We had the good fortune of connecting with Scott Gans and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scott, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

  • The key to growth is taking smart risks and not being afraid to fail.  My goals are set extremely high, and as a result some of my failures are higher than most people’s successes.
  • Risks separate the people that talk-the-talk verse the people that walk-the-walk.

Leaders work for their employees; Managers think their employees work for them: 

  • Manage your utility bill, and lead your employees:  
    • Our employees are like developing children.  Parents do everything for their kids and teach them how to become productive members of society, but they are in charge in the house.
    • Leaders work for their employees by developing them to understand the philosophies and the importance on developing leaders, but the employees are not in charge, the leader is.
  • 5 Rules to a leader finding the solution. 
  1. Ownership
  2. Responsibility
  3. Walk- the-Walk (don’t hand over the baton)
  4. ZERO Excuses
  5. Solutions.
  • When building a strong team:
  1. Great Attitude
  2. Find best ability.
  3. Pull out the driver (motivator)
  4. Use driver (motivator) to pull out the best ability.
  5. Put your Aces in Places
  6. Inspect what expect.
  7. Reward Positive behavior and redirect negative behavior.
  • 4P’s in the Cannabis Industry: 
      1. People
      2. Product
      3. Process
      4. Patient

**Don’t need to sell anything in the Cannabis Industry, you just need to recommend relief that benefits the consumer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

  • I started my career at the fine dining steakhouse Morton’s of Chicago in Aventura learning the importance of paying attention to detail, anticipate guests needs and how to exceed consumers expectations. I was in the restaurant industry for 10 years, building strong teams with leaders, increased employee efficiencies to lower costs and maximize revenue.  
  • After succeeding in the restaurant industry, I shifted careers and for 10 years I worked with EHI Holdings (Enterprise / National / Alamo).  During my time at EHI Holdings I ran the largest fleet of vehicles outside the Ft Lauderdale international airport.  I was then promoted to the corporate office and won the fleet account manager of the year award for the Southeast region in 2015 and 2016. I was on my way to winning in 2017 and at that time I decided to leave my corporate office and join the Cannabis Industry.  
  • As I entered the cannabis industry, I owned OneStrain, LLC.  OneStrain, LLC was a discrete website water pipe company with a discrete delivery service that was converted into selling wholesale Cannabis in Colorado. OneStrain, LLC gave me the exposure to make connections that allowed me to sell wholesale cannabis and work in a medical and recreational dispensary in Colorado.  
  • Wholesale: Colorado Rocky Mountain Farms / Kingpin Farms  
  • Recreational / Medical Dispensary: 1136 Yuma Dispensary / The Social Coffee “Joint.” 
  • I then returned to Florida and targeted the Medical Cannabis Industry in FL.   
  • My time at Trulieve I opened numerous locations, started with Trulieve from 14 stores to over 100+ in Florida and was Area Manager for the Panhandle and Jacksonville Area before me joining THE420LINK.com Team. 
  • It was an honour training Area Managers for Trulieve and Harvest, breaking sales records, contributing to the growth of one of the largest Cannabis Dispensaries, and now being an owner and the face of The420Link.com.  
  • We are connecting the Cannabis and Psychedelic Enthusiast together and It is “Our Business to Increase Your Business.” 

Was it easy? 

  • Nothing in life is easy. 
  • “Hustle wins every time.” 
  • “If you want it stop talking about it and go get it.” I am willing to do whatever it takes (period).  
  • This means walk- the- walk period, there is no room for a comma. 
  • During my time at Trulieve, my performance consistently exceeded sales goals and produced the highest generating stores and Areas for Trulieve.  This was due to the hard work of the entire team. 
  • My first location with Trulieve was in Edgewater Florida.  After 90 days in Edgewater, I was asked to increase employee efficiencies and align the Ft Myers location with the company brand.  Previously to me opening Bonita Springs and the Ft Lauderdale dispensary the Ft Myers store made it to #1 in sales for the company. 
  • After opening Bonita Springs and leading the company in sales in Fort Myers, I was transferred back home to Southeast Florida, opened the FT Lauderdale Trulieve, and the Ft Lauderdale dispensary has been #1 in sales since 2019.  We accomplished this as a team with great attitudes and behaviours of the employees that contributed to exceed the patient experience. I pride myself on building strong teams that strive to continuously improve.   
  • “Anyone can quantify a sale, but when you include great customer service that focuses on the consumer you can quantify that sale over the lifetime of the consumer.” 
  • Behaviors need to stay 100% focused on the customer by having an authentic and reciprocal relationship with their consumers that embrace Service over Sales = Profit.
    Proudest Moment:  
  • Still to come… Continuing to acquire companies, joining fun events in the Cannabis and Psychedelic community, excited for all the success for The420Link.com, and contributing to companies’ success while building personal brand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

  • I am from Miami and my favorite place is the Beach. If headed to the beach, why not South Beach Miami, FL. 
  • When on South Beach, Miami, FL you can feel the energy.  It is hard to be in a bad mood when near the water. 
  • I am a person that would works every day and if there was 8 days a week, I’ll take the extra day. I live in 1st or 5th gear (Chill or Turbo). Any excuse to escape mentally will happen in Vegas or Miami Beach. 
  • To me: The place is not as important than the company I am with.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

  • Through hard work and pain comes success and hustle wins every time. I never try to be someone else because everyone else is already taken.
  • I make sure to be the best version of myself and surround myself with people who are intrinsically motivated to continuously succeed.
  • The most important person in my life and who is my #1 cheerleader on my journey is my beautiful wife, DR. Jennifer “Jennie” Gans.  In addition to my children, I would like to thank Mother Sandra Weiss, Stepfather James Weiss.  In addition, a special thank you to my Mother and Father-in-Law “Buddy” and Dava Simon.
  • I am fortunate to have driven colleagues and staff members that I can continue to mentor.
  • Two specific high-level leaders in the Cannabis Industry that I am proud to recognize without hesitation for contributing to my success, is Amber Crawford and Jennifer Cadenhead.
  • “Leaders Build Leaders” – Thank you.

The420Link app: @ScottyG 

Website: https://www.the420link.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottyg_the420link/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-scotty-g-gans-387109a1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScottGans11

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018838508379

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/scottganssg

Other:  

  • The420Link.com – Download the app today.  It is a safe place to meet, and collect the education needed from experts in the Cannabis and Psychedelic community / industry.
  • The 420 Link removes the middleman and allows cannabis entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to network in addition to direct access to businesses.
  • “Our Business is to Increase your Business.”

Image Credits
Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management – Florida International University: 1996 v Associates of Arts in Business Management – Miami Dade College: 1994 v Sell-SMaRT™ – Cannabis Responsible Vendor Program – April 2018 v Colorado’s Safety & Regulations Certification Program – THC University – October 2017 v Marijuana 101 Certification Program – THC University – October 2017 v Dispensary Technician Certification, – Cannabis Training Institute – November 2017 v Budtender Certification Program – THC University November 2017 v Cannabis Business Certification Program – THC University – December 2017 v Cannabis Products Sales Training Certification – THC University – October 2017 The420Link.com – Vice President of Business Operations: March 2022 – Trulieve/North Florida Area Manager: July 2020 – March 2022 Trulieve/Fort Lauderdale – Dispensary Manager: May 2019 – June 2020 Trulieve/North Fort Myers – Dispensary Manager: September 2018 – April 2019 Trulieve/Edgewater – Product Coordinator: May 2018 to August 2018 1136 Yuma Medical & Recreational Dispensary – Dispensary Technician/Budtender: One Strain LLC – www.onestrain.com – Owner: May 2017 to April 2018 Enterprise Holdings – Management: April 2008 to September 2017 Restaurant Consulting Services: May 2003 – August 2007 TGI Fridays – Management: December 2001 – November 2003 Morton’s Steakhouse – Management: November 1997 – November 2001

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.