Side Jobs Are Something You Must Carve Out for Yourself
There are countless side jobs out there. You might be thinking, “I want to make a lot of money quickly and easily.” The only solution I can think of is this: gather about 100 people who think just like you and sell them overpriced consulting services or worthless info-products. Then, disappear after a while. But, in conclusion, this is a crime. You should never do it.
There Are Too Many People Like That
If someone like me, who isn’t particularly smart, can think of such a scheme right away, it means there are a lot of people out there with the same idea. In fact, I’ve seen many such people. They are hopeless fools, and if you leave them alone, they will self-destruct on their own.
The Foolishness of Asking “What Are You Good At?” or “What Do You Want to Do?”
People often ask, “What are you good at?” or “What do you want to do?” But I hate this question. It shows they haven’t considered the other person’s situation. How could anyone possibly know that? Only a handful of athletes or children who have received elite education might know the answer.
Even after turning 40, I still don’t have an answer.
The Question Itself Is Wrong
I was often asked these questions during career counseling or job hunting. But now I realize that the question itself is flawed.
The correct question should be, “What don’t you want to do?” or “What can’t you do?”
Write these things down on paper, and then try doing things that don’t fall into those categories. That’s a more realistic approach.
How I Started eBay After Breaking a Bone
At one point, I broke a bone at work and had to take three months off. While it was inconvenient to move around, I had plenty of time, and my upper body was still functional, so I could work on the computer.
Around that time, Japan was in a frenzy over the spread of the coronavirus. The news was filled with nothing but this topic every day, but I wasn’t particularly interested. Instead, I started experimenting with eBay, even though I wasn’t good at English. I created an account and focused on building feedback and obtaining selling rights.
I read books and scoured the internet for information, studying as hard as I could. I have a low level of education and no significant qualifications, but even I was surprised at how much I could achieve just because I was interested.
What I realized during this time is that information shared by others is often self-serving and lacks the necessary details. Free information is always missing something. There’s a reason it’s free.
First-Mover Advantage Is Not Just About Money
Due to the pandemic, international shipping options decreased, costs went up, and there were fewer flights, with stricter quarantine measures. However, I was able to contract with FedEx at that time. Living in a rural area where there’s no FedEx office, I would normally have been charged a pickup fee, but it was waived as a special offer.
First-mover advantage is not just about money; it’s also about getting these special deals.
The End of My eBay Life
After three years of using eBay, I was permanently suspended. In simple terms, I lost the right to sell forever. I never got a clear explanation for the reason, but despite that, the knowledge and friends I gained from the experience were invaluable.
Even though I’m not good at English, I learned to use international shipping and made connections with friends overseas. This experience helped me trust my own abilities.
The Right Way to Use eBay
eBay shouldn’t be seen as a place to sell items; rather, it’s a platform to attract and win over your own customers. Even if you take a small loss, it’s important to gain customers through that platform.
In Conclusion
If you’re thinking of asking someone to teach you how to do a side job, you should stop. Unless you’re confident you can find a good mentor, you’re better off carving out your own path.
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