About Ranard Brown

First, let me introduce myself by saying I love small business owners.  We think and make business decisions unlike anyone.  There is a strong desire to create and grow your creation.  With that being said, my life has always been dedicated to projects and must-dos.

The Beginning

Investment Days:

Boring Stuff-

Investing since I was 16.  Started with bonds. Moved to Mutual funds and stocks.  I fell in love with options.  Wrote many articles, training guides, presentations on various topics including: How to locate stocks, How to analyze stocks from a fundamental and technical perspective, Advanced Technical Analysis and Advanced options and various trading strategies.  Lastly, I was a best-selling investment speaker.  My technical analysis video series was a major hit in the trading world.

Oh yeah, I wrote and published, Chart’s Don’t Lie, People Do! Sold over 5000 books and over 1500 eBooks.  Cost to make book $2.36 sold for 29.95 + 6.95 shipping.  EBook sold for $15.  No cost to produce.  Do the math! This is before eBooks were even around. I was featured in (5) issues of Deep Magazine as the financial professional. I worked as a financial advisor and money manager (I personally managed $28 million) and over $100 million in assets that I oversaw for clients.  Lastly, I was a professional trader for a very large bank based in Charlotte, NC. (VERY FUN!)

Investment Success

I remember when I opened my first business in 2002. I opened it soon after 9/11.  I was working as a professional technical and stock analyst.  I did not want to travel anymore. So, your friend resigned and formed The Stock People.  This was a HUGE success.  I traveled around the country giving investment classes, investment workshops, trading seminars and trading clinics.  I was such a hit that I wanted to create an entire suite of investment products and services.  I had a menu of stuff that I wanted to sell.  Investment e-books, trading systems, how-to trade guides, trading software, newsletters, and a ton more.

Big Problem

There was one major problem.  Where in the heck do I start?  I hit the internet and searched for months.  I hired and fired at least 12 website designers and software programmers who said they could help me.  Well, thousands of dollars later I’m still at square one.  Problem two.  I’m broke!  I spent all my cash trying to build a website.  On the bright side I figured out where to go to get what I needed for a fraction of the cost.  How much? I was able to get my site built for $300.  Previously, I spent over $2,400 and it was crap!  So, I started studying the entire process and I realized how to get awesome stuff, fast, great quality, and 1/3 of the cost. Ready to go!

I was managing a ton of projects to get The Stock People where it needed to be.
I hired two website developers ($600) content writers for all the pages ($125) graphic designers- business cards, logos, stationary etc. ($225) By the way, the graphic designers were world class (#1 designs the McDonald ads, #2 designs the various beer coasters) Press release writers ($10-15 per release with distribution) Computer software developers  ($175) They created an online technical stock analysis program for me. Awesome tool. Lastly, I needed payment processing.  I looked at EVERYTHING!  I mean it.  Finally, I settled on an awesome solution that automated my business.  Business automation made my life easy as pie.  You can see I had my hands full.  However, I was able to focus on my investment education business while I managed the service providers.  Tough, but I become better at it as time went on.

Investment Products and Services

In the end, I had an awesome website that generated money for me in the following way:

• DVD- Sold for $200 (Currently updating new version)
• Investment Newsletter- $35 per month (300 subscribers)
• Investment training Course- $800-$5000 per month
• Investment Seminars $5000-10,000 per weekend
• Investment EBook- $15 auto download- no effort.
• Charts Don’t Lie, People Do! $36
• Money from trading- $2,400-3,600 per month

I tell you this because I did not have the capital most local providers wanted to do the project. So, I made something from nothing.  I had to be business savvy, use my resources and systems to make my business a success.

Fun times are over-

People started stealing my investment products.  DVD sales dried up and people were burning the DVD’s and giving them to their investment friends in various investment groups.  My Investment newsletter subscribers dropped to under 100. Seminars were being phased out with the introduction of the DVD.  EBook was a free download on 1000’s of sites.  So, my income stream dried up!  Microsoft could not stop it. What chance did I have?  I took the products off the market due to my ego refusing to allow someone to steal from me.  Now, I have a different perspective that will allow my products and services to go viral since they will steal it.  This technique allows me to profit from their dishonesty.  Not bad.

What I’m doing now-

The Stock People is going well.  I provide investment second opinions to investors who are unsure of their investments or financial advisor.  This is an eye-opener. I can identify the good and bad of your investments or tell you if your financial advisor is taking advantage of you.  In addition, I offer the investment training and books.  It’s an automated website and the systems in place allows me to manage The Stock People and my other businesses.

Website Design and Graphic Design

The website business came about by complete accident.  I created so many business websites for The Stock People over the years and I obtained website training by world-class designers.  I was able to create my own sites and save some bread.  Business associates, clients, and friends loved my simple and clean design.  I started doing it for free.  The demand for my website and graphic design services went through the roof.  I had to create a business.  So, here’s The Resource People.  It’s a website that provide website design, graphic design, photography, video, performance improvement, process improvement, project management and action plans for new and established business.

So, here’s the catch.  Let’s say you want a website designed and some business cards.  I have a large network of professionals that I’ve personally screened and can validate their work.  I notify my network of your project.  They begin to bid on your project.  Afterwards, I pick the best provider for your project.  This ensures you get the best quality, great price and turnaround time for your projects.  Most website and graphic design projects are completed in 2-7 days.

The Stock People experience still had bothered. I wish I had the knowledge to combat the piracy.  That’s when I decided to go back for my MBA.  I finished my MBA- Operations Management in 2011.  My goal was to learn business system from a good business school. Now, I just finished my Master Certification in Project Management from Villanova University. I will sit for my PMP (Project Management Professional) designation in April. Past business experience and education makes me 100% able to help you with any part of your business. 

I love this business.  I am able to design the site for you or I can find a provider.  The best part is that you are getting world-class quality and your not paying an arm and leg for it.

Areas of Specialty:

• Project Management – Manage any project for you and your company
• Operations- Streamline and automate your business. Reduce your costs; increase productivity, faster processing and fewer errors.
• Website Design- I have a network of designers who are ready for your next website project.
• Graphic Design- You can have world-class designers make your logo, brochure, packaging etc. Unusually at 50-60% off.
• Photography- That’s all me!  I’ve traveled the world doing photography.  I started doing products and jewelry photography. I photographed celebrities and have appeared in many magazine, newspapers and journals over the years.  Tap Out (5 issues) and various martial arts magazine, Chiropractor Journal, Carolina Bride and more. I photograph company products, corporate employees, location photographs etc. I own Lake Norman Photo.  We are the number one source for photography in Lake Norman.  My experience and training as a fashion photographer allows me to take average looking people and make them look amazing!
• Video- We produce high quality HD video.  The video commercial is perfect for businesses that want to showcase their business, employees, services etc.  It is very affordable and we have a fast video turnaround times.  Less than 1 week.

Now, The Resource People is completely automated.  I systematized everything from the sales process, project management, provider management, and client management.  This allows me to manage multiple projects without stressing out.  The key is automation!

My ultimate passion- Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in 2001.  I immediately fell in love it. I love the one-on-one competition and the strategy it takes to beat your opponent. I started training under Royce Gracie in 2002 and have been training under the UFC legend ever since.

I competed and won many BJJ tournaments over the years.  However, I’ve suffered nine concussions and my competitive streak had to scale back.  I focused my energy into new and committed students.  My training partner (Hallie “Snake” Hair) and I have trained hundreds of students and our recent success is Rodney “Sho-Nuff The Master” Wallace who signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  Keep in mind; there are less than 300 people under contract there.  HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.  You have to be in the top 1% in the world to be in there.  They only select the best of the best.  We train champions. PERIOD! 

The #1 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA schools in North and South Carolina

Team-R.O.C. is the number 1 MMA team in North and South Carolina.  We produce the best fighters and Gracie jiu jitsu competitors around.  This is not opinion.  100% fact.  Team Roc – Rodney Wallace (UFC), Tim Kennedy (Strike Force 185), Brandon Gardner (The Ultimate Fighter), Jordan Rinaldi (Currently trying out for the Ultimate Fighter) Our coaching have lead the complete domination of every team.  Come train with us! You will see the difference.

I opened Gracie Lake Norman Jiu Jitsu located in Mooresville, NC at 148 Lugnut Ln. Ste. 202, Mooresville, NC 28117.  We teach kids, adults, women’s self defense and corporate self-defense for employees.

Hopefully, you have a good understanding of my businesses and me.  Bottom line, you can turn your passion into a business and make great money helping others.