Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
Some folks come into your life and alter every thing. For me, that individual was Diane Lassonde. She wasn’t simply my reselling buddy—my mentor, my cheerleader, and the perfect troublemaker you could possibly ever hope to fulfill due to an eBay meetup.
I’ll always remember the day we met. I used to be operating a really (and I imply very) unsuccessful consignment retailer, desperately looking out on-line for a manner out. That’s after I stumbled throughout Diane’s eBay meetup, and I messaged her to ask a number of benign questions. A few days later, she walked into my retailer along with her huge coronary heart, boundless vitality, and a glint in her eye that mentioned, “I do know one thing you don’t… but.”
Diane satisfied me to return to her meetup, and let’s say I wasn’t thrilled about it. I used to be prepared to shut up store, unload my inventory, and get a “actual job.” However I went to a small restaurant the place I used to be certain I’d hear the identical drained recommendation about reselling. Boy, was I flawed.
Diane had this fashion of commanding a room—not with loudness, however sheer ardour. She didn’t simply speak about reselling; she lived it. “eBay is a buffet,” she mentioned, and inside minutes, she’d impressed me to present eBay an actual shot. Diane requested me to attend the 2018 eBay Open in Las Vegas; that’s when every thing modified. We made reseller buddies, and I made a decision I might do that! We attended eBay Open once more in 2019, and once more, every thing modified; Diane launched me to this “game-changing instrument” referred to as Record Completely. Diane had a knack for recognizing gold earlier than anybody else, and (spoiler alert) she was proper.
From that day ahead, Diane and I have been inseparable. We swapped sourcing ideas, debated pricing methods, and celebrated each sale—particularly the bizarre ones. She even let me peek at her eBay stats on her vendor hub, cheering me on as I attempted to outsell her. I ultimately did, however she by no means cared; she was extra excited than me.
However greater than that, Diane grew to become my pal. My actual pal—not only a reselling pal or a web based acquaintance, however somebody I might name at any hour of the day or evening. We traveled collectively, shopped thrift shops, swam, drank beer, wore matching pajamas, made Mickey Mouse ears, performed penny drop, and laughed till our sides harm. She shared her household with me, and I’ll without end be glad about her kids and grandchildren, who have been a lot part of her life.
Fearless Dwelling: Diane’s legacy
Diane wasn’t nearly reselling; she was about dwelling fearlessly. She taught me that errors have been stepping stones, that laughter might heal virtually something, and that success was sweetest when shared.
Her fearless spirit impressed the creation of the FearLESS Dwelling Fund, a legacy she constructed along with her household even after being recognized with Stage 4 lung most cancers. Diane was deeply moved by the members and mission of The Blind Middle of Nevada, a group she found via her work with the BOSS Reseller Remix.
At the same time as she confronted her personal challenges, Diane was decided to “get a leg up in life” for others. By way of the FearLESS Dwelling Fund, she discovered a method to proceed serving to folks lengthy after her time right here. Her reward reminds us to pay it ahead—via kindness, generosity, educating, and sharing.
Record Completely and Diane
Diane had a manner of recognizing potential in folks and instruments earlier than anybody else. When Record Completely launched, she instantly invited its founders, Amanda and Clara, to attend her eBay meetup. True to type, Diane didn’t simply make enterprise connections; she constructed friendships. She bonded with Amanda and Clara, cheering on their success as passionately as she cheered on her reseller buddies.
Diane believed in Record Completely from the beginning. She beloved the way it simplified reselling and introduced the group collectively. With Amanda and Clara, whether or not at eBay Open, on Zoom calls, or hanging out in individual, Diane and I usually discovered ourselves speaking Record Completely, sharing concepts, and dreaming huge for the reselling world.
Once I was supplied a job at Record Completely, nobody was extra excited than Diane. She was my largest supporter, although she joked she wished we might tackle this new journey collectively. At the same time as her sickness progressed, she celebrated my successes as in the event that they have been her personal.
Diane’s “Bucket Record with a Twist” introduced us one among my favourite reminiscences collectively. Amanda and Clara made certain Diane checked off a dream: attending a Crimson Sox sport in fashion. Watching her gentle up that day within the suite—cheering on her beloved Sox—was priceless. It was pure Diane: pleasure, ardour, and gratitude all wrapped up in a single unforgettable second.
Record Completely wasn’t only a instrument to Diane—it was a testomony to what occurs when folks imagine in one another and work collectively. I’ll at all times be grateful to Amanda, Clara, Theresa, and Record Completely for the happiness they dropped at my finest pal throughout these moments.
Saying goodbye, however probably not
Diane’s passing has left a gap in my coronary heart—and possibly in eBay meetup attendance, too. However at the same time as I grieve, I can’t assist however smile on the reminiscences. The late-night events, reselling adventures, Cheers with Beers, swimming on the Lassonde pool pub, laughing until I peed, and her countless encouragement: “You’ve bought this!”
She taught me that reselling isn’t nearly flipping objects for revenue. It’s about connection, resilience, and daring to dream huge. I can not clarify how a lot I’ll miss her on this easy on-line weblog.
So, in honor of Diane, I’ll hold pushing ahead. I’ll champion the FearLESS Dwelling Fund, share her knowledge with others, and possibly even persuade a number of extra folks to attempt Record Completely (as a result of, let’s face it, she’d need me to).
Thanks, Diane
Thanks for the laughs, the teachings, and the friendship of a lifetime. You weren’t simply my mentor—you have been my household.
Relaxation straightforward, Diane. I hope Heaven has limitless space for storing (we each know your cellar virtually did), no transport charges, and a thrift retailer that by no means closes. 💛
In the event you’d prefer to donate, go to FearLESS Dwelling Fund.
