Shoelace Diaries

Today is going to be a good day. How can I tell you ask? Well, its currently 8:22am, and I have already been presented with gifts; but not just any gifts, gifts that came truly from the heart. Two close friends of mine (who also happen to be co-workers) expressed their love and appreciation (at least I think that’s what they were doing) through a beverage, a biscuit, and candy.

Wes gave me a 20 oz. Mountain Dew and a McDonalds Sausage Biscuit. It is important to note that he paid for both items himself, even though McDonalds is giving away some sort of biscuit free of charge today, and today only. Needless to say the Biscuit is already gone, and the Dew is about half way there. Thanks for bustin’ out the wallet Wes, and making my day!

Clark presented a Twix candy bar to me this morning just minutes after Wes left my office from giving me his gifts. This most desirable Twix candy bar consists of chocolate, caramel, and cookie bars…in the form of two seperate consumable yummies; all speaking good things to the heart and tummy at the same time. Clark, thank you for giving me the Twix candy bar, even though you tried taking it back after you had already given it to me. And, for the record there are two for me, and none for you!

Now that the day has had a fabulous kick off, I am excited to see what other presents I will receive as the day goes on! (In case you all are wondering, my office is on the 2nd floor. Just go to the “loud, obnoxious commotion in noise form.” When you have found this commotion, you will have also found Sidwell. Ask him for further directions to my office.

Why is it that a single thought, of a single person can bring tears running down my face?
How can I miss someone so much, even when they are sitting right next to me, holding my hand so tightly?
Does she ever wake up in the middle of the night and think of me?
How do the eyes of one communicate to the eyes of another, if eyes don’t have mouths to talk?
Will she ever know how much I truly love her?
Does She know that my heart beats for her?
Am I the first thing she thinks about when she wakes up, and the last thought in her mind as she goes to bed at night?
How and why does absence make the heart grow fonder?
Why does time move so slow when she is away from me, but go by so fast when I am with her?
Is there such thing as too much love?…too good of a relationship?…too much happiness?
Does she live for me, as I live for her?
Can she close her eyes and see my face?
Does she think my smile lights up a dark, dark world?
Will she ever understand how much she means to me?

What do you have in your pockets right now?

Here is what I have in my pockets:

Right Front Pants Pocket

• Chapstick
• 4 Pens (2 black, 1 blue, and 1 red…you never know when you might need a pen, and never know if the pen you have won’t work!)
• $8.37 (Three 1 dollar bills, a five dollar bill, a quarter, a dime, and two pennies.)
• A hair elastic (for my daughter Kwynn)
• 2 pieces of gum (Orbit Wintermint)

Left Front Pants Pocket

• Cell Phone
• Del Taco receipt ($3.22 for a Steak and Egg Breakfast burrito, well worth it.)

Back Right Pants Pocket

• Wallet type thing

Back Left Pants Pocket

• Keys

What do you have in your pockets right now?

Today is a great day; a great day following a great night. I received one of the best night’s rest I have had in a long time. I also had an awesome first-date last night; she looked great, the conversation was great, the overall experience was great. Thanks Megan!

Today is a different day. I woke up with my eyes opened a little wider than usual, and wasn’t moving as slow. I drove to work with the window down and radio off. Sometimes you need a natural soundtrack while facing the day. I am more motivated to make today one of the best days I have had in a long time.

Today is a happy day. A smile rests on my face as I think about everything and everyone that is important in my life. I am lucky to have such great symbols and examples of life, love, and everything that connects the two.

Today is a dedicatory day. I will live this day in honor of those who have helped shape my life. I have learned a lot in the past 3 years. A lot about others, myself, and what is truly important in life. I dedicate this day to unanswered prayers, blessing I have received (worthy and not), and those I have waiting for me. Mom and dad, I love you.

Today is a beautiful day. Looking out my office window, I see the sun shining with warmth. It highlights the snow capped mountains in the distance, and gives life to what seems like a dead atmosphere. There is a bird perched on a tree branch just outside my window. He communicates songs of joy to his nearby friends. Today is a great day.

Today is Kwynn’s day. I am looking forward to spending time with Kwynn tonight. I have to get things ready for a weekend trip I am taking tomorrow, but just know that tonight will be a great night for Kwynn and I. She is such a positive good-natured little girl, that doesn’t have to search far for a smile or giggle. Both of us being easily entertained, we have a lot of fun together. I love every second that she is in my mind, heart and site. I love you Kwynnie!

Today is your day. Make today what you want it to be. Make today your day. Here is hoping that everyone will have as great of a day as I will.

She doesn’t listen to everything I say, do things my way, tell me it’s ok, or see me everyday…but she does scream, “Hey!”

The full alphabet she doesn’t know, to bed she doesn’t go, and the lawn she doesn’t mow…but she does love to, “Watch a show.”

She doesn’t back me in a fight, tell me it’s alright, like to go “Na-Night,” or band-aid a bite…but she does hug me so tight.

She doesn’t like to share, meet me over there, wash my underwear, or brush my hair…but she does join me in prayer.

She doesn’t take away my fears, remember the years, buy us some beers, or introduce me to peers…but she does live in my tears.

She doesn’t settle for any drink, reach the bathroom sink, or wear it if it’s not pink…but she does look just like me, I think.

She doesn’t stay up late with me, take me on a shopping spree, or even always agree…but she does call me, “Daddy.”

She doesn’t hear me say, “Daddy loves you” everyday…but she does let me call her my “Special K”.

Sick of the snow.

A “self created” cartoon version of my daughter Kwynn and I

Being recently divorced, a student, a father, and well…human, I currently find myself on a voyage to find me. As mentioned in a previous post, I was assigned in school to write a paper describing “Who I Am”. This was a very difficult assignment for me because I do not know who I am. That’s just it, I am trying to find myself. I am trying to find out exactly what it is that makes me who I am. If I was to write a paper on describing who I am, the paper would only be accurate for a short period of time, only to lose it’s truthfulness with a “changing me”.

In talking with friends and co-workers about this paper, we came to a conclusion that it would be more interesting if the paper was on the person I want to become instead of who I currently am; because as humans we are constantly changing as the life and world around us change. During the discussion, I was given the following quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin, member of the LDS Quorum of the 12 Apostles. He shares his thoughts on this subject by using a quote from author/writer George Bernard Shaw:

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Don’t worry about searching for who you are; focus your energies on creating the kind of person you want to be! You will discover that as you pursue that journey you will not only find yourself, but chances are you will be pleasantly surprised and proud of the person you find along the way.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin

Joseph B. Wirthlin defines exactly what the people of this world would love to do-trust themselves enough to let go and be the unique individual they really are. However, society is so restrictive on who or what is acceptable that people are scared to be who the really are-different. It is so much easier to follow what everyone else is because the path has already been laid before them.

I admit, I would much rather walk on a paved sidewalk instead of having to create my own path. Call it lazy, I call it human nature; fear of not being accepted, fear of actually finding out who I am.

What if Elder Wirthlin is incorrect? What if I am not happy with the person I have come to know as myself along the journey? Well, that brings me to present day. Like most people, I am faced with that question today, right now. The journey of finding yourself doesn’t end until life’s journey ends. I feel it is then we will find who we are as we look back the paved or unpaved paths we took that we will have a smile on our faces, a cold beverage in hand, and a complete knowledge of the person we are at that point in time.

Below is an excerpt from the February 2008 Doba eNewletter, a monthly publication I am in charge of creating as Doba’s Education Specialist. For more information about Doba and the full version of the Doba eNewsletter, visit www.doba.com.

Interview By Jake Sabey – Doba Education Specialist

Instead of a featured article this month, I decided to interview Doba employee Wes Lapioli. Who is Wes Lapioli, and how would an interview with him benefit you? Wes is an important communication source between online retailers and Doba. I feel his experience, role, and methods discussed in this interview could assist in the progress of your online retail business. I usually record my interviews to use as a reference to go back to. The interviews I record are very informal and not usually accesible to the readers; however, I though it might be beneficial (and fun) to share the recorded interview as well as a summarized-written version. To listen to the full recorded interview with Wes Lapioli, click here. Thank you for taking the time to read and/or listen, and a special thanks goes out to Wes for letting me pick his brain. Enjoy!

Wes Lapioli – Doba Merchandising Account Manager

As Doba’s Mechandising Account Manager and an eBay Certified Consultant, Wes Lapioli is a vital communication source between onilne retailers and Doba. Before coming to Doba, Wes worked in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) field as a coach and account manager. He has experience in giving web site consultations, building landing pages, managing pay per click campaigns, and writing press releases and other content. In his spare time Wes enjoys being with his family, playing the guitar, writing music, building web sites, and making flash based cartoons. With that said, lets get to know Wes a little bit more.

Jake Sabey: Your title is Merchandising Account Manager, what exactly do you do as a Merchandising Account Manager?

Wes Lapioli: The role of merchandising account manager varies in responsibilities. Business development is probably the easiest way to explain it. I work with certain groups of retailers to handle their day to day merchandising matters with Doba. I am the liaison between certain retailer groups and Doba’s marketplace department. I also stay on top of ecommerce trends to share proven merchandising strategies, techniques, and specials with retailers to increase their sales and profits.

JS: Through communicating with different retailers, what type of concerns surface and how do you address them?

WL: The concerns of Doba members are dependant on where they are in their respective businesses. Someone who is just starting out is usually concerned about selecting good products, price, where to sell, and making a profit. All of these are addressed by Doba through the many articles and resources designed to help people get started. My word of advice on all of these concerns would be to treat everything you do like a business. Doba is a business investment with less inherent
risk than other methods of getting inventory. Doba can be one of the most vital components to success for a retailer, but it is entirely dependant on the work you put in to it. The more you act like a professional business the better chances you will have of being successful.

WL: The concerns of higher level retailers (usually those who own their own ecommerce sites) are very different from start up businesses selling on Ebay. Their number one question is – How can I effectively get your product data to integrate with my web site? Currently the most effective way to do this is by using our data export tool. Doba’s catalog allows you to filter by price, category, brand, supplier, and other inventory options. Once you have applied the filters you can save the search and export the product data.

JS: Through your experience, what kind of advice would you give the retailers you deal with?

WL: I believe Doba is a revolutionary platform that has incredible value to internet retailers whether they are just starting
up or they are just looking to expand their existing inventory a little. All businesses have their ups and downs, and if most people will push through the rough times and learn from their failures they can end up seeing marvelous results. Again I think the trick is treating everything you do with Doba as a business.

JS: Looking ahead, what types of goals do you have to improve the individual retailer’s business as well as improving
Doba.

WL: (summarized list from interview)

• Inform members of new products, services, and options they have
  with Doba to continue growing their business.
• Communicate to the Doba Merchandising/Marketplace team what Doba
  members need to be successful.
• Share proven merchandising strategies, techniques, and specials
  with retailers to increase their sales and profits.
• Identify opportunities for negotiating better supplier pricing
  in specific product categories.
• Identify the suppliers that top retailers would use if added to
  Doba.

If you would like to hear more of Wes’s insights, click here to listen to the recorded version. Here are some articles that will provide more information to the topics discussed during this interview:

• “Product Research Basic Principles“
• Doba User Manual, Chapter 10: “Pricing Products to Sell”
• “Small Business Tax Tips for Online Retailers”

For additional reference material on other business related subjects, search the Doba Knowledgebase and stay tuned for future issues of the Doba eNewsletter and Elite Seller Report.

About the Interviewer:

Jake Sabey is an eBay Certified Consultant and an Education Specialist for Doba. Jake’s educational strategies and methodologies help online retailers meet and exceed their business-related goals. Prior to working for Doba, Jake was a team leader, supervisor, and trainer for Toys R Us, Sinclair Oil, SBC, and AT&T.

(Below is an excerpt from a paper I wrote answering “Who Am I?” through my attitudes, behavior, lifestyle, values and beliefs.)

Through selling and buying on eBay, I have noticed that objects sold as “brand new in box”, will sell at a higher price then objects “used once” or “new without box”. I find it ironic that worldly objects often hold more value if not used and come in the original packaging, when human elements if not used, lessen in value or even become worthless. With that in mind, I can’t help but think, 1) I have some objects that might be worth some bucks, and 2) I have elements that increase in value the more I use them.

Concentrating on thought number 2, I am going to go to my happy place; a place called Heaven. From this happy place I find myself sprawled in a cloud consumed with complete relaxation, placed in a one-man audience for the viewing of the DVD entitled, “Jake’s Life”. As the lights around me grow dim with the setting sun, powerful yet soft music slowly fades in, providing a theme of serenity. I notice a gigantic screen with the clarity, colors, and sharpness of a life-definition TV, with the main menu of the film projected before me. Not thinking twice about there being no previews, I drink from my bottomless glass of naturally quenching water.

Lifting the remote, as if to get this party started, I naturally focus all my attention to the single green button marked “remember” without feeling the need to search for another option. After I Anxiously select “Values” from the chapter menu, the screen immediately transitions into mixed scenes of experience; including joy and pain, love and hate, loss and gain, and success and failure. Tears glide down my face, connecting with the corner of my smile with each depicted experience. The movie plays on for what the world below would consider years, sparing no detail, emotion, or lesson learned.

The film comes to an end with the promising text displayed on the screen, “To Be Continued…” The credits begin to role, listing the names of those who played a part in “Jake’s Life,” as the light from the rising sun introduces itself. Music continues to play, while the people belonging to the names and faces from the film gather around me. No words are spoken, exchanges through deep eye contact, physical embrace, and tears successfully replace the need for words.

Coming back to earth from my happy place, I chose to express what I value by describing a place and peace of mind created by elements of my life and the people I got them from. I echo the message from the “Value Chapter” of “Jake’s Life” by writing five words: expression, love, gratitude, understanding and remembrance. Separately they are their own element; elements of life that can not be bought or sold, but can be lost. Collectively they define elements I value; elements that are part of who I am.

Question: If someone were to ask you to describe who you are by things you value, what would be your response?

Here I sit. Alone, in the presence of good company. Stars are not the only thing watching over me. Crackling wood breaks the sound that silence makes. Speaking words that only I understand, it results in a display of true reflection. Telling a story never told before, in a language of lesson, the crackle fades into words spoken by others in a similar place.

I look up to find others with the same purpose. Purpose of being, purpose of searching for whatever it is they will find. Different from the glow shared by the flames, a light appears in the heart of random dwellers. I look back down.

Wheels are turning inside, creating a formula of love, exploring for a way of expression. I breath in; scared of what my come out as I exhale. My body turns numb from my effort to connect heart to mind to mouth. I speak. The November chill is inviting, but the heat from the fire becomes more appealing. I focus on the red coals, as everything else becomes a blur. I forcefully blink, attempting to regain the comfort that has slipped away. Success.

I take the place of the fire, becoming warm with love and attention, not ever wanting to leave this place. A fire brought me here.