The Little Engine That Could: What Six Years of Reselling Has Taught Me About Perseverance

Have you ever looked around and wondered why everyone else seems to be succeeding while you're still waiting for your breakthrough?

I've asked myself that question more times than I can count.

I've been a reseller for six years. If I'm being honest, I thought I'd be much further along by now. I see people sharing five-figure and even six-figure months, and sometimes I can't help but wonder, What am I missing? Am I not posting enough? Should I be making more videos? Is my office too small? Am I doing something wrong?

Those questions can be discouraging.

But this isn't a story about giving up.

It's a story about choosing to keep going.

Where It All Began

My reselling journey started in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. I kept hearing people talk about Poshmark. At first, I wasn't interested. Then I heard about it again, and something made me look into it one more time.

At the time, I had been laid off, I had a newborn at home, and the world had practically stopped. I figured, "Why not?"

I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Before reselling, I made and sold jewelry, sold items on OfferUp, and loved finding hidden treasures while thrifting. There was something exciting about discovering an item someone else overlooked and giving it a second chance with someone who would truly appreciate it.

I also fell in love with the details.

I love carefully packaging each order. I want every customer to feel like someone took the time to prepare their purchase with care. I don't just throw an item into a mailer and hope for the best. I want it protected. I want it to arrive safely. I want my customers to know they matter.

Some people love the sale.

I love the entire process.

When Passion Meets Reality

As much as I loved reselling, life didn't slow down.

I was raising children, working a full-time job, managing a household, and trying to build a business at the same time.

There were seasons when I sold on Instagram Live from my lunch break because it was the only time I had. I rushed home from work so my husband could work while I took over with the kids. I squeezed business into every spare moment I could find.

Eventually, I became burned out.

Then we moved.

I finally had a dedicated office space for my business, something I had dreamed about. But after everything life had thrown at us, I didn't even have the energy to use it. Family challenges, exhaustion, and the overwhelming feeling of starting over made it difficult to move forward.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't starting.

It's starting again.

Comparison Can Steal Your Joy

One of the biggest challenges I've faced hasn't been sourcing inventory or shipping orders.

It's comparison.

Watching other resellers thrive while wondering why my own business seemed to crawl forward was painful.

When I switched my website from GoDaddy to Wix, sales slowed dramatically. I questioned whether all the work was worth it. Paying monthly for a website that wasn't producing the results I hoped for was discouraging.

There were moments when I wanted to shut it all down.

But then I remembered something.

Success isn't always measured by today's sales.

Sometimes it's measured by today's obedience, today's discipline, and today's willingness to keep showing up.

Small Wins Matter

Lately, I've made a change.

Instead of only focusing on how many items I list, I've started tracking how many times I post throughout the day across different platforms.

Five posts on Poshmark.

Five posts on eBay.

That's ten opportunities for someone to discover my business.

It may seem like a small shift, but it has helped me stay consistent instead of becoming overwhelmed.

And something encouraging has happened.

The sales have started coming again.

Not as many as I ultimately want.

Not as consistently as I hope for.

But they're coming.

Those small victories remind me that progress is still progress.

Keep Going

I don't know exactly what my business will look like a year from now.

I don't know when the breakthrough I've been praying for will come.

What I do know is this:

I wasn't made to quit.

There are days I feel defeated.

Days I question whether all of this effort is worth it.

Days when it feels like everyone else is racing ahead while I'm inching forward like the little engine that could.

But I believe that faithful effort matters.

I believe that consistency matters.

And above all, I believe that if this is the path God has called me to walk, He sees every listing, every package, every late night, every prayer, and every moment I choose perseverance over quitting.

So if you're reading this and you're tempted to give up on your own dream, whether it's reselling or something completely different, let me encourage you:

Don't let someone else's timeline become the measuring stick for your own journey.

Keep learning.

Keep improving.

Keep showing up.

Your breakthrough may not arrive when you expect it, but every step forward is preparing you for it.

After six years, I'm still here.

I'm still listing.

I'm still learning.

I'm still believing.

And I'm still choosing not to give up.

Stylize. Accessorize. Elevate.

XOXO, Lady B