Issue #2237
- WEALTHY: What’s responsible for 3 job interviews, a British invasion, and countless married couples? (Michael Masterson)
- HEALTHY: Not all squats are good for you (Dr. Bill Stillwell)
- WISE: Decouvertes on questions and answers
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- How one multi-millionaire (Michael Masterson!) built his wealth – your fifth gift from ETR (Patrick Coffey)
- ETR readers speak out on Michael’s trip to India
- 10 little things Jon loves about the holidays
- It’s Fun to Know… about New Year’s Eve in Spain
- Add "untenable" to your vocabulary
One Simple Step To Make 2008 Your Wealthiest Year Yet
More than any other activity you can do, investing in your ability to achieve your personal dreams is the greatest gift you can give yourself this year.
As 2007 comes to a close, ETR has compiled its best products and put them into a blowout YEAR END SALE. These are our lowest prices ever, guaranteed, so there’s not better time for you to begin working on your goals for 2008.
Whether you want to start your own profitable business, become a better and more persuasive communicator, or simply become more productive and proficient at the things you’re already doing – there are programs to help you get there faster.
Take a moment to give yourself a distinct advantage this year.
"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."
Decouvertes
The Power of a Simple Question
After hearing a news report about the Beatles phenomenon in England, 15-year-old Marsha Albert wrote to her local Washington, D.C. radio station and asked, "Why can’t we have music like that here in America?"
Inspired by Marsha’s question, disk jockey Carroll James managed to get a copy of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" from a British flight attendant and introduced the song to his WWDC radio audience on December 17, 1963.
Within minutes, requests for the record flooded the station. Within days, radio stations all across the United States were playing the song. And Capital Records was forced to release it on December 26, three weeks earlier than scheduled.
According to Bruce Spizer, author of The Beatles Are Coming! The Birth of Beatlemania in America, when the band appeared on Ed Sullivan’s TV show on February 9, 1964, 73 million people – an unprecedented 40 percent of the U.S. population at the time – watched.
"There’s no doubt whatsoever that the Beatles would have conquered America anyway," Beatles historian Martin Lewis told USA Today. "But the speed and magnitude of that stratospheric kick-off could not have happened without Marsha Albert. If the record had been released on January 13th, as planned, kids wouldn’t have heard it 20 times a day, as they did during the school break. It would never have sold 1 million copies in three weeks. There wouldn’t have been 10,000 kids at JFK to greet the Beatles. Marsha didn’t start Beatlemania. She jump-started it."
That’s what a single, simple question can do.
Think about the couples who might never have met and gotten married had it not been for that old, reliable question: "Is someone sitting here?"
Think about the chances you might have missed in your own life by failing to ask "Can I?" Or "Would you?" Or "Is he?"
In 1982, I was working at a dead-end journalism job for a small Washington, D.C. publishing house. I knew it was time to get a move on if I didn’t want to end up bored silly and making a meager living for the rest of my life. But I wasn’t sure what to do.
As it happened, K had planned a week’s vacation for us in Key Largo, where her brother worked for a Jet Ski rental business. Since we were going to be in Florida anyway, I figured I’d schedule a few job interviews. Not because I was hopeful of finding a good job there, but because I wanted to write off the travel expenses as a tax deduction.
I had two possible leads. One was a colleague, a high-ranking editor at the Washington Post who, I figured, might know someone in Florida. The other was the name and address of a publisher in Boca Raton, FL who had been sending me promotions for his newsletters.
But to pursue these leads, I would have to ask questions – which is something I’ve always been reluctant to do, especially if the answer could be something I didn’t want to hear.
But I did it.
I asked the Washington Post editor, "Do you know anybody in Florida who might give me a job interview?" And I wrote to the Boca Raton publisher and asked, "Do you have a place in your organization for a person like me?"
As a result, by the time K and I left for our vacation, I had three job interviews lined up. One was with the editor-in-chief of The St. Petersburg Times. Another was with a news editor for the Miami Herald. And the third one was with JSN, the newsletter publisher in Boca Raton.
I met with each one of these guys en route. And by the time we reached Key Largo, I had three job offers. Getting three offers out of three interviews was an astonishing thing. And it left me with a dilemma.
Should I take the high road that might lead to a Pulitzer Prize and everlasting fame as a respected journalist? Or the low road – journalistic obscurity but with the implied promise of a Big Bag of Gold for my efforts?
Which one should I choose?
The only person who could really answer that question was me. But that didn’t stop me from soliciting opinions from even the most unlikely sources, including a 17-year-old pothead whose job in life was to refill the Jet Skis with gasoline.
After I told him my long story, he paused, took a toke on his joint, and said, "Go Boca."
Turns out that, after much soul-searching, I came to the same conclusion. And that decision was the trigger for all of the good things I have since accomplished.
But it all started when I forced myself to ask a few influential people the right questions at the right time.
[Ed. Note: Get Michael Masterson's insights into becoming successful in your business and personal life, achieving financial independence, and accomplishing all your goals on his new website. You'll find updates on all of Michael's books, news on upcoming ETR events, Michael's blog, and room to send in your comments and questions. Check it out today.]
What Would You Do with a $3,000,000 Payday on a $5,000 Investment?
“You should hear about the ones I missed,” Dr. McDougal said as he pointed to a page on the statement. “I bought this company for less than $1 a share… sold it later for around a 200% gain.
“’I thought I did pretty well, too. But in the years after I sold, the stock ran up to $300 a share AFTER a 2 for 1 split. If you want to lie awake at night… Just play with the numbers on a 60,000% winner.”
He’s right. Wondering what to do with a $3,000,000 payday on a $5,000 investment could certainly keep anyone up at night!
And now he’s ready to lead a group of investors to gains like 3,851%, 2,912%, even 2,445%… returns he has already enjoyed over the past five years.
Read his special report here and find out how you can pick up multi-thousand percent gains while you relax.
Why You Should Deep-Six Deep Squats
When I was young and foolish, a favorite exercise and test of strength was deep squats, with all the weight you could handle. By deep squats, I mean squats where your butt rests on your calves and the knees are fully flexed. Now that I’m older and wiser, I know that deep squats should not be done on a regular basis.
Fitness experts like Craig Ballantyne, Yarixa Ferrao, and Matt Furey advocate squats to build strength and burn fat – but it’s important not to go too deep. The reason has to do with knee anatomy.
The end of the femur (thigh bone) is cam-shaped, like a golf club. It’s attached to the underlying upper tibia (shin bone) by four main ligaments: the two inner cruciate (crossed) ligaments and the two outer, collateral ligaments. These ligaments hold the joint together and provide stability. They’re made of strong fibrous tissue, but they give just a bit when stretched.
Between the femur and the shin bone are two menisci, crescent-shaped cartilage cushions that absorb shock, disperse weight-bearing stresses, and guide the knee (especially when you’re making complex movements, like twisting, pivoting, and cutting while running). Although they’re tough, they can be torn between the bones.
In a deep squat, the long dimension of the cam-shaped femur, pulled against the back part (posterior horn) of the medial (inner) meniscus by the springy collateral ligaments, essentially squeezes and crushes that structure, like bony pliers. Naturally, the heavier the weight you use, the more force is applied to the meniscus. With repetitive squatting, add just a little twist in that deep position, and you could develop a torn medial meniscus.
Once menisci are torn, they can cause knee pain, swelling, and instability. And they generally don’t heal. If not addressed with arthroscopic surgery, they can eventually cause irreparable damage to the smooth joint surfaces and result in progressive arthritis.
So deep-six your deep squats. You can get just as much strength and muscular development with a half-squat (stopping when the thighs are horizontal), but without the possibility of meniscal injury. And if that isn’t reason enough, deep squats also give you a big butt!
[Ed. Note: Dr. Bill is William Thomas Stillwell, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at SUNY, Stony Brook. He is CEO of Dr. Bill's Clinic Inc.,and author of How to Eliminiate Knee Pain - Once & for All! ]
Driving Down A1A, Looking for Wealth
By Patrick Coffey, ETR’s Director of Internet Marketing
Here in South Florida, the main strip that runs along the ocean is called A1A. It’s an incredible stretch of road featuring million-dollar high-rise condos and multimillion-dollar oceanfront mansions.
On the weekends, my fiancee and I love to take long drives up and down the strip, with the top down in her red convertible. It’s relaxing and refreshing to feel the ocean breeze and sun on our faces. However, what I enjoy the most is looking at and admiring the mansions we pass.
Oftentimes, we’ll dream about what it must be like to live in one of these modern-day castles. And our conversation usually turns to asking ourselves questions like: What do these people do? Are they the founders of billion-dollar corporations? Did they make their money in the stock market or by investing in real estate? How did they build their wealth?
Chances are, we’ll never find out what most of these people did to be able to live such an extravagant lifestyle. But we do know how one of them built his wealth. Because one of the oceanfront properties we always pass on our drives belongs to Michael Masterson.
In today’s free gift, Michael Masterson will share with you, in his own words, how he did it.
Click here to download your free copy of: "How I Built My Wealth."
[Ed. Note: Whether you want to start your own profitable business, become a better and more persuasive communicator, or simply become more productive and proficient at the things you're already doing - ETR has programs to help you get there faster. Take advantage of the deep discounts we're offering in our Year End Sale by clicking here.]
Feedback Friday: Michael’s Trip to India
Michael Masterson wrote several articles for ETR during his recent trip to India, and they got your fellow readers buzzing. Here’s what some of them had to say…
"I’ve been an avid reader and follower of Michael’s works, e-newsletters, and advice on small business and entrepreneurship. Having grown up in India, and now living in Silicon Valley, reading about Michael’s experiences during his recent trip to North India brought back memories of my childhood days.
"I loved the story of the ‘Persian Rug Merchant in Jaipur.’ It truly projected the way selling is done on high-end items. In future trips to India, I’m hoping that Michael would consider visiting my home-city, a jewel in Southern India – Hyderabad. It is a great market for buying diamonds, pearls, and rugs. It has great cuisine, a lot of history, and is a major Information Technology capital of India.
"Thanks to Michael, once again, for bringing his insights and life experiences to my daily in-box. The knowledge, confidence, and expertise I’ve gained simply by reading his newsletter positioned me to pursue my start-up ideas with more passion, purpose, and a definite reason to launch them soon."
- Shravan Kumar
San Jose, CA
"I have been an avid reader of ETR since its inception, and have also bought a few of your books, which I have recommended to most of my friends. Keep the edu-mails and enlighten-mails flowing.
"I would like to comment that, while reading ‘Lessons From a Persian Rug Merchant in Jaipur,’ I didn’t grasp the ‘Raj’ term being referred to you occasionally by Mr. Betu. It was when I reached ‘Betu made me feel like I was, indeed, a Raj, and that he was my minister of rugs’ that I knew he was referring to you as a KING.
"Here, allow me the liberty to suggest a correction. The actual word should have been RAJA and not RAJ."
- Mohamed Jassim
Qatar
"I really liked your article ‘So Much to Be Thankful For.’ You did a superb job in representing the poverty and reality of life in India. Thank you very much for educating so many people on the situation in third world countries. I am from India, and still not sure I could explain the situation better, even though I was born and lived there for 24 years.
"I have been subscribing to Early to Rise for 3 years, and enjoy every issue."
- Anita Chalasani
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (South India)
"Just read your very interesting article, your experience of the carpet purchase from Betu in Jaipur! Thought-provoking, positive, and highly analytical to narrow down the essence, moral.
"Just wanted to add my thought, what I would have gotten out of the experience. To me, most important would have been the bottom line, honest deal, competitive price for the value. Even after winning your heart… and knowing it. Because for the long-term survival of humanity, that is the most important, fundamental key point for all."
- P. Amin
Morton Grove, IL.
[Ed. Note: How has reading ETR helped you - maybe even changed your life? Send your comments to ReaderFeedback@gmail.com. Include your name and hometown... and we may print your e-mail in a future issue.]
10 Little Things I Love About the Holidays
By Jon Herring, Copywriter for ETR
1. The smell of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and dried orange peels simmering on the stovetop.
2. Piling into my dad’s RV with family and friends and taking a tour of the Christmas lights all over town.
3. Surprising my wife, Kelley, with a gift she loves… and would never expect.
4. Sipping hot buttered rum, sitting by the fireplace.
5. Gulping down eggnog and boiled custard straight from the carton, while standing by the fridge.
6. Dreaming of enjoying future Christmas vacations with Kelley in New York City, Aspen, Jackson Hole, and any number of quaint European villages we have yet to discover.
7. Christmas music – but ONLY during the week of the 25th.
8. Staying up late, laughing with friends and family, eating and drinking too much, and sleeping in without a worry.
9. Listening to the handbell choir at the church I grew up in.
10. That sense of amazement that another year has flown by. Looking back proudly at what I have accomplished, and looking forward with anticipation to the prosperity and opportunity to come in the year ahead.
It’s Fun to Know: New Year’s Eve in Spain
Do you think you could eat 12 grapes at once? If you’re traveling to Spain for the New Year’s holiday, start practicing. At gatherings across the country, Spaniards eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, one for each toll of the bell.
(Source: Infoplease)
Are You Ready for a Thrilling, Positive Change In Your Life?
This may be the life-changing opportunity you’ve been waiting for. If you continue doing everything the same way, you’re going to get the same results. You must make a change TODAY to see a change in 2008.
I’d like to show you how to dramatically increase the chances of making all your dreams – whatever they may be – come true in 2008.
-Charlie Byrne
Word to the Wise: Untenable
Something that’s "untenable" (un-TEN-uh-bul) is incapable of being justified or defended.
Example (as used by Stephanie Zacharek in a New York Times review of The Completely Mad Don Martin): "[In Martin's world], there are a thousand variations on the squirting-flower gag, and… human beings sport snappy-looking but physiologically untenable hinged feet…"
[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker ... build your self-confidence and intellect ... increase your attractiveness to others ... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's new Words to the Wise CD Library.]
Michael Masterson
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2007
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