One Week In

It was an interesting first week. Honestly, if I look back to last week when we kicked off the project, I didn't have any short-term expectations (or plan!). My mind was focused on the big picture of starting the journey to find great ways to independently make money; to find some value to provide.

The site went live, and friends and family posted and shared and tweeted and liked and congratulated me on a "great idea". My phone was lighting up with votes of confidence, suggestions, and all around support. I heard from friends I hadn't talked to in years, reaching out to share in my excitement and offer help. It was awesome, I was confident, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I reached this goal and beyond. I had committed, it was destiny at this point. 

Then, as I stood at the little auction, not seeing the huge low-hanging fruit that I had a few weeks before, the obvious stacks of easy money that could be turned over quickly... that "other" feeling started creeping in, just a little. That feeling that 7-year-old me had on the YMCA high-dive as I stepped off the top step and onto the board. That "Oh, well this seemed like a much better idea on the ground" feeling. And maybe even a little of that "I wonder if I can really do this?" feeling. ​

Feelings can be distracting... discouraging... misleading. Once I could shake them off just enough to focus a little, I reminded myself of how and why I started the project. This project isn't about executing a plan that already works, that's already a proven success... Lots of people are already doing that. It's about exploring and developing new ideas that might work. Trying them out. Seeing what sticks, what I enjoy, what I can do well. By design, it's going to be tough to work it.

Not only that, but knowing that these "feelings", this fear, is the reason that many people quit (or worse, don't start), I framed this project to limit the pressure on myself. I didn't quit my job, I'm still working a full time career, my family is provided for and my bills are current. I didn't cash out my retirement or take a loan against my house, and the $250 I've risked amounts to few times through a restaurant.  I'm doing much of this with my wonderful and supportive family, doing things I enjoy doing and spending time with the ones I love. 

Because of the way I've started, I can focus. I've removed most of the risk, which limits the pressure and the fear. It limits the "feelings", at least the distracting ones, the discouraging ones, the misleading ones. 

It's going to be a long road, and it took only a number of hours to remind myself of what I knew starting the project: That it's not all going to work perfectly every time. It's going to take work. It's going to take time. It might even take some failures, and maybe some feelings...

But that's ok, I'm still going to crush it, one week at a time.
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Week 1 Summary:

During the first week, I launched the project and the website (something I've never done, still a learning process). I went to two auctions for re-sellables, one fun one with family and friends, and one liquidation auction selling returned/overstock merchandise. The first one was a great time but didn't fit the mold of what I was looking for, meaning I need to a) keep looking and b) look at my "mold" to see if it can be expanded to include more opportunities. The second was a bust, things were too expensive to allow big margins like I need right now. 

I purchased 2 small items at the first auction, totaling $7.50 investment. I'm happy to announce that JUST THIS MORNING, I sold them through the local Facebook yard sale group for $35, YAY! Margin was good, volume not so much. Still, it only takes $1 to make your first $1, so I think this is a good deal and a great first success, moving the tools I purchased in less than a week.  Plus, `I'm officially in the green for now, and get to go to the next auction with $27 of "The House's" money. Cool!

This week, I've done some research in the liquidation products form the second auction to try and learn that "system", and I'm starting to piece that together. I may have a longer post on that in the future, something to watch maybe. 

Coming up, there are a couple more auctions I'm checking out, as well as investigating a couple more "small" ideas to get started. I'm still firmly in small/quick cash stage, but it's nice to feel even the smallest traction, I don't think I'll be stuck in this phase too long!

Stay tuned, I'm in for the long haul, and this is going to be awesome. ​