Monday, October 15, 2012

My full time crazy job

Glad that this past weekend is done. Onward and upward!

I have been really taking this reselling seriously lately. Even though I don't have a 'real' job, I am still applying unique skills that I have to generate income for my family. As my own boss, I need to be disciplined in a way I never have before. When I worked outside the home, I had a set time to start and finish work. I had other people telling me what to do. As long as I stayed between the lines of what my boss wanted me to do, I made a certain amount of money in a set amount of time.

If I don't create goals for myself now I will not make any money. I will not grow my business.
But it is so easy to start to feel worthless. It is so easy to tell myself that I am a ONLY a reseller. I tell myself that society looks down upon my chosen profession, I am choosing a "white-trash", lazy way of making my way in the world.
But then I realize that I am selling myself short.  I work full-time hours at this job! Sure, I sit on my couch working but I used to sit in an office chair.  Sitting is still sitting no matter the location. I spend hours researching items, taking pictures, creating my listings with accurate and detailed descriptions, tweaking my store, professionally packing my sales, printing shipping labels,and setting pick up schedules with the Post Office. I answer emails and best offer requests. I order all the office and shipping supplies. I shop in different revenues to obtain a large number high quality items to offer my customers on a consistent basis. I have to instantly know what to purchase and what to leave on the shelf. If I make a mistake it instantly affects my families pocketbook.  On top of that I also network with other resellers, attend webinars, and research all types of different products to obtain an educated 'eye' that will serve me well when out in the field. 


 Seriously, when else would I have an
opportunity to buy this?

I never know how much money I will make in a day or week. I never know if I will be the one who comes across a very hard to please customer. I work as hard and honestly as I can and hope for the best.
For my personality this is a great job. I am self-motivated and enjoy the hunt. I love the process and the result of what I do.  It may not be traditional or very socially acceptable but I am not really either one of those things either. Perfect fit I would say!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Why I hate Oct. 12th

This is the day I dread. All. year. long.
I know it's a mental thing; if I could just change my attitude it probably wouldn't seem so bad. But really, the entire day goes like this.

7:00 am  10 years ago: (insert number of years that has passed) I just started work, it seemed like a normal day
11:00am 10 years ago: I was talking about what I was going to make for dinner. Crockpot chicken and pineapple over rice
11:30 am 10 years ago: I went home and started dinner in the crockpot
11:50 am 10 years ago: I walked back into work and my supervisor told me something had happened at the pit. He wouldn't tell me what. I walked out leaving my computer on and my headset still hooked up
12:10 pm 10 years ago: I was driving our green and silver Ford pickup to the pit. I remember thinking how slow and long the drive seemed.
12:30 pm 10 years ago: I learned my mom was dead
rest of the day 10 years ago: time stopped, time flew, it's blurred with tears, with words that said the unthinkable, with shock, with horror, with worry about dad, what do we do next, how is it possible to do something else besides stand here and cry. I remember how people's faces looked; twisted, crumpled, empty, yet so full of pain, the pity in the Troopers face who told me I could drive into the scene. I remember voices; choked with sadness, with guilt. I remember random things; worn work boots, the coroners eyes, a dark blue pickup on the scales with 2 dog faces pressed against the window, a blue tarp over what I assumed was what was left of her.

I relive this on October 12th. I don't want to think about the sadness and the loss. But I also don't want to forget it. 

"The steps of faith fall on the seeming void but find the rock beneath"

Friday, October 5, 2012

I'm still alive!

And look..my photography skills haven't improved very much! I updated the Ralph Lauren coat I talked about last time I blogged with new pictures and sold it within a week, after having it in my store for over a year.

Lots has changed. eBay is now my full-time job. I have 1 kid living in Iowa, 1 is in Japan for 2 weeks, and the littlest has been driving herself to school. I now have some time to try to keep my blog updated with my fun finds, things I'm learning while becoming more successful at on-line selling, cooking, and other miscellaneous.