Allen Baler has been an entrepreneur for many years and is a seasoned Internet marketer. He is the founder of 4Patriots, LLC, a Tennessee-based company the helps people become more self-reliant and independent through the creation of high-quality and innovative consumer products.
- What was your best/favorite subject in school?
American History was always a pleasure for me. I enjoyed learning about our American forefathers and how they overcame obstacles hundreds of years ago to form the country that we are privileged to live in today.
- What was your first job?
I’ll never forget, my first job was washing dishes at a restaurant. I definitely remember the long hours and hard physical work. After a few months, I got promoted to the kitchen as an assistant short-order cook. At a young age, I think that experience really struck a chord deep within me and made me understand that everything worthwhile in life was going to require hard work.
- How did those jobs prepare you for what you do now?
Working at the restaurant while growing up showed me the value of hard work and that the best way to learn a business is to start from the ground up. Working in corporate America taught me that too many companies focus more on the bottom line and fostering a bureaucratic environment that stifles its employees than they do on serving their customers. These lessons really helped me create a company whose mission today is to champion freedom and be a great place for great people to work.
- Where and how did you first get into the preparedness industry?
It was in Nashville, Tennessee where it all started. I sat down at the kitchen table with a notepad and penned the blueprint for what is now 4Patriots. After many years working in a corporate job, I knew there had to be something more meaningful and fulfilling out there. I wanted to control my own destiny and to provide value and service to Americans who wanted to live freely and independently.
- Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
The best day of work for me (if you can call it work, haha!) is when we made our first sale of our survival seed product. This really hit home. It made me realize we were on our way to helping Americans live independently and self-reliantly. But to be honest, every day of work is amazing. I love what I do and enjoy being around my employees.
- How do you keep yourself motivated?
Personally, I keep our mission in mind. It’s always a good thing to stay focused on the long-term mission and keep the end goal in sight. I don’t let day-to-day small things get to me. I’m the leader of my team and as such, I lead the way. Inspiring Americans to achieve an independent lifestyle with the help of my team is motivating!
- What kind of business ideas excite you most?
I love ideas that can reshape the way people live. Sitting down with my team and discussing new products and solutions to help Americans live independently is a passion of mine. I love getting out the notepad and planning our next move with everyone.
- Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
We have, actually. One thing that has worked for us is selling an idea and lifestyle, while not necessarily promoting our products too directly. Those sales come as a result of selling the idea. We’re not doing our job if we’re not inspiring and exciting our customers to free themselves from a cookie-cutter lifestyle. Our brand’s reputation as a champion of freedom and self-reliance is, above all, paramount.
- What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I’m very proud to have grown this company to where it is today. We have over 50 employees and have never borrowed a dime of investment money. I started 4Patriots on a very small budget and now we have the capacity to provide bonuses, retirement plans and health insurance coverage for all team members. It’s been exciting to see how it’s all come together over the years!
- What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
I would have told my younger self to stay on course with the end goal in mind. It’s never going to be easy starting a company from scratch and you’re going to have to make sacrifices along the way to see it all the way to the end. But it’s worth it. Stay fiercely independent, morally straight and have the intestinal fortitude to lead others when your team is struggling and needs direction.