Finding a job is tricky. Part on a whim and part on Chris' recommendation, I applied and interviewed for a bike messenger position. I got the feeling I was 'over qualified' and later heard from another messenger for the company that many of the others have 'substance abuse issues'. So, I was feeling pretty confident, presented myself pretty well (questionable self evaluation), got an offer, and turned it down. $12 an hour is not a lot. Then, I was offered less from a retailer off of Union Square. Who are they kidding? The sell jackects for $200 that cost them $5 to make in Vietnam and the store is doing record business every month. Come on.
Despite all these injustices, I've found a way to feed off the bottom in my spare time. Gear Sherpa is my little ebay business and basically I buy, repair, post, and sell backpacking equipment (about which I know waaaay too much). Shockingly, my little enterprize has gone pretty well and I was able to draw a paycheck this month. Look out world, I made a dollar.
It has been really fun to work out the simple business process for accounting, posting, shipping, tracking, and financing the business. I think Gear Sherpa is probably one of the most overmanaged companies in its class. :) So, I've created a fun little learning experience for myself that will hopefully pay for groceries. And, yes family, this year you will all be getting used outdoor gear for Christmas.
As I'm learning about bidness, I see that there's really some potential here. Ebay gives anyone access to a market for just about anything. Small operators who dont need a big margain to be profitable, unlike many larger businesses, can do salvage, repair, resell businesses. The possibility is really enormous - small appliances, electronics, small furniture. If it's light enough to ship and labor intensive to repair then there's probably an opportunity to make money off of it on ebay.
