How to Become an Early Riser
- WEALTHY: Proof you should do your research (Rick Pendergraft)
- HEALTHY: Why add rosemary to your bread and potatoes? (Kelley Herring)
- WISE: William Pitt on “early to rise”
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Can’t get up early? Here’s how… (Michael Masterson)
- Cut! (Suzanne Richardson)
- It’s Fun to Know… about putting viruses to work
- Add “philistinism” to your vocabulary
== Highly Recommended ==
The Ideal Vehicle For Getting Wealthy In The 21st Century?
Today you have a rare and exciting opportunity to take advantage of one of the largest industries on earth. And it is - most experts agree - the one that has the greatest growth potential.
I am referring to the Information Publishing industry.
Now don’t be intimidated by that phrase. You won’t need a printing press, typesetting equipment or even employees.
Information Publishing is simply about marketing products based on ideas (e-letters, teleconferences, special reports, etc.) instead of hard goods (flowers, jewelry, computers, etc.). And now, with the explosion of the Internet, it has the lowest production costs of any industry in today’s world.
Because of that low cost-of-entry and growth potential, it is the ideal vehicle for getting wealthy in the 21st century. Whether you intend to make your fortune on your own (as an entrepreneur) or within the context of a corporate environment (as an intrapreneur), taking advantage of these forces is the best and easiest way to achieve fast success and acquire great wealth.
Come to ETR’s November Bootcamp and we’ll show you how to build your own Information Publishing company that could make from $1 million to $100 million a year. (Register today and get a bonus “start-up kit” worth up to $2,000. This bonus offer expires at 5PM so act now.)
The Investment Pecking Order Comes Into Play
I’ve cautioned you before about settling for the common shares of troubled companies. Why? Because if the company goes under, bondholders and preferred shareholders get paid before the common shareholders get a penny.
As I’ve said, this pecking order isn’t a concern most of the time. But when major companies like Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) are facing disaster, you should sit up and take notice. While it didn’t take a genius to see that FNM and FRE were on the brink of being taken over by the Feds, I hope you heeded my warning.
As it turns out, the overall market rallied sharply after the Feds announced that they would take control of the two mortgage giants on September 8. The announcement created a sense of confidence, or at least it removed some doubt about the economy. But FNM and FRE both dropped over 85 percent as a result of the news. Their preferred shares took a similar hit.
FNM and FRE bondholders look like the winners in this case, while the stockholders (common and preferred) will be the big losers.
To keep your money safe, always do your homework before you invest.
[Ed. Note: Making smart investment choices is the best way to protect your money. Companies with strong fundamentals are best equipped to withstand major market changes. But don't be afraid of small fluctuations in the market. These movements can offer you the perfect opportunity to profit. Learn more with investment expert Rick Pendergraft's KISS System.]
William Pitt
How to Become an Early Riser
When I walked into FSP’s London offices at 7:25 a.m. that first day, I expected the place to be deserted. I was surprised to find the lights already on - and when I approached my temporary office, I saw that Ben, Nick, Gary, and Woody were already there working.
“Good morning!” I chimed, feeling that I had come upon new members of my secret fraternity. “You boys are here early!”
“Early bird catches the worm and all that,” Nick said.
I went into my office with a smile on my face. These four early risers comprised half the creative team of FSP. The fact that they were at work more than 90 minutes before 9:00 a.m. impressed me. Their good mood impressed me even more.
“I am going to be able to accomplish something here,” I thought.
You’ve seen the studies: Early risers are happier, healthier, and more productive at work. They stay in better shape, earn more money, and report that they are more satisfied with their lives. And even if you haven’t seen the studies, you’ve read about them in ETR.
“Get up early and seize the day!” we keep telling you.
Lots of ETR readers I’ve talked to say they can rationally accept the argument that early rising is good. But they can’t muster up the emotional or physical energy to actually do it.
They tell me they are “night” people. They have more energy at midnight, they say, than they do at 9:00 a.m. In fact, they say, they’d prefer to go to bed in the wee hours and wake up at noon if their jobs/spouses would allow it.
There is some scientific evidence to suggest they may be correct. Lots of research has been devoted to sleeping patterns in the past few years, and it’s clear that for some people (about 15 percent, I’ve read), “late to bed and late to rise” really is more natural.
But just because it’s a little harder for you to be an early riser doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. The benefits are just too great and too numerous to ignore:
- You will get more work done.
- You will accomplish more important tasks.
- You will advance your career more quickly.
- You will be more respected at work.
- You will make more money.
- You will have more time to exercise.
- You will be healthier.
- You will be happier.
If you’d like to become an early riser but are having a difficult time convincing your body to cooperate, follow this 12-step program:
Early Riser Step 1: Stop blaming yourself.
It may not be a lack of willpower that is making you want to sleep till noon. It is more likely a combination of your genes, blood sugars, hormones… and bad habits. But aside from your genes, these are all things you have some control over.
Early Riser Step 2: Take melatonin, not chemicals, at night.
To get up early, you have to get to sleep early. If you have trouble falling asleep, try taking a melatonin supplement instead of a sleeping pill. Dr. Sears calls this hormone - which is produced by the body in response to darkness - “nature’s sleep regulator.”
Early Riser Step 3: Sleep in the dark.
The less light, the more melatonin your body naturally produces. So block out as much light as possible in your bedroom. Use blackout curtains or shades, and open them as soon as the alarm goes off.
Early Riser Step 4: Get plenty of fresh air.
Fresh air is good for sleeping and for wakefulness. If you sleep with the windows closed, get outside and breathe in some fresh air first thing in the morning.
Early Riser Step 5: Don’t eat before you sleep.
Your last meal or snack should be about three hours before you go to sleep. You’ll sleep sounder and feel much better in the morning.
Early Riser Step 6: Don’t use the snooze button.
According to the Sleep Disorders Center at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, you will have a much easier time getting up when the alarm first rings, rather than waking up, falling asleep again, and then waking up a second time.
Early Riser Step 7: Put flowers in your bedroom.
Researchers at Harvard reported that “non-morning people” said they were happier and more energetic if they woke in a room with fresh flowers.
Early Riser Step 8: Brighten up your walls.
Some studies have indicated that vibrant colors help activate the energy cells, so paint your bedroom a bright, cheery color to wake up to.
Early Riser Step 9: Stretch.
Five to 15 minutes of stretching in the sunlight will do wonders to get rid of any stiffness that may have settled in overnight. Yoga stretches are especially good.
Early Riser Step 10: Exercise.
Supplement the stretching with exercise. After stretching, I alternate between calisthenics (Hindu push-ups, sit-ups, etc.) and a PACE routine - usually sprinting or stair climbing.
Early Riser Step 11: Start the day with a smile.
Before you even wash your face, do a set of 25 smile repetitions. Just stand in front of the mirror and smile as brightly as you can… 25 times. The physical act of smiling produces endorphins that will give you energy and drive.
Early Riser Step 12: Wake up just one minute earlier every day.
It wasn’t until I hit my thirties that I came to understand the value of waking up early. I was bringing home the bacon, as they say, having mastered the art of making money. But rising at 8:30 every morning left me no time to accomplish other goals. So I started setting my alarm for one minute earlier every day.
Soon I was up at 8 a.m…. then 7:30… then 6:30… and, eventually, at one point in my career, 5:30. (These days, I wake up a little later - usually 6:00 or 6:30.)
Rising early has given me the time to write fiction, study Spanish, get in great physical shape, spend more time with my family, and more. Become an early riser yourself, and there’s no telling what you can accomplish.
[Ed. Note: It's amazing that something as simple as waking up a minute early every day can have such a dramatic effect on your life. But it can. It's worked for multi-millionaire Michael Masterson - and it can work for you. Get 189 more proven techniques to help you get everything you want out of life right here.
You can meet Michael Masterson this November... and talk to him about exactly how to increase your income and become more successful. Just come to ETR's 2008 Info-Marketing Bootcamp. Find out more about ETR's Internet Ultimatum right here.]
Use the New Business Revolution to Profit With the Masters This Year
Huge corporations with massive overhead are dying because their whole business concept is so…last century. Today, sales and marketing power are going to the quick and nimble entrepreneur. People just like you.
Now, two direct marketing masters have teamed up to give you a comprehensive program for leveraging deep profits from this new business revolution. It doesn’t matter what position you are in or what happens with the economy. Plus, it’s a skill you can easily learn. See for yourself how simple and profitable this skill can be…
Reader Feedback: “I have tried to incorporate Ready, Fire, Aim into everything I do.”
“I have a tendency to spend far too much time getting ready to get ready. After reading Michael’s ‘Ready, Fire, Aim‘ advice over and over, I have tried to incorporate it into everything I do. Rather than waiting for perfection or an epiphany, I now keep trying to move forward.
“As you can tell, I enjoy ETR.”
Bob Abrahamson
Myrtle Beach, SC
[Ed. Note: What's the most valuable lesson you've learned from ETR or an ETR expert? Let us know at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com.]
ETR Insider Report: Slash and Burn
I had the chance this past week to pick the brains of two world-class copywriters.
Jay Livingston and Charlie Byrne were both in Baltimore for a conference I attended. We met in a ballroom of the Engineer’s Club. Beneath the soaring ceilings and baroque embellishments, Jay and Charlie revealed some of their personal secrets to writing money-making copy.
Now I’m not going to tell you everything they said. (I’ve got to keep some secrets to myself!) But one thing they both agreed on is the power of ruthless editing.
Jay noted that he often gets to the main idea of his sales letters only after he’s written several pages. Once the “real” point makes its appearance, he goes back and hacks away the build-up.
Charlie finishes his sales letters at least a few days before they are due. Then he gives them a little time to breathe. After ignoring them for a couple of days, he prints them out and reads them. “It gives me a chance to see them with a fresh perspective,” Charlie said. Then he does a “slash and burn” on any paragraphs that ramble or just don’t fit.
What do Jay and Charlie end up with after all this trimming? Sales letters that make tens of thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of dollars every year.
All writers have a tendency to fall in love with their own words. To make sure you stay on message whenever you write a sales letter, follow this advice from Samuel Johnson: “Read your own compositions, and when you meet a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.”
[Ed. Note: Writing copy that sells is one of the most powerful skills you can develop. This fall, ETR's own copywriting master, Charlie Byrne, will be revealing some of the most important keys to writing money-making copy at our 2008 Info-Marketing Bootcamp. Not only will you come away with secrets to making sales, you'll also leave with 12 ideas for making $1.2 million (or more!) in 2009. Find out more here.]
A Sprig of Protection
Do you eat potatoes, toast, crackers, chips, cereal, or other carbohydrate-rich foods cooked at high temperatures? If so, you’re exposing yourself to acrylamide - a dangerous carcinogen that’s been linked to several types of cancer in humans.
To prevent exposure to acrylamide, your best bet is to avoid these high-glycemic, nutrient-void foods altogether. But for the occasional indulgence, there’s something you can do to protect yourself. Just add some rosemary.
Recent research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that adding a small amount of rosemary to dough prior to baking wheat-based buns at 225 C (437 F) reduced the acrylamide content by up to 60 percent.
So if you choose to roast some redskin potatoes or make whole-grain bread from scratch - add a bit of rosemary to boost flavor and help protect yourself from this harmful carcinogen.
[Ed. Note: Part of staying healthy is knowing which foods to eat - and which ones to avoid. Making good choices can help you live a long and healthy life. Find more simple ideas about how to feel better and live longer here.
And talk about a healthy food that tastes fantastic... nutrition expert Kelley Herring has developed a chocolate cake so rich and delicious that you won't believe it's good for you. Get your own slice here.]
It’s Fun to Know: Putting Viruses to Work
Viruses have taken thousands upon thousands of lives. But now they are being put to good use.
MIT scientists are developing a technique for using genetically altered viruses to produce and install tiny power sources. So far, they have successfully constructed a key component of a microscopic battery. The technology - which is based on the ability of these viruses to self-assemble - may one day be used to power everything from implantable medical sensors to automobiles.
(Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
== Highly Recommended ==
Is This All There Is to Life?
You can keep going through the motions, trying to keep up with the Joneses, and wondering if there is more to this life… or you can open the door to a whole new level of success, financial independence, and achievement.
It’s the difference between having a job you dread, or the job you dream about… between retiring with just enough to get by, or with a seven-figure nest egg… between living the life you live today, or living the life of those you envy…
Here’s your opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime insider’s look into the practical ideas, systems, and methods for creating an abundant life for you and your family.
All the risk is on our shoulders to deliver this. All you need to do is accept this generous offer and follow the step-by-step details for enjoying a brand new life. Here’s the link that can change it all for you.
Word to the Wise: Philistinism
“Philistinism” (FIL-uh-stee-niz-um) refers to people who are uncultured or materialistic. The word is derived from the name of an ancient Aegean tribe - enemies of the Israelites in the Old Testament.
Example (as used by Sarah Churchwell in a New York Times review of My Sister, My Love, by Joyce Carol Oates): “We are in a moral system that places philistinism on the same spectrum with child abuse and murder.”
[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.]
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I am definately a night-owl.I work 4 on,4 off nights in security and it suits me! Early-rising is for robots!
Another great sleeping supplement is magnesium. Natural calm is the brand I use and it works wonders.
“Another great sleeping supplement is magnesium. Natural calm is the brand I use and it works wonders.”
Thanks Sean! I’ve never heard that before. Can’t hurt to try. I use it for migraines.