XD30 – Day 18 – Content Generation

On this Father’s Day, I celebrate my Daddy and generate a whole lot of content! I have shot over 18 videos. My tip series is returning Monday and I will post a screenshot on social media promoting its return. I love creating content because I love to communicate and share what I know. That’s why I love being a blogger and doing livestream. I get to share my information and insights on topics.

                I have hammered out 18-20 videos for my daily tip Instagram series. I am all about teaching people and positioning myself as the expert. I just am sick of the paralysis of analysis so I have just done filming all of my tips and converting these videos onto YouTube. I will release one a day starting tomorrow. It will also give me way more content and things to promote on my project management blog. 

XD30 – Day 17 – No Cash No Service

                I went to a place to get some chicken tenders. It had a cash register but when I pulled out my $10 bill, he said that he didn’t have change. Huh? What type of false advertisement was that?  Look I took my money to BGR, ordered my chicken tenders using my cash and saved $2.50 in the process. That was just messy. Every place else took money. Like I said ‘no cash, no service.’

XD30 – Day 16 – Taking Back My Power

When I saw the second charge this morning, I decided that the buck stopped here! I was no longer just going to take it! I filed a complaint with an agency telling them that the bank made the mistake not me and that I spoke with the vendor to resolve this matter. It felt great because I knew that the bank would listen to the agency. Next when I learned that the mail which I was awaiting didn’t come, I called the bank to address my situation. Even though it had to do verification (why when it was taking money out of my account. People steal from those who have money NOT the other way around!). I managed to get my charges removed turning my balance back to positive. I was still happy that I filed because the person talked about the decision may not go my way. Huh? The bank took my money. Y’all better refund it. Pronto!

                On a much happier note, I made another sale. This meant that I would do another Periscope. I did one yesterday and immediately received a sale. I will keep doing it until every item sold. I also need to meet my weekly sales goals and keep me afloat in the meantime. I admit that at the start of this week, I would have never thought that I would be in this position. All I want is a smooth week without the craziness especially when I have NOT caused any of it. I am in disbelief that someone who is NOT an instigator of any kind is the one getting put through so much mess! 

XD30 – Day 15 – The More You Know

                In the midst of my financial struggle (I awoke to a negative charge after seeing a positive balance the day before), I used the cash in my pocket to priority mail my order, changed clothes and rolled to the contracting conference. I had to get out of my space and keep my mind off of that craziness. I also wanted to see the former mayor of Cleveland who now ran a women’s public policy think tank. The free conference was literally right down the street; and, the same place I worked a couple of months ago. Immediately when I walked into there I thought ‘maybe I should had signed up for this’. However, they fed us which was good enough. I learned so much especially all of the free resources that were available for me looking for federal government contracting opportunities. The only drawback was no charging stations. I had to walk home to recharge my cell phone. I returned to the ending reception where I ate pina colada cotton candy but I still missed 2 sessions because of no charging stations.

                Attending this conference afforded me another opportunity to talk about something besides eBay and project management on Periscope. Look I love making money via livestream hawking my wares but talking about the conference that I attended is a breath of fresh air. People get to see what else I can talk about. I will check into another conference to hobnob and learn more about making money and new topics in the very near future. 

XD30 – Day 14 – Money in My Sock

Goodness! Here I am thinking that I have stretch my money all the way until the end of this week only to learn via voicemail that one of my parents has watched my YouTube videos and is giving me money to upgrade my ‘presence.’. Immediately I tell everyone on Facebook because my parents are 65+ and they are critiquing my YouTube videos! How many senior citizens are doing that?! Exactly! Also I check my bank balance and see that there is way more than what’s in there yesterday. I can breathe just a little (I wish I would have known a little earlier else I would not had cancelled that meeting because I thought that I was dirt poor. That’s another blog post though.). Furthermore, PayPal says that my echeck has cleared so now my other money isn’t held up. I transfer that ASAP! Today truly feels like the wheels are churning.

                I am still putting a lot of new items into my eBay store to start summer off on the right note. I also want to move as much merchandise as possible. I have started doing eBay YouTube Livestreams and will do one later today because YouTube gives me another audience and storage options. I can also embed these videos online. I particularly love the screenshare feature because then all I have to do is plug in my webcam, show my eBay store and roll! I am still pushing myself to earn more money than I did yesterday!

XD30 – Day 13 – Pay Me Dust

                Sheesh! As soon as the money comes, the money goes. I check my bank account and am down to little or no money. Even though I am grateful to have cash in my pocket, I am happy that deposited the money else everything will bounce. See I am happy because I don’t have to think about the what-ifs. It could have ended worse than where I am sitting. However, at least I don’t have a negative balance.

                Yet, somethings are tied up elsewhere; and, I am fixing to make sure that I get these matters resolved. I know that I have the sales capability to generate the income necessary. After all, I am grateful to have one eBay sale and I know that once I have another sale…then another and then another. I will return to Periscope, add merchandise and try something new this time: YouTube Live. I have done YouTube Live with project management and webinar; but, never my eBay 

XD30 – Day 12 – Cash in Hand

                I am so grateful that my friend has loaned me cash. Now I can deposit it and have it float. I won’t have any bounced checks and am very grateful for this. I can stay at home, work on my job search and stay in the air conditioning. When it is 95 degrees in the shade, it is the simple things that count. I truly need peace of mind especially when I am in transition. I am very happy that I have some things on lock because I truly want to start as soon as possible. 

XD30 - Day 11 – Bouncing Back

                I am feeling much better after 1) willing myself to the CVS for ginger ale (sold out due to last night’s Capital Pride revelers so I have to get lemonade); 2) Midol and 3) sleep. My ear infection is gone (or whatever that was) and I all ready to bounce back and take control of today and this week. I am ready to get back into the saddle and start working, earning and learning. I do feel that this will be one of my best weeks ever because I am working and no longer beholden to anyone or anything. 

XD30 – Day 10 – A Friend in Need

                Having a new job is great but I need cash flow in the meantime. This means asking one of my friends for money. Having been in DC for over 11 years, I have never asked for help; but, there is a first time for everything. I am grateful that she has helped me because now I know that I can cover my food for at least two weeks; plus, I will start working (at least getting paid training) this upcoming week. This is probably the only time that I will ever need gap insurance. 

XD30 - Day 9 – Coming through

Finally! My security clearance has come through. I don’t know why it has taken this long but I am very happy that today is Friday and it has caps off my week on a high note! This is the best thing ever because now I also know that I qualify for a whole lot more stuff which is great. In addition, I have had someone watching my How to S.W.O.T. Away the Competition webinar which is a major feat in my book. Someone is interested in my material which is great. Furthermore, I am going to use this as a tripwire for my book! I do think that this will be great. Lastly, I am very happy that my Cavs have bounced back from the brink of extinction to win big at home. Go Cleveland!

XD30 – Day 8 – Baby I’m A S.T.A.R.

Training has concluded today. I have learned the S.T.A.R. (situation, task, action, result) method. It has given me clarity that I haven’t had before. I’ve realized that my discovering the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) has led to upper management recommending me for the IT installation. This installation project was my first project. Without this installation project, I wouldn’t have been accepted in the agency leadership program or qualify to sit for the CAPM exam. This one action has significantly changed my life. That’s why I am happy that I have attended training. I need all of the help that  I get. 

XD30 – Day 7 – What’s Her Name Again?

I have returned to the training. I have forgotten my phone. It’s a momentarily lapse because I have changed my mind about taking my laptop. Hey, it happens.

                Since I am not a government employee, I have to go to the info desk to check-in. I give the lady my ID . She looks at it then says ‘do you spell Carla with a C or a K?’ Let me repeat this again. She has my ID in her hand and still ask me ‘if I spell Carla with a C or a K?’ I say C and she prints my visitor sticker.

XD30 – Day 6 – You Learn Something Every Day

                I came to the job training uneasy because I hated group work. I dread it like the plague. I had to travel to another quadrant in DC so it was a new experience. That neighborhood was nothing like DuPont but I was still happy for the opportunity. I learned during this morning that because I was a career permanent federal employee that I had lifetime reinstatement eligibility! That was completely mindblowing and more than worth my time being there. Now I knew that if I wanted to, not only could I return to the government, but I could apply for a higher grade using my reinstatement. This turnaround my entire fortune because now I knew that I could get back in and earn money.

                On another note, although I told the trainer that I would bring my laptop, I did have some apprehension as soon as I left the building because I would have to go through the metal detectors. Yeah, that would be no fun. I will still bring it with me tomorrow just in case. I will also bring my charger. I will see what happens. I am just thankful that I am learning from a professional and glad that I’ve received the referral.

                Now that I have covered the workday. I am going to discuss my personal experience. I did not know that the crosstown bus was at this metro station. This is great because with the shuttle bus running, I need an alternative route home. I feel like this is an added bonus for me because I have never gone to the end of the line before; but, if those little druggies board the shuttle then I am hopping on the bus and rolling home. 

XD30 – Day 5 – People Are More Alike Than They Are Different

People are more alike than they are different. I have learned this today during my chat with a potential employer. I learn that he once owned his own business. Who knew? I feel a whole lot more comfortable knowing this. Oftentimes I operate isolated and with tunnel vision. Yet, it’s important to get out and press the flesh. I am comforted knowing that I am not an island.

XD30 – Day 4 – Harpo Who Is Dis Woman?

                I awoke this morning at 5am to see that someone left me a message telling me to call them. It was important. First, I never conducted any type of financial business on Sunday because it was the Sabbath; so, of course, I was beyond annoyed at this point. Let me back up a little bit. I learned that a bank messed up my dispute on Friday so I had to refile it. That would take another 10 business days. I did not understand why this crap happened to me but I hated having my money on hold. This was adversely affecting my pockets. Moreover, I mailed a copy of my documents to the party telling her what happened. This was not the first time that I had to file some type of complaint with the bank of the federal consumer agency (I had a fraud charge last summer.). Now that mess! This was NOT how I wanted my week to start especially since I ended it on a very positive note.

I received an in-person interview and a future contingent letter. My job prospects were looking up. I was going to spend today preparing for tomorrow’s interview. Now I had to deal with this. Originally, I prayed that this situation didn’t disrupt my Monday interview. In a weird way, because it happened today, it didn’t; but, I still didn’t need all mess especially today. 

XD30 – Day 3 – The Devil Is a Lie

I cannot believe my good fortune! I have gotten into next week’s training program. I have only learned about this from my case worker this past Thursday. Originally, I didn’t even want to go to my meeting. I wanted to (literally) phone it in. My ITIL certification class was 2 ½ months late and I was fighting over the measly part-time contract position. I was angry. However, once he mentioned this, the lightbulb went off for me. I emailed him back telling him to refer me to this position. This is the fastest turnaround in government history! It ranks right up with my interviewing for my economist position on Friday and getting the job Monday afternoon. The Devil is a lie! In addition, with my in-person interview and future contingent letter and I am on a roll! 

XD30 - Day 2 - Mastery

                This is the second word that has popped into my brain after here for the first day. I have been very busy creating videos showcasing my expertise. I have started promoting my scrum master talents. My website, www.carlarjenkins.com, has the average session duration of 5 minutes. The average is around 2 minutes 9 seconds. Visitors are spending a whole lot of time on my site watching videos and reading my articles. These activities reinforce my mastery. I possess over 10 years’ project management experience, Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM) licenses, and a social media influencer with a Klout score of 66. These are Rockstar qualities!

                How did I become a master? By committing myself to excellence and developing a plan. I have always created daily to-do lists with things that will put me closer towards being an expert. It takes a whole lot of work. Using project management as an example, I know that I am a much stronger project manager now than when I received my CAPM in 2011. Mastery can be painful at times but it is worth it because people view you as an authority and trust what you say. I have been mastered social media too.

                I have a Klout score of 66 ( I originally stayed away from it because I thought that it was wack. I was simply putting out high-quality content.). A score of 66 means that I am in the top 10% of all social media users. I am proud of my mastery especially when people can read my articles and implement the steps. To see my mastery, visit my site at www.carlarjenkins.com

XD30 - Day 1 - Here

I am here. A place that I have not expected to be. There has been a whole lot of adversity and weird things happening to me over the past 1 ½ years; but, I am still here. I am ready to admit at times it has been surreal like Salvatore Dali’s paintings. The melting watch portrait perfectly sums up this period; yet, I am still here; and, I intend of being here after this season passes. 

Shop Affordable Luxury for the Tall Woman on the Go

I run a tall women’s luxury consignment eBay store. My motto is offering you Neiman Marcus merchandise at near rock bottom prices. I carry Stuart Weitzman, Alice + Olivia, and Michael by Michael Kors. Shop affordable luxury here: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Shop my eBay Memorial Day Sale

                Hey everyone! I am wishing y’all a start to a happy and productive weekend. As you know, I am a luxury fashion consignment eBay store carrying all of the latest fashions at affordable prices. My motto is Neiman Marcus merchandise at near rock bottom prices. Right now with Memorial Day being right around the corner, I am throwing my own sale! I have discounted a lot of merchandise because I want my items to find a very happy home. I know that it is very hard for tall women to find affordable luxury fashion which is why I have opened my eBay store. This is the demographic I cater to and think of every single day.

I am extremely grateful at the reciprocity that I have received from you on Instagram. Today I have notified my audience that I will showcase my merchandise on Periscope and Instagram has placed nine of my 30 hashtags in its top nine! That is the ultimate honor! I have achieved this milestone because same day shipping, domestic and global USPS priority mail and integrity in pricing. These pillars are also the reason for my 97.2% customer feedback rating and 34 gold stars! I am all about customer service and helping tall women find affordable luxury fashion!

I am taking Memorial Day sale orders in between now and Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 12pm EST.

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

Follow me on Periscope at: www.periscope.tv/carlarjenkins