As I mentioned last week, I’m out of town for a few weeks getting married, followed by my honeymoon.
During this time, I thought it’d be cool to take you behind the scenes, and let you get to know my team in the newsletter.
So for the first week of Team Takeover, I want to introduce Cody – my video editor and the man behind most of my content.
Here are a few resources he’s created and a few things he’s been enjoying outside Amazon FBA.
Locked Up Abroad
Here’s one of my crazier life experiences and what I learned from it.
In July 2019, I was living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Because I had recently renewed my U.S. passport, my company required me to exit the country and perform a “visa run” so they could update my passport. A common request when working abroad.
Great news for my fiance and I! We booked two weeks to Indonesia’s Nusa Ceningan, a small island paradise just off the eastern coast of Bali.
However, something looked off. My paperwork didn’t really look, ‘official’.
So a few days prior to departing, I reached out to my company to make sure that I had every document I needed to get back into the country.
I was assured everything was in order and left feeling confident I’d have no problems.
Turns out, there were problems.
My employer failed to have my documentation properly notarized, and I found out the hard way they were missing a crucial stamp needed to allow me back into the country.
Vietnamese immigration quickly realized the mistake upon re-entry and threw me in a holding area shortly after I arrived. Since I lived and worked in the country, it was imperative I enter with the correct paperwork.
After 24 hours, countless phone calls to the U.S. embassy, and two delivered, overpriced BK Whoppers (they still made me pay the hiked airport prices), I was allowed to leave… but not into Vietnam.
I had to fly to Thailand while I waited several days for the re-issued documents.
Luckily, I could return back to Vietnam a few days later with absolutely zero issues. But it was a crazy experience.
Here’s what I learned, (which for the record, was my first and only time being locked up against my will).
- Sometimes you’ve got to trust your gut. My initial worries about the paperwork were spot on.
- Don’t hold a grudge. Let’s just say the whole ordeal was both embarrassing and infuriating. However, I view it as an honest mistake that gave me one hell of a story to tell.
What I’m Reading
Atomic Habits – An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Old Ones
This is an enlightening read that really gives life to the mantra ‘a little goes a long way.’
The author does a great job explaining that even small changes in habits can result in large net improvements, and we don’t need to make massive, time-consuming changes to improve ourselves. For example, just a few minutes of stretching, reading, or learning each day really add up over time. Personally, it’s opened my eyes to small things I could be doing in lieu of evening screen time.
What I’m Watching
Halloween and fall are my favorite times of the year. In celebration of the season, I’ve been on a bit of a horror/thriller movie binge lately. Here are a few NSFW recommendations:
Barbarian (2022)
Exists(2014)
Fall(2022)
What I’m Listening To
As an East Tennessee native, I’m a shameless country music fan. Willie Nelson is one of my all-time favorite musicians. Very few artists, in my opinion, embody American music quite like Willie does.
This week I’m streaming his 2022 Album “A Beautiful Time”.
Quote Of The Week
“I cannot make my days longer, so I strive to make them better.”
― Paul Theroux
This Week’s Blog
Don’t Overlook These Important Amazon FBA Listing Elements
Have Amazon FBA Questions?
Do you have questions about selling on Amazon FBA? I have answers! Head over to my YouTube Channel. Every Wednesday, I go live to answer your questions. It’s the quickest way to get plugged in and find the exact info you need.
Or if you know you want to dive in deeper, book a one-on-one call with me and we’ll talk about AWA, my mentorship program, and see if you’re a good fit.