eBay – Learning from Constructive Criticism

                This one is two days late because I have become an Amazon bestseller. I am an Amazon bestseller in two categories! I have learned this on Friday. There will be another column just on this. Anyway, here is the latest eBay installment.

                I awoke Friday morning to a new order. I truly needed that because I had not made a sale since the Fourth of July. Also I accepted pending offer shipping out three orders. I made some income on Friday. Also I received a message from an international buyer criticizing that I shipped my merchandise in a too big box and that there should had been some paper in it. There was a lot of shifting around from the United States to Europe. Okay, initially I felt bad but hey, this was my first international shipping. When you knew better, you did better. I would incorporate this feedback into other international shipping.

                I did not make my $1000/week financial goal but this week would be different. My Nine West shoes were selling so now I will resell them along with my regular shoes. In addition, I will add new Stuart Weitzman pumps to my store. Currently, there are only 4 items selling. By the end of Sunday, I will have around 15 items on sale. Now, it I could only had gotten my clothes to sell better.

                This eBay was a closet decluttering process. I had to let go of some many shoes that I was attached but I had to because I had not worn them in over two years. I will price them appropriately and let them go. Furthermore, I have been looking at the Let go app. I reviewed Poshmark but there were too many con artists and snooty customers giving bad reviews.

Visit my eBay store here: http://www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Stuart Weitzman Order Ready to Ship

Gratitude List - Day 15

This is the halfway mark for my 30—day gratitude challenge. I must admit that I have received more job inquiries through gratitude. I have also conjured up a lot of negative thoughts because the Devil is busy. My federal complaint has popped up during this time. Dealing with the negativity head on eliminates it.

                I have received my finished ebook files and have successfully uploaded it to Amazon. I have also accelerated my pre-order date. I am happy because Tuesday is the traditional book release date. I get to be a part of this. May 17^th is my date and it finally official. Here is the gratitude list:

Gratitude List -Day 15

1. Someone is interested in me for a full-time position
2. I have finished my book
3. Amazon KDP has approved my final draft and accelerating my pre-order date
4. Add more info to the publishing company’s website.
5. Learn from the publishing company’s rep that I should not click on the Amazon box because it would override what’s in Amazon. This advice saves me time, money and agony. I would be in a tizzy if I mess this up.
6. Broadcast on Periscope (and remember to #save).
7. To have the technology and strong enough wi-fi connection to do my videos
8. That my mother is alive and healthy
9. I have the proper business formation to accept payments
10. To receive and activate my bank’s mobile widget application.
11. To learn more from others every single day.
12. To be able to afford the money for the publishing company’s IngramSpark submission guidelines.

I am happy that employers are interested in me and that I have something that the marketplace wants. I have kept up with my financial affirmation and below are the things that I have done every morning, afternoon and night. Here are the things that I have done to ensure that my $20,000/month have had.

Morning:

Reply to the recommended social media banner lady

Aced my phone interview

Afternoon:

Receiving my ebook file in multiple formats

Uploading my file to Amazon KDP

Email the publishing company for submission assistance

Add more information to IngramSpark

Get in contact with the publishing company’s president

Night:

Amazon KDP has approved my final draft and my accelerating my pre-order date from July 28^th to May 17^th.

Broadcast on Periscope and YouTube

Create a new PM.Expert blog article

Land my first radio

Conclusion: Yes, I admit that I have experienced a whole lot of progress as a businesswoman but I would still like a contract or some corp to corp. I am grateful that emotionally and am in a better place now because I have worked on my demons and the negativity associated with them. I don’t truly have demons but the Devil is busy bringing up old stuff. More importantly, I have stayed true towards working on my financial affirmation because I know that I am good enough to earn $20,000/month. Finally, I do see things turning around for the better. I envision this way before my May 17^th publication date because I am grateful for every opportunity and I have been working on myself.

Gratitude List - Day 13

             

 I am still riding high from securing my book PR lady yesterday. My life is going in the right direction. I am grateful for being able to sit and be still. I will listen and learn. I know my limits which is why I have hired her. I have a clear pathway towards becoming a bestseller. My PR lady is a 4-time international Amazon bestseller. She has given me homework such as emailing the business conference for half-page ad and vending prices.

                Another note: It is Star Wars’ ‘May the Fourth’ and I will tap into my Inner Trekker because I love math, science and space. Star Wars came out the same year I was born. People don’t understand the importance of space exploration and discovery. Star Trek and Star Wars show that anything is possible. Here is today’s gratitude list:

Gratitude List - Day 13

1. To be open to learning more opportunities
2. My phone interview company has emailed me its health benefits. That’s a good omen.

It is limited because my energy is limited at 2am. I have a career luncheon to attend and must be out of the door to Kinko’s by 10:45am to copy my resumes and board the silver line for Tysons Corner.

                I am happy to go because so many people have taken my resume and thought I have given a strong elevator pitch. I have emailed recruiters interested in me. My goal is to obtain a Senior Project Manager or Senior Scrum Master position. I would love to have a full-time consulting opportunity especially with my LLC because I can now do corp to corp.

                Finally, I have submitted my bibliography and thank you page to my publisher for my book. It is like a load has been lifted off of my shoulders. Now I can focus on promoting my book. The publisher says that I should receive it by tomorrow.  This file will allow me to upload it to Amazon KDP. Here is my updated gratitude list:

Updated Gratitude List

1. I have the health and energy to travel to the career luncheon
2. I have met people whom are interested in me.
3. I’ve finished my book by submitting my bibliography and thank you page.
4. I have the money to get my clothes out of dry clean
5. I have people taking my resumes.
6. I am chronicling my self-publishing so that I can help others.
7. Creating another radio episode.
8. I have the money to afford the career luncheon.

Gratitude List : Day 9

                This raggedy rainy weather has been affecting my mood as of late. I am dreary because it has been raining for three straight days. I am fearful of the future which is unknown and it is cramping my gratitude challenge. However, I have pulled myself together and enrolled in a book webinar because I need to invest in myself. I am very happy that Amazon has accepted my pre-order because now I am officially an author. Here is my gratitude list:

Gratitude List - Day 9

1. Being alive and healthy. I have overcome my ear infection.
2. Grateful to be able to write. I love communicating and sharing my ideas with others. Interacting with others, inspire me.
3. Happy to have the money to enroll in a book webinar
4. Happy to end this month on a positive note by becoming an author
5. Happy to have the resources to make my personal and professional lives better
6. Grateful to have a place to rest my head and take an afternoon nap if I want to take one. 
7. Happy to have the money to submit my workbook to the US Copyright Office for registration to protect my intellectual property. 

I am grateful to be free this Saturday to return to my two blog sites and contribute. These past two weeks my book has been my singular focus. Now that it is on Amazon pre-order, I can shift my focus back to http://positivitychange.com/ and http://www.pm.expert/ . Furthermore, I have gotten more comfortable with Periscope. Periscope is a livestreaming mobile application. I have not been on them because I only broadcast when I have something valid to say. There is so much stupidity out there. I refuse to get on some video just to be dumb. Also I have written down outlines about what I want to discuss. Finally, I am thankful that I have watched my web designer’s Periscope because she has given me an idea. I link my book’s website to my personal website. Below is my additional gratitude list:

1.  Add my bio and select my new personalized Amazon Author page link
2. Have the money to link my http://expandyourpersonalbrand.com/ book site to my http://carlarjenkins.com/
3. Done a Periscope promoting my two new articles.

I am just grateful that I have ended my day way better than I have started it.

Gratitude List - Day 8

                I have pulled myself up by the bootstraps and gone to the bank to enroll in its merchant services. I have overcome so much and not even a fire alarm evacuating the whole building across the street (the bank’s branch safety spot is the Starbucks). I need the merchant services in order to get my book sold at next month’s conference. Afterward, I have taken up a person’s recommendation to eat at the new chicken spot. It will be my last because I am not even full. What a waste! Back to Shake Shack I go. I am at least thankful that I have cash to go back and eat lunch twice. Moreover, a male employee says that I have swag because I am wearing my leopard-print Alice + Olivia raincoat and my green Banana Republic jumpsuit. Here is my gratitude list for today:

Gratitude List – Day 8

1. I am alive with a dry roof over my head
2. I have opened my merchant services account enabling me to take orders
3. Amazon KDP has accepted my pre-order
4. I have emailed half of the people whom have helped me throughout my book’s journey
5. That I feel that my life is starting to get better
6. I have money to pay my book edits
7. I have a full selection of clothes to wear
8. I have spoken with my father today

Launching my book is the scariest thing that I have ever done because I have never put my name on anything. It is now real. I am in business. Now I need some additional guidance. I am just happy that I am able to ask people for help. That’s big for me. 

Gratitude Journal - Day 7

                Today is a very big day for me personally and professionally. I am opening myself up to new opportunities. Most people don’t want to give themselves permission to do something new. I have to else I will get the same result. I am grateful for these new lessons because this means new learning opportunities. I take everything as a new learning opportunity because I can grow from it. I just pray to Jehovah that He guides me through this process. Here is my gratitude list for today:

Gratitude List – Day 7

1. Thankful to be the first person in my family to write a book
2. To share knowledge on my radio show
3. To open myself to financial abundance and additional streams of income
4. To receive counsel from wiser people who will guide me through this process
5. That my Mommy is okay
6. I am in perfect health and able to complete my schedule
7. I am planting seeds and making deposits today for my future
8. Recruiters are interested in me and willing to take my phone calls
9. Grateful to learn more about the book industry every day
10. My energy is starting to shift positively
11. Review my Nanowrimo draft and have found 7+ articles benefitting my blogs
12. I am open to trying new social media avenues (Blab) to promote my book and myself. I may even do a Blab while broadcasting my radio show.
13. I am alive and breathing fresh air

I have made this gratitude list early this morning. I would not have expected the adversity coming my way. When the recruiter tells me to call her next Tuesday morning, my spirit is crushed because I have wait 3 whole business days for a response. That’s 72 hours. No way! I sulk badly because I truly want to work and be productive. I should not be punished like this. Next several of the Upwork questions aren’t on the announcements but once I open up the proposal, BAM, there they are! I return back to my regular sites. When I receive the best news ever: my former coworker got a GS-14 in settlement! I was so happy for her because it has been 2 years in the making. I am very grateful to be a part of the process and see it from beginning to end. I mail her two congratulatory cards (I could not decide)!

                Next I overcome my fear, go to KDP, and upload my book for pre-order. Now I put my pre-order all the way out to July just in case there is any funny business. I am grateful to find more errors now. While reading my book on air, I have noticed more of them. Instead of being mad, I am grateful to find them now instead of the reader finding them. I will resend another edit form. Furthermore, I learn from customer service that the KDP email account is responsive so I submit a copy of my US Copyright registration. I welcome all future correspondence. However, I do feel that Amazon will accept my book. Finally, I am thankful that I have overcome my fear and have completed the KDP form. It is a weight off of my shoulders.

My 1% Improvement: Reading What Color Is Your Parachute 2016

I am reading, ‘What Color is Your Parachute for 2016’. Honestly, I was just perusing Amazon just to look at any new career books that I can read and I discovered that this book was just published this past Tuesday, August 11, 2015. It’s a classic. I honestly never read a previous edition. I know it's been around for over 20 years but I said why not go ahead read it? Give it a chance, give it a shot and more importantly from a personal career perspective I wanted to get into my second gear for the rest of 2015. As you know this is August 2015 and I believe we have in between 33 to 40% of the year remaining so why should I wait until 2016 to do something when I can get started in August 2015? Get a head start and do something productive for the remaining three and a half months. Furthermore, this time also coincides with the children's back to school. I know that a lot of my friends have children. Since this is back-to-school for them, I decided to read this book as my own personal back-to-school for personal enrichment. I will update everyone on periscope to see what I currently think of the book.