Sometimes we wonder if all of the bad news that we hear
is just the media manipulating public opinion… for some
reason unbeknownst to us.
Yesterday, I had driven home to me just how bad the
recession actually IS in my part of the U.S., and also how I
could actually help out.
I’m retired U.S. Air Force, so I’ve earned a pension.
That means that after having served 20 years in the military,
I DO have a guaranteed income for the rest of my life.
Combine that with the web business that I’ve built and I
honestly DON’T notice most of the economic ups and downs.
Yesterday, I drove to a nearby air force base to get a
haircut by my favorite barber. It was a 1-hour drive each
way, but since I always LOVE the job that this barber
does, it was worth the drive. At the same time, I listened
to marketing CD’s both ways, so I “worked” while I drove.
When I got to the barber shop, Bonnie, my favorite barber,
was working on another customer. There were two other
barbers in the shop, both just standing around. I had an
appointment with Bonnie and patiently waited for her. I
KNEW that she’d do a great job, and I didn’t KNOW that about
the other two barbers.
Bonnie had run this shop for many years, and has cut my
hair steadily since 1998. In some areas of my life, I don’t
like change.
My turn came, and Bonnie did her usual fabulous job. While
I was in the chair, two patrons came in. One had an
appointment with Bonnie, and the other one went with Bob.
While getting my haircut, the third barber told Bonnie and
Bob that she’d had enough fun for the day, and was going
home. She had already planned out her next 30 days, and
since there were NO customers, she was “going to go do
something more productive.”
As I chatted with Bonnie, careful not to distract her too
much, she shared that business was at maybe 25% of the
normal level. Many soldiers who normally got haircuts every
week, not stretched things to every 2-3 weeks. Many
retirees, who use to get haircuts every 2-4 weeks, now
dropped by once every 1-2 months!
As we talked more, she pointed out that many family members
of soldiers, whose incomes normally supplemented the
household incomes, had been laid off from their jobs (often
in the service industries). She point out that there are
many THOUSANDS of out-of-work people in our local area.
Next Bonnie ask me how my business was doing.
Embarrassingly, I told her that it was doing great and that
I really hadn’t felt the recession. I explained to her that
I sell a variety of product online, and that I have a knack
for choosing product that lots of people want.
Bob perked up and came over to join the conversation between
Bonnie and myself. After all, there was not another customer
in site.
I explained to both of them exactly what I do online. I also
shared how they, and their families and friends, could still
do well using the power of the Internet.
I observed that right now two things are happening…
1) People are thinking about the upcoming holiday season and
wondering if they’ll have enough money to afford nice
presents.
2) More people are searching harder for bargains.
Both of those things suggested to me that Ebay is the place to
be as a seller, AND Ebay is the place to do your shopping. Ebay
is the place where untold millions go EVERY DAY looking for
bargains.
I pointed Bonnie to an ebook, and audio course called
“$100 Per Day - The Ebay Way.” I recommended that she get it
and she and the other barbers load the MP3’s onto a portable
player, and listen to them during lulls at work.
I pointed them to http://SageMarketer.com/Ebay/
Bonnie, Bob and the other barber are different in many ways
from the “average American.” Since they are exposed to soldier
every day who are taught to “find a way” they understand that
they don’t need to be a victim of this current economic
recessions.
In every economic upturn or downturn, some people do VERY well.
The key is to find the opportunities.
It made perfect sense to them, and to me, that Ebay is the
place to be if that’s where so many people are forced to turn
as they tighten their belts.
Bonnie and I also discussed that in times like these, often just
$100 - $200 per month could make the difference between “making
ends meet” and having the car repossessed.
I shared with Bonnie and Bob that there are literally
THOUSANDS of honest ways to make that extra $100 - $200 in a
DAY online, and that they can do it in just 1 or 2 hours of
spare time.
I couldn’t resist sharing with Bonnie and Bob that I co-authored
an ebook called “20 Ways To Make $100 Per Day Online.” I did
that
partly because I know that anytime you tell someone offline that
you are an author, that impresses them 
I pointed out that Ebay is one of the most popular websites on
the face of the planet, and therefore a great place to build
a business. They actually get more searches than Google does!
I also acknowledged that Ebay is not for everyone. Hence, they
should also get a copy of “20 Ways” and read it.
Bonnie asked where, and I told her that that was easy. Just go
to http://20Ways.org
I suggested that she get a copy of the ebook, print it out, and
stick it in a 3-ring binder where she could really study it. I
also promised that if she had it in the barbershop on my next
visit, that I’d autograph it
As I finished up my visit to the barber shop, Bob joked that
if I saw anyone needing a haircut, I should send them their way.
So, yes, some of us really are feeling the current economic
downturn. None of us have to “take it lying down” though!
Ebay is HUGE, and all of the holiday decorations being put up
in my hometown tell me that the shoppers are being reminded that
it’s “time to shop.”
It really is that simple 
Willie