Hey Reader,

Here we are again! I hope you have had a lovely weekend!

I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts, from when I was away in the Philippines. I can now see the importance of why we should take the time to "stop" and reflect and really understand what is going on in our lives...

Last weeks Newsletter can be read here

🤷🏻‍♂️ Life & Thoughts

While reflecting over December I came to the conclusion that I was feeling stuck and had lost my "vision" of how to serve my audience best. So I went deep into jotting down thoughts, ideas, annoyances, frustrations and everything in between. In doing so... I have been able to free my head of being stuck - and I am charging on!

My goal has always been to “document, share and show what Im doing, in the hope it may inspire others to aspire further in their own lives” - through the building of my business and reselling, via my running adventures to grow personally, as well as the actual podcast itself “Further Your Lifestyle”.

With all this there is a responsibility on my part as a creator, “influencer” or someone speaking to an audience to:

Be authentic, be honest and truthful.
With mixed communities across my mediums (Youtube, Instagram, via the Podcast) and with all different interests and priorities, not everything I share, will match to what people want. But I want this community on the channel to be a wholesome and a collective community of its own “not just a reselling community”, not just a running community, not just a Pokemon community and so on
I also want to bring VALUE, be it entertainment, education or a combination of both

What are the things I think about when creating content:

Is this relevant & of value
Do I enjoy making it
Will it support the channel growth

Last year, I pulled across the Podcast to the channel bringing the Further Your Lifestyle under the one banner of myself CLFurlong, being an element of the one ecosystem I am trying to create. This has worked well actually.

This is not even 1 year worth of data..

This is compared to my Audio only..

With all this in mind - I identified why I make videos and it is for 3 reasons:

To document and share my journey
To give value, insight and enjoyment to others be it (motivation, inspiration, or help or just for fun)
With hope to bring in some extra income

So WHY am I stuck?

Imposter syndrome, doubt, a lack of confidence or maybe a redirection of focus - but I was struggling to identify my place…

Do not hear me wrong - each and every one of my followers, watchers, commenters, subscribers...new or old - mean the world to me and enable me to want to create. That includes you!

I guess in my time away, and in lead up to it - I questioned a lot of things from a broader community perspective and how I fit into it.

Now I know some of you are here for RESELLING

Some for the RUNNING

Some for the POKEMON

Some for the PODCAST

Some for the CLFURLONG (all in one experience)

And to clarify - my priority isn’t to create my Youtube into a “reselling channel”, nor a running channel, nor a Pokemon channel - my priority is to create a Channel, or platform or space where people of different groups, hobbies and backgrounds can come together and in one way or another Further Their Lifestyle.

Maybe through the podcast alone

Maybe through the motivation of running and the perspectives of life it has

Maybe through the journey to build a business and to try it themselves

Maybe through Pokemon to escape the rest of the world and find a fun place to hang out

So I have now realised what I must do and it comes also with the enlightenment of "The Audience Comes Last | Rick Rubin"

Now this is in the lens of "Art" but there is a huge relevance to anyone who is creating anything. But the short of it is this...

If we are forcing creativity to please an audience based on what we think they want... we will never hit it.

But if we are creating something for us, naturally we are edging closer to our best work. We are passionate, careful, thoughtful and we do it with pride... which in result, tends to create something beautiful of our best.

When we understand why do we do what we do - for who, for what, and for when? We will be opened to a better understanding of how we create and with less doubt.

With the above in mind what am I trying to create across my own space?

documenting my journey of life
how I am building my business, which will be a life long journey... which in time I can look back and reflect on that adventure
how I am growing personally as I discover my capabilities through running (a lot of the running is me in my head dealing with stuff)
creating a podcast which PROMOTES and encourages those to further their lifestyle through all elements of what is relevant to them - doesn't have to be like me, but I am an example to inspire

Don't worry! I am not going anywhere. If anything I am locking in closer to my ambitions and intentions and making it clear to you all that I do create / share what I share with the intention of:

it helps me grow, stay accountable and pursue onwards
I hope and wish the byproduct of this, is a value add and inspiration to all who are within this space

📊 Business

January is DONE!

And honestly, the month finished better than I expected, but I guess there is a lot of work to be done, to get to where I want to be going.

Over the last couple of weeks I have had some interesting questions from a number of viewers, peers and friends surrounding my approach, intentions and ambitions.

I will continue to reiterate this... but what I am doing isn't going to be feasible, make sense, or even sustainable for the majority - simply due to my circumstance. Im working on front loading and building the business to be "less of me, and more of processes & people" to result in profit.

I am now not doing this in the short term to make a living off it - I am now being bold in creating something which will florish into something greater - of course, I have to do the work and nurture this - but I am ready to climb the mountain.

But REMEMBER, these things cannot be rushed.

January 2024

storage costs have increased
employee has worked extra time, due to me being unwell for 2 weeks
double month of consignments paid out (both Dec and Jan)

Here is my Latest Snapshot of 2024 Business Metrics - Executive Summary

Just to be clear - I am not here to share with you how to build your business. I am here sharing how I am building mine.

as at end of January 2024

ASP is highest yet
Sales volume is down, ASP is up - doing less for more/same

Over the last 6 months I have been trying to RID of the crap in my store - and rebuild from scratch a better ASP.

It has meant some BIG hits to the store but the trend of sell less, but for more is evening out... see below:

however the challenge now is to INCREASE the volume with the ASP

Content

Closing thoughts

I hope to see you around via my Youtube, my Instagram or maybe even in person!

Thanks!

Chris Furlong // say hello@clfurlong.com

PEOPLE I CAN VOUCH FOR, LINKS & AFFILIATES:

AMEX:

I recently got the American Express® Business Platinum Card to ease my cash flow - not saying it’s a must-have, but if you’re considering, definitely worth a peek! (Not financial advice.) If you are curious or looking for one, reach out as I can send you a referral for some bonus points.

PEOPLE:

Ethan 'Rooshock' aka a wiz bang Accountant! watch this

📊 Reseller Spreadsheet:

Click here, to see the VIP offer for you as one of my biggest supports.
Watch the DEMO, live with Ethan Rooshock

PRINTER I USE: https://ausprint.co/collections/shop/products/ausprint
Get $20 off your order with CHRISFR20 with a printer or labels over $249.
AUSPRINT USB Printer Review: https://youtu.be/wUFJhe12kmE

I use this printer now EVERYDAY.

POSTAGE SUPPLIES
Bubble Wrap - https://ebay.us/wRn29p
DVD Postage Letters (Tracked): https://ebay.us/dYKeWV
TRY THESE NOW for Untracked Mailers: "Padded Mailers"
Australia Post Parcel Box - Large: https://ebay.us/Qk3VAZ
Australia Post Parcel Box - Small: https://ebay.us/aTCH37
Australia Post Parcel Box - Medium: https://ebay.us/bBpYYu
Australia Post Flat Rate Satchel Medium (100 bag pk): https://ebay.us/IAJs6l
Australia Post Flat Rate Satchel Small (100 bag pk): https://ebay.us/A51s39

Also, I have had more people in the last week ask me what boxes and bags do I use for my Clothing on eBay, so here they are:

Boxes: https://ebay.us/VhAL1L
Bags: https://ebay.us/l6cjH0

PREVIOUS READS: First and Latest:

Week 1: https://ckarchive.com/b/lmuehmh9od64
Week 135: https://ckarchive.com/b/68ueh8hkx5mm7fkq88gqmtz7z4nkk
Week 136: https://ckarchive.com/b/d0ueh0h4vez44ak4xx64otmv4n544
Week 137: https://ckarchive.com/b/p9ueh9h3mrm9lim6ggw6kamk3v733
Week 138: https://ckarchive.com/b/wvu2hgh5n2o59a9r552rqte2x69xx
Week 139: https://ckarchive.com/b/o8ukhqhkpeezmsp2ww025apdr47rr

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. No additional fee for you, but Amazon will share a % of the sale with me. This does help support the newsletter costs

Hi! I'm a Chris

I have a confession to make! (also lots of graphs)

Hey Reader,

🤷🏻‍♂️ Life & Thoughts

📊 Business

Content

Closing thoughts

The truth? Not every week is smooth sailing

bit of a break from me

the better the PROBLEM the better the growth!