EP 07 - James Thomson - Expert Insights on the Specifics of Being Successful on Amazon

Amazon is a large and complex ecosystem which can be hard to navigate. In Episode 7, we learn from James Thomson, former head of Amazon Services and partner and co-founder of Buy Box Experts and the PROSPER show, about his journey from being a top Amazon executive to starting his own businesses. You will also learn valuable key points such as: How he created educational opportunities for sellers and brands to become more attuned to the specifics of what it takes to be successful on Amazon. Why relationships still matter even in today’s technology-driven environment. Outsourcing and delegating responsibilities to team members who can execute with excellence. And why you should just break free from the traditional environment and just grab an opportunity and own it! So listen up and learn valuable insights on how to navigate Amazon, entrepreneurship and living an Awesomer life. Welcome to the Awesomers.com podcast. If you love to learn and if you're motivated to expand your mind and heck if you desire to break through those traditional paradigms and find your own version of success, you are in the right place. Awesomers around the world are on a journey to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. We believe in paying it forward and we fundamentally try to live up to the great Zig Ziglar quote where he said, "You can have everything in your life you want if you help enough other people get what they want." It doesn't matter where you came from. It only matters where you're going. My name is Steve Simonson and I hope that you will join me on this Awesomer journey. SPONSOR ADVERTISEMENT If you're launching a new product manufactured in China, you will need professional high-resolution Amazon ready photographs. Because Symo Global has a team of professionals in China, you will oftentimes receive your listing photographs before your product even leaves the country. This streamlined process will save you the time money and energy needed to concentrate on marketing and other creative content strategies before your item is in stock and ready for sale. Visit Symo Global to learn more. Because a picture should be worth one thousand keywords. You're listening to the Awesomers podcast. Steve: You can find all the show notes and details at awesomers.com/7 that's awesomers.com/7. Today our special guest is James Thomson who is a partner in Buy Box experts which is a managed services agency supporting brands selling online. Earlier he served as the business head of Amazon services, the division of Amazon responsible for recruiting tens of thousands of sellers annually to the Amazon Marketplace. He has also served as the first fulfillment by Amazon manager. Prior to Amazon James was a management consultant and a banker or a big background. In 2015, James co-founded the Prosper show, a continuing education conference for large Amazon sellers and in 2017, he published a book the Amazon Marketplace Dilemma, designed for brand executives seeking to control their brands on the Amazon Marketplace and boy it's a wild west environment for the big brands for sure, even for the small brands. In 2018, he co-founded the Brand Authority Summit. James is definitely, constantly got his finger on the pulse of what's happening on Amazon and the e-commerce ecosystem at large and we're thrilled to have him. Again this is episode number 7 and don't forget to subscribe. Share this with a friend and leave us some comments on how you like this episode. Hey everybody welcome back to Awesomers! We're here on today's live podcast with a wonderful guest and it turns out that you can be an Awesomers and not even know it wouldn't you say that's true James? James: I'll let you decide what Awesomers means. I do what I like and I love doing what I'm doing so hopefully the story is interesting to those who are listening.

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If you are an Amazon seller, ecommerce entrepreneur, ebay seller or you want to learn how to sell online this Podcast is for YOU! What is an Awesomer? An Awesomer is someone who through a series of long-term actions and behaviors has demonstrated that they are not satisfied with normal. They are achievers to a penultimate degree in their own industry specialty or area of interest. There are no monetary criteria to be an Awesomer, in fact, many mega-wealthy people are not Awesomers. Some of them are Normies. Others are even Basics! Awesomers want to thrive; not just survive. Awesomers are trying to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. They are trying to make an impact, in whatever way they can, on the world. Many Amazon Sellers are awesomers. They took the Amazon FBA opportunity and they siezed the moment by taking action. If you are an Amazon Seller or interested in selling in eCommerce you should take a moment now and listen to all the Awesomer origin stories. Entrepreneurs solve problems in the world. They don’t create them. Awesomers are never done learning or improving. To become an Awesomer one must realize the journey to improve is perpetual. In other words, you don't arrive to the land of the Awesomer as a destination. Being an Awesomer means you are on the path of achievement for the sake of improving your life and those around you. Awesomers are 75% more likely to listen to educational or improvement podcasts.** What is a Normie? A Normie is someone who is stable and well established in life and ultimately is satisfied with the status quo. They don't want to rock the boat. They don't want to take risks. Normies are satisfied to survive. Normies are fine, just ask them. Awesomers have no problems with Normies. In fact, most Awesomers are surrounded by Normies who are their close friends and even family. More often than not Normies do not understand the plight of the Awesomer so they will warn the Awesomer to “be careful” or “don’t do it” or provide other guidance they mean to be helpful, but it is really just negativity that the Awesomer must overcome. We all know and love Normies and we are not criticizing Normies. We're only delineating some of the differences that exist between Awesomers and Normies. Normies are 84% more likely to listen to news about the Kardashians than Awesomers.** What is a Basic? A basic is someone who doesn't care about anyone which is often including themselves. They self-sabotage, they create problems, and they are not people that anyone should hang out with. They suck the life out of everyone around them by manufacturing drama, problems, or other nonsense. These people have chosen a path for themselves often by years and years of behaviors and actions which lead them to the life they have today; which is ok with us. We’re not judging. We just choose not to have our journey detoured by crossing the path of a Basic. (We also refer to this as the no A-HOLE rule.) 63% of basics have a cell phone only to play games, consume news or "vent" on social media.** **The preceding statistics for each archetype above is 100% made up. We like to make jokes. But we'll always tell the truth and set the record straight. The Awesomers.com podcast, hosted by Steve Simonson, will showcase some of the amazing origin stories of Awesomers from around the world. There are so many truly inspiring stories from people from all walks of life, but most often the Awesomers that will be focused on will be those who are also entrepreneurs. We'll be launching in the last half of 2018 as we build the systems and a team to support this important effort. We hope you will join us for this exhilarating journey! Many of these awesomers are Amazon sellers who have built an Amazon FBA ecommerce business and have started to see positive financial and lifestyle results.