Meet Tom Sun of KWA – Performance Industries

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Sun.

Tom, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
There was a time when things felt hopeless. Back then when DACA didn’t exist yet – there weren’t many options for me to choose from for my life. It would have been great for Uber/Lyft to exist then as well… but nope. I couldn’t even drive myself to work or school. As I went further down the rabbit hole of alcoholism, drugs, and depression, the more I just wanted for the perfect situation to come to me. It never came. It took me to the lowest point of my life, where I had -$9.55 to my name and I had no food or income to expect. That’s when I had it – and started looking for answers for my life.

The answer was all in front of me the whole time. The internet is an amazing vessel of knowledge for anyone who actually seeks it. I started off looking at craigslist for high-paying job requirements and did research. The one thing that stood out was Marketing and Business Development. I used to love playing business simulation games and was very good at them – so when I watched all the free online courses I could find, the more I fell in love with the idea of me doing this for my career. I started spending at least six hours per day doing work that helped me practice marketing skills and figuring out how to obtain clients.

As time passed by, my clients started paying me more and more. Word of mouth was my most powerful tool, and I knew that if I kept going… I’ll eventually get somewhere. Fast forward to six years later… I’m 31 and working as a Marketing Director at one of the world’s leading manufacturers of training weapons and airsoft guns. I get to work closely with law enforcement officials and solving problems for the entire law enforcement industry around the nation. Not only that, but I get to sell airsoft guns for a whole different crowd who finds joy in the products I sell. It’s such a blessing for me to be somewhere in my life because of the hard work I’ve put in.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were tons of challenges for me as I tried to navigate my way up. I had to understand how to make myself credible with the little number of resources available to me. I started by taking on some terrible sales jobs to understand the language I needed to speak in order to sell.

The worst one had to be a door-to-door sales position where I had to sell Angels tickets at a city who has Dodger flags on every other car. Not only was it brutal at first, but I needed to wear a full suit in the blazing summer heat. But these types of experiences helped me turn myself into a very adaptable salesman, and it’s extremely important to understand how to combine sales and marketing together.

After taking on multiple jobs and attending a ton of interviews for practice (at one point I averaged about four interviews a week, just for practice), I became very good at selling myself and my services. The amount of projects I took on gave me a very versatile approach to the way I can speak with all kinds of clients.

KWA – Performance Industries – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
KWA is the world’s leading manufacturer of training weapons and airsoft guns. Aside from providing our fans with the highest quality of airsoft guns, KWA works with a variety of training centers plus military, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. By offering products that are cost effective & reliable, KWA has advanced the development of airsoft into a non-lethal training alternative for military and law enforcement agencies around the world.

KWA products are designed for operators who demand realistic replicas without sacrificing performance and durability. KWA Professional Training Products are designed to reinforce proficiency and survivability in tactical training programs. Repetition and consistency are essential to professionals who rely on trained core fundamentals to accomplish the mission.

KWA specifically designs its products to complement any training program. All KWA products use 6mm low impact BBs that minimize liability and maximize cost savings, making KWA the logical choice. The alternative for law enforcement training would be the use of simulation rounds… which can cost up to three times the cost of KWA products.

The way officers are trained in the way they have to fight in real life situations. Recoil action, fire controls, and safety features are recreated for a more dynamic training experience without the fear of negligent discharges that can endanger lives – that’s why law enforcement agencies and trainers worldwide depend on KWA products as a cost-effective, force-on-force training tool.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve been lucky enough to get to a point where I could support my family and myself by doing what I love. My proudest moment wasn’t by award or achievement, but rather just reflecting on my career on a drive home from work. It was one of those days in traffic when I just took in the alone time with stride and did some self-reflecting.

When I decided to think about how far I’ve gone and the achievements I’ve had along the way… I felt something I never allowed myself to feel. A sense of pride in my journey so far. I still think about the -$9.55 and how it was one of the best things to ever happen to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kwa-le.com
• Phone: 9099937020
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwa_airsoft/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwaperformance/
• Other: store.kwausa.com

Image Credit:
Jason Goldwulf

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