Our story is unique but one I share since I believe many parts will resonate with you. It was written a couple of years ago, but is still our best testimony in helping you believe that if *we* can do this, really anyone can.
My husband and I with our nine children moved here to upstate New York from California 6 years ago. Mike saw an opportunity through using his Naval career retirement and selling on eBay for a way to come home from his corporate job and be home with his now eleven children and wife. We sold our house in California. We were blessed in paying cash for our home here and then Michael was able to go to full time Bible college to pursue a full time position in the Christian ministry.
One very important note is that it wasn’t “time” to move. The indicators were *not* all in place. What was in place was a firm commitment to make this vision of not forfeiting our time with our family to make another person rich (aka as employment). We could not sell our house at the top of the selling bubble in California. This was very unusual then. I was in a community of out side the box thinkers online and they casually mentioned renting our home out so we could still go. My very in the box thinking husband was not too keen on the whole thought process. Yet, by taking that very scary risk but fairly simple step we were able to hold the property longer and bring in an additional $150, 000 in selling the property two years later. Yes, it was scary but the property management company handled everything and the sell of the house happened while we were not even there.
This is what happens when you have vision and some guts. My passion in teaching other people is that it isn’t all about smarts but trust that if it is for the right reasons, you can do what seems unthinkable or non traditional. If God is for us, who can be against us? Most often it is our own fear that hinders any progress towards our dreams or goals.
We have been able to do more than we ever dreamed on the internet to bring income in. Just trying new things and adjusting as we go has been key in developing our income at home using the internet. We found our staple through eBay and ultimately book selling on several venues. While selling on eBay is our primary income, we have branched out to several other ways to make income while at home. I have written ebooks (one as a joint venture with a friend which is growing its own side business), ereports, and have an email subscription service of valuable book lists. These lists teach you which books will make you over $35 (typically $100 and more) *currently* selling on eBay. Being the creator of those resources has kind of, on accident, propelled us into our current endeavor which we have recently begun – an eBay business consulting service.
The most exciting thing that happened very recently is that we just had our eleventh child. Remember when I wrote and mentioned that Pamela and I were vendors at the CHAP exhibition? For those of you who didn’t know, we were able to go to the homeschool convention and market our ebook and services to the homeschool community. It was a great privilege to share with other families our vision to help them keep mom home while earning money and possibly even bring dad home. My dh was able to share his
testimony to many men! God has given us something special to tell families who are looking to keep old fashioned values of family unity in tact. We have found by using a very modern technology called the
internet these old fashioned values can be obtained in a two income world. How exciting to share this answer with other folks.
YOU folks are very real to me. You aren’t just a list of cyber-contacts. I know we are all real people who have lives, families, friends and businesses. The wonderful thing to me about our list is that I have made some fantastic friends who until last weekend I have never even seen face to face. What an incredible blessing it was to get to meet Pamela whom I wrote a book with and have interacted with through email and the telephone for over two years!
Additionally, I met Sue R. who has been a real encouragement to me in actually trying to make these zany ideas of this crazy woman work in her life… I since found out by talking with she and her Dh they are just as zany as I am. No wonder they are willing to do everything they can to chase a vision they have! It was great to hug necks of ladies who have impacted my life for the better! I wish we had had time to get a Starbucks and chat for hours. Well, at the first eBay_Establishings Yahoo group gathering we will be sure that will happen!
This business can be all virtual but I highly recommend trying to meet the folks you network with. It is so encouraging to actually sit down and chat over coffee with someone you have known over the internet through chat or email groups. If you don’t have the supportive group in which I write about then start actively looking for them. Now with all the media networks available you can quickly find a quality community where you will feel supported and they will help you when you’re ready to take that jump. Most of us remember the scary feeling of starting out and wanting to be reassured. This is what a supportive group who has been there and done that will do for you.
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Hi, I am so encouraged by your site. I am a member of the Ebay Establishings group, just joined. I am a full-time working mom and I’m just desperate to be home with our 1 year old son…and the idea of having Dad home too…dare to dream! But you make it sound so possible. Thank you, there are people who feel like they are fighting an uphill battle, and you give them peace and rest in the process. Thank you.