Tom Brickman

Two years ago, I lost my sister Katie Lee to cancer. This morning, I’ve got her favorite jams playing in the car — and just like every other day, she’s on my mind. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her.

She’s gone from sight, but never from the soundtrack of my life.

I’ve pulled back on what I share—and who I share it with. I just got back from an incredible trip to China and Japan, and it was a real eye-opener. It gave me clarity on what actually matters… and what’s just noise.

Change isn’t always easy, but it leads to growth.

I’m making more intentional choices with my time and money — and it’s bringing me closer to the life I want.

Stay focused. It’s worth it.

Did a live sale on Whatnot last night—total rollercoaster. $5 stuff sparked bidding wars, while $30 items got ghosted. Absolute madness, but honestly? Kinda loved it.

The clearance racks at the end of the season? I scooped them up and flipped them when the timing was right.

I didn’t follow the crowd—I took my own path. And funny enough, that path led me exactly where I wanted to go. These days, I own my time. That’s the real treasure.

That old saying—"one man's trash is another man's treasure"—has always hit home for me.

I've made a habit of picking up what others overlooked. The properties no one wanted? I bought them.

This 97-year-old house still has plenty of life left in it.

The Midwest is full of opportunity—if you know where to look.

By focusing on what others overlooked, I paved my way to financial independence.

When did this become the norm?

I don’t go to Costco, complain about a dry rotisserie chicken, and expect a refund without returning the chicken.

I say, “No problem. If you ship everything back, I’ll send you a brand-new set of all 17 items. I don’t have individual pieces to send as replacements.”

The customer responds, “No. I want a fresh new set, but I’m not sending anything back.”

I sold a lot of 17 items for $47 on eBay.

The customer messages me: “One item arrived damaged.”

I respond, “I’m sorry to hear that. You can toss the damaged item, and I’ll issue a $4 partial refund.”

The customer replies, “No, I want the item.”

On treats

Was checking my Robinhood for a tax doc today when I realized I set my dog 🐕 as my beneficiary during a dramatic fight with my spouse in 2018. So if I go, Woodie gets it all 💰😂

I've done porch pickup for years without any issues—until yesterday. I left out two hoodies ($15 each), and the buyer took them without paying. When I reached out, they blocked me.

How would you handle this?

Change is life’s way of reminding us that comfort is temporary and growth is mandatory.

You can resist the tide, or you can learn to surf.

IKR 🤦

They really bricked right over that window—WTF.

The best the realtor could come up with?

"Functional layout" as its best feature. 🤦

Got to hang out w @F_I_R_E_Fighter at @1RentalataTime meet up

It was a blast 🤝

I totally agree

7 AM in Vegas.

My hotel is swarming with 1,200 British Army men in uniform. Either I finally mastered manifestation, or Priceline just earned a five-star review.

I toured this property last summer and was thoroughly impressed.

One unit has been fully renovated, while the other still requires some work. The craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout are truly exceptional.

What does a $280,000 budget get you in your market?

26 years ago, I had a full head of hair, and my baby brother Joey was still in his "adorable" phase—before he fully committed to his lifelong career of being annoying.

Time flies, hairlines recede, and little brothers get bolder. Use your time wisely!

Take Your Passion and Create Your New Business Side hustles let you earn extra money doing what you really want

“Common mistakes I witness often are unrealistic goals, unattainable numbers and not taking the human element into consideration."
medium.com/financial... #money
featuring @tombrickman.bsky.social @experian-us.bsky.social

On my street in Toledo, this castle stands tall—a reminder that while others scoff, I see a city full of untapped potential.

Their loss, my castle. Literally.

Would you?

Purchase price 8k
Built in 1928

It’s a natural part of life to outgrow friendships. People evolve, priorities shift, and paths that once ran parallel may diverge.

I wonder how many people have achieved success simply by showing up and following through—such a rarity in today's world.

What 100k gets you in the Midwest
3 bedroom 2 bath brick property

For me. It makes sense to either sell locally for less or donate.

I fully believe in making things right when issues arise, but eBay has created an environment where scammers can flourish.

Selling on eBay for 20 years has taught me one undeniable truth: eBay prioritizes the buyer. This week alone, I faced a $100 chargeback, received an empty package as a return, and had a buyer return an item they didn’t even purchase from me. Total weekly loss? $260 on $800 in sales.