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The Power of eBay: Whitman's Search for Success Stories

BY Nancy Scola | Tuesday, October 12 2010

Photo credit: Erik Hersman

Meg Whitman wants your eBay success stories. The Republican nominee in California's gubenatorial race is emailing around a request for anecdotes on what the online auction site she ran as president and CEO has meant to people. In the email, Whitman drew a connection between her vision for the great state of California and the multi-billion dollar online marketplace that is eBay, writing, "At eBay, Meg espoused the idea of the power of many -- what we can do together, none of us can do alone... Meg is tapping the valuable lessons of the power of inspired individuals and communities to make a difference in her campaign to build A New California."

Me thinks she's more in the market for stories of how someone started grew a sustaining eBay-based business than for ones along the lines of "I got a really awesome vintage belt buckle for twelve bucks." The full email from the Whitman campaign is after the jump.

At eBay, Meg made history. She took a tiny startup with just 30 employees and $4.7 million in revenues and grew it into a global company with 15,000 employees and nearly $8 billion in revenues. eBay is one of Silicon Valley's famous success stories.

Out of eBay grew a vibrant online community that pioneered how things are bought and sold on the Internet. And it all revolved around working together to make eBay the best place for small businesses and entrepreneurs to go online. It's a remarkable story.

At eBay, Meg espoused the idea of the power of many -- what we can do together, none of us can do alone.

If you ask Meg about what she's most proud of from her eBay years, she'll tell you it's helping tens of thousands of inspired individuals to follow their passions and succeed.

Now, Meg wants to help Californians succeed.

Meg is asking you to share your favorite eBay story.

Many Californians have used the online marketplace to grow their businesses and fulfill their dreams.

Meg is tapping the valuable lessons of the power of inspired individuals and communities to make a difference in her campaign to build A New California.

Chime in. As Election Day draws close, please tell us your story.

Email eBayStories@MegWhitman.com.

We want to hear from you. Together, we can move forward. For all of us.

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