Business

Transforming Sales: Tips from Gene Slade’s Student on Lead Ninja System

Published

1 year ago

June 13, 2024

Corbin Allen’s journey from a troubled past to a successful sales professional shows how resilience and good mentorship can change a life. With the help of Gene Slade, CEO of Lead Ninja System and Lead Ninja AI, Allen improved his sales skills and used new strategies to perform much better.

Lead Ninja System is a training program that helps improve sales skills, especially for people in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades. It focuses on making sales more efficient and keeping customers happy through Slade’s proven strategies and hands-on training sessions. Lead Ninja AI is part of the Lead Ninja System and can have long, human-like phone conversations. It remembers details from past talks, making each call personal and consistent. This AI is flexible and works well for sales calls and customer support in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades.

Here, Mr. Allen shares the important lessons he learned from Slade and how he used them to succeed. He gives practical advice for new salespeople. Allen keeps learning from Slade and now also teaches others at Slade’s live events.

Road to Victory

Allen’s journey is truly amazing. He was born into a tough situation and faced many difficulties from a young age.

“I was a product of a broken home,” he shares. “I never really had a mom physically present, and this led to some poor choices. I found myself in prison at 18.”

When Allen was 20 and got out, he decided to change his life. He started working on air conditioners, not knowing at first how much money he could make in sales.

“I was hired as a technician, but I realized the guys selling air conditioners were making significantly more money,” he says. “This moment was the start of my journey in sales.”

Discovering Gene Slade and Lead Ninja System

Allen’s career took a huge turn when he found Slade and the Lead Ninja System.

“Gene is the real deal,” Allen says. “Unlike many sales trainers who haven’t ‘walked the walk,’ Gene’s advice is practical and — most importantly — rooted in real experience.”

Allen first heard about Slade through a podcast and was immediately impressed by his insights.

“I decided to try his techniques, and they worked,” Allen says. “This was a total game-changer for me.”

Top Tips from Corbin Allen

Drawing from his experiences and the invaluable lessons learned from Slade, Allen shared his top sales tips with us to help our readers succeed.

1. Establish a Routine

Allen insists on the importance of a good routine.

“How you do anything is how you do everything,” he says. “Having a routine, setting aside time for yourself, and keeping a positive mindset are super important. Whether it’s going to the gym, meditating, or grounding yourself, find something that centers you and make it part of every single day.”

2. Adopt a Holistic Approach

A holistic approach to life and work is essential.

“You need to look at your life from all angles,” Allen says. “Focus on improving yourself in all areas of your life, not just in sales. When you feel good, you do well. This means you will have better interactions with clients and more successful sales. But you have to give all aspects of your life equal value.”

3. Develop a Solid Process

One of the most impactful lessons Allen learned from Slade is the importance of having a structured sales process.

“Most salespeople don’t have a clear process that they can use with every potential client,” he notes. “Gene taught me that having a standard process allows you to track what works and what doesn’t. It’s important to follow a consistent process in every interaction.”

4. Focus on Helping Others

Allen advises changing the perspective from selling to helping.

“Ask yourself, ‘How can I help this person today?’” he says. “When you really focus on providing help and solving problems for your clients, the sales will naturally follow!”

5. Continuous Learning and Adaptation

As a forever student of Slade’s teachings, Allen shares the importance of always learning and being open to adapt.

“Sales is always changing,” he says. “Stay updated with Gene’s latest techniques, attend his bi-weekly training sessions, through the Mastermind, and always be open to learning new things. Gene’s Lead Ninja Mastermind sessions are so great, and the Mansion Events are even better, because we practice in real life, just like it would be with a potential client.”

Allen’s Credentials and Achievements

Allen’s success under Slade’s mentorship is easy to see from his big achievements.

“From making $50,000 a year as a technician to earning over $200,000 in my first year in sales, the change has been incredible,” he shares. “This year, I’m on track to make over $300,000.”

Allen is also successful in his personal life. He built a stable and loving family, raising four boys with his wife, whom he met just three months after his getting out of prison. They were wed six months later.

“We’ve been together for over five years, and it’s been a steady climb,” he says proudly. “I hope through Lead Ninja, many men can bring together beautiful families like I did. I didn’t think it was possible when I was at my lowest. Now, I think anyone can do it if they work hard and believe in themselves. It helps to have Gene in your corner, too.”

The Power of Mentorship

Allen attributes much of his success to the mentorship he received from Slade.

“Lead NInja is ultra transformative,” he states. “Gene provides practical advice that is easy to implement from the jump. Plus, his process works for everyone, regardless of personality type.”

For those looking to copy Allen’s success, he offers this final piece of advice: “Find a mentor who has walked the path you want to take. Learn from them, implement their strategies, and always strive to better yourself. With the right guidance, anything is possible. I believe in us.”

Corbin Allen’s journey from adversity to success underscores the profound impact of effective mentorship and the power of resilience. By following his advice and adopting a holistic approach to life and work, aspiring salespeople can achieve remarkable success in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades.

About Gene Slade

Gene Slade, CEO of Lead Ninja System, is a pioneering force in the realm of sales training and business development. With a steadfast commitment to empowering professionals in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades, Gene offers transformative coaching experiences that revolutionize the way business owners approach sales and growth through personalized guidance, community support, and access to exclusive resources. For more information, please visit https://leadninjasystem.com/

Business

Derik Fay and the Quiet Rise of a Fintech Dynasty: How a Relentless Visionary is Redefining the Future of Payments

Published

15 mins ago

October 17, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Long before the headlines, before the Forbes features, and well before he became a respected fixture in boardrooms across the country, Derik Fay was a kid from Westerly, Rhode Island with little more than grit and audacity. Now, with a strategic footprint spanning more than 40 companies—including holdings in media, construction, real estate, pharma, fitness, and fintech—Fay’s influence is as diversified as it is deliberate. And his most recent move may be his boldest yet: the acquisition and co-ownership of Tycoon Payments, a fintech venture poised to disrupt an industry built on middlemen and outdated rules.

Where many entrepreneurs chase headlines, Fay chases legacy.

Rebuilding the Foundation of Fintech

In the saturated space of payment processors, Fay didn’t just want another transactional brand. He saw a broken system—one that labeled too many businesses as “high-risk,” denied them access, and overcharged them into silence. Tycoon Payments, under his stewardship, is rewriting that narrative from the ground up.

Instead of the all-too-common “fake processor” model, where companies act as brokers rather than actual underwriters, Tycoon Payments is being engineered to own the rails—integrating direct banking partnerships, custom risk modeling, and flexible support for underserved industries.

“Disruption isn’t about being loud,” Fay said in a private strategy session with advisors. “It’s about fixing what’s been ignored for too long. I don’t chase waves—I build the coastline.”

Quiet Power, Strategic Depth

Now 46 years old, Fay has evolved from scrappy gym owner to an empire builder, founding 3F Management as a private equity and venture vehicle to scale fast-growth businesses with staying power. His portfolio includes names like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, BIGG Pharma, Results Roofing, FayMs Films, and SalonPlex—but also dozens of companies that never make headlines. That’s by design.

Where others seek followers, Fay builds founders. Where most celebrate their exits, Fay reinvests in people.

While he often deflects conversations around his personal wealth, analysts estimate his net worth to exceed $100 million, with some placing it comfortably over $250 million, based on exits, real estate holdings, and the trajectory of his current ventures.

Yet unlike others in his tax bracket, Fay still answers cold DMs. He mentors rising entrepreneurs without cameras rolling. And he shows up—not just with capital, but with conviction.

A Mogul Grounded in Real Life

Outside of business, Fay remains committed to his role as a father and partner. He shares two daughters, Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, and has been in a relationship with Shandra Phillips since 2021. He’s known for keeping his personal life private, but those close to him speak of a man who brings the same intention to parenting as he does to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures—focused, present, and consistent.

His physical stature—standing at 6′1″—matches his professional gravitas, but what’s more striking is his ability to operate with both discipline and empathy. Fay’s reputation among founders and CEOs is not just one of capital deployment, but emotional intelligence. As one partner noted, “He’s the kind of guy who will break down your pitch—and rebuild your belief in yourself in the same breath.”

The Tycoon Blueprint

The playbook Fay is writing at Tycoon Payments doesn’t just threaten incumbents—it reinvents the infrastructure. This isn’t another “fintech startup” with a flashy brand and no backend. It’s a strategically positioned venture with real underwriting power, cross-border ambitions, and a founder who understands how to scale quietly until the entire industry has to take notice.

In an age where so many entrepreneurs rely on noise and virality to build influence, Fay remains a master of what can only be called elite stealth. He doesn’t need the spotlight. But his impact casts a long shadow.

Conclusion: The Empire Expands

From Rhode Island beginnings to venture boardrooms, from gym owner to fintech force, Derik Fay continues to build not just businesses—but a blueprint. One rooted in resilience, innovation, and long-term infrastructure.

Tycoon Payments may be the latest chess piece. But the game he’s playing is bigger than one move. It’s a long game of strategic leverage, intentional legacy, and generational wealth.

And Fay is not just playing it. He’s redefining the rules.