54 - 07:35] A Stadium Full of People

• Why build an email list? 
  • An asset that generates revenue
  • A tool to know your customers better
• An email list is like a stadium full of people
  • Find out why

[07:36 - 15:54] List Builders 

• Useful tools to build your email list
• Don’t miss Ken’s tips to grow your email list
• 3 services you can try to send giveaways 

[15:55 - 24:54] Value-Adding Tactics

• We talk about conversion rates on landing pages 
• Ken’s tricks to use newsletters better
• How to extract email addresses from sales channels 
• Putting your lead magnets in the right places

[24:55 - 31:27] Closing Segment 

• Ken talks about email open rates
• Best practices in sending emails
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“If you can prove that you’re generating a revenue with that email list, that adds value to your business.” - Ken Wilson 

“In order to get an email form somebody, you need to exchange something of value.” - Ken Wilson 

Resources Mentioned:

• Mailchimp
• ConvertKit
• Klaviyo
• GiveawayBoost
• Gleam.io
• RafflePress
• Profit Calculator
• Ryan Daniel Moran
• Tim Ferris
• Morning Brew
• Shopify
• Eventbrite

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Episode 51

This is Part 2 of our e-commerce coaching call with Kiefer Hogge, a new seller who joins Amazon. This time, we will discuss leveraging social media platforms and photography in the product launch, targeting a realistic best seller rating, and many more!

Listen to Part 1 to know more about Jungle Scout, Fulfillment by Amazon, and packaging and product listings.

Now, let’s jump into the episode and learn with Kiefer how to navigate the Amazon world better!

[00:01 - 07:07] Opening Segment

• We recap Part 1 of the coaching call with Kiefer
• We discuss product photography
  • Listen to Firing the Man Ep. 17 for more details
• Other media you can use to launch your product
  • Infographic
  • Video

[07:08 - 13:40] Online Launching 

• Making your photos attractive on Amazon
• Learning from your competitors
• Launching your product
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Amazon

[13:41 - 19:51] Best Seller Rating

• Overcoming challenges during the “honeymoon phase”
• What’s a good conversion rate in Shopify?
• We talk about best seller rating on Amazon 

[19:52 - 24:55] Closing Segment 

• Lightning round
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“It’s about who you surround yourself with. I think that’s probably the number 1 thing in general as far as success [is concerned].” - Kiefer Hogge

“No matter what you try and no matter what happens, the learning process of whether you failed [or not] is worth the investment alone.” - Kiefer Hogge

Resources Mentioned:

• Product Photography
• PickFu
• Shopify
• The 4-Hour Workweek
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad
• Becoming Supernatural

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Connect with Kiefer on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit https://www.enagic.com/ to learn more. 

Missed Part 1? Go to www.FiringTheMan.com

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