PurchaseTrust Network Founder: E.F.

E.F. ( Ed ) was born in Silverlake, CA to working-class Cuban immigrant / refugee parents, who eventually settled in Huntington Park for a time while E.F. attended some private and public schooling.

His first taste of 'work' was at age 15 with Jack in the Box in San Antonio, TX. 

After eight days being prejudiced by a micro managed micro manager, manning a deep fryer, eight days was all he needed to realize being an employee subject to the whims of unfriendly 'colleagues' was not for him.

His next job experience was in marketing; surveying mall patrons and administering product surveys.

This was more socially interesting than flipping burgers, but someone else was still managing, setting tasks and hours... yet still no real freedom in the routine of earning one's daily bread.

For 11 years, he formally studied music, religion, philosophy, theater, humanities, sociology and many other fields of interest at the junior college and university level while still working for others and eventually managing businesses owned by other people. 

So a focus on Mass Communications concluded in 2002 with a 3.6 G.P.A., all curriculum completed with the exception of an exit exam; declining to receive the 'degree' for personal / political reasons. 

Choosing a road less traveled, as Peck penned in his work when speaking about that journey, was unashamedly due to opportunity, circumstance and choice.

The choice was move-in with his grandparents while working full-time all of the out-of-box and unconventional income producing endeavors ( not getting a job / working for someone else ) while being a physical and social support to them. 

Three years of die-hard effort, focus and application in all-things not resembling regular employment rendered a welcomed surprise.

By persistence and Grace from Above, in 2005 E.F. launched G.P.A., Inc. with roughly $500 in capital for administrative expenses and closed his first investment transaction, rendering $35k in 31 days, from phone call to check in-hand.

Careful calculations after the fact revealed the earnings 'should/could' have been in the $100k range, but experience is a great teacher sometimes, isn't it?

The veil of 'working for other people' or 'getting a job' had been pierced and the farce of having to 'work for a living' quickly faded away... and a notion of what many call "financial freedom" was sensed and "living for a living" sounded much better than the dead weight of having a J.O.B. ( just over broke ).

In 2006 came an online boutique business created to be a streamlined and stress-free business, marketing to a worldwide niche market of happy and humorous hobby enthusiasts.  This started with less than $300 and two weeks worth of 'work,' a modest $7k in revenue was realized the first fiscal year with an exponential growth to date of 46% R.O.I. and counting!

2007 ushered in a financial services business of micro-lending, estate planning and other client-specific services with lessons in historical and pivotal points in history regarding the biggest game in town; SmartPeopleSmartMoney.com.

By the time the financial world was crumbling in late 2008, day-trading the stock market and speculating in green energy and green industries was on the table, but the vinegar had gone sour and the salt had lost its taste.

Tasting the carrot and thus piercing the veil of the Amerikan Dream was quite the lesson learned.  A reassessment was due and a restoration in setting priorities of importance through people helping other people further themselves and their communities became the vision for a new American Dream, perhaps one labeled with another identify other than a nationalistic narrative... maybe it can be called Your Dream.

Are you still dreaming?.... are you ready to act and realize your dreams?

Come aboard and help yourself while helping others!

As is Life, every lovely narrative has struggle and challenges attached... so this saga is to be continued.

Get in touch with me here! 

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