Christmas is almost here!
Hey Ya’ll -
Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve - as we say in our household! Can you believe it’s almost here!?
This Christmas season has been far to crazy for me, and I sure hope I can learn from this year, and plan accordingly for next year. Too many projects were all coming together at the same time. Of course, none of the projects were SUPPOSED to still be on the “burner” this late into the year, but it always seems that things drag on and on and before you know it - it’s supposed to be time to relax and enjoy the holidays, and you’re overwhelmed with STUFF.
I’d hoped “Worship Under The Stars” would be completed and “for sale” by now … but instead, we’re not even in replication. I’m supposed to get the final Audio Master CD tomorrow, and my cousin, John McKinnon, is about 1/2 way finished with all the video post-production. I’m having to wrestle around with getting the graphic design finished - at this point, I’ve had it in the hands of 3 different designers, but have yet to go to press with anything. Today I had to write out all the credits, copyrights, and all the “copy” that goes in the CD cover.
One thing I did get done today was a new “Highest Praise Podcast” for Christmas - check it out!
I suppose the thing that has kept me the busiest is the Christmas buying rush - not for my music CD’s … but for all sorts of games and toys that I started selling last year. I’m just a entrepreneur at heart, and even though I know I should be spending more time doing music/ministry - the practical need to pay the bills and attempt to put a little cash in savings now and then seems to popup and grab my attention. Last year, just prior to Christmas I launched into “e-tailing and dropshipping” - where I have products for sale on two of my own retail sites, and then Amazon.Com (hppenterprises) and Ebay (hppenterprises). The two retail sites are www.discountkidsgames.com and www.thekidmall.com.
Last year, I sold a few things but this year, with 200+ positive feedbacks from previous buyers, folks seemed confident to buy from “HPP” and each day I’d have to process tons of orders. Most everything is “dropshipped” — meaning I get the order and then have a wholesale distributor ship it to the end-user/customer on my behalf - complete w/ my return address and everything. It’s been a blessing to make the extra income, etc.
Speaking of extra income - I’ve also found another “venture” that is quite crazy - yet profitable - for now … it’s called “auto-surfing”, and although there are tons of scam sites that offer “commissions for surfing web sites”, this particular one has been true blue and has been paying out for months. I have devoted a “business blog” to journal my experiences with this, and you can read more about it at “The Entrepreneurs’ Blog“. If you’d like to get involved, all I can say is to “READ MY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT” before doing so. Nevertheless, it’s been another source of provision that has been helpful in helping us “make ends meet” around here.
One of major studio hard drives crashed this week - I prayed for a miracle and received one - the drive itself still had the data on it, and I was able to crack open the firewire drive enclosure, remove the drive, and get all the contents off the drive before sending it back to the manufacturer to be repaired (and formatted/wiped clean) under warranty. All of the “Worship Under The Stars” video footage was on this drive, along with my audio edits and 4-days worth of recording a local praise band from Brunswick in the studio.
So, getting that record mixed, some websites updated (I’m grateful for a few specific clients of HPP Web Hosting who have been more than patient in waiting for their sites to be updated), and some administrative business work finished - maybe I’ll be able to catch Santa in his sleigh and go for a ride. I know Jon Michael, Will, Rebekah, and “?” will think that was cool … and yeah - even though I posted it before on this blog … I’ve been surprised how many folks didn’t know there was a Baby McKinnon #4 on the way - due May 10.
That’s all for now - much to do … we’re having a Christmas Party tonight with our homegroup from church.
God bless, Merry Christmas!
For the Kingdom,
Fred