Tim Joo and Ron Roberts Alpha Strategy Discussion

Date: May 14, 2025 Participants: Gary Sheng, Tim Joo, Ron Roberts

Overview

This conversation focused on strategic planning for Alpha initiatives, particularly related to corporate campus schools, event planning, and sales strategies. The discussion revealed tension around the "brain lift" process at Alpha, updates on communication with Arthur Michel, and plans for Tim Joo to become a sales-focused leader within the organization. The participants also discussed potential collaborations with Gauntlet and strategies for approaching tech company partnerships.

Key Discussion Points

Arthur Michel Situation

Gary shared that Ron Roberts had successfully smoothed over a situation with Arthur Michel:

"Ron basically smooth over with Arthur and we were gonna, basically, gonna be able be on soon."

Gary described his direct approach with Arthur:

"I talked to Arthur. I just was like, listen. Like, this is what the fuck we're doing. We're trying to fucking win... I literally was like, yo... bro, I've worked in corporate before, I've worked with billionaires before. Nobody wants to be fucking honest with the guy who's paying their fucking bills. I don't give a fuck because I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'm just gonna be completely honest with you."

The result was positive:

"He was like, makes sense... he finally, like, loosened up and realized that, like, weren't coming for his fucking job. We just want him to, like, say yes anytime."

Gary also negotiated a modified approach to the brain lift process with Arthur:

"How do you feel about, like, when I come to you about shit, we don't start off with a brain lift. We start off with just a PDF. And, like, you help me iterate it all the way to your liking. Right? And we, like, workshop it that way, then put it in the brain lift... because he was a part of the collaboration process on the front end, if 90% of the work is done, fuck it."

Brain Lift Criticisms

Ron shared his critical perspective on the brain lift model:

"That whole brain lift model, like the DOK one through four, that's like... an educational theory, by the way, but it's applied for, like, K-2 while learning."

Gary joked:

"Do you know what would be kind of funny is if we did brain lift on how ass brain lifts are."

Corporate Campus Schools Initiative

Tim provided updates on his approach to corporate school partnerships:

"I've basically RSVP'd to a bunch of tech meetups. I'm just trying to put myself [out there]... I have one tomorrow. I have one on Friday. I'm trying to find the best one for Saturday."

Gary encouraged Tim to focus on this initiative:

"Just let's just start with the campus stuff... The corporate stuff. Campus stuff."

Gauntlet Partnership Opportunity

Gary proposed a parallel opportunity for Tim:

"I just got off a phone call with Brett Johnson... I really think that I could get you like, a part time job at Gauntlet. In addition to this because it's the same shit... working with a bunch of tech [companies] that need to hire new people."

"It's a great way to have this free money if you can help secure a gauntlet... hiring partners... any given person that's a leader of a tech company, either needs engineers, or maybe they're parent maybe they care about alpha."

Tim was enthusiastic:

"I would do it. Would do it. Why not, man? I'm all about getting stacking cash and building relationships."

Gary encouraged him to be proactive:

"I would even say pretend that you are already approved... you do represent Gauntlet in a way... I would just start acting that way. And then... over the next two weeks, we can align with Brett on, like, a commission strategy."

June 14th Event Planning

Tim mentioned ongoing preparations for the upcoming event:

"If the tentative date for this event is June 7..."

Gary corrected him:

"No. 14th... And it's right before Father's Day, so we can brand it accordingly too."

Tim expressed concern about timelines:

"There's still a ton of work... even me submitting this proposal. Yeah. There's, like, branding... what does that envelope look like? What's the copy look like?"

Gary redirected him:

"Beef is handling the creative. He's handling the coffee copy, all that... I think what you should really just focus on is going to these fucking meetups bro."

Sales Strategy Development

Gary proposed a new direction for Tim:

"I think that you should just, like, laser focus on getting the sales pitch down and, like... in-person closing."

"Honestly treat yourself as, like... bro, specialize. Become like a fucking god of sales and AI... If you were dude, if you became the sales god, dude, you can negotiate the best commission structure."

Gary suggested using AI tools:

"Literally have AI through your watch... Give you feedback on everything... So that you're constantly learning how to be better at the sale."

Gary positioned this as filling a critical gap:

"Alpha has no salespeople, dude... Let's just treat Jason [Applebaum] as completely useless... Let's treat him as completely useless. Intentionally unhelpful, and we're we're gonna create our own message. In in sales process."

"Become the head of sales of alpha. Seriously. Just, like, literally start acting like it."

Tim's 4-Day Action Plan

Tim outlined his immediate plans:

"I got my Thursday event. Right? I got my Friday event. And then Saturday, I think what I'm gonna do is I'm just gonna put on some nice fucking clothes and post up at, like, a really, really nice hotel bar somewhere in Austin. I'm thinking either the Ritz or whatever. Just post up there and try to talk to high net worth individuals at these places. Right? And then Sunday, I'll go to church as well. So that's kinda my road map for the next four days."

CRM Technology Opportunity

The conversation began with discussion of a potential CRM technology initiative:

"It's such a huge opportunity to create the CRM tech that we talked about. I would even say we we do this outside of alpha so that we can have Joe invest in what... let's do it outside of Alpha, have Joe invest in it with FOMO."

Ron was enthusiastic:

"This would be right up Joe's Alley. Of like there's just no way that he wouldn't pop a boner thinking about this, like, software."

The current approach was criticized:

"He's doing a shitty inefficient job of doing it by just paying people for their brain lifts... It's not natural."

Church Outreach Initiative

Gary briefly mentioned ongoing church outreach:

"Yesterday, I brought in a guy that has that have home his kids for eighteen years. He's a he's he's a middle leader... I told him the next time we'll be at church, is the following Sunday. This weekend."

Tim also mentioned outreach:

"I already invited this Jehovah Witness lady to our to our June 14 event."

Next Steps

1. Tim to attend tech meetups Thursday and Friday
2. Tim to visit upscale hotel bars on Saturday to network with high net worth individuals
3. Tim and Gary to attend church on Sunday
4. Tim to connect with Beef regarding event creative materials
5. Tim to record and analyze sales conversations for continuous improvement
6. Gary to help establish a connection between Tim and Brett Johnson for Gauntlet commission structure
7. Tim to shift focus from marketing tasks to sales development

Notable Quotes

"I'm just gonna be completely honest with you. The state where everything is at, this where we would push it to. As soon as we're empowered to do so, when you'll see like, multiplication effects of that." - Gary Sheng to Arthur Michel

"I would even say pretend that you are already approved... you do represent Gauntlet in a way, right?" - Gary Sheng to Tim Joo

"Become the sales god... that you literally train the sales people too because of, like, the AI process." - Gary Sheng to Tim Joo

"I think he would love that shit, bro. That's what I'm saying. Like, let's position you in a way where you don't even have competition." - Gary Sheng to Tim Joo

"That whole brain lift model, like the DOK one through four, that's like... an educational theory, by the way, but it's applied for, like, K-2 while learning." - Ron Roberts

Relationship Dynamics

The conversation revealed several key relationships:

1. Gary and Arthur Michel: Gary has established a direct, honest approach with Arthur, who appears to be in a position of authority/approval at Alpha.

2. Gary and Tim Joo: Gary is actively mentoring Tim, pushing him toward a sales leadership role and helping create opportunities with both Alpha and Gauntlet.

3. Ron and Tim: Ron had a separate meeting with Tim to provide context about initiatives outside Alpha School.

4. Tim and Beef: Beef is handling creative aspects of the June 14th event, and Tim is advised to coordinate with him.

5. Gary and Brett Johnson: Gary has a relationship with Brett Johnson at Gauntlet that could create opportunities for Tim.

The conversation showed Gary positioning Tim for greater leadership within Alpha's sales function while simultaneously encouraging him to pursue parallel opportunities with Gauntlet that align with the same target market of tech companies.