How My Student Built a $20K/Month Amazon Business in 1 Year

And I always say that this is a half a million dollar per year seller.

When I started really making money consistently month over month and ultimately selling out my first product, I was like, okay, this is insane. That was the best investment of my life because now I've got my return on investment for sure. But now I have a business monthly giving me profit. And then also I can exit this business in the future where everybody has this thing. It's too good to happen to me, or they got lucky. No, if you're a hard worker and you are going to apply what you're Talk, you can do it.

All right guys, this is Eman Los Angeles, and I'm really excited about this interview because one year ago, Alan joined the One-to-One program. And I always say that this is a half a million dollar per year seller if he didn't constantly run out of stock on his actual item. So he's going to tell you all about that, but I'm going to have him actually do the introduction. So Alan, introduce people. Who are you? What do you do rather than going ahead and killing it on business 24/7, basically?

Definitely, definitely. Uh, thank you for the warm intro. Um, I'm Alan. I am, uh, like I like to say, a regular guy. I like to live a regular life. I have a 9 to 5. Um, outside of selling on Amazon, I like to spend time with my family. Um, yeah, that's pretty short, but that's me, um, outside of selling on Amazon.

Yeah, that's awesome, man. So again, one year ago is when you actually joined. So before we go into like the whole success story, like paint the picture. What was life like before we even like connected last year?

Definitely. So like I mentioned, I work my 9 to 5. I like to invest. I was big into investing, but I wanted some, I've always wanted something else because I have a life. I've always wanted an easier life. To say, um, and I tried Amazon before. I've done, uh, online arbitrage. I've done retail arbitrage. So I've, I've done some e-commerce experience. Nothing really paid off. Um, but yeah, that, that's, that's my kind of experience before that. Um, I did a little Etsy, um, trying that before, but nothing has succeeded like Amazon.

Yeah, and again, this guy is night and day from last year, and I'm—we're going to dive into it. But this guy went from like living in Arizona, coming back to LA. Like he—his life and trajectory is like insane from when I first went ahead and started talking to him last year. But let's talk like real numbers, right? Like I want to get in a sense of the viewer that's watching this and debating whether or not to go into like Amazon or even try and take this journey because I want to really kind of get into a life of like your income situation. When we first met, right? Before we even get to like where we're at now, like what was it when we first, not necessarily met because we've known each other for a very long time, but like when we met, when it came to right before you started private label.

Yeah, definitely. I was looking to just make about a good $10K. Everybody wants that number, $10K, $10K. That's what I had told him. And he asked me what was my revenue goals. I remember him exactly, $10K to $12K was my request on that. Um, I wanted something, some type of extra income outside of my income, uh, to really, like I said, give me the life that I was looking for, uh, in Amazon. So yeah, I had dreams of my $10K months. Um, that, yeah, that was my goal.

Yeah, that's awesome, man. So like, uh, what is like the new normal now? Right? Like now that you have been here for a whole year now, like what, what have you done in the last couple months now? And again, we can kind of go into as far as like what else you're doing, But like, take me through, like, what is your new normal now? Like, what is your goals now?

Man, so new normal, things that I couldn't even dream of. New normal just in my business, at least about $20,000 to $25,000 MMR or monthly recurring revenue. That's my baseline. So again, my dreams were about $10K. I've doubled those. That's my reality now. Also doors that I could not have even imagined to where I'm able to manage The skillset that I've learned under Eman and his school community, his course, uh, has allowed me to go ahead and step out and manage other brands, assist with other brands running PPC, uh, showcasing my knowledge that, uh, was gratefully taught me, taught by Eman. Uh, so yeah, the life has changed. Before Eman was good, life after Eman is great.

Yeah. And that's awesome, man. Cause honestly, that, that's kind of whenever I talk to someone or I tell people, it's like, you always want to Be an individual where when people meet you, like, life gets better, right? And that's always been my goal when anybody I meet or I talk to or anything like that. Like, I want to make sure that I instill some type of value within anybody, right? But at the end of the day, it's your skill set, it's your drive, it's your passion to try and make those changes possible. Because for every Alan, there's 100 different people that it just didn't work out for, right? But you have to have that drive in order for you to kind of hit your goals. Like you would agree with that, right?

Definitely. Definitely. And that's what the mindset was. It was like, Iman gave me the foundation, but he also, hey, you need to work on this foundation. He gave me the tools, but he didn't allow me to just sit on my butt. And I'm thankful for that because now I'm able to reap the fruits of that labor.

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And so like, it obviously sounds like you're, you're way different than when we first started talking like last year and like your goals are way higher than it was last year. But like, when did it click? And like, when did it actually start changing in your life? And like, was there anything specific or like when you knew things were kind of looking greater than what you thought before?

It was really seeing it in motion because like you can plan for your product to do this. You can plan for all these things to go right. But in the moment when it's actually happening, that was my biggest thing. I launched quarter 4, like right before, right? during December, uh, crazy hectic time. And it was when I saw my, I was making money, but I wasn't doing anything. I didn't have to go to the post office to deliver the packages. I didn't have to speak to customer service or anything like that. When I started really making money consistently, uh, month over month and ultimately selling out my first product, I was like, okay, this is insane. Um, and I want more of it. So.

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And that's probably one of the biggest things that's different between Amazon FBA and everything else is that a lot of the hard work is done upfront. It's like finding the product, going ahead and talking to the manufacturer, getting supply chain, getting the samples, finding the freight forwarder that once everything is like, you know, the wheels are finally turning and everything's looking good. Like the fruits of your labor is what you're talking about. It's like awesome when it comes to Amazon FBA, because all you do is literally do some ads and you see your sales kind of go crazy. Right. Exactly. And, um, but let's go back to like before, right? Like you've tried other things like Amazon retail arbitrage, online arbitrage. Like what did you try before that left you frustrated and like what wasn't working before you tried private label?

Um, and I would, same thing, Amazon, the retail arbitrage and, uh, specifically retail arbitrage because I was going into stores looking for sales, looking for deals, hoping to find something to sell. So like I'm wasting my time. I've realized I was wasting my time. I'm wasting my, at the time, gas, just driving to these stores hoping for something. And really the understanding of a business, what a business is like going from hustling and flipping to like a real business model. Yeah, that's, that's, I think I missed it. Yeah, that's the, that's the real change.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no, that, that, that makes total sense, man. And a lot of people that, you know, join the program or I talk to or anything like that, that wants to get into Amazon FBA, there's always like a reason, right? Like some people might've hit like rock bottom or had a rock bottom moment. Like what made you realize that you needed some change in something, right? Like what, what made you want to even reach out in the first place?

Honestly, it was seeing a proof of concept. I saw it in real life. Like I said, I know Eman and I got to see how his life changed and The things, he's not a flashy guy, but if you understand, you understand. Um, so that was like seeing proof of seeing how somebody else I went to high school with life can change. And I've seen his students' life change. I'm like, okay, it's time for my life to change. Um, so that was the biggest thing, seeing proof of concepts and knowing that, uh, it was real. I wanted my piece of that.

Yeah. Yeah, man. Again, it's one of those things where It's hard to believe, right? Like even with this whole like online space and like gurus and this and that, like sometimes it's really hard, even for me, right? To even pitch a one-on-one or anything like that because the whole guru stigma behind it. But I definitely feel, man, like the more and more I do it and the more and more people I talk to and like, you know, have the same type of mindset that I do now, it's like, I feel like I have to do it, right? So like you talk about like your life changing, right? Like how is your day-to-day life changed? And like, what different routines do you do now that you didn't do before?

Life is more free. Life is more free. I'm not looking at, I'm not rich or anything, but I'm not checking my bank account before purchases. I'm living a more free life. I have more free time on my hands. I'm looking, I'm almost at the point of being able to actually release my 9 to 5. Even though I enjoy it, I enjoy what I do. That's why I'm keeping it. But it's changed the aspect of life. Like I don't live life month to month. I don't live life looking at when's the next paycheck coming in. It's more of a thriving life, like more enjoyment in life.

Yeah, it's like the life of abundance because you know that it's going to happen, right? And I feel like the biggest change, like when something like that changes you, like people see that, right? So like what's the biggest change that your family or friends have noticed about you in general?

Same thing, calm. Um, like being, being dealing with Amazon, you're going to have your ups and downs. There's going to be things that come your way, even when you, you know, put everything perfectly. Uh, but to, to handle the ups and downs of life, like now I'm very mellow. Um, I'm not too emotional when things happen. Um, yeah. And it's more of a calm that everything's going to be okay because now I have a real business behind me. Um, not only, not just myself working. Like I know things are going to be okay because I have that trust already set up with my business.

Yeah. And the crazy thing is like I follow Alan on social media now. He posted one day saying that his family says that he attracts money everywhere he goes now. Right. So that's always the thing is that like you put that out there. Right. And the thing is that like you do it subconsciously, not even knowing that you're doing it, but like you become more helpful, you become more gracious, you become a better person overall. Like once you know that the life of abundance basically. But like, let's take you back now, right? Like, I always tell somebody this, like when I first got started is that if I knew where my life was heading at, I would have paid so much more money, right? Like whenever I was researching how to do Amazon FBA or like paying for coaching or paying for some type of, you know, mentorship, I'm like, I would have paid that over and over and over again. But everybody's different, right? But like looking back at your investment into yourself, Like, how do you feel about taking that leap of faith? Like, how did you feel at that point in time and how do you feel afterwards?

So I was very, uh, at the time of it, I was very nervous. Um, I prayed over it. I had my mother pray over it, the decision. Um, because at the time for that investment, I was looking at what else I can, I was looking at different things to use that investment and to say to yourself, hey, I can take this money and make it make money. Versus take this money and learn something to make it make money. It's a scary thing because I felt like, what if I didn't apply? What if it didn't work? So that was my nervousness. But now fast forward, best decision of my life. That was the best investment of my life because now I've got my return on investment for sure. But now I have a business that is monthly giving me profit. And then also I can exit this business in the future. And there's so much, like I said, I'm managing different brands. It's created different revenue streams of income for me, um, that I didn't even have imagined. So if I could tell my scary self at that time, man, have faith, dive into it and go full in.

Yeah, man. That's awesome because people don't even know the possibility of Amazon FBA and having cash flow month to month and being able to sell this asset is one thing that not a lot of people go ahead and talk about. But what would you say to someone who's like hesitant about investing in themselves and kind of taking this, the basically you at that point in time, what would you tell yourself?

Um, to understand, like understand proof of concept, believe in what you see. Um, because we, everybody has this thing of it's too, it's too good to happen to me or they got lucky. Um, no, have, if you're a hard worker and you are going to apply what you're taught, you can do it. That's exactly what I would say. You can do it.

Yeah, no, definitely, man. I get it now for sure. For sure. Um, but like, like what about somebody who's on the fence, right? Like let's say someone is looking at doing coaching or mentorship with me specifically, right? Like what would you tell them?

Oh man.

Hey, sign up, get to it, get your notepad out, take the notes.

Um, yeah, like I would tell you to jump on the decision and It's because like, I'm very, I'm very honest. Like, Eman is going, he knows, he knows, he's done it himself and he also knows how to teach it. And if you were going, he's going to make you apply it. And that's the best thing because now I, I know the skill. I can rinse and repeat this. I can, I can exit my brand, start another brand or buy another brand and go ahead and scale this thing right on up because now I know the skill. Um, so yeah, I would, yeah, I would tell you to jump into it. Take your notes, apply it, and you'll be off to the races as well.

Oh no, that's awesome, man. But like, what's next for you now? Right? Like what goals are you setting that you never even thought that were possible before?

Yeah, definitely. Next, uh, next goal up is that $50K month, um, consistently $50K months. I should be doing that quarter 4, uh, this year. Um, and then ultimately exit this brand, uh, out to, uh, you know, exit this brand and then rinse and repeat this process. Like this is something that I have a skill set at, I'm going to, I see proof of concept. And yeah, I want to, I want this to be a part of life. Um, and then as well, I'm looking at, uh, starting an agency, uh, uh, Amazon agency, ad agency, where we go ahead and, um, monitor accounts, address the ads, using my skill sets that I've learned in this, uh, training here.

And it's crazy, guys, because it's been one year only. And look at these goals that he has now, right? Like he's so confident in how much he knows about Amazon FBA. He's willing to bet that he's the best one doing it. And literally like that type of mindset, like you're impossible to basically, you know, like no one can get in the way of his goals is what I'm trying to go ahead and say. Right. So for one thing, it's like for someone watching who has in their own struggle right now, right? Like what would you tell them? Like maybe it's something that we kind of talked about as far as like being in a rock bottom situation or like, you know, not knowing exactly what to go ahead and do next or looking at all these different types of make money online, regardless if they choose Amazon FBA or not. Like for someone watching who's struggling right now, like what would you tell him as far as like a piece of advice?

To believe in self, believe that you deserve more, believe that, you know, the good things can happen to you. Because like I've been in those situations where you feel rock bottom, everything's against you, but it's not. Like one thing can change, one thing can change your life. And it's really just having that belief. So definitely have belief in yourself. Yeah, I'm gonna repeat myself. Believe yourself.

Yeah, yeah. No, I get it. I get it. And like, but how does somebody do that, right? Like when somebody hits rock bottom, and I'm asking this like out of like the questions that I went ahead and sent you over, like how does someone believe in theirself when They don't think that they can, right?

That's the one I believe in. When they don't think that they can. Yeah.

And I'll say this much, man. It's like, find people that believe in themselves and that's— that stuff is attractive, right? Like, the thing is that, like, if you start watching 24/7 people that are your superhero, right? Follow those people, see what they're doing, see what they're doing day to day. And that in itself is going to be the— it's like, it's like a magnet, right? They're going to gravitate towards that in itself. And that's how you go ahead and start believing in yourself, in my opinion. Right.

So. Agreed. Surrounding yourself by like-minded minds, seeing people that believe in themselves is— it definitely makes an impact because seeing, like I said, proof of concept with you, I had no doubt that I could be successful because I have somebody, somebody that I know did the same thing.

Yeah. Yeah. And it looks like you're busy right now. So let's, let's ask this next question is that if you could go back and give yourself the one piece of advice before starting this journey at all, right? Like, what would it be?

One piece of advice would be to save, save my money, save, save money initially. Uh, Amazon's a cash-intensive business. Um, and for example, I keep running out of stock. When you said I should be at $500,000, yes, it's because I keep running out of stock every other month. Um, it's cash-intensive. So I would prepare myself to be, uh, to develop, have redeployment funds ready to go. Um, just a little bit faster. Um, but yeah, that would be my biggest advice. Have your cash flow ready. Have your cash ready.

Yeah. Yeah. No, that's great advice because people think that they can do Amazon FBA with like $2,000, $3,000. But when it comes time to reorder that inventory before Amazon even pays you, like good luck. Right. So I always say this, like at least have $10,000 ready. And just to be able to deploy. You're not going to deploy it all at one time, obviously, right? But you don't want to be making decisions based on you needing money. You want to be able to kind of, you know, grow your business the right way. But no, man, I appreciate you, Alan. And like, again, Alan, one year in, has completely different goals than a year ago. And that's the type of like mindset, that's the type of drive that Alan has that again, you have to find it within yourself to see if you can even go ahead and do that. And again, it all starts from taking that one step forward. And maybe it's not Amazon FBA, but whatever you do in life, take this interview and see, like, your life can literally change in just one year. But I appreciate you guys going ahead and watching this. If you guys want to go ahead and follow Alan, I'll make sure to have his IG, uh, in the description below. And thank you guys so much for going ahead and watching this video. But until the next one, guys, peace.