jeepproject

Learn while doing

I sold a Jeep. I didn't have time for it. But I did want to learn Google Apps. I decided to work on maximizing the value of one thing while learning another. In the process, I put together some hopefully helpful Google / Picasa / Microsoft hints . . .

Tip 1: 640x480 pixel files (OPEN)

Tip 2: Bigger is NOT better: learn about photo resolution (OPEN)

Tip 3: Screen capture from a photo program (OPEN)

Tip 4: Clear, concise text (OPEN)

Tip 5: Well-set margins (OPEN)

Tip 6: 'Right-size' photos: be patient (OPEN)

Tip 7: Create a 'cool' Google Apps logo (OPEN)

Tip 8: This is Easier! (OPEN)

Tip 9: WordArt (OPEN)

Tip 10: Impact of text size (OPEN)

Tip 11: Spelling and grammar (OPEN)

Tip 12: Layout (OPEN)

Tip 13: Impact of page size (OPEN)

Tip 14: Picasa album covers (OPEN)

Jeep Photo Exterior Samples ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Jeep Photo Interior Samples ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Jeep Photo Engine Samples ( 1 ) ( 2 )

Jeep Photo Mechanical Samples ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Jeep Collages ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 )

Jeep Detail Collages / More Tips ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 )

Imagine when you look at these hints (and think about how to load and save smaller files) that you are effectively saying: Today I'm going to a buffet: It appears that I could take as much food as I want (even if most of the value of it gets thrown away) because it all seems free. But today (and hopefully in the future) I am only going to take what I need.

Why does this matter? (OPEN)

I originally thought about listing the Jeep myself but then decided I really wanted someone else to handle the eBay sale (worked on setting this up in Jan. 2010) who does that 'stuff' all the time (lots of people are a LOT smarter than me in a lot of different areas). Because I did the upfront work, though, I made it easy for them to see where the value is...

The Jeep was listed on February 8, 2010. In the several months preceding, I tried to generate 'traffic' both related to the sale of the Jeep and to the value creating ideas for communities and businesses I've noted at this site because I believe in the concept of 'critical mass': If you get enough people doing enough wealth retaining and creating things, you can literally change the world.

The Jeep sold (I'll report on that process at a later date (see P.S. below) — I need to get some work done! — I believe I'm supposed to be working on a book). I understand though, that a LOT of people showed up at the auction on eBay (thanks for taking the time) — if only just to watch (probably a lot of the people who have this year, make and model still in their garages who were wondering!).

I'll continue to make modifications to the graphics pages as I go along. I may have a few more helpful 'tips' floating around in my head — especially for those individuals who still struggle with typing and never had much (or any instruction) related to computer graphics. And, keep in mind: I myself am still learning.

Re. the Jeep: Because I kept the Jeep for so long, many people thought it was difficult to let it go. I never got around to putting it back into service and on the day it started moving into antique class and needed some restoration, it was easy (for me) to say, I am not a collector of antique cars but a lot of people are. I never woke up in the morning and thought: I should be restoring cars--THAT is my passion. Collecting and restoring vehicles is the passion of many others. This car (even before it was sold) belonged to one of them.

P.S. I got more for the Jeep than I was offered locally but did not get the price I was hoping for at the eBay auction (mainly because I had provided a lot of detail to the seller regarding the Jeep's condition, it was in 'antique' class and I even had things like the original key tags and the Chilton's manual for that model).

My seller started cancelling bids within 24 hours of the auction close (which means that I will never know for sure what it could have sold for). There are valid reasons for doing this and when you are not selling something yourself, you have to 'trust' that your seller knows what they are doing. In retrospect, had I known that this could occur, I would have asked that the vehicle be 'relisted' at a later date with more information provided to the bidders (especially in regard to the bid process).

I contacted eBay regarding the process and they noted that a seller always has the option of cancelling bids. I did not want to interfere with any legitimate bidder's right to take ownership of the vehicle so it was picked up the following weekend by a bidder from Illinois.

From my perspective, they got a VERY GOOD DEAL.