25 Things about Me – and a Cool phpBay Discount Code!
Earlier this week, I decided to finally say screw it, and just start writing on this blog as if I were talking to you, versus trying to make every word sound right in an email! To kick that off… I figure it may help to share a bit about me that many people don’t know, and maybe don’t even care to know! :-)
Along with that… I spoke to Wade over at phpBay, and asked him to create a phpBay discount code for me to share with you all! If you are the fence about using phpBay, now is the time to grab it up at a 20% discount, by using the code: 24D0955707. I’m not going to BS you all and tell you it’s limited to the first 50 people like I have read on other sites… but I’m pretty sure it won’t last forever. The best thing I can say… is that I believe in it, it works, and I just wanted to give a bit back those of you who didn’t want to pay the full fee!
If you just want to learn more about phpbay, head over to the phpBay review I wrote a few weeks ago at Script Critics.
Without further ado…
25 Things about Myself!
Since I was tagged by my wonderful wife… I have to try and think of 25 things about myself, people may have not known. The first thing… I like typing! :-)
Here goes…
1 – My Name is not Mark… Its Steven! Way to go Mom and Dad! At least they didn’t call me “Dung” as I was growing up!
2 – I was born in Italy, at Aviano Air Force Base. This usually leads to answering the most common question I hear… No, I am not Italian and don’t have 1 ounce of Italian blood in me! “Yoo Gat It?”
3 – I am driven by one philosophy, with very few exceptions… Make Yourself Happy! Life is too short to spend time trying to please anyone except yourself! If others end up happy because “you are who you are”… keep them close, they are few and far between! I learned that from my Mother and Father, in my adult years.
4 – I have a VERY Twisted personality and sense of humor – but most people will never know that side of me! Of course… if we have a few drinks and I see you are a bit on the far side also… it’s on! If you are reading this and do get the chance… consider this your warning! :-) Some people have taken my reserved personality as cold, arrogant, and standoffish… little do they know, there is a freak within, being held back from public viewing!
5 – Kim (My Wife) Is probably the only person who has ever been fully exposed to, accepted, and actually liked me for who I am! The only other exception to this was my Mother. To anyone else reading this that “thinks” they know that side of me… we haven’t even scratched the surface!
6 – I completely and whole-heartily feel that I have the next $200 million dollar idea tucked away somewhere inside my head! Hopefully, it will surface before the autopsy!
7 – I regret that I do not do more with my three sons on a daily basis. I feel I could be a much better father. There is no excuse.. just regret. Nuff said… and No, I don’t feel better now that I said it! This is something I will change in 09!
8 – I drive a car that is capable of 180 miles per hour, but I’ve never exceeded 150 in it as far as you know! I rarely exceed the speed limit with others in the car! I am more than willing to take risks myself, but never risk the safety of others. My Father once taught me that if you ever get into a tight situation behind the wheel of a car, just line up the drivers side mirror as close as you can, to what you are about to hit. The drivers side will always make it through with minor scratches! If the passengers side doesn’t make it… well, it just wasn’t meant to be! Again… if you ever go for a ride with me, you’ve been warned!
9 – I am not a social person, but do well in mixed company. Most of the time you will find me attached to a computer working! Our office is called “The Hole” for a reason! Kim and I can spend all day in the hole together, and only talk once or twice during work hours! We like it that way!
10 – I literally Hate cell phones! Mine stays plugged into a wall 99% of the time. There are very exceptions to this rule and in the off event that you call me, you can expect to get voice mail. On the other hand, I will usually answer an email within 5-10 minutes!
This is not a personal issue against anyone… I get 20 calls to “Mr. Mark” from offshore developers just about every day, and tire of telling them I do not need $3USD/hour help!
11 – I read or at least scan 100% of the 250-300 emails I get every day (not counting spam) – I answer 20% of them!
12 – Myself and Kim own, build, or manage, more than 300 websites at any given time! It is our own little virtual real estate world! I will gladly share 3-4 of them with anyone… the rest we keep hidden, so the markets do not get overwhelmed.
13 – Call me a Pessimist! I tend to focus more on the negative side of an issue versus the positive side. It’s one of my personality traits I hate. The weird part, is that even though I can see a positive side to everything, I will enthusiastically discuss the negative.
14 – It took almost 40 years of my life to achieve a feeling of security and success in ANYTHING I try to do. I attribute both, to the support and encouragement I get from Kim on a daily basis!
15 – I kissed a Girl… and I Liked It!
16 – I LOVE Helping others… as long as it is on my terms, at my convenience, and done my way! I have my own way of getting things done, and have developed the process into “habits” to get them done quickly!
17 – For the past 2-3 years, I have wanted to adopt a baby with Kim! After 43 years, I feel I am finally prepared financially, mentally, physically and emotionally, to be a parent. Besides… we need a tax break!
18 – I still get the shakes every time I kiss my wife! We may be completely different personalities throughout the day, but when we touch… I turn into a teenager again! Shhh… don’t tell her that!
19 – I regret that Kim and I do not spend more time with her parents. They live relatively close and although we talk about them often, we do not make enough effort to see them more. Just like #7, no need for excuses and no, I don’t feel better now that I said it! This is something we will change in 09!
20 – My closest friend is Kim’s ex-husband Greg. Even though we became friends under weird circumstances, I consider him a brother and I am not afraid to say I love a man! Greg is well aware of #4! That just didn’t sound right…
21 – I regret that my ex wife and I cannot find a way to be friends.
22 – I believe in, and have my own relationship with God, but stay far away from organized religion! Lets not go there in this message…
23 – To date on Facebook, I have never been able to locate even one friend that I went to high school with in Springfield Mass! I have searched to the ends of Facebook and have come to the conclusion that I really didn’t exist as a teenager!
24 – I drove a Tractor Trailer for the US Post Office for 8 years, had more than 1 million accident free, “on time” miles, and walked away from a very secure and lucrative career, to pursue a dream of owning my own business! I failed in my initial efforts and it took 4 years longer to finally be able to reach for my dreams again. Ask me how it went in 20 years!
25 – Finally… the 25th thing about me that everyone needs to know. This was seriously some long a$$ stuff to write down on this page! If you skipped out of here without reading the entire thing, I am hurt. Now… Where’s Dick Clark, I need a good laugh!
Share a bit about Yourself now – Tell me just ONE THING about you, that I probably didn’t know!
Previously Published Articles You May Like to Read:
- Changing from BANS to PhpBay – Method 1
- Converting from BANS to phpBay, Method 2
- phpBay Search2Post and Other Goodies like phpOStock!
- Should you Convert a BANS Site to a PhpBay Site?
- GoDaddy Code – .99 Cents for First Year! HOT!!
- Cool Google Indexing Tool
- Oops – I held this Post Off and it Sent out Anyway!
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I have been doing my part to "Build the Internet" since 1994, when I built my first website! Since then, I have built hundreds of niche websites for myself and many others, focused on design, applications, ecommerce, search optimization and internet marketing.
Read this, great job! Me….hmm…I’m a perfectionist…not a good thing when you’re trying to break into internet marketing. Working on it. Phpbay discount, cool…thanks, now you know why I’m following you on twitter.
Great list! I’m somewhat inspired to create my own now : )
Something few people know about me is… When I was 12 years old I met Robin Williams. We were both shopping in a TV store. He was buying a TV and I was buying an Atari system. My mom forced me to introduce myself to him after he left the store (this was right after Mork and Mindy was cancelled, and my mom and I were huge fans of that show).
Robin was extremely shy, but very kind. My mom thought he might take better to having a young kid gush all over him than an adult, and she was probably right. I’ve always held a soft spot in my heart for him, based on this meeting, even when I have disagreed with some of the things he says.
Rochelle
I read all of it and thought with some of it, that could be me(married once for life)
I may as well follow suit andd do something similar on my blog
Dave
Yeah Steven! Hahaha.. Damn… first you were a brunette Mark, now you’re a blonde Steven!
I get confused enough over my own Jeff / Jake thing.. now i have to figure this out haha!
I’m definitely gonna get you drunk and get video your antics and twisted humor and post them on my blog! hahah
Wow Mark (Steven?):
Definitely a different side of you! This was a very fun post, I recommend sticking with this style of posting on the blog. Don’t get me wrong, I *LOVE* when you have very specific tutorials and the like, but injecting personality into it makes it all the better!
-Tyler
What a refreshing post Mark/Steven! I just knew you were a freak.;)
I only read a couple blogs on a regular basis, and continue to read yours after a year+ because besides having helpful info, I feel like you do try to keep it real and are honest – another reason while I’ll be using your new Script Critics site as a reference.
That $200 million dollar idea tucked away somewhere inside your head – have Kim get the plunger!
I’m busting my butt now trying to make money online so in the near future I can spend my time surfing, traveling and chilling when I want with my family.
I was on the fence with phpBay, but now will give it a try – thanks for the discount.
Sonia
I’m always happy when you are posting about yourself. It makes me feel that I’m getting know you a little bit more every time. I consider you as my online-business-mentor and I am very thankful for being among the 20% you answer on email.
I have learned 90% of all I know about online business from you, and now, only one year after I “met” you for the first time, I am making the same amount every month as I do in my full time job as a bank manager.
Lucky you to have teamed up with your wife. I am struggling to get my wife interested in building her own online business, but I fail every time. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get her interested in something?
I wish you and your family a very nice weekend!
Arthur
Re: phpBay discount and anyone still on the fence.
What Mark (Steven ; ) ) said about the plugin is true. It works, it’s easy to use, blah, blah, blah. This is a great deal and opportunity. The price for this plugin has already been raised once, so get this while you can get a savings on it.
I recently asked a question on my blog about whether people are still building sites with BANS. The majority of responses said, “No,” that they are now using phpBay and prefer it.
Just my two cents.
Rochelle
P.S. Mark, I LOVED the tone and style of this post. You had me laughing out loud several times. Keep it up!
@ All –
Thanks for the support about being ME! Kim just looked across the hole of our office and said… “Its About Time!”
Glad you all got a little entertainment from it also!! My MAIN goal going forward is to drop the dryness and light things up a little more…
:-)
Mark – Steven – Dung
So, did you hate the name Steven and decided Mark would be a better match for you? Or, was your dad also named Steven and you chose to go by your middle name to prevent confusion? Or something else?
Rochelle
@ Rochelle –
I swear I dont know WHY they called me by my middle name, but my dad was a Harold, that we called Doug! (His middle name) Maybe thats the reason… not sure.
I was Mark all my life, until I did something wrong… which was rare, because I was pure like fresh snow! LOL Roiight!
When it was serious… I got called “Steven” LOL
Hey Mark……
Thanks for the post, it made me smile reading many of the 25 things. Personally as a person who has a slightly twisted sense of humor myself I see no problem with someone else having one :).
Okay then, one thing you (or anyone online) didn’t know about me…….hmm, you may or may not know that I left university and actually worked in ITU (Intensive Care + Trauma) & Critical Care in the NHS for 3 years which had no relevance what so ever to internet marketing, but here we are.
Have a good one.
Ben
Way to go Mark man, how to keep it real. I think your 25 things about you was cool. I can relate to # 4 & 5 myself.
Oh and I did read all 25.
When one writes the truth about themselves you also release a amazing Force(not star wars)-you actually step back and can some times cry with the joy and hurt that we keep hidden to most-relationships get stronger your mind is free to explore the creative side-learning about your self is probably why we are on this planet-all the money in the world-no one is going to die and pass over with you-Hence the way I see life is you have to love you-fat,ugly what ever,I was born pretty screwed up in the arms-had lots of operations and if I go to the beach in Sydney people ask me if I am a shark attack victim!! Once it hurt until I found the X factor-not going into that except to say what you have said about your self is stripping life to the bone-then you rebuild a new you-Enough of my arm chair philosophy-well done! Mark/Stephen/Fred::: or maybe your name is JUST ME.
I don’t like people. :)
I have long believed that one of the biggest problems we face as a society is that we take ourselves too seriously. This was an outstanding post and I salute you for having the courage to post it.
BTW… If your serious about #17, I have recently started a blog on foster care, adoption and parenting tips :). Might find something helpful there. Keep up the outstanding posts.
bw
I think you are right about #6 .. I believe you will get the right combination of thoughts and ideas to make it big, you are too helpful to everyone to not make it big. I read this article on a site
Pablo Picasso produced 20,000 pieces of art; Einstein wrote more than 240 papers; Bach wrote a cantata every week; Thomas Edison filed a record 1,039 patents.
The more ideas you produce, the more likely you will find high-quality ones. These now great people did not make it at first..but look at their works now…
the site is…
http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2009/02/02/finding-good-ideas/
Wow, that’s very personal, Mark (or Steven)! Thanks for letting us see the other side of Steven.
Oh I love the way you joke about “needing a tax break”. That’s classic.
Yan
Hey Mark,
Great to see a bit of the actual Mark (even if he is Steven).
Thanks for the phpBay discount. I had been having a look at it for a while, but with the (lack of) value of the Australian dollar at the moment, I was a bit reluctant. Your voucher bought it down under $100 AUD, si it was a bit more affordable. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Thanks again,
Tony
Just purchased phpBay through your link. $63.20, great deal!
Hey Mark,
I started my 25 things list a few weeks ago, got to number 10 and stopped.
Hmm, let’s see, okay, I once saw a UFO, no kidding.
When I get my 25 things done, you’ll read more weird stuff.
Mark,
do you know if you can set up a ’search by zip code’ with phpbay pro?
I’m looking for a script to be able to search by zip code on my eBay sites.
@ Christine –
I dont know of a zip code based tool, but Alan at psptubes.net has a Geo plugin available, but it only narrows it to the right ebay country code (ebay US, UK, etc)
All said, with a bit of code work, and a database of zip codes, you could probably write it pretty easily. I am actually working on a similar set of pages on one of my own sites that gets a BUNCH of traffic (like 35% of the overall site traffic) from Texas.
If I figure out an answer, I will shoot you a message on it.
M
Mark,
thanks for the help.
I was able to mess with some of the BANS files to search by zip code but I still need to work on it some more, i.e. I need to move some things around and style it to look right.
If you’re good with these backend files and want a job let me know :)
@ Christine –
A quick glance into the code and it can be pretty easily done… but it depends on the way your site is setup and whether you use the short code or long code in phpbay.
I will shoot you an email about it….
M
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