Let's see... How to introduce myself to the Steem community?
Seems like a monumental task, especially when you're a stranger in a strange land.
Ok, let's give it a go, shall we?
I was born in East LA, (East Los Angeles) but that movie ("Born in East LA", starring Cheech Marin of Cheech & Chong) was not about me.
When I was 7, my parents started a small business, selling at local So Cal flea markets. This instilled an entrepreneurial instinct in me which would only grow over the years and would never die.
We sold merchandise - things like toys, sunglasses, cosmetics - basically, anything that was popular.
It was hard work, getting up at 6 am, driving to the old drive-in theaters where the flea markets were held, unloading our Ford Econoline van, (we went through several vans through those years) setting up our shade, tables and prices.
Once set up, we'd eat our homemade breakfast burritos and then we would sell, sell, sell all day and often, in brutal heat.
At about 3 pm, we'd start packing up and loading the van to go home. At about 5 pm, we'd get home - but this was Saturday, so on Sunday, we would get up early and go do it again.
This was my childhood. (from about age 7 to about age 23)
Some people might consider this a horrible way to grow up, and in many ways it was kinda rough. But it instilled an entrepreneurial instinct that I don't think I would've gotten any other way.
As a teenager, I started selling stickers that I had made. (rock band logos, etc.) and saved enough from that little business to buy my first car. (a 1963 VW Karmann Ghia) Later, I would buy concert tickets when they went on sale and then mark them up and sell to people at school. I was always finding things I could buy and sell for income.
One day, my mom took me to a real estate investing seminar. (These were all the rage in the '80s)
I was 19 and sat there, transfixed at the idea of buying property for long term investment. It all made so much sense.
So, I spent the next 2 years learning all I could about real estate investing and by the time I was 23, I owned 4 properties! It was cool, but I was only 23 and impatient for success.
I ended up selling those properties and it's one of the few regrets I have.
Eventually, this incredible invention called "The Internet" came along.
Not only did I not know anything about computers... but I didn't WANT to know anything about computers.
My friend introduced me to this cool new website called eBay.
I was BLOWN AWAY!
Here, in virtual form, was a modern day flea market! Except that, with this flea market, I wasn't limited to the people who could physically be there - with this flea market, I could sell to anyone in the WORLD who was looking for my merchandise!
Immediately, I set up my eBay account and started selling vintage Hot Wheels cars. (these little collectibles can range from $10 to as much as tens of thousands of dollars - Yup, for one toy car...)
My first week, I made $1,200 and I never looked back. It was incredibly fun to see my auction prices going up and I quickly developed a system for success on eBay.
At my high point, I was earning $12 - 15,000 a month on eBay and I was inducted into eBay's "Powerseller" program when they first started it.
Around 1999, I bought a course about marketing on the Internet. It was written by a guy named Corey Rudl.
Corey had had some early success with marketing a book on the Internet and was making a huge income (for that era) with his marketing.
I was inspired by Corey's course to write my first eBook, titled: "Beyond eBay".
I put those principles into action and, even though I didn't know how to build a website, (it took me about 30 days to get a simple site up) I did it and began selling my little eBook on the Internet.
In one year, that little eBook, (plus upsells and affiliate income) was making me about $3,000 a month in ongoing, passive income!
I was blown away and the feeling of independence, freedom and excitement is one you have to feel to believe.
This experience led to me working with a seminar company (teaching about eBay) and, eventually, (through more hard work) led to me being featured on a National Infomercial!
I had never done TV before and didn't know what I was doing, but the infomercial company did and they coached me through the entire process.
Now, before you think that landing an infomercial is an easy ticket to wealth and riches, let me share some infomercial stats with you...
Only 1 out of 20 infomercials makes it past the "test phase"
The test phase is a 2-week period where the infomercial company invests $50,000 in air time to see if the show has a chance of success
For the 1 out of 20 shows that DO pass the test phase, the average infomercial has a life of only 18 months.
Well, my eBay infomercial was certainly blessed, because it not only made it past the test phase, but it aired all across the US for 11 YEARS!
And, I'm proud to say that my show helped over 300,000 people learn how to sell on eBay!
The stories that we would receive from people who bought my eBay book and DVDs were so inspiring - I had one person come up to me and say: "Dave, you have no idea how much you've helped me and my family". As she said this, she started to sob and walked away as the emotions got to her.
As I experienced, this, I was suddenly brought in touch with what drove me.
I wanted to be able to teach lots of people how to start their own business because I felt that an additional income would solve many problems. One of the primary reasons for divorce is usually money problems and I felt like I could not only solve that issue for many of my students, but all kinds of other issues.
Once, I had a young man come up to me and tell me that he had a disability that did not allow him to work a traditional job. He was also in tears as he told me: "Dave, I feel like a man again because I can now provide for my family again".
It's moments like these that "locked me in" to the idea of teaching and helping people with what I knew.
Now, because the infomercial was not "mine", (not owned by me) I did not make the income from it, but I did receive an ongoing royalty, which ended up making me my first millions.
Suddenly, I was able to buy the cars I loved (classic American muscle cars from the late '70s) such as a 1970 Mach 1 Mustang, A 1970 Chevy Chevelle and a 1969 Shelby GT-500.
At one point, I owned about 7 cars and had my own office / warehouse to store them. (that warehouse also had a half-pipe skateboard ramp for me to skate!)
It was an amazing time because I suddenly had more than enough money and did not have to do much work for it.
Until it all ended...
In 2008, as the US fell into deep recession, we started to see the signs of the infomercial coming to an end. And, although we rode it out as best we could, one day, without warning, the infomercial company stopped paying my royalty.
It was brutal because things had already been sliding downward and all of a sudden, the income I was counting on suddenly (and without warning) stopped.
I was faced with an interesting dilemma. What does an unemployed Infomercial star do for his next act? It was a brutal time and something I don't wish upon anyone.
I did not have time to grieve. I did not have time to pout. I only had time to take action.
So, while continuing my eBay business, I began helping local businessowners with their internet marketing. And that helped to pay the bills, little by little.
I was gaining valuable experience, as well, and over time, this experience would come in handy in so many ways.
By the way, did I mention that this was a brutal time?
In my prayers, I asked God for a situation where I could create training courses on all the internet marketing, ecommerce and other experiences I'd had, (like I had done with the eBay course) and for someone else to do the marketing.
One day, I was interviewing a successful online entrepreneur for one of my training courses and he mentioned a website called Udemy.
He said it was a growing company and they were a marketplace for online courses. So I knew I had to check them out.
When I did, I was shocked to see that they had thousands of courses in their marketplace and I felt like I had found home...
So I began the journey that I've been on for the last few years - that of an online teacher on Udemy. (and other, similar platforms)
The fact that I can create a video course ONCE, but then have it pay me over and over again, is what gets me excited about being an online teacher.
I've now grown my Udemy business to 43 courses on all kinds of topics, from ecommerce to internet marketing to social media, copywriting, email marketing, etc. (all things I have learned about and used over the years)
I now teach over 30,000 students in 175 countries, all around the world and it warms my heart when I read students' reviews of my courses and I see that I am making a difference in people's lives, all over the world.
It feels like I am finally "home" in my entrepreneurial journey, but I also know that we live in a changing world and there are always new opportunities, right around the corner.
That's what makes the entrepreneurial life so dang exciting.
So, yeah, that's a little bit about me. I didn't expect to write so much, but hope you got some value out of it.
Not bad for a kid from East LA, right?
Dave Espino
Just wondering. Given your background in infomercials etc. I would have thought that you would have placed more importance on formatting and illustrations/photos in this introductory post of your. What am I missing?
Images added! (I figured it out) -Dave
Dave, many thanks for introducing me to Steem (and for your Udemy courses!). I enjoyed reading your story and great pics too.
You're welcome, Bob!
I enjoyed reading your story!
The thing that stood out to me is the impact parents can have on a child (but it applies to many other relationships as well): how your parents' flea market small business instilled in you an entrepreneurial spirit.
I agree. They are definitely the reason I am who I am!
Great post, unlike you I have no experience in sales so I am reading as many posts as I can and try to get the best out of each one, as other peoples experiences can be very helpful.
Thanks!