January 26, 2009 
R A (last name withheld)

Hey Tim, I have been enjoying your articles way too long and now need your sound advice. Not sure how to sum it all up in one question. Perhaps a statement is enough. I want to retire to a life of teaching handgun safety, self defense and concealed carry. I am 55, and looking to retire to simpler life within the next 5. My exceptionally gifted son got me interested and frankly I have seen the light! No, this is not a religious experience, but damned near. The good news is that I will be teaching (God willing) in the state of Nevada. The bad news is that I will be teaching the state of Nevada. I have a vision to give back to the community, state and nation for the remainder of my natural life by spreading the knowledge of safe effective self defense through concealed carry. Anyway, I am starting this as a “not for profit venture.” I want to provide affordable quality instruction to those who would otherwise be left to only dream of the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones. I have a very specific and focused marketing scheme, not centered around profit, but around the dissemination of safe and sound basic handgun instruction to help every capable law abiding American citizen know he has; “the Knowledge, Skill, and Attitude” to effectively protect themselves, their loved ones, and “the innocents” of their lives from criminals and tyrants.

So, I guess my first question to you is; Are you ready to listen to more? From your writings I feel I have grown to know and trust you. I would greatly appreciate a dialogue and your critique as I start this venture. What do you say, Tim? Can I count on you as a sounding board?

R. A.

So many things to say WOW!  I’m really excited for you!  This is obviously more than an idea for you; it’s something that has stirred your soul.  I can’t tell you how important it is to charge after the things that give you passion in life.  Does Tiger Woods golf because he needs the money?  Heck no!!  He’s worth millions!  BUT he still works harder than any other PGA golfer because he LOVES it!

First of all, you said you have a ‘very specific and focused marketing scheme?’ This is vital to success.  In anything and everything, if you ‘Fail to plan, then plan to FAIL.’  Thinking about the action steps I talked about in the Jan 21^st blog, it sounds like you have those covered!  What gets a lot of people (hey and to think of it our NATION) in trouble is that they don’t ‘practice responses to unforeseen events that may arise.’  Bad economies have come and gone, that will never change.  When you put yourself in a leadership position and make a commitment to something, I guarantee it will be challenged! 

My friend I promise you, when your heart is in the right place and you’re paying it forward what you get in return will be more rewarding than any short-term sacrifice you had to make.  My direct answer to you is yes.  Stay tuned for upcoming mentorship information.

Take care,

Tim Schmidt

Here’s a note from a reader…

December 16, 2008 - 12:04:16 PM
J.R. Whipple

Hi Tim, Not a question, just a low cost marketing thought. One of your recent articles about the startup gunsmith, and his inability to do big marketing, reminded me of something I did. Over a decade ago I moved from the big city to rural America, and needed to re-start my business on a shoestring. Local newspaper & TV ads were out of my budget. The local talk radio station, that carried the Art Bell show, now called Coast to Coast AM, offered 30-second spots, in the wee hours of the night, for a dollar a pop! That’s only $1 per spot! I had to do my own narrative, and they mixed the music, at no additional charge. I stopped the ads over eight years ago, but still meet folks that say, didn’t you used to advertise on the Art Bell show? These cheap ads worked wonders for me, and are still in the minds of many, eight years later.

Hi JR,

Thanks for your great advertising tip!  One thing that I know for certain is that when you BELIEVE in something your mind finds a way to DO!  But if you have any doubt, then your mind will just find every excuse to not accomplish your task at hand.

A great book about the power of belief is “The Ant and the Elephant” by Vince Poscente.  His clever story refers to Adir, the Ant, as the intentional part of our brain, and an Elgo, the Elephant, as the instinctual, impulsive part.

Get YOUR elephant under control!

1. Adir’s five Action Steps in the book are:
   1. Clarity of vision:  A goal with a depth of meaning has an emotional buzz
   2. Commitment:  Commit to a process of positive dominant thoughts! : )
   3. Consistency:  Apply consistent strategies
   4. Confidence:  Strengthen confidence by breaking negative patters
   5. Control:  Practice responses to the unforeseen events that may arise

Aren’t those awesome!  In the book ‘Adir’ calls those his 5 ‘C’s.  I challenge you all to think about your 5 ‘C’s! 

The Afterword at the end of the book has some really interesting information.  The author, Vince Poscente, tells of a speech he heard by Dr. Lee Pulos in 1992.  Dr Pulos revealed that in one second of time, the conscious mind uses about 2,000 neurons.  In that same second, the subconscious mind uses 4 billion neurons.  WOW!  Tell me, who is in control of your life?  Your Ant or Elephant? 

Take care,

Tim Schmidt