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Episode 236: Stan Mirzayev – Customer Service Mechanic, Co-Founder of Parts Pass

Stan Mirzayev, the Co-Founder and CEO of Parts Pass, joins the show to share his journey from coming to the U.S.A. at age 4 to starting businesses that make finding car parts easier than ever. Hear how to keep your user experience simple, test and learn, stay motivated when going through challenges, Stan’s favorite lessons from his parents, and the hot dog vendor story. This episode covers everything from car parts to pawn shops. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What was Stan’s life like as a 4-year-old
• How did his dad find a job when they moved to the U.S.
• Where did the “aha” moment for Parts Pass happen
• How did Stan decide to make Parts Pass so simple to use
• MOVING PARTS!
• How did Stan scale Parts Pass
• What’s something surprising about owning a pawn shop
• The trick Stan can do with a Coke can

Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Upbringing
  • [0:34] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:45] Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more
  • [2:43] Super cool
  • [3:03] Amazing
  • [3:17] What was Stan’s life like as a 4-year-old
  • [3:48] Entrepreneur
  • [5:01] Queens, NY
  • [5:56] How did Stan’s dad find a job when they moved to the U.S.
  • [7:26] Graveyard Shift
  • [8:09] In & Out Lube and Repairs
  • [8:11] When did Stan first get interested in the auto industry
  • [8:41] Psychologist
  • [9:36] Customer Service
  • [10:01] What did Stan learn from starting Parts Detect
  • [10:32] Pawn Shop, Real Estate
  • [11:15] AutoZone, Pep Boys
  • [12:10] MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
  • [12:30] Fortune 500
  • [12:52] VIN Scanner (Vehicle Identification Number)

• The Parts Pass Story
  • [14:06] Where did the “aha” moment for Parts Pass happen
  • [15:21] Brick & Mortar
  • [15:31] Internet, Amazon, eBay, World Wide Web (WWW)
  • [15:57] Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)
  • [16:08] User Experience (UX)
  • [16:42] How did Stan decide to make Parts Pass so simple to use
  • [16:55] CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
  • [17:14] Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • [17:43] Technology (Tech)
  • [18:21] Dropdown Menu
  • [18:56] What did the testing-and-learning look like for Parts Pass
  • [19:02] Startup
  • [19:37] Customer Feedback
  • [19:54] I haven’t gotten it (yet)
  • [20:10] Thought I said that wrong but I was right
  • [20:17] How many versions of the Parts Pass app have they released
  • [21:12] How do you stay motivated when you go through challenges as an entrepreneur
  • [21:37] MOVING PARTS!
  • [21:49] Mental Health
  • [22:09] This too shall pass
  • [23:08] DRIVING FORCE!
  • [23:12] The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss (aka Timothy Ferriss?!)
  • [23:51] Could not resist
  • [25:03] How did Stan scale Parts Pass
  • [25:25] Ben Horowitz
  • [25:32] CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
  • [26:29] That’s a hot analogy
  • [26:42] Way to ruin it, Max
  • [27:04] What’s the best way Stan has grown Parts Pass
  • [30:01] OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), DENSO, ACDelco
  • [30:37] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity

• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [31:35] What’s something surprising about owning a pawn shop
  • [31:55] Interest
  • [32:17] What’s a weird talent Stan has
  • [32:28] Coca-Cola
  • [33:03] What’s something interesting about being a hot dog vendor
  • [34:00] What’s Stan’s favorite lesson he learned from his parents
  • [35:12] Try out Parts Pass on the App Store and use code WBGP15 for 15% off on orders $10 or more. Learn more at PartsPass.App, on social media @PartsPass, @Stan.Founder, and LinkedIn
  • [35:52] What are Stan’s Final Thoughts
  • [36:24] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show your love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
  • [37:06] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [37:08] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
  • [37:10] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [37:16] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Stan Mirzayev on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And quiz each other on car parts. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!