Issue #2560
- WEALTHY: Is it time to get back in the game? (Rick Pendergraft)
- HEALTHY: Knock out 2 fitness “birds” with one stone (Jon Benson)
- WISE: Ralph Waldo Emerson on opportunity
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- When bad guys get what they deserve (Robert Ringer)
- The post office’s big mistake (Charlie Byrne)
- It’s Fun to Know… the cure for “burn-your-feet” beach sand
- Add “quoz” to your vocabulary
== Highly Recommended ==
Don’t Let Change Slip Through Your Fingers!
Change is coming to America in 2009 and what you do with it is up to you.
Barack Obama campaigned for President of the United States on a platform of change and was overwhelmingly elected because of it.
Now as he prepares to take office you need to accept two truths: First, change doesn’t happen overnight. Second, if you want change you must take responsibility for changing yourself.
What do you want to change about yourself in 2009?
While you’re thinking about it, please click here to learn how you can make change work for you in 2009.
Don’t Wait for the Job Market to Turn Before Investing
This morning, one of my co-workers asked me, “What turns around first – the economy or the job market?” My answer: “The economy usually turns first. Employment is a lagging indicator, because companies need to see an increase in demand for their products before they see the need to start increasing their payrolls.”
The stock market tends to lead the economy. It heads lower before the economy does, and it tends to start heading higher before the economy recovers. So if you have your investment portfolio on the sidelines, you shouldn’t wait for the economy to turn higher before you start investing.
My advice is to start getting your money back into the market now. If you wait until the employment picture turns around, you will be late to the game.
[Ed. Note: The market may not look so hot right now. But you should be ready to take action when the moment strikes. Some incredible opportunities are headed your way, and market analyst Rick Pendergraft has put together an educational program that lays out the simple steps you need to take advantage of them. Not only do you get three months of Rick's best recommendations, you also learn how to make good investment choices yourself. Get the details here.]
“Men are not punished for their sins, but by them. ”
Elbert Hubbard
The Karma Question
Since his sentencing in December, I’ve thought long and hard before chiming in on the latest O.J. saga. Given that everyone is now pretty much in agreement on the character of this psychopathic primate, I’m not interested in getting in a few “me too” jabs.
Nevertheless, as I watched O.J. near tears in court, the word karma came quickly to mind – as it probably did with you. Not only because of the way his life has turned out, but also considering the lives of so many of the other actors in the 14-year run of this modern-day Greek tragedy.
About a year-and-a-half ago, I wrote a two-part article titled “Karma and Compound Interest,” in which I pondered the possibility that the late Johnny Cochran, who died of a brain tumor in 2005, might have been a victim of his own karma.
I took a lot of heat for that, but I wasn’t passing judgment on him. I was merely thinking out loud. When I asked, “Was Cochran’s gruesome death compounded interest that came due on his karma debt?” I just wanted to give readers some food for thought.
As we can all vividly recall, Cochran brilliantly transformed the O.J. Simpson trial into the trial of Mark Fuhrman. And for years, Cochran insisted that he believed O.J. was innocent. I never bought it. Cochran was smart, and he had to know that he was responsible for setting a vicious double-murderer free.
As they led O.J. out of the courtroom this time around, I also thought about Robert Kardashian, Simpson’s former friend who is best known as the guy seen carrying a garment bag from Simpson’s home the day after the murders. He then signed on to the Simpson legal team, apparently just to be able to claim attorney-client privilege regarding the matter. Kardashian died in 2003 of cancer of the esophagus at age 59. Karma? Who knows?
And how about “good karma”? Think of the many people who became famous and built careers as a result of the O.J. case. Mark Fuhrman became a respected contributor to Fox News. Marcia Clark is the legal correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, and she made big bucks on her book Without a Doubt. Most amazing of all, Greta Van Susteren became a superstar! (Hmm… after sticking up for O.J. on CNN every night throughout the trial? Go figure.)
Then there’s Kato Kaelin who is… well, he’s still just Kato Kaelin, still searching for his sixteenth minute of fame. And if he doesn’t find it, I guess he’ll have to be satisfied with going down in history as the world’s most famous houseguest. Some karma.
As I said in my previous two-part article on this subject, “Everything that goes around comes around” is a nice, tight, philosophical view of life that is very comforting – until we come up against two scenarios that don’t fit:
- When bad things happen to good people, and…
- When good things happen to bad people.
Since I’ve already written about the above two possibilities, I won’t go into them again here. But I will add another one that the most current O.J. trial brought to mind: What about people who get away with dishonest or criminal behavior and don’t get caught? I’m talking about a sort of lesser version of “When good things happen to bad people.”
Why do scoundrels like Joran Van Der Sloot, among others who have been in the news, seem to be able to escape the consequences of their actions? I think this question not only baffles most people, it frustrates them.
But I don’t let it bother me, and I’ll tell you why. When you believe someone has gotten away with something, you are assuming that you know how things will turn out for them in the long term. But you don’t. After years of seeming to get away with murder (some figuratively, some literally), universal law finally caught up with such moral giants as Drew Peterson, John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, Rod Blagojevich, Charles Rangel – and let’s not forget O.J.
And even if O.J.’s conviction were to get overturned on appeal, you still don’t know what the future holds for him. Plus, no one knows what his life has really been like all these years behind those TV shots of him yukking it up on the golf course. The fact is that the life of the world’s most insatiable social animal has been reduced to that of a leper for the past 14 years.
One last thing that crossed my mind as I watched the latest act in the O.J. drama play out on TV: What do all of these people have in common? Answer: Arrogance. No, incredible arrogance.
John Edwards ran for president while his wife was terminally ill and he was fathering a child with another woman. Governor Blagojevich openly invited bribes for Obama’s Illinois senate seat, even though he knew he was under criminal investigation. Eliot Spitzer enjoyed numerous encounters with prostitutes after spending years criminally prosecuting others for the same activity. And Charles Rangel, the man who serves as chairman of the committee that writes the tax code, “forgot” to pay taxes on his Dominican Republic property for 20 years!
I know, I know… it’s tempting to say, “When’s the karma going to kick in for all of the other guys who seem to have been escaping the consequences of their actions?” To that I would answer… be patient and watch as their lives unfold in the coming years. Remember, it hasn’t been that long ago that we were asking the same question about O.J.
The best thing you can do is forget about everyone else’s karma and focus on your own. And the best way to do that is to live every moment as though the whole world were watching.
[Ed. Note: Karma or no karma, good deeds and honest living make you a better person from the inside out. Of course, as with any worthwhile pursuit, becoming a better person takes work. Sometimes you need a little push to get yourself going... and some simple techniques to help you become the person you've always wanted to be. Discover how to get everything you want out of life right here.
For a treasure chest of proven ideas, strategies, and techniques for increasing your income many times over, check out Robert Ringer's best-selling dealmaking audio series. And be sure to sign up for his Voice of Sanity e-letter.]
Are You Ready for Life in a “Bailout Economy”?
Now that “rescue plans” seem certain to become a way of life, the question is: Who is going to bail you out?
Answer: No one!
For more than 30 years, Robert Ringer has consistently told readers that their best hope is to invest in themselves.
Those who learn the art of being resourceful and living by their wits will not only survive, but prosper during the coming bad times. One key is to excel at dealmaking – which is by far the world’s highest-paying profession.
Good news for you: Economic turmoil is a dealmaker’s dream.
If you have not yet availed yourself of the information in Robert Ringer’s bestselling dealmaking audio series, do so right now.
Here’s a Good Idea (If You Want to Bankrupt Your Business)
No wonder the U.S Postal Service is in serious trouble. They apparently think having too many eager new customers is a problem!
Let me explain…
On a recent trip to a small town in Maine, I stopped at the local post office. And to kill time while (of course) waiting in line to mail my package, I grabbed a brochure.
The first problem was minor. At first glance, I could tell that the brochure was clearly meant to be “company internal” (for staff only), yet piles were sitting openly on the counter. Okay, no big deal. We all make mistakes. Meanwhile, having nothing else to do, I started reading it anyway. That’s when things got much worse…
The purpose of the brochure was to explain to Rural Delivery agents that, when they’re delivering mail or packages, they should be on the lookout for customers who are using competitors (presumably FedEx, UPS, etc.). If an agent notices such a prospect, they should “ask the customer if they would be interested in [better service]” and, if so, get their information and fill it out on a “lead card.”
This, the brochure pointed out, is a “great opportunity to capture more revenue from the small to midsize customer base.”
So far, so good, right? I thought so too. But here’s the kicker – and I hope you are sitting down…
The “Q & A” section toward the end of the brochure started with this question: “How many leads should I submit a month?”
Any sane businessperson’s response would be “As many as you can get – and hopefully even more!”
But apparently that’s not the USPS way. Here is their guideline:
“Only submit 1 or 2 leads a month. There are a limited number of [follow-up personnel], and ensuring that all leads are addressed in a timely manner is the top priority.”
I almost fell to the floor!
I could go on about how many ways this is SO incredibly wrong. But since you’re an educated Early to Rise reader, I don’t think I have to. You know better.
You know that if you can get contact information for prospective new customers, you get it. Immediately and without hesitation. You can always figure out what to do with those names later – but you’ve got to capture those leads!
[Ed. Note: Master a few simple secrets of classic marketing, and you can sell snow to a polar bear. Discover 12 of the most effective marketing strategies around in Changing the Channel, the Amazon.com best-seller by marketing masters Michael Masterson and MaryEllen Tribby. Pick up your copy today.]
Reader Feedback: “Since I have started writing a daily to-do list, I get so much more done!”
“I am an English reader of ETR in Italy. You asked what we think of the newsletter, so I thought I’d chime in.
“The best article I read was one where you suggested writing a daily to-do list for the next day. It was simple advice – and so obvious – but since I have started doing it (and I do it every day now without fail!), I get so much more done!
“I love all the ETR articles with practical advice tips. I also enjoyed the one where you suggested breaking up your writing into very short paragraphs to make it easier to read. Again, a very simple tip and easy to implement, but excellent advice.
“I wasn’t keen on the tip that suggested I start my day with a series of short sprints, though, but maybe that’s just me!!!”
“Kind regards and a big thank you!”
Wanda O.
Lecco, Lombardia
[Ed. Note: What's your favorite part of ETR? Let us know at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com.]
Treadmill Abs
By Jon Benson
You don’t need fancy machines or millions of sit-ups to get rock-hard abdominal muscles. By simply blowing out your air and crunching down as if you were compressing your chest into your pelvis while you’re on the treadmill (or just walking around the block), you can get a fantastic ab workout.
I came up with this idea a few years ago, and use it almost every day. You can work on your interval training and get that six-pack stomach at the same time. Two birds, one stone.
Here’s how to do it. While walking, blow out your air. Contract your abs and hold that contraction for two to three seconds. Then take a deep breath. Do 10 to 15 reps. That’s all there is to it!
[Ed. Note: If you want to build more muscle in less time while you burn body fat, pick up nutrition and fitness counselor Jon Benson's book, 7 Minute Muscle. It's a complete system for dropping fat and building muscle that's guaranteed to work for you. Try it for 60 days and prove it to yourself.
And for a FREE source of nutrition and fitness advice, check out ETR's natural health newsletter.]
It’s Fun to Know: The Cure for “Burn-Your-Feet” Beach Sand
From the land of indoor ski slopes in the middle of the desert and man-made islands in the shape of palm trees comes the latest in luxury recreation: an artificially cooled beach.
The Palazzo Versace resort in Dubai has hired an engineering firm to make sunbathing bearable during the area’s 122-degree summer days. A complex system of underground heat-absorbing pipes cools the sand – cool enough to lie on. Aboveground wind turbines send cool breezes over beachgoers. The resort will also feature cooled swimming pools.
The ocean is on its own.
(Source: Popular Science)
== Highly Recommended ==
Building Wealth Online Is Just Like Riding a Bike
Remember the first time you tried to ride a bike? You’d spent your life missing out until then.
But once you got on that bicycle… you felt a special moment when suddenly, the magic happened. You were free! Since then, you’ve never “unlearned” that knowledge. Doing it again is easy… automatic… instinctive.
That’s how it feels once your first Internet income stream is up and running. The magic hits you… the next one is even easier… the rest are almost automatic.
One man I know turned $10 into over $500,000 this way. Let me show you how you could get a similar Internet income stream started for almost nothing.
- Charlie Byrne
ETR Associate Publisher
Word to the Wise: Quoz
“Quoz” (KWAHZ), a word that has fallen into disuse, refers to something strange, absurd, or queer.
Example, as used by William Least Heat-Moon at the beginning of his book Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey): “I’m speaking about a quest for quoz, of which I’ll say more as we go along, but until then, you might want to see Quoz as a realm filled with itself as a cosmos is with all that’s there, not just suns and planets and comets, but dust and gas, darkness and light and all we don’t know, and only a fraction of what we can imagine.”
[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.]
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2009
Similar Articles:
- Quoz – “Quoz” (KWAHZ), a word that has fallen into disuse, refers to something strange, absurd, or queer. E…
- Here’s a Good Idea (If You Want to Bankrupt Your Business) – No wonder the U.S Postal Service is in serious trouble. They apparently think having too many eager …
- The Karma Question – Since his sentencing in December, I’ve thought long and hard before chiming in on the latest O.J. sa…
- The Sign We All Want to See – It doesn’t matter whether we’re in a recession or an economic slowdown (which falls just short of a …
- Don’t Wait for the Job Market to Turn Before Investing – This morning, one of my co-workers asked me, “What turns around first – the economy or the job marke…
- Word to the Wise: Juju – “Juju” (JOO-joo) – a word of West African origin – is (1) an evil spirit or (2) an object superstiti…
- The Costly Critter Chronicles – • In June, a 26-year-old man in Alabama caused $80,000 worth of damage to his home while trying to k…