eBay Adventure - All Hail Instant Payment PayPal

                Resale is not an easy business. I have been doing it for 5 months. I have listed, relisted, negotiated, fought fraudsters, checked ungrateful customers and been surprised by shipping weight more than once at the post office. Throughout it all, I’ve written thank you cards, purchased materials and shipping the same day as payment. All of this toiling and seed planting have reaped me a bountiful harvest: I now qualify for PayPal’s instant payment.

                This blessing ranks right up there like manna from heaven! Liquidity and solvency are important to every business. Instant payments mean that I can transfer the money to my bank. I achieve liquidity because these transfers are cash infusions. Also with cash on hand I stay solvent by paying my bills!

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

eBay Adventure – Here’s to Another Successful Week

                I am fresh off of receiving three sales. I have been successful implementing the webinar strategies and shipping same day as I receive payment. I attribute my success towards more than merely positive thinking. I have taken massive action. I have been thinking like a businesswoman. I am looking at the sales goals subtracting my costs of goods sold. This is why I have increased the domestic shipping cost for my gladiator sandals. That dim weight shipping cuts into the revenue.

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

eBay Adventure – Making Money on Labor Day

                Labor Day is a federal holiday where I have done absolutely nothing (and I am proud of it!). I know that I am an entrepreneur but I am all about having days off! Labor Day is Labor Day! So you can imagine my surprise when I receive a bid for one of my shoes. Immediately I accept the bid and this being a repeat customer pays the same day. I ship the item Tuesday morning (Income generating activity always come first in the morning!). This is the very first time that I have made money on a holiday. In addition, I am very thankful that PayPal has released last week’s money on Labor Day because I need all of my money no just some of it!

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

eBay Adventure - Crossing the $2000 Threshold

                No sooner than I upload the two $500 shoes, people start looking at them. Also eBay message decides to go down in the middle of someone offering me $300 on the spot for one of them. Why me? Why must eBay go down in the middle of a transaction?! This cannot be my life! Yes, I am decluttering but hey the money is good (nothing beats something coming in!). Once eBay comes back up, I feverishly try emailing that buyer only to realize that two buyers have already made the $500 bid. This means that I have (once again) met my $1000 weekly goal. However, this is different because I have had the courage to sell them at a higher market value. Oftentimes, I have sold below market value just to get the money but this time I have priced my two transactions fairly. Below is the screenshot showing me crossing this threshold. My biggest lesson is to sell my items at market price instead of it being a fire sale. People will pay for it.

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

Gratitude List - Day 11

               

I have awakened with purpose reciting my prosperity affirmation. I have recited this affirmation every morning, noon and night recounting the actions that I have done to realize my $20,000/month goal. Affirmation: I am worthy of receiving $20,000 per month in Phenomena LLC. I am doing this (and action) because I know that I am worthy of this amount. I will say this affirmation every morning, noon and night. Here is my gratitude list:

Gratitude List – Day 11

1. That I will start off May with a bang.
2. I will recite my affirmation every morning, noon and night and diligently work towards it.
3. I will be happy and inquisitive.
4. My new author journey begins and I am in a space where I can receive it.
5. To keep learning more every day and every moment.
6. Have the money to be able to finance my dream.
7. That I have stepped out on faith and paid for a Facebook Ad to promote my book.

                Morning Affirmation: I am worthy of receiving $20,000 per month. I am submitting my third and final edits because I know that I am worthy of this amount.

                I have transferred my IRA money to my savings account only to learn that there is no savings account so I have to open a regular savings account. Normally, I would be bummed but I enter the bank with 2 accounts and left the bank with three. That is abundance. Furthermore, I have used my business email address to open up my PayPal business account. I have also linked my PayPal to my business banking account.

                I have recited my affirmation that I am worthy of amassing $20,000/month. I have written down all of the products that I have created in order to achieve this amount. After watching a Periscope last night, it hit me that I was farther along than I thought. I had to shift my mentality because I know that I was good enough to get it done. So why not do it? This is why I have paid the US Copyright Office to register my workbook because I must protect my intellectual property. Having the book copyright is the reason why Amazon KDP has accepted my book. Furthermore, protecting my intellectual property is protecting my business’ competitive advantage. My timetable is sending my workbook off to the printer by this Friday because it will be ready by May 17^th.

Noon Affirmation: I am worthy of receiving $20,000 per month. I am submitting my $35 US Copyright Office Expand Your Personal Brand workbook application and enrolling in the PayPal business account because I know that I am worthy of this amount.

                Moreover, I have continued my learning quest by enrolling an online branding and virtual book seminar. I have to learn as much as possible regarding my new book industry. These courses have been helping in my creating new products. New products = new income streams. I am grateful to have the money to be able to obtain this wealth of information.

Night Affirmation: I am worthy of receiving $20,000 per month. I have enrolled in a branding webinar and the virtual book webinar to increase my book monetization skills. Also I have emailed my business bank location about linking my account to PayPal. I am have done these things because I am worthy of the $20,000/month.

Updated Gratitude List

1. Have the $35 to register my Expand Your Personal Brand workbook with the US Copyright office.
2. Have the $64 to pay for my final book edits
3. Have the $27 to enroll in an online branding webinar where I learn extra brand color and font websites
4. Grateful to walk into the bank with 2 accounts and leave with 3 even though one of them disappeared.
5. Enrolled in a virtual book monetization webinar to learn 42 new ways to make money off of my book.
6. Learn from my Facebook Ad that I need to first have people get to know me before buying my product. Therefore, I will take out ads promoting my Facebook business page and my professional website the next two days then return and promote my Amazon pre-order.

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. 

Lose to Win

             I’m quitting intro to quantitative risk analysis because the software company wants me to use my work email.  I can only use it at work not home.  I buy the book but cannot use it. I email the online college and the software liaison of my decision because I just want this over with already.  Now my focus is on project management. I’ve purchased the corresponding book but cannot use it which is frustrating.  Therefore, I just might return it. It’s with amazon and the truth is that the book isn’t needed for the class.

            I have to turn down my cousin begging for money. This time she’s asking for $20-$30. I tell her that I cannot because of my rent which is true.  I just feel that it is eerily convenient that she’s asking me first. I tell my father about this. I don’t tell her how I’ve given her $100 for Christmas presents. Personally, I think it’s unfair that she begs me for money.

            Yes! I’ve paid $293 for PMP software but it’s my money and I’ve budgeted for it. I haven’t budgeted to take care of her, her children and myself.  In the past month I have started standing up for myself because I’m not tolerating craziness anymore. I’m paying my bills and focusing on me!

            On a much happier note, today is my mother’s and aunt’s birthdays. I will eat a late dinner at Policy restaurant reflecting on everything.  I have grown enormously this year.  I am learning to work on me more than ever and when to focus on myself.

            I eat dinner at Policy last night because it was my money.  The nerve of my cousin to contact me thinking that I am her personal piggy bank!  I try out the brisket sliders which were delicious!  Chewing every morsel was my personal revenge at her thinking that she could just disrupt my life like it was nothing!  Well, I get the last laugh. Ha!

Policy DC Brisket Sliders and Fries

Mentality Change

Talking to former officemate is the best thing to happen to my day because she has gotten the job and I get to process my legal situation.  Originally, I am disappointed that it’ll take more than $8000 to get a down payment; however, I realize that SBA has increased my salary substantially.  I will save this amount in one year with a whole lot remaining.  I just want to leave here before of all the crap that has happened.  Also I must pay the lawyer and a settlement (maybe!).  I am just getting my feet underneath me by starting at SBA and this black cloud still hovers over me.  Yuck!  I hate this; plus, I still need to square away money for bills and starting my business.  I will build my company one brick at a time.  The hardest thing is completing the summary, therefore, I will pay $109 to enroll in the Writers Store screenwriting punctuation course starting May 21^st.  I might also buy the Screenwriter’s Bible for cheap because it is $90 cheaper than $109.  I have done just that because 1) it is cheaper and 2) I will finish reading it way before May 21^st. Doing this I no longer feel trapped and stuck and like a victim of circumtances.  Now I'm empowered to submit my TV script to the channel I want it aired.

Finalnically, purchasing this book  has saved $90 which is nearly equal to the $99 Ed2Go total quality fundamentals course which will advance my career.  This extra $90 amount will go towards total quality applications because this will improve my job performance.  I cannot wait to receive the book and start my class because it empowers me focus my personal and professional lives.  I cannot wait until I see my officemate again because I know that I will have more progress to relay to her and more money in my pocket.