Why You as a Firearm Owner, Should Never Shop at Dick's Again

Why Dick’s Has Lost Gun Owner’s Support

I have only written a few of articles like this in my entire life.

 I also feel that it is a shame that I must do so.
My most recent came after under armour chose to abandon hunters and legal hunting by taking the side of anti-hunters against lawful hunting practices.
 This article now comes after Dicks sporting goods comes out against the Second Amendment and states that not only will they not sell what they incorrectly categorized as "assault style" weapons (a false and misleading name), but they will no longer carry any "high capacity”(open to “interpretation”) magazines,  and will no longer sell firearms to anybody under the age of 21.

 Dicks, like under armour and their foolish decision to abandon a large number of their base, has every right to do these things as they are a private business entity and dictate what they can and will sell in their stores.
 That doesn't mean that I have to buy anything from them ever again – nor does it mean that I have to accept what they are doing as right and not spread the word to my entire network and all gun owners in the country that what Dicks has actually done is leap over a very large "line in the sand."

 Many people against the Second Amendment use excuses to violate people’s rights.
The way you determine a violation is easy.
There is a very effective litmus test to determine whether something passes constitutional muster. That test is to apply that regulation or restriction against any other constitutional right and see if it would be OK to do so.

For example, would it be OK to require "training" or to require a "license" in order to vote?

Would it be OK if we made someone pass a background test in order to freely practice their own religion?

 What about banning just "certain parts" of religion? Like, what if we said Christianity was OK, but the practice of the Muslim religion or the Jewish religion was not… Would that be OK?
Would that be a violation of someone's rights?

Why is it that we are OK with such blatant violations  of another constitutional right?

 The answer is very simple… Many people in the general public have been "conditioned" by false, misleading, and leading fake news and fake journalism - up to and including the most recent re-categorization of a firearm as a "full semi automatic."
There are those in power that wish to see all of us in this country under their “rule.”
They speak of “fair” and “equitable” and what is right and just for “the majority.”
…But that isn’t what our country and constitution is about.
We are and have always been about the rights of the INDIVIDUAL over those of the MAJORITY.
Equal OPPORTUNITY- not equal OUTCOMES.

This book solves a lot of today's gun violence problems

 A much more effective solution to the problem of school shootings is to use the principles found in the book "Guns the Right Way" – the definitive guide to introducing youth and children to firearms (and, not coincidentally, written by YOURS TRULY) – and  to take seriously things like bullying, isolated individuals, and people that have been reported to the police and the FBI on numerous occasions that have been ignored - and should be ignored no longer. To learn more about kids, guns and Ace, you can visit my website. Want a copy of the book?  You can order it on Amazon or HERE.

 I urge each and every one of you that owns a firearm  and believes that the Second Amendment is a God-given right to that shall not be infringed to do several things starting TODAY:

1.  Share and like this post, and others like it, throughout your social networks to demonstrate the unity and numbers we truly have.
2. JOIN THE NRA.   There is one organization that has constantly and consistently been the protector of Second Amendment rights in the United States – it also happens to be the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the entire world. It is the National Rifle Association, and if you aren't a member and own a gun, then shame on you.
3.  Write letters. Write a letter to your congressman. Your members of the Senate. Write a letter to the president. Write a letter to the mayor of the largest city in your area. Write letters to the editors of your local and regional newspapers. Take the time to write two paragraphs. You can then address the same letter to multiple people.
4.  Support the people that support you and your beliefs, and withdraw your support as well as pontificate against supporting those that don't.
Under Armour  Learned the hard way that people that hunt also buy things like baseball, soccer, football, and hockey equipment. They buy running shoes and athletic apparel. Now they just don't buy any of it from under armor. With their profits down almost 80% year-over-year, it's not a coincidence that their downfall coincided with their  Choice to support anti-hunters.

 We are all in this together and, now, more than ever, are in the fight of our lives to maintain our rights and our way of life.
 Don't let a group of politicians that believe they "know what's best for you" as well as large numbers of feeble minded, easily lead individuals that simply scream loudly to decide your fate.

Who is Jerry "Ace" Luciano? 
That depends on whom you ask. 
Ask anyone in the outdoor world, and they'll tell you that Ace is a big game hunter and adventurer that has a great deal of sales knowledge. 
Ask someone in the corporate world and they might tell you that Ace is the guy that smashes and sets sales records that may have stood for decades. 
Hunter. Fisherman. Outdoorsman. Youth Mentor. Writer. Best-selling author. Entrepreneur. Sales Executive. Seminar speaker. Fundraising Professional. These phrases and more have all been used to describe this dynamic outdoor personality and all around "good-guy." A self-described outdoor "generalist" who is a jack of many trades, and a Master of several, Ace is often described as "that guy..." To learn more bout Ace, visit www.aceluciano.com. 

Media Attending SHOT SHOW to Receive Special Offer from RITON Optics

RITON Optics USA Invites All Media to SHOT SHOW and Industry Day at the Range 2018, Offers Media Special Gift. 

RITON Optics is the only Military and Law Enforcement Veteran-Owned Company in the US 

Jan 15, 2018 - Tucson, AZ
RITON Optics USA announces attendance at the 2018 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show and SHOT Industry Day at the Range in Las Vegas, NV.
SHOT Show Booth -  N366
All media that visit the booth will receive a special offer from RITON USA. 

Conveniently located just outside of the media room, RITON's booth marks the first time this Law Enforcement and Military Veteran-Owned company will display its new Mod 7 hunting and tactical riflescopes as well as the official release of their second generation of Mod3 and Mod5 scopes that add push/pull, zero-locking turrets to an already successful platform. For those participating in SHOT Industry Day at the Range, you can see RITON in the main booth display area as well as shoot some firearms with their optics already installed.

Mod 7 1-8x28IR-H  (Hunting)
This model was developed in consultation with noted big-game hunter and shooter Craig Boddington.  Boddington is one of today’s most respected outdoor journalists. He spent the past forty years exploring our natural world as a hunter and sharing his knowledge and experiences in dozens of books and through thousands of published articles and essays. He’s a decorated Marine, an award-winning author, and continues to be a leading voice for conservation and ethical hunting around the world.
RITON developed a short to medium-range hunting scope that can be used for any hunting situation - including dangerous game.  Their main objective was to create a well-balanced scope that could fit any caliber of weapon and provide quick acquisition targeting at a low magnification power but also have the ability for precise targeting at increased magnification levels.
The Mod7 1-8x28IR-H is a second focal plane scope with Riton's German #4 Mod 1 Illuminated reticle paired with HD/ED glass, an indestructible one-piece aircraft grade main tube and is backed by Riton's unlimited lifetime new replacement warranty.

Mod 7 1-8x28IR-T (Tactical)
The tactical model of the Mod 7 1-8 features the Riton Tactical Mod 1 Illuminated reticle in first focal plane. Because of the first focal plane reticle, this optic can be used on a true one power magnification similar to a "red dot" type sight - with both eyes open for quick target engagement while clearing rooms or during close-quarters combat.  Where this scope and the First Focal Plane reticle offers a distinct advantage is once you increase the magnification.
The ability to accurately engage targets and range estimate with the First Focal Plane reticle allows this scope to fit into every conceivable tactical situation.
-The Mod 7 1-8x28IR-T (Tactical Version) will also be included in the new SHOT Show New Product Showcase.

Specifications:
1x-8x magnification
28mm objective
34mm main tube
HD/ED glass
Argon purged and sealed
Fully-multicoated lenses
Locking illumination control
Capped zero-reset windage and elevation turrets
Unlimited Lifetime new replacement Warranty

RITON's Warranty:
If, at any time, your Riton product has issues and is not functioning in the manner it should – NO MATTER WHAT – they will replace it.
Not "repair."
Replace.
There are no "warranty cards" or "online forms" or "receipts" necessary. Simply send your optic and contact information to RITON, and they'll send you another.

Will 2018 Be the Year You "Embrace the Hate?"

“The only thing more frustrating than slanderers is those foolish enough to listen to them.”                                      -Criss Jami
“People will always have their opinion on you despite who you are and what your capable of.”  -Ana Chable

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.                                 -Winston Churchill

I absolutely love haters. 

 Love them. 

You see, if I am receiving mail from "haters" it means my message is most definitely reaching  my audience and MORE! 

Whenever I send something out and I get nasty responses back by a few people, it gives me a little warm feeling in my heart to know that I must be absolutely motivating them to take action and that, based on the laws of statistics and large numbers that for everyone there is like that there are about 50 to 100  that  have received a tremendous value from what I have sent, posted, or sold. 

 Several of the top sales "gurus" that I follow are of the same way. 

"If they say you're sending too much, double what you're sending."

"If they say stop, you might want to stop to them (or not) and double your efforts sending to everyone else! " 

 No matter what you do, there will always be people that don't agree with you, but feel it there place to give you advice, or, just folks that are, generally, negative people that would complain no matter what you said or did. 

One of the best things you can do when you are engaging with these people is to let them know that you  appreciate their feedback, but that you are a "positive" person who believes in taking MASSIVE action rather than sitting by the sidelines waiting for something to happen. That is a very difficult line of thought to respond negatively to. 

I'll give you an example that happened to me recently...

I sent out a release to a bunch of Outdoor and gun writers about a new contest that I am helping to promote. 

I received a scathing response from one, what I would call, "Lower-mid-level" writer. 

He writes for some local and regional publications and is an occasional "guest" on some television shows. 

"UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST!" 

Not so bad, really. 

But...

Right now I have an "auto response" for anyone that sends me an email. 

I want them to know that I received it, but am so busy with show season that  I may not respond right away, but I still want to talk. 

This is where it gets a little UGLY. 

"I SUBMITTED AN UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST!!!! THIS IS A VIOLATION OF CAN/SPAM!!! YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW AND CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR HARASSMENT!!! 

Dude...

Chill out.

Needless to say, I sent confirmation that he was "unsubscribed" from my list- With a nice note to make sure he takes his blood pressure pills. 

I learned several things from this. 

One- that my emails went out and were delivered. 

Two- that the message resonated with the audience. 

Three- that I learned of one worthless member of my list that shouldn't be on it.  

Now, I am subscribed to HUNDREDS of email lists. Many become useless/worthless over time, but I still learn a TON from them- Things like this must be a compelling headline- I opened it- and what are the typical things beoing pushed in the info-marketing world. Also, what is valuable and how long does it remain so. 

Here are the questions that he, and you, should have asked before "unsubscribing" from my emails. 

1. Do I want to not have the opportunity to learn something from this person/company/list? 

2. Is this one thing of lesser value worth eliminating the possibility of hundreds of their more valuable things? 

3. What can I take from this person/company/list that I can easily "re-purpose" to my own business? (Secret- I steal good headline ideas from my own subscribed lists all the time) 

 2017 is the past now. 2018 is the future. Are you going to take control of your destiny, take control of your business, control the conversation about you and what you do, or will you react to what happens – being constantly behind the curve? 

 That's a question that everyone will need to answer in this "new outdoor economy."

These Times, They Are A Changing...

Last week, I was fortunate to, once again, attend the NRA Annual Meetings, held this year in Atlanta, GA. 

While there was quite a bit of apprehension in the opening few days of SHOT Show this year, there was a palpable sense of relief in the convention hall, the press room, and various other places where people were gathered. 

 Donald Trump  became the first president since 1983 to address the membership. His speech was full of enthusiasm and shined a light of hope after eight years of  apprehension and fear. 

... which brings me to my next point. 

 The industry has changed. 

No longer do we have a "fear-based market."

 As recently as a year ago and excellent deal on an AR 15 platform might be in the $700 range. Today, there a half a dozen for under $400. 

Several manufacturers lamented canceled firearm orders-  One that was in the millions of dollars. 

Yet, NICS Checks for March 2017 are up more than 5%. 

SOMEBODY is clearly buying SOMETHING... 

From Breitbart:

"In a press release sent to Breitbart News, NSSF reports the number of NICS checks for March 2017 was 2,422,749. But after adjusting checks–eliminating those that were not the result of sales–the figure was 1,356,929. The number of NSSF-adjusted NICS checks for March 2016 was 1,289,670. This means the number of checks actually connected to gun sales increased 5.2 percent in March 2017.

The number of NICS checks–including NSSF-adjusted checks–is not a precise indicator of the number of guns sold, as checks are conducted on buyers rather than guns bought. Moreover, each buyer may legally purchase multiple guns after passing a background check, which means an adjusted figure of 1,36,929 checks may not even come close to representing the number of guns sold."

When markets change, businesses must change with them. 

While many tactical based manufacturers are seeing lower sales, some custom manufacturers in the same space are seeing an uptick in their sales. 

Optics manufacturers are having a banner year. Companies that make accessories for AR 15's (and other weapons) are off to a great 2017. 

 Hunting rifle and high end shot gun sales are up. 

 This, of course, makes perfect sense when you realize that people are no longer afraid that they have to have 10,000 rounds of ammunition, a tactical weapon or two, and a pile of high-capacity magazines before they are banned.

 That budget can now go back "into the system" to purchase things like accessories,  as well as hunting and sporting weapons. 

What this also means is that many small and medium size businesses in the industry have an unprecedented opportunity. 

That opportunity is to take market share from some of the "big players" who, foolishly, will look at the economy and surmise that they have to "cut their budgets" for marketing and advertising. 

You see, many large companies both in and out of the firearm industry, are run by "boards of directors" and CEOs that are accountable to "shareholders."

 All those shareholders care about is the bottom line.

 They will take that short term increase to the bottom line, completely ignoring the long-term consequence to the overall business. 

 Quite frankly, they can afford it. 

If you are a small or medium size business, you can't.  

Or at least you shouldn't.  

Obviously, you can't afford to waste a single penny– especially in the "new gun economy."

Even BIG companies shouldn't waste marketing dollars, yet many do. 

The outdoor industry is approximately ten years behind in most marketing methods. 

I'm hearing from more than a few companies that they are "pulling more out of print" and "putting more into digital." 

Some are "wowed" by Facebook. 

That's all good- but the MOST important thing to know is DOES IT WORK? 

The truth is, it does. 

Yes, even print (though for how much longer is uncertain) works and can give great ROI. 

The important thing is that you can TRACK it. 

So, what SHOULD you do? 

I'm glad you asked!

You can take a portion of those dollars you would spend on "traditional" marketing (Magazines, TV shows, etc.) and put them in front of over 3 million PROVEN BUYERS of Outdoor, Firearm, Hunting and Fishing products. 

100% Trackable, and in whatever amounts or frequencies you like. 

If that interests you, reach out or comment below. 

Regardless of what you do, remember- 

"Keep it the same" should not be an option this year. 

You CAN'T...

Ace Luciano is a firm believer in the "Can vs. Can't" Philosophy

...And you're RIGHT.

However, YOU CAN....
...and you are, also, RIGHT.

Sometimes, Life Is Hard, and it's Easy to Get Down...
Really.

The problem is that most people, most of the time use "Can't" when they should really use the term, "W-O-N-'T"
It's not that you CAN'T get the money- it's that you WON'T take the extra classes, go BACK to school, PAY for the training, hire the consultant or coach, work the longer hours, the second job, or go for the better job to GET IT.
It's not that you CAN'T lose the weight, or that you CAN'T quit smoking, or that you CAN'T get that boat...or go on that dream hunting trip...or live in that dream location...

It's that you WON'T do what it takes- whatever that is- to get it done.
I know what you're saying to yourself RIGHT NOW.
You're making the excuses-and, as my dear friend and mentor Steve Sipress says-
"You can make excuses, or you can make money, but you can't make both."

How would I know?
I've BEEN THERE.
You see, I was never supposed to be here...

I was supposed to be a DOCTOR.
I learned, I studied, and tread the path laid out for me... and FAILED.
Over and over.

It was rather exhausting- working three part-time jobs, studying all night, taking classes after graduating college...
The truth is, I was ALLOWING myself to fail- because it wasn't where I really wanted to be.
Once I realized that, my life got a LOT easier.
I was BORN to sell, and DESTINED to be in the outdoor world- but it certainly wasn't easy.

I worked for FREE for over a year.
I spend THOUSANDS of dollars travelling, meeting, and entertaining.
I wrote and wrote and wrote article after article... and was rejected.
I applied to EVERY JOB I COULD FIND- and was given the most ABSURD excuses.
"You've never sold "apparel" before."
The foolish, "You're rather "overqualified" for this position...
"You have a lot of sales experience, but none "in the industry."
and, my personal favorite, the generic, "Though your resume is impressive, we have decided to move forward with another candidate."

Then, things began to happen. I made my own waves. I turned down jobs offered to me, and I began to carve my own path.
I learned how to POSITION myself.
Ironically, I was relating my story to someone that is a huge sports fan that let me know a BUNCH of similarities to a professional athlete that were directly related to my struggles.

Check out the NFL history report for this athlete.

Second string QB for high school team that went 0-8 Freshman year.
Started Sophomore year because no other QB went out.
Varsity passing: 219 passes for 3,514 yards and 33 touchdowns
Baseball catcher and football quarterback in high school who was drafted for MLB in the 18th round of the June 1995 baseball draft. Opted for football and redshirted in '95 as #7 QB on the depth chart.

Saw limited action in '96 and '97 and started '98 and '99.

Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended final season weighing 195 pounds and still "looked like a rail" at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than we'd like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can't drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.
Vertical jump- lowest of peers.
40 yard dash time: Lowest ever

Seems to have decent field view and decision making ability.

Chosen as the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft.
Almost didn't make the team.

Has thrown 456 Touchdown passes in the NFL- the 4th most ever.
Has 61,582 passing yards- the third most EVER.
Has thrown the second most TD passes in a single season- 50.
Has played in 7 Superbowls and WON 5- the most EVER.

In case you haven't figured it out- this athlete is Tom Brady, and he was never supposed to be here, let alone WIN.

Remember that the next time you think things are "hard." or that you "can't"
Remember - "CAN'T" could easily be spelled "W-O-N-'T"

I'm not, nor have I ever been a New England Patriots fan, but I am certainly an admirer of Tom Brady.
He wanted it.
He wanted it bad enough to work for it- to put HOURS in the gym and the weight room. HOURS running through plays. HOURS visualizing outcomes and wins.

Yes, Tom Brady proved beyond a doubt that championships are won not just on the FIELD, but in the extra minutes of practice, the extra hours of lifting weights, and the night after night after night after night studying, learning, and practicing...

So...

What's your excuse?
Too small?

Not smart enough?

Not strong enough?

Everyone else is better? Faster? Stronger?
SMARTER?
Luckier?

Not enough MONEY?

Learn the lessons here- that one of the oldest players in the league just set the all time record for championship wins-

...and he was never even supposed to be there.
That can be you.

What types of obstacles have been in YOUR way?
What have you done to overcome them?

Do you need help with a challenge?
Please use the comments below to let us all know.

I Just Learned About The Best Restaurant in the World...

If I asked you to tell me what you thought the BEST restaurant in the world was, you'd most likely name off some well known chefs, exotic locales, and differing ethnic choices....

...but if you think the BEST restaurant is the MOST SUCCESSFUL restaurant, there is one, clear choice-

MC DONALD'S. 

McDonald's Restaurant is arguably the most successful in the world. 

Yes, the iconic "Golden Arches" that now span the globe took a small hamburger joint in California from 15 cent hamburgers to HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS in annual revenues.

There's a new movie in theaters starring Michael Keaton called, "The Founder"- about the building of the McDonalds empire by Ray Croc.
It is mistakenly getting what I would consider to be rather mediocre reviews.

 I believe the reasoning behind it is that, as in most of life, only a select type of person will understand it.

 This movie is a character study of a salesman- One that was relatively successful, in the waning years of his career, and who had recently gone through a patch of difficult times.

 It is the study of a man with a drive to succeed – something that seems awfully absent for the majority of today's population.
 It's not that people don't want to succeed – it's that most people are perfectly happy working in a "job" that keeps them in one place, doing one thing, for a very, very long time (if they're lucky) and have a "steady" and "average" income which allows them to buy an "average" home   and lead an "average" life.
(Note- when you look back to your aspirations as a child, do you ever recall wanting to be "Average?")

 There was a point in the movie where Ray Croc  is talking to his wife. It's a difficult discussion.

 If you're an entrepreneur or sales person, you've had this conversation.
 It's a conversation about how hard you work, how much they do alone, about how many years is it going to be before you slow down, stay home, go to the club, etc. …
 It is that same conversation is one that has signaled the beginning of the end of many marriages, and why many successful people are married multiple times.

I hope  that you are lucky enough, as I am, to have a special significant other that "knows the drill" and has chosen to partner rather than prevent your success. The attitude of many is to "settle, " but what do you do when you just can't SETTLE?
You work HARDER, that's what.

This story is one of the "American Dream."

The "American Dream" is a concept that has built this country to levels far and above all others in the world.
It is a story of a lifetime of struggle, of small failures and large failures, and, finally, what is arguably one of the greatest successes the world has ever known.
It's a story of "partners," of teamwork, and of FAMILY.

I was fortunate to grow up not far from Ray Croc's first franchise in Des Planes, to know several McDonald's franchisees, and to have visited and known people at McDonalds HQ in Oakbrook, IL.
As a matter of fact, one of McDonalds' CEOs was my father's fraternity brother, and their head chef for most of the 90's was a family friend.

This movie is a great story, and the observant viewer will note many things (and, no, the insinuation that Ray Croc "stole" McDonald's from the McDonald brothers is not one of them).
It was not an easy journey, There were difficult times. There were times when Ray Croc was broke. Times when he had to find a solution to a unique problem. There were many more failures than successes.
Yes, there are lots of lessons on business, ambition, success, and perseverance- and several others on human nature, resilience, and heartache.

I rank is as one of the best sales movies of all time.

Have you seen "The Founder" or any other great business or sales movies? Are there parallels to YOUR "story" and life to that of Ray Croc's?

Please, share your thoughts in the comments below.

Let Ace know in the comments below! 

"Ace" Luciano is a Hunter, Fisherman, Outdoorsman, Sales Executive, Author, Writer, and, perhaps most importantly, husband and father to 4 great kids. 

Learn more about Ace through his website, www.AceLuciano.com

Why You Should Never Turn Down A Potential Business Contact

For the second time in over a decade, I've been sent to "jail."

No- not "actual" jail, but, rather LinkedIn "Jail." You see, LinkedIn has rules regarding contacts, linking, and SPAM related things. When I first started building LinkedIn contacts, this wasn't an issue.

Ace Luciano was sent to "LinkedIn Jail" for a brief period...

Then, there was an issue that could be solved by purchasing a "premium profile," which I did. That solved it for about 10 years. Next, when I tried to make a connection with a pleasant introduction, I received the following message: "Recently, several of your contacts have indicated that they do not know you." This was not the case when I was previously "jailed"- That time it was I had been marking "friend" too often (This was in my VERY EARLY LinkedIn Days.) Here is what Linkedin can suspend your ability to send contacts requests for: 1. The recipient's email preferences are set to only receive invitations from members who know their email address. 2. You've reached the limit of invitations you can send without email addresses to people you've identified as a "Friend" during the invitation process. 3. A number of recipients have clicked "I don't know this person" after getting your invitations.

Can Ace help you out of Jail? 

Now, I have a rule that I RARELY block or mark people as "I don't know this person"... The following people are simply "not connected."

1. People that are CLEARLY and ABSOLUTELY not going to help me or be of benefit to my network. These people are usually in a completely unrelated field, have few contacts, no contacts in common or have the title "student at.." or something like, "head cashier at local foodmart" or "Awesome plumber that loves Friday night."(- nothing against those people, but I don't see a benefit in connecting.) 2. I used to block all Realtors, until I realized that a LOT of them KNEW people that I wanted to know. Now, I just block the "lead generation" people. For some reason, these people have popped up all over LinkedIn and want people to pay them $5,000 + per month with a minimum 6 month contract, and no guarantees. 3. Anyone that has no or few contacts.
This is a "safety" thing- a lot of spammers out there use more and more "new" and "fake" profiles to gain access to your connections. Unless you are a direct introduction, I block you.

That's it. Almost every single other person I connect with. I certainly don't penalize them for trying. Why? Consider some of the following major "successes" that I have received through what initially was not anything to be considered a serious "business" connection. - access to one of the most difficult to access CEOs of a major corporation in the COUNTRY- through his SECRETARY. You see, this secretary happens to be a hunting and gun enthusiast that had asked to connect with me on LinkedIn. She sent me a very respectful request, explained why she wanted to be connected, and said that she had a network she would be happy to open to me. Fast forward 18 months. I was working a contract that was approaching, of all things, very large lending institutions with over $1 billion in assets. When I begin typing the connection into my LinkedIn program, lo and behold, who do you think pops up? The commission on that project was in excess of five figures. The connection came from somebody that, at the time, I had no "legitimate" business reason to connect with. - A referral to a six-figure job opportunity. Back in the days when I actively looked for executive sales positions outside of the gun world, I received a referral to the executive vice President of a multibillion dollar pharmaceutical company. When I saw a position open at that company, I did not apply through the normal channels. I sent a handwritten letter to him explaining our connection, and followed up with a phone call and email to him seven days later. I was able to skip the first three parts of the "normal" hiring process and go right to the final interviews. How valuable was that connection? - someone that made my job a great deal easier. Within the past year, I connected with someone that was not what I would consider an "active outdoor industry" connection. They were someone who was a high-level sales and marketing executive, and they referred me to one of their friends when I sent out a network request looking for a software program with some very specific qualifications. Not only did my referral save me a great deal of money on that software when I did purchase it, that software has made my life in general a great deal easier. The moral of the story is multi fold. In today's electronic world you need not worry about running out of "space" in your rolodex. You never know who people know and how they will be able to benefit you in the future, and by clicking the "I don't know this person" button on LinkedIn, you will never know the possible millions of dollars you will miss out on in opportunity and ACTUAL income from MOST LinkedIn connections, let alone one that has tens of thousands of direct connections to people in your specific industry. Remember, good networking is good business!