Ace Luciano Is NOT a Black Rapper

Ace Luciano is not a black rapper. 

 He is also not an Italian soccer player, nor does he have the prefix "Yung"  before his name anywhere, in anything he does. 

 Well...that's not exactly true. 

If you search "Ace Luciano" in Google, You will find those people scattered throughout the first few pages here and there, but they likely aren't the ones you're looking for. 

 Those people also all go by the name "Ace Luciano."

 The biggest difference between them and the one you're actually looking for? 

 One is found everywhere in most searches with that name, while the others are sporadically found. 

(I actually felt a little bad about the "musician" that was trying to "make it happen"... until I actually listened to his music. Now, I feel like I performed a bit of community service!) 

  You may recall that in my last post I discussed the difference between "writing the news" and "reading the news."

 Which position would you prefer to be in? 

I know where I want to be, and I do everything I can to be there. 

 One of the most important things you can do in business is to ensure that, certainly for your own name, that when people search for YOU they actually find… YOU! 

 They should also find you anywhere and everywhere they can and may look. That means you need to be on LinkedIn. You need to be on Instagram. You have to have a Facebook account and business page. You need to set up A website and blog. 

 Most importantly, you need to push out quality content and information that is relevant to who you are and what you do. 

 The biggest problem with this need? 

 Most business owners don't have time to do all of that themselves. 

 Sure, they might have all the social network profiles, but when the Choice is between taking an extra few minutes to have a meal, attend a child's event, or, basically, ANYTHING else not "business related," the vast majority of people in business will let what they believe to be "minor" things slide.

 Choice is between taking an extra few minutes to have a meal, attend a child's event, or, basically, ANYTHING else not "business related," the vast majority of people in business will let what they believe to be "minor" things slide. 

 BIG mistake. 

 You want people to know you. You want people to find you everywhere. When the discussion is centering around what it is that you do, people should find you, your company, your website, and dozens of things like articles, posts, and social media likes to give them confidence in your business. 

 If you have a product, you want that product to dominate it's space in whatever media you can. 

 This can be somewhat challenging in the firearm and outdoor world as Facebook, Google, and YouTube already restrict (albeit somewhat arbitrarily) everything having to do with guns, handguns, and even accessories like optics and magazines. 

 I know several companies that put all their eggs in that basket and wound up holding an "empty basket" when YouTube decided to suspend their account. All that time, all that content now wasted and having to start over. 

 So, what's the SMART company in the firearm and outdoor space to do? 

 You need to find the right PARTNER to help your business write your story and your news. 

  You also need a partner that will do all of this at a level that allows you to obtain a significant ROI. 

 For the last eight years, the company that does that best is Taylor Made Media. 

Gun News and Reviews is the new source for all things Firearm related

Click on this link to enter the new "big bang" contest they're launching pre-SHOT Show to showcase some of the new retail and manufacture partners. Questions? Just  let me know and I can put you in touch. 

Do you READ News or MAKE news???

Many of my previous posts discuss the fact that the firearms industry and many of the players in it are reluctant and afraid because the industry and buying is “contracting.”

 The truth is, "dominant" players LIKE contraction. They like it because they know that they are under constant assault from competition be that big competition, medium competition or even start up and small competition. 

 They know that it's easy for them to survive a contraction by making a few cuts and staff, a few cuts in marketing, and perhaps some pullback of budgets – they can weather the storm. 

Can YOU? 

 The reason they can do that is because they have spent years – sometimes decades and, some, 10 decades or more,  building up their business, their marketing, their market share, and, perhaps most importantly, their CONTENT and DOMINANCE. 

 They CONTROL the CONVERSATION. 

 In other words, they don't "Read the news…" They WRITE the news. 

What do you do that mimics that in your business? 

 Typically, this is where most small and medium businesses throw out a slew of excuses (don't take that the wrong way, because there are only two things in business – "excuses" and "results." Pick one or the other. Yes, sometimes there are very, very good excuses. ) 

"We can't compete…"

"We don't have the budget…"

"I don't have 1000 people to handle every little thing that we need done – most of it falls on me."

 And on… And on… And on… 

So, how do you, as a business owner (or "Manager," or "marketing director," etc.) overcome these obstacles? 

There are two phrases that I use often with my children that apply directly to business. One is that the journey of 1 or 10,000 miles begins with the same "first step." 

 The second is that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. 

 You can control the news-- at least YOUR news. 

Are you writing a blog post every day? 

Do you have a legion of raving fans that are willing to share your contact? 

Do you have hundreds of people that you can send something to and they will give you feedback on?  How about 20? 

10? 

TWO? 

 The good news is that there is always somebody out there that has those things.

 The BEST news is that you already know at least one of them… 

BGA Enterprises and Taylor Made Media  are two companies that specialize in helping companies in the firearms and outdoor space control the conversation, news,  and views of their products, people, and services. 

You're most likely right – you DON'T have the time to do every little thing. You DON'T have enough hours in the day to accomplish all of the things you need to not just COMPETE but DOMINATE even some of the big players in the marketplace. 

 Now you have someone that can, and they are at your service. 

Visit www.aceluciano.com  to learn how YOU can dominate your market and marketplace. 

Riton puts out a surprisingly high quality product for the money

Finally, there is a fairly NEW company out there that is making some REAL WAVES in the optics world that you should know about. 

In the market for a new scope?

They are called RITON Optics, and their motto is "The BEST QUALITY at EVERY Price point. 

Over the next few months, we're going to put that motto to the test. 

Formerly geared to mainly the "tactical" world, Riton is making a BIG PUSH into hunting scopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes. 

From NOW and for the next several days, you can try one of their optics for 50% off. 

That's right- 

The FIRST and LAST TIME EVER to buy an optic of this quality at a PHENOMENAL price. 

Check them out. 

Use the code LASTCHANCE2017 when you check out, and put a message in the order area that "Ace sent you.!"

The Solution to Firearm Industry Business Woes? My FAVORITE station- WII-FM!

Gun and firearm/outdoor-related companies are afraid.

They have been ever since the election. 

Now, after hearing the flurry of excuses as to why revenues are down, inventories are up, and, overall, the market is "normal" (not "bad"like many are saying), we are being rushed into the holiday season with many companies not having a plan to make this year BETTER than last year.

Every year, there is a mad dash of consumerism surrounding the Thanksgiving Holiday and “Black Friday,” – the most infamous shopping day of the year.

This single event has led to people lining up outside of stores for DAYS in advance- braving all kinds of weather, sustenance and bathroom challenges to save a few dollars.

That’s a rather “dedicated” shopper, don’t you think?
The big question is, though, "Are they lining up like that to BUY what YOU'RE SELLING?
To paraphrase one movie, "Yes, Virginia. People are still buying guns and gun accessories."

Now, that single shopping day has expanded into a time period of WEEKS up to and even after the Friday after Thanksgiving.
After the success of “Cyber Monday” deals by online retailers that for a long time were left out of the Black Friday celebration, there is a new shopping day- “Small Business Saturday.”

The thought is that "If consumers commit to ‘Shopping Small,' we can provide Main Street with an important boost at a time when they need it most.”
That sounds great, but also raises the real question:
How do owners of local and smaller businesses get consumers to make such a commitment?
…Because the responsibility lies firmly with the business owner and not the consumer.

It is the owner of the business who must give a compelling reason for consumers to patronize his or her establishment instead of one of the big chains or large competitors, and not just ask for some blind “commitment” from consumers who would somehow willingly hand over their money in exchange for inferior value.

Yes, some people may — for a short time — decide to accept inferior value in return for a warm and fuzzy feeling that they are “supporting their local businesses.” But is that really how we think we can spur a recovery of the firearm business—by suggesting that consumers accept less value and smaller business owners lazily continuing to provide it, choosing to place their fate in the hands of charitable shoppers instead of actually working to provide a superior product or service and earning people's business and loyalty?

Even if such a strategy could work, it would likely be a very short-term solution at best.

In my experience, people enjoy making charitable donations when we choose to do so — but we also like to be smart consumers when we choose to shop. Today’s business climate CLEARLY favors the large and well-established businesses- and not just for GUNS. Every area of our business- apparel, optics, accessories, and every crossover market has the SAME CHALLENGES.

In order to attract the shopping dollars of our fellow firearm enthusiasts, smaller, independent companies — and, in fact, all small-business owners — need to do their very best to provide as much value as possible and to differentiate themselves among many, many competitors.
Smart business people know this as creating a "unique selling proposition" — carving out a place of one's own in a crowded market, providing a reason for existence instead of being “just another ______________” and expecting people to buy from us for reasons ranging from “we’ve been in business for “X” # of years to, “We are a referral and “word-of-mouth” business...” to even blaming a “down economy” for their lack of business.

You see, SMART MARKETERS will always rise to the top REGARDLESS of the marketplace.

Ace and TMM work with some of the biggest names in the industry

Years ago, when the gun business was booming, more and more “me, too” businesses sprung up like weeds all across the country — and many smaller business owners also found themselves thriving without having to do very much smart marketing at all, and without providing any unique value to an ever-expanding, free-spending, and, at the time- very “forgiving” marketplace.
It was rather simple… Sell AR platforms, AK platforms, High Capacity handgun platforms, and/or ammunition for such and make a LOT of money.
Sorry- Those days are now GONE, likely not to return barring another 2nd Amendment crisis.

Today's outdoor industry consumer is much more demanding and much more careful where he or she spends their ever-shrinking disposable dollars. As business owners, we need to keep in mind at all times that by far the No. 1 thing on every consumer's mind — especially in today's gun economy — is their favorite radio station: WII-FM (“What's in it for me?”).
There are many, many ways for firearm and outdoor business owners to earn consumers' hard-earned dollars. Some of the most powerful questions a business owner can ask are:
“What are my competitors doing RIGHT that I can use to attract more and better customers to my business?” and “What AREN’T my competitors doing that I can  or am in a unique position to offer to encourage my prospective customers to buy from ME?”

Like WHAT?

Maybe you have a special “club” for your customers that have large perceived values that don’t cost you anything- like free range time once a week for 6 or 8 weeks at a gun or bow store. Perhaps you can “stack value” with low-cost but high-perceived value to your clientele. Partnering up with your “complimentary” vendors and businesses can help.

Some great examples of this:
Weatherby Rifles with a Leupold Scope for less than the cost of both
Savage rifles with Weaver scopes- for the same reason.
“Package” Bow deals- Bow, sight, stabilizer, quiver, and a dozen arrows.
“Free” upgrades on an AR-15.

Finally, you need to continue the conversation with your customer, offering VALUE WITHOUT EXPECTATION.

Taylor Made Media gives their clients a documented increase in sales

(If you want help with this, Taylor Made Media is UNIQUELY positioned to deliver HIGH QUALITY CONTENT related to and surrounding your specific business without you constantly “selling” your business while also stuffing your business/website/retail store with people ACTIVELY LOOKING TO BUY what you’re selling- at the lowest CPM rates in or out of the industry)

Making a serious effort to come up with answers to this question, and starting from the point of “What does the consumer really want that I can provide better than a large competitor?” will be key to the business's success, and along with it our industry’s continued expansion.

By "fencing your herd"with quality content marketing and communication, you will also ensure that your hard-won customers won't be shopping somewhere else this holiday and EVERY holiday season!

Now isn't THAT worth working hard for, instead of just “hoping people start buying what we’re selling” and shifting the responsibility for our business's success to the consumers (or anyone else)?

As always, let me know if I can help.


Ace

The Weatherby 6.5-300 Vanguard- Ferrari Speed in an SUV Package

With this week’s launch of Weatherby’s 6.5-300 in the Vanguard line, everyone can afford a Weatherby!

Ace outside of Weatherby HQ

The plan was to take my wife on a romantic getaway up the coast of California.
Mother nature had other plans, though.
A rock slide consisting  of millions of cubic feet of mountain had not only covered US Highway 1, but added over 15 acres to the California coastline by filling in the ocean!
What to do?
Looking on the map, I noted that a detoured route would take us right through Paso Robles, California- home of the last and arguably most storied firearm manufacturer in the state, Weatherby Rifles.
A quick call to the factory set up my visit.


Open Country
 Less than 100 yards from Weatherby headquarters is open pasture and hills as far as can be seen… Wide open country where an accurate, flat shooting rifle would be of great value to the sportsman.
 It is easy to see where at least part of the genius of Roy Weatherby came from.

The open terrain surrounding Weatherby headquarters shows where Roy W. got his inspiration from

 A name revered in the minds of many big game hunters and rifleman for the past 70 years or so, Weatherby's motto is "Nothing  shoots flatter, hits harder, or is more accurate." I have always been a fan of Weatherby rifles and, after my visit to their factory, I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree!
"Back in the day," the success and performance of a bullet on wild game was largely a part of two factors. Size and speed. Most bullets were made of lead, therefore, the larger bullet you could shoot at a faster rate equaled more success on game – and especially so against large and/or dangerous game.
 There came a point, however, where the increased velocity was such that the lead bullet was propelled at such velocity it would "skip the lands" or fragment  – at best, it was a decreasing performance as velocity increased  beyond a certain point.
 With the advent of smokeless powders allowing substantially increased velocity, there was quite the dilemma in projectile performance.
The invention of the jacketed bullet by the Swiss in the late 1880s helped to solve this problem.
 By placing a jacket of copper to a lead core, both velocity and overall accuracy of firearms increased. The process and development of bullets entered a steep curve of improvements, with “bonding” processes and new chemicals and alloys producing the most durable bullets ever seen. This led to great advancements in rifle performance and accuracy.

Weatherby didn't make calibers- he made existing calibers better

Roy Weatherby, however, took rifle performance to a much higher level. 
 One of Roy's favorite things to do was to wildcat cartridges. He would take an existing cartridge, change the dimensions, use a smaller bullet in a larger case, and see what results he could produce.  In the beginning, the .300 H&H was the parent case and modified to become the .300 and.375 Weatherby Magnums. The now slightly shortened .300 Weatherby case with smaller bullets became the the.257,.270 and 7mm  Weatherbys were next.  The last caliber to use that casing was the .340 Weatherby Magnum. As history progressed, Weatherby added the.224,.240,.378 and .460 Weatherby Magnums. Around the early 1960’s, Roy began tinkering with a 6.5mm bullet. More on that later.
Finally, after Roy Weatherby had passed, under the leadership of his son, Roy E.Weatherby,  The.416 Weatherby Magnum, the.30–.378 and.33–.378 Weatherby Magnums came to be,  despite  having been "in development" for years. In the case of the .30–378, since 1959 and the .33-.378 in 1960, with "official" factory ammo launches in 1995 and 1998.
 It would be almost 20 years before the next caliber product launch.
The 6.5 Creedmoor
 In 2007, Hornady released the 6.5 Creedmoor- A new take on an old caliber that proved to have tremendous accuracy due to its relatively high sectional density and high ballistic coefficients. 
 In short order, the Creedmoor was winning long-range accuracy competitions and became widely adopted within a few years.  It was an easy move into the hunting world where yet has carved out its own niche on deer and other big game hunters.

The 6.5-.300 Weatherby
 In 2016, and in typical Weatherby fashion, the company looked at some of the existing calibers on the marketplace and determined they could now introduce a cartridge that had been in development by Roy Weatherby since the early 1960s – the 6.5-.300 Weatherby Magnum.
This caliber, quite simply, does everything that the 6.5 Creedmoor does, and does it better. An increase in speed of over 500fps is just the start.
At the other end of the shot, the 6.5-.300 produces OVER 1000 ft•lb more of downrange energy- all while  maintaining the sub-MOA accuracy that Weatherbys are noted for.
Originally chambered in the Mark V series of rifles, today Weatherby announces the 6.5-.300 in the VANGUARD SERIES.

The Weatherby Vanguard
 Original rifles that were produced by Roy Weatherby when he found his company were built on Mauser actions from several European manufacturers. In 1958, the Mark V bolt action was developed and built entirely in-house but moved again offshore for a time. While Weatherby was making an excellent case for producing the finest hunting rifles in the world, the Mark V was out of reach of many hunters because of its premium price tag.
 In 1970, Weatherby announced the production of the "new" Vanguard – a Weatherby rifle built around an action based on the Howa 1500 action and produced in Japan. This provided a Weatherby alternative to buyers in the market for a Winchester model 70 or Remington model 700.
Through the entirety of its production and until recently the Vanguard was only offered in "standard" calibers.
Starting today, it will be chambered for the fastest, hardest hitting, and most accurate 6.5 mm caliber on the market and is well within the reach of most shooters.
The line forms behind me.

In Wake of Las Vegas Shooting, We Need Actions To Get Rid of EVIL, Not GUNS...

 Last night, after a rather relaxing day spent with family at the shooting range and then in our backyard pool, I went to bed and received a well deserved good nights rest. 

 What I woke to was a nightmare. 

58 People were killed, and over 400 Wounded. Photo Courtesy of ABC News

 When I woke up at 5 AM this morning every one of my newswires were LIT UP. 

At that time, reports were coming in that they thought 20 to 30 people had been killed and several hundred wounded. That turned out to be almost 60 people dead with OVER 400 people wounded by an evil, maniacal gunman that opened fire on a concert crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel. 

 There are many hypotheses and theories as to why and how this person chose his location, why he wanted to kill a bunch of people, and if this evil could've been avoided. 

 The bad news is, it CAN'T. 

 Unless we, as Americans, are willing to give up many, many of our freedoms in exchange for a fleeting sense of "security," there is little we can do to prevent events such as this from happening. 

 One of the top and most effective ways of saving more lives from evil like this is to expand and allow citizens to carry firearms in order to protect themselves, their families, and their friends. 

Another is to study and observe mentally ill people and monitor them for signs of violence or further illness. 

 Ironically, whenever there is a situation such as this, the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is the first one that many pundits are quick to attack- Such as "if guns like this were not available, mentally ill, criminals, and terrorists would not be able to get them." 

 Politicians respond with sensationalizing quotes, texts, and tweets such as "We MUST do something about assault weapons" or "When will we learn that guns are the problem?"

 The wildly liberal publication, GQ, was quick to publish an article by Jay Willis entitled "Why we are losing the war against gun violence."

 The author, mistakenly, goes after the NRA and America's lawful gun owners as part of the problem – even going so far as to state that "  The entity that still bills itself as the world's "premier firearms education organization" is, in fact, one of the loudest and most influential voices in American politics. At this point, even gun owners aren't so sure that the NRA is honestly representing them as recreational hunters. It doesn't matter, though. Although some of that cash comes from selling individual memberships, a lot of it's money flow street from gun manufacturers, who have savvily disguised their would-be marketing efforts as the patriotic defense of your bedrock constitutional rights. Gun companies place their employees on the NRA's Board of Directors and buy expensive advertisements in their various publications. Last year alone, Ruger donated two dollars to the NRA for every firearm the company sold. "

 I don't even know where to begin to explain the reality of our rights as Americans to this mislead, misleading and constitutionally and economically illiterate voice of the left. 

 We can start with some very simple truths – the first being that the second amendment to the constitution of the United States has absolutely nothing to do with hunting or recreational shooting. Hunting and recreational shooting or mentioned nowhere in the entire constitution. 

 This is simply a "talking point" that helps political and media elites to gain greater control over you, your freedom, and your mind with what they deem as "simple" and "commonsense" regulations that, in bits and pieces, TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS. 

 Second, in any industry, it is not only common but EXPECTED that business and businesses in that industry will have representatives that assist and direct whatever association or group that represents their  Business interests. 

 Were it not for companies like Ruger and the immense membership and lobbying power of the national rifle Association, many of our rights, not just those related to firearms, would most likely already be gone. 

 As of right now, we don't know the exact motive that Stephen Paddock  had for committing terror and mass murder. 

 What we do know is that "normal" people and every day citizens don't do these things. 

Whether he was mentally ill, was affiliated with, as many news outlets are now reporting, ISIS or the Muslim brotherhood,  or wanted revenge for some sort of wrong he felt was done to him, we may never know. 

 What we do know is that what he did was pure evil. 

 Guns are NOT the problem. EVIL is the problem. 

 More to come as news and events come to light. 

Your Competition LOVES You....

Your competition LOVES YOU...

If you are a typical player in the marketplace that thinks you "get all your business from 'word of mouth' and referrals," or you "do facebook ads" or "Advertise on outdoor television shows and in XYZ publications...They love you even MORE.
You see, they IMMEDIATELY KNOW that they can OWN all of the customers that actually look for WHAT YOU DO WHERE YOU DO IT.

I offered this to several of my groups 3 months ago- and some VERY SMART BUSINESS OWNERS took advantage.
Some of the results are in this video.

I'm absolutely SHOCKED at how many people in the outdoor industry will not/do not/can't/won't invest in the absolute NUMBER ONE, MOST EFFECTIVE way of ensuring that when people search for WHAT THEY DO rather than WHO THEY ARE, they show up PROMINENTLY in that search rather than their competition.

Check out this video- and the absolute DOMINATION of the search results.
It doesn't matter WHAT you do. It has an ABSOLUTE, MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE and you can CANCEL IT ANY TIME.
Some of the phrases available NOW:
Best African Safari Company
Best Concealed Carry Holster
Best Rifle Scope
Best Binoculars
AR-15 Parts
Glock Parts
...and MORE.

This works for ANY business- regardless of what you do, are doing, have done, will/might do- you get the picture.
I have personally worked with physicians, car dealers, gun shops, plumbers, HVAC- and, yes, even ATTORNEYS- and if you know any attorneys- tell them that the best phrase in the country was JUST SOLD... "Mesothelioma Attorney" - with Pay per click rates >$1000 PER CLICK- to Sokolov Law Office.
Now they can't have it.

If we can do THAT for THEM, what do you suppose we can do FOR YOU???
Get in touch with me ASAP.

An Alien Encounter in the Desert

When I moved to the desert southwest, I had heard of all kinds of alien encounters. I had mine while on a quest to find a better daily carry option. 

One of the things that has always been a dilemma for me when carrying concealed day is how to keep a weapon concealed in warm weather. A move to the desert southwest has led to several different carry styles and, yes, even though I’m several hundred miles from Area 51, an “alien” encounter.

For years I lived in the Midwest, where I experienced both extremes of temperature- Hot and cold- each with their own set of challenges for carrying. If the temperature is below 40 or so, a jacket or parka can hide just about anything.
Some are even specifically designed to do so, with special pockets and integral holsters “built in” to the system. Alternately, in the winter a weapon carried inside the waistband under a coat required too much effort to reach. However, when the temperature climbs, we shed layers of clothing, exposing our previously well-concealed firearm.
In the summer I most often carried a smaller weapon in order to minimize its profile, as I believe that the best concealed weapon is:
a. The one you CARRY, and,
b. The one nobody else, but especially the bad guy, knows is there.

 With the increasing wisdom that age brings, I recently moved my family from the upper Midwest to a place where removal of snow in any form is a conscious choice, requiring the drive of approximately 100 miles to do so, but also for several months of the year allows you the convenience of baking cookies on your car dashboard and frying eggs on your sidewalk.

We simply don’t wear a lot of clothes when it’s hot.

This led me on an entirely new search and an encounter with an “Alien” that has become my daily companion.
Having carried a firearm almost daily for the better part of two decades, I have learned a few things in the way of Carry and comfort. (and, If you don't think  carrying in comfort is a big deal, look back at the previous article I wrote regarding an incident where I was forced to brandish my carry weapon – and that I would not have had, had it not been comfortable.)

Because of this, my preferred weapon for every day carry had been a subcompact .380. I alternate between my Taurus 738 and a new Glock model 42. Both have an extremely small profile with the Taurus being slightly slimmer and the Glock a bit more comfortable for me to shoot.
Both are also what some in the industry refer to as “Ballistically Challenged,” meaning any larger caliber has a great deal more stopping power.
 Much of my day is spent wearing slacks and dress clothes, with the occasional jacket worn for client meetings. Obviously, a suit coat makes concealed carry a breeze. However, when I carry in the summertime in the desert, I was previously relegated to 3 methods of carry: pocket, ankle, and "tucked."

Pocket

This method is my preferred when carrying micro-compact firearms. A sleeve for your weapon that is made out of a material that grabs the material of the pocket around it keeps your weapon concealed, clean, and away from loose change or other items that may interfere with your draw. An additional benefit- having your hand n your pocket is a "normal" and non-threatening position. 

Ankle

 Anyone that watched a television show "Miami Vice" in the 80s is familiar with the ankle holster, As it appeared seemingly in just about every episode. When carrying for "ultra-concealment" in warmer climates, this is a preferred method. It is almost impossible to detect, and you can carry even a "Midsized" compact firearm. Wearing shorts with this method is really not an option, though.
 Pocket carry.
 One of the easiest methods of carry for small sub-compacts is in a "pocket holster" designed to hide the profile of your weapon while tucked into the front pocket of your pants. When carrying a micro or sub compact, this is also one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to be prepared with your weapon. People tend to ignore when you reach into your pocket, as it is a very common movement. Lifting your leg or grabbing at your ankle is not.
The main drawback is that it limits the size weapon you can carry to something rather small in the .22 to .380 calibers.

Tucked 

 Many people like to wear their concealed weapon on their waist between three and 5 o'clock on their person, and, due to the genetics of our population, most wear them on the right hip.
 I have never been that comfortable when carrying this way, and, due to a few too many good meals at meetings and home, don't want to go buy all new pants to accommodate the additional thickness of a holster in addition to my own.  Because of this, and especially when I carry one of my larger size compacts, I prefer to carry just to the right of midline in the small of my back.
Until recently, I used a very simple holster from Blackhawk that is essentially a “pocket” for your gun with a clip to hold it to your pants to prevent the gun from sliding down while you have it tucked in your waist band. The up and downside to this method is that the gun can slide out relatively easily- good when a situation arises and bad when you are exiting your vehicle and the gun slips out!

My “Alien Encounter.” 

Ever on the search for a better option, and after reading hundreds of reviews, I recently acquired an Alien Gear “Cloak Tuck 3.0” holster. This holster is rated highly in just about every review for its extreme comfort, and I agree. Most of this is due to the material used against your skin – neoprene  – one of the softest and most comfortable-yet-durable (and rather breathable) materials  out there.
In warm weather a gun against your skin can be rather irritating and your sweat and body oils can do it great harm. Alternately, a holster not fit properly to your firearm can cause issues with unintentional un-holstering and dropped on the floor – a bad, and according to some regulations, possibly illegal, scenario.
Alien Gear solves this by combining a custom ballistic nylon shell fit to many popular handguns.
As I stated above, I am a believer that the best concealed weapon is the one that is truly concealed – that way the bad guy can never tell who's in the fight. My concern with a “tuckable” holster was that it would be evident without a jacket, so I put this holster to what I referred to as the "white dress shirt test."

 If a holster can hide a weapon under a tucked in, white dress shirt, I consider it "fully concealed."
 While not as completely invisible as an ankle or pocket holster, the only sign that I am carrying a weapon with a tucked in shirt is two small clips that, when positioned the right way, can blend with your belt loops quite nicely.

 The best news? This was the same whether carrying a micro-compact or my mid-sized Taurus millennium 40 caliber.

If you can hide a black gun under a white dress shirt, consider it concealed!

Every Alien Gear product includes their “Iron Clad Triple Guarantee.” Try their holster, risk free, for 30 days and if you’re not satisfied with it for any reason, they’ll buy it back. In addition, all of their concealed carry holsters feature fully swap-able shells for use with inside the waistband or outside the waistband holsters. If you ever decide to carry a different handgun, you can simply trade your shell for a new one.






Last, but not least, every holster is covered Alien Gear’s “Forever Warranty.” If any part of your holster breaks for any reason, they will repair or replace it for free.
 Alien gear makes holsters to fit most makes and models, and sometimes can even accommodate a newer weapon if you give them a call. After several weeks of daily wear, I highly recommend it.

How to "Break In" to the Outdoor, Firearm, Hunting and Fishing Industry

I certainly don't know how other people did it, and, with my experiences with some, even WHY they are still here. 

 I will never forget my first serious attempts to "get in" to the outdoor, hunting, and firearms world.

 I had been the victim of the massive layoffs that hammered the pharmaceutical industry back in the early 2000's and was located in a rural area with not many other options. I had met several traveling "reps" that sold things like hunting gear, fishing rods, etc.   and thought that as long as I was going to sell something, why couldn't I sell something that I really liked?

 As with most things that I do, I jumped in not only with both feet, but with a "Ready, Fire, Aim" mentality and MASSIVE action-taking including flying out to Las Vegas on my own dime and attending  my very first SHOT Show.

 I spent a TON of money (in the realm of several thousand dollars) on drinks, dinners, and taxis-and made a large number of contacts.

 I got some very good leads, chased down every single one of them, and basically went "one for 30."
The one?

 A position as a "pro staffer" for a large rep group in the industry.

 Things were a little different then as companies all paid pro staff a significant daily rate plus expenses and, usually, some gear as a "bonus." Because of this, they had high expectations and expected sales from their people. 

 I went after it with zeal and enthusiasm as well as implementing numerous different sales processes and skills.

I developed an inventory tracking sheet and customer questionnaire that is still being used in a revised for almost a decade later. 

 I thought that this would be a great "entry point" to being further along in the industry.

  I was wrong.

 Most of what I found was more opportunities to work events as a "pro staffer." No full time gigs. 

So... I build a business around prostaffing- and it went from there. 

 By the time I decided to "go it alone" and build my own "niche" in the outdoor business, I had interviewed with approximately a dozen different companies while submitting my resume to sixty or seventy.

For the right opportunity, I will still entertain a conversation and I have even interviewed several times again over the past several years.

 Several of those interviews stand out clearly in my mind if only for their unbelievable attitude towards experience and value.

Needless to say, it wasn't what I expected. 

 The first was for a sales position with a rather large retailer of apparel that crosses several markets in the outdoor and sporting goods industry.

 I made it to the "final" interview only to lose to what turned out to be a much less experienced person that had worked in a retail store and then sold for a small rep group for several years.

 I reached out to the hiring manager who was very amicable and asked him why they had chosen the other candidate and what I could do to further my chances for the next time.

His answer was rather shocking.

He said simply that "while we were impressed with your sales skills, your sales accomplishments, awards, and your personality and affect, you didn't have any experience selling apparel."

Oops.

 

Ace has won awards, smashed and set sales records for numerous Fortune 25 companies.  

 Big mistake, and probably for the best for me, anyway. 

At this time, I had worked for three different Fortune 10 to Fortune 50-level companies, winning numerous presidents club and other incentive awards, selling everything from marketing and advertising (and coming into that position with zero experience and going to the number one representative out over 1300+)  to life saving medications to advanced external defibrillators and resuscitation medical devices – pieces of equipment that, literally, were used to stop and start  peoples heartbeats after heart failure and/or cardiovascular surgical procedures. 

 I think I might have been able to figure out how to sell some jackets, shirts, and pants to retail store owners and management, don't you?

 

Ace Luciano has attended over 100 seminars on success, sales, marketing, and public speaking. This one included a day of "face time" with noted speaker Les Brown. 

Never one to sit idle, over the past decade I have also partnered with and received training from leading marketing experts and speakers like Dan Kennedy, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, and Steve Sipress, attained a "Mastery Certification" from SSS Marketing University, and built a network in the Hunting and Firearms industry numbering in the tens of thousands. Finally, in the last several years I have written two Amazon best-sellers in their category. 

I advise that if you are looking for opportunities of any kind, you do the same. 

Certification courses are readily available, online, full of useful skills, and will help you to attain an "expert level proficiency" in numerous things in a reasonably short time. 

That being said...

A few years ago, I had another experience with an employer that did what seems to have become a typical thing in the outdoor world...

They hired for "cheap" rather than "value."

 What do I mean by that?

 The company was clearly interested in working with me as they proactively reached out, contacted, recruited, interviewed, and maintained their interest over the course of 8 or ten weeks. They then  brought up a discussion regarding compensation and, specifically what I thought the job should be worth. .

 This is always a touchy one.

 You see, I am of the opinion that, regardless of your business (and your hunting equipment) you should always go with the best that you can possibly afford, plus some- because  something so very important is usually not glaringly apparent until you really, really need it.

 Think of a lower priced rifle scope with a "lifetime guarantee" and ""free replacement" that fails on top of a mountain during the sheep hunt  or even on a deer hunt in your back 40 where you can't see the big buck you've been waiting all season for as he steps out for 15 seconds at last light... 

 Yes it was less "expensive."  

Yes, you will get another scope for free- but that isn't worth anything to you sitting on the side of the mountain trying to pick off a rocky mountain bighorn that, in many places, is a "once in a lifetime" tag.

They were seeking over a million dollars worth of sales responsibility from me- but they only wanted to pay for $250,000.00 worth (and, by the way, if you ever want to absolutely GUARANTEE your salespeople won't sell anything, then don't pay them a lot of money or, worse, "cap" their earnings) 

 Suffice it to say, we were a significant amount of money apart in what we thought the position was worth and they were not open to a "performance based model"- so they wound up hiring the "other guy."

 Then, when he burned out, they hired "another guy."

And, less than a year later, they hired "another guy," Who also became noticeably absent from company communications and emails less than one year later.

 Did that company "save money?"

What do you suppose it cost them to interview and hire three new people in less than two years?

What do you suppose the business cost is having those relationships that are so hard to build "interrupted" three times in less than three years?

 What do you suppose the difference might've been with a high-level professional that is used to closing deals in the 6-to-7-figure levels in that position instead of someone who had sold " outdoor related products" for a pittance?

They, and we, will now never know.

Finally, and one that really surprised me, was the company that had churned through several of my acquaintances in 18 months whose recruiter called me and asked if I would be interested in the position for, not only a pay cut from my current compensation but SIGNIFICANTLY less money than either of them had made over the last 3 years!

 The lesson to take away is that getting "in the door" in the outdoor industry is not easy, and you need not only a plan of action, but a standard that you are willing to accept to get there. 

Now-

How often does this come up every day in your life or business?

 Do you buy the "cheap option," when a proven, high-quality option is available for not that much more in your gear? Your employees? Your business? 

 Do you "spray and pray" with your marketing and advertising, hoping that some of it works the way you want it to  because you want to "do it yourself?"

 It's a hard lesson on both sides of the equation sometimes- One that it pays to learn early.

What Would YOU Rather Make - Excuses, or Money? (And, Yes, That IS a Penis)

As my good friend and business mentor, Steve Sipress, is fond of saying, "You can make excuses or you can make money – but not both!"

 And, yes, that is a picture of a penis in a business related blog post. 

 It means something and will prove an excellent point, I promise. 

 The firearm and outdoor industry is in a tizzy right now. 

Gun company stocks dropped the day Donald Trump was elected president. Millions of dollars of firearms orders were canceled within the Weeks after SHOT Show and the presidential election. 

Gun Stocks Aren't doing so hot...

 Everywhere you turn you hear the same thing… "Our budget is already allocated."  Or "we love what we hear- come back and talk to us in October." 

Or, my favorite excuse making phrase, "The industry is changing. Sales are down. We need to cut our marketing budget in order to SAVE money."

 Long term agencies are being cut by their clients. 

 Long-term advertising partners are being reduced and eliminated. 

… And it's all completely ridiculous.

 I know – that's a bold statement. 

 I'm a bold guy.

If you want to "save money," turn off every other light in your building. Turn your thermostat a few degrees up in the summer and down in the winter. 

Don't over water your grass or run the faucet while you brush your teeth. 

If you want to MAKE MONEY, you need to MARKET EFFECTIVELY. 

Remember – you can make EXCUSES or you can make MONEY… But you can't make BOTH. 

Every phrase above is an excuse. 

 Really. Look at each one. 

Think about it. 

Now...

 Remember the movie that came out last year titled, "Greater?"

It's a great movie. 

"Greater" is the story of Arkansas Razorback football player Brandon Burlsworth.  Brandon was "A Division I football player in a Division III  body."

Anyway, it's a great story about someone who "accepts every excuse," never lifts weights, hardly does a running drill, really doesn't do much of anything, and "waits to see what happens" - and, miraculously, makes it as a starter for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team and becomes an all-star player....

What's that? 

That's not what happened? 

Wait… 

He didn't "cut back on his exercise regimen" so he could "save energy" and improve? 

When he received one low-level school scholarship, he didn't "sit back and wait and see what the college football market was going to do?"

 I'M  ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED! 

 If you seen the movie,(and, if not, I highly recommend you do so-and then watch "Rudy" and "Hoosiers" and "Remember The Titans", "Ali," "Rocky I,II,III, IV, V, and Rocky Balboa"-and every single other "Overcome extreme hardship/Obstacle/Work/Challenge to reach glory movie)  you know that Brandon became the  EPITOME  of work ethic – getting up in the dark to run and do drills. Spending extra time in the weight room. Losing the weight he had to and improving his speed and endurance by leaps and bounds… 

...And it follows the exact same story line of just about every success story ever told or ever experienced. 

Isn't that what you really want for your business or company? 

Are you making your decisions more like the first scenario or the actual movie? 

What would you choose??

 Now… About this penis picture....

 This is the story of success from my own life – when a complete disaster was entirely averted in my very first "grown-up" sales job – selling pharmaceuticals in a rural and very, very large geography. 

I had a product that was worth approximately 20% of my  sales "quota."

 The product was called "Caverject," and it was dosed by taking a hypodermic needle and injecting it directly into the corpus cavernosum of the male penile organ.  I  was given this drug to sell the year that Viagra was launched – a pill that a man could take two, hypothetically, give the exact same effect  as my injectable product. 

 There was mass hysteria in the salesforce. 

 Almost everybody "Wrote off"  20% of their commission and focused on trying to INCREASE their other products to compensate. 

 I sat down and analyze the situation. 

I knew that my company would not reduce their expectation on me because of a market change (note-one of the biggest curses in sales – companies will take all the glory for your performance, but when there are circumstances outside of your control, they will be the first to blame you. If it's YOUR company – don't be "that guy.")

 I knew that the biggest obstacle to treating man with erectile problems with getting them to talk about it in the first place. I knew that Pfizer would make sure that everybody was talking about it. 

I then changed my message so that it HELPED my customer.

 You see, my product had a less than 5% failure rate. Viagra's was almost 26%.  I simply went around telling my doctor clients the truth – that no man would want to try my product first, but once they got their hopes up and FAILED, that would be a great time to bring up Caverject. 

Needless to say, I was number two in the entire Midwest division that year, thanks in no small part to a product that everyone else had written off.

What do you suppose would have happened if I had "cut back" my sales efforts and "waited to see what the market was going to do?" 

Instead, I simply changed my marketing to better reflect the new market. 

Remember- Money doesn't "disappear." 

It moves. 

Stop making "excuses" that do nothing but get in the way of you making MONEY!

How Not To Be "Average."

 If you want to be better than average, you have to give better than AVERAGE. 

 Quick – name the most AVERAGE baseball player in the major leagues today. 

 Who wins the title for the MOST AVERAGE basketball player in the NBA playoffs? 

Who is the MOST AVERAGE  hockey player to ever play the game?

 Do you find it hard to come up with those names? You should. 

Which one do you want to be? 

You know, Children are a great reflection upon society. They are, for the most part, pure innocence and pure, uncorrupted emotion. 

Watch your child playing in the sand experiencing pure joy. You could sit in that same stand and be bored. Or aggravated. 

You could become unmotivated and lie down.

...But if you watch the child digging in the sand – he or she is usually fascinated. They're fascinated by the texture. The feeling. The fact that they can mold and shape to their will. That brings them joy. 

 I bring this up for a very good reason. 

 Think back-- for some of you way, way, way back… To what you wanted and dreamed as a child. 

 When you were a child did you want to be "average"? 

 When you were five or six years old, did you look at the world and say, "when I grow up, I want to sit in a cubicle punching keys all day, work for a mediocre boss, At a mediocre company, doing the same thing, every single day of my entire life?"

                                                   If you did, you were the odd one. 

 Most likely you wanted to be a superhero. 

Perhaps as you got older he wanted to "be like mike (Michael Jordan),  you wanted to be the quarterback of your favorite football team, or some other superstar. 

 If you want better than "average", you have to give better than "average."

 One of MJ's most famous commercials was highlights of him sinking winning shots, winning big games, etc., but the background was Michael Jordan speaking 

 "I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I've been trusted To take the game-winning shot… And missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Michael Jordan used to practice his shooting technique – not just his shot – but his actual "technique" for 2 to 3 hours per day. 

 Tiger Woods hit hundreds of golf balls every single day. 

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. He has won 19 gold medals-  and as impressive as that is, his training routine is even more so. 

 He swims 50 miles per week – an average of 8 miles per training day. 

Plus dry land workouts.

He works so hard and so long that he needs to consume 12,000 calories per day just to maintain his body mass. 

 If a training day falls on Christmas, he swims in my house. If it falls on New Year's – 8 miles. Nothing gets in the way of his training. 

Even me, an- I hate to even say it- “average” guy- competed nationally in Olympic Taekwondo.

I trained 3 hours a day, PLUS my regular team and sparring practices.

I never lost because the other guy outlasted me and set a record for most knockouts.

I still work out every day.

I read a book a week and write at least one content piece, published or not, twice a week.

 The important question is, what are you willing to give THIS YEAR  in order to get? 

 One of my most recent articles talked about the state of the outdoor industry – how the gun economy has definitely changed.

How many companies out there are going to look for "average" results this year? 

 How many companies in the gun world are going to, rather than put in their "8 miles" of training – "cut their expenses" (which I've always found ridiculous, as marketing should never, ever be put under your ledger as an "expense)  

Instead of working harder, smarter, and doing MORE, many honestly believe that they will get by with doing LESS.

If you were on any type of sports team, when you really wanted to get BETTER and WIN MORE, did your coach ever say to you, or did you ever say to yourself, “You know what? We need to do LESS! We’re going to NOT WORK AS HARD in order to get BETTER and WIN MORE!”

I didn’t think so.

 The next year will separate a lot of "average" from many new and up-and-comer's that will become "exceptional."

 Which camp will you be in?