Rants & Ravings, From Me to You.

So in my last post I told you how the last two pages of this book were worth the price of it, and based off my own internal read system I gave it a “good read”. Well I’m starting to rethink that and it is coming close to a “must read”. Especially after I went back through all my notes in the book.

I share a few of them with you here:

Career Renegade – How to make a great living doing what you love.

Based on my internal review system of:

Must Read

Good Read

Toilet Paper

I will give this one a Good Read. It wasn’t one of those books that I picked up and couldn’t put down.  I was turned onto this book by Seth Godin’s blog. A recommendation from him is usually enough for me to pick it up. Although I liked the book, it was worth the price I paid for just the last two pages.

I hesitate to say that it  may be the best closing that I have read in a book in a really long time, or perhaps ever. The term “touched a nerve” comes to mind.

Hope Mr. Fields doesn’t mind but I’m going to give him a free plug. Here is some of the wisdom that I have read over and over for the last few days because I can’t believe how good it is. Below are  bits and pieces from the last two pages.

“It finally dawned upon me:  The person I was looking for was the one I would need to become. Others can offer guidance. They can share what they know from their own loves or the teachings of their teachers. ”

“But, in the end, no one else can stand in my shoes. No one else can live my fears, dreams, loves, relationships, desires, intellect, challenges, life, and lifestyle. No one else can enjoy or suffer the outcome of my decisions or actions. No one else can take action but me.

Upon that realization, I began to accept responsiblity not only for my life to date, but for the process of making it come alive from that point forward. Not for anyone else. For me.”

“I cannot conduct the balance of my life in a vacuum of inevitable regret. I cannot image the sorrow of leaving this earth one day filled with visions of a life I dreamed of living, but never had the will to try. I cannot rest with the notion that, in my inaction, I might have taught my daughter to do the same.

Like Helen Keller said, “life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

What are you waiting for?”

Thanks Mr. Fields, I needed to hear those last two pages.

I found this resource in a magazine a few months back. I can’t vouch for each website, but give them a shot. Here are a number of tools that can help you follow and manage mentions of you or your company online.

www.backtype.com – Sends you alerts when a comment is made that included your company name or brand.

www.blogpulse.com – Searches blogs for mentions of your company.

www.boardreader.com – Searches message boards, forums, videos and twitter.

www.google.com/alerts – Sends you alerts when your company or brand appears on the web, blogs, news, video, or discussion groups.

www.icerocket.com – Searches bolgs, news, web, Myspace, twitter, images.

www.search.twitter.com – Searches for mentions of your brand or company on twitter

www.tweetdeck.com – Monitors mentions on twitter

www.technorati.com – Searches blogs, photos, and videos.

leave me a comment if you have any other items that may helpful to others.

Some of you already know that Ebay is a great place to make a few extra bucks. However, the big question always comes up.  What can I sell? Well, here are a few examples of some items that I have sold that you probably have lying around.

1. Used Sporting equipment – I have had a ton of success selling used softballs. The best part about it is that I find the softballs while walking in a local park each morning.
2. Electrical fuses – You know the ones that you place in your electrical panel. I had four different ones sitting in my garage and decided to place them for bid. They sold in seven days.
3. Kids Toys –  You don’t need to keep those toys from when your kids were five. Post and sell them for a few extra bucks. Heck, get the kids involved by splitting total. Show them how to make money for themselves.
4. Craft items – Candle holders, wicker baskets, picture frames.
5. Coin banks – I have found that these sell like hot cakes. There is a huge community that collects these items.
6. VHS Tapes – You won’t get much, but it is more then you had.
7. Comic Books – Got any laying around collecting dust?
8. Used Books – Pick them up at yard sales.
9. Kids clothing – You have to present it correctly because it is ultra competitive, but it sells.
10. Collectibles – statues, baseball cards, music boxes, license plate frames, check out the categories to get a better idea.

I have sold things on Ebay that I would never have thought would sell. However, as the old saying goes. One mans trash is another mans treasure.

I would love to hear a few things that you sold on Ebay. Leave me a comment.

Keep an eye out for my next post that will help you set up your Ebay sellers account in order to start making some money.

Check out this link from Jason Fried from 37signals. Every wonder why you don’t get much done at work. He pretty much hits it on the head. Very interesting stuff and great concepts for productivity.

http://bigthink.com/ideas/18522

Shoot me a comment if you liked it as much as me.