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-
Will Bonner
ETR
Insider Report: Watching a Master
By
Charles Delvalle
It
seems like all Rick Pendergraft, ETR's new options expert,
does is stare at technical charts and wait. Sometimes it takes
days, sometimes mere hours. But when he sees a great opportunity,
he pounces on it.
Just
the other day, he yelled across the room, "Charles, looks
like OIH is bottoming out! Should be a great time to buy a
call option on this sucker and watch it jump."
I
reviewed the chart and saw exactly what Rick had noticed: A
predictable movement. And there was plenty of open interest
(number of contracts open) and volume (number of contracts
traded that day) for the OIH December call options.
That's
what he'll be looking for when he issues recommendations to
subscribers of ETR's new options service. In just a few weeks,
he'll begin ... by applying a time-tested options-trading strategy
to exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Andrew
Gordon made the case for investing directly in ETFs yesterday.
He explained that because an ETF covers a basket of different
stocks, its price movements are far more predictable and smooth
than those of individual stocks. (OIH, for example, holds a
basket of companies in the oil drilling and services industry.)
For the same reason, you limit your risk substantially when
trading options on ETFs.
Considering
Rick did nothing but options for four years when he was with
Schaeffer's Investment Research, any reader who subscribes
to this service should be very happy.
[Ed.
Note: Rick Pendergraft, Andrew Gordon and Charles Delvalle
are all regular contributors to ETR's new financial e-letter,
Investor's Daily Edge. Sign up for free by clicking
here.]
"Worry
- a god, invisible but omnipotent. It steals the bloom
from the cheek and lightness from the pulse; it takes away
the appetite, and turns the hair gray..."
-
Benjamin Disraeli
Stop
Worrying and Start Living
By
Robert Ringer
More
than 50 years ago, the legendary Dale Carnegie wrote one of
the biggest-selling motivational books of all time, How
to Stop Worrying and Start Living. The
book is a bit outdated now, both in writing style and content,
but many of the points Carnegie made are still applicable.
Carnegie
focused a great deal on the acceptance of the inevitable as
a key to eliminating stress and worry. Though I agree with
him on this point to some extent, it's a bit more complicated
than he made it sound. The reason I say this is because what
some people think of as inevitable, others see as a challenge
that can be overcome.
For
example, a person might believe that failure is inevitable
for him and thus resign himself to an unsuccessful life. Unfortunately,
this is precisely what millions of people actually do. Yet,
the reality is that failure is not inevitable in anyone's life,
so it's absurd to resign oneself to such a fate.
But
what about things that really can't be changed? Ray Charles
may have accepted his blindness, but he was able to overcome
it and lead a meaningful, fulfilling life. In fact, he often
said that he could "see" better than 99 percent
of people who aren't blind.
Ditto
Christopher Reeve, Mattie Stepanek, and the thousands of others
who have endured major physical handicaps yet found the mental
and physical strength to accomplish great things. In cases
such as these, I believe Carnegie was absolutely right. By
accepting the reality of their physical handicaps, these people
were able to move on with their lives.
But
this is where it gets tricky. While Christopher Reeve accepted
the reality of his handicap, he never accepted it as a permanent
condition. He repeatedly made it clear that he believed he
would ultimately walk again. Like most people, I was rooting
for him, though I didn't believe it would ever happen.
The
challenge, then, is for us to be able to determine what is
and is not inevitable. When I use the word inevitable,I
think of it in the future tense - as something that has not
yet happened. Carnegie, however, seemed to be referring to
the inevitable in the present tense. (It's already a fact of
life, so learn to accept it.) Thus, I believe his oversimplification
of the subject was a result of semantics.
Technically
speaking, the only thing that is 100 percent certain to occur
in the future is death. Frank Sinatra expressed his view of
this certainty with typical candor when he said, "You
better enjoy livin' baby, 'cause dying is a pain in the ass."
I
wouldn't exactly compare Sinatra to Shakespeare, but he summed
up perfectly the solution to dealing with the inevitability
of death: Become so focused on life that you don't have time
to think about what's coming next.
When
you direct your energy away from the inevitability of death,
it paves the way for you to focus on constructive living. The
least expensive medication for worry and stress is activity.
While
death stands alone as the one fact of life that is truly inevitable,
many other things are, shall we say, virtually inevitable.
These include such things as taxes, future terrorist attacks
on U.S. soil, and the periodic collapse of the real estate
and stock markets. Yet none of these "inevitabilities" deserves
your stress or worry.
For
example, take taxes. (Please, take them!) Instead of worrying
about them, you should do everything you can to legally keep
your taxes to a minimum, file your tax returns in a timely
fashion, and focus your mental and physical energy on making
as much money as possible.
You
may not like being partners with the government, but the fact
remains that the more money you make, the more money you net
in absolute terms. Thus, worry and stress only detract from
doing the things you need to do to help offset the inevitability
of taxes.
Future
terrorist attacks on U.S. soil? That's a legitimate concern.
By all means, be prepared and take reasonable precautions to
protect your family. Unlike taxes, however, it's not just that
worrying won't help. The chief aim of mischief makers like
Zawahiri and bin Laden is to make you worry and increase your
stress - so you certainly don't want to help them hit that
target.
As
to real estate and stock market crashes, the reality is that
with or without government interference, they both occur periodically.
They are necessary ingredients of capitalism, because they
bring prices in line with reality.
If
you're going to worry about your investments, don't invest.
Put your savings into tax-free bonds or hide your money under
the mattress.
So,
yes, Dale Carnegie was right when he preached resignation of
the inevitable - but just make certain you can differentiate
between what's inevitable and what is not. The reality is that
most things can be overcome through a combination of (1) relentlessness,
(2) an "expansive mental paradigm" that is open to
possibilities that "normal" people consider to be
impossible, (3) the law of averages, and, especially, (4) being
conscious of your connection to the Conscious Universal Power
Source (i.e., whatever spiritual force you believe in).
Any
way you slice it, and whatever your spiritual beliefs may be,
what it all boils down to is focusing on constructive thoughts
that will better your existence and the existence of your loved
ones. It's okay to plan for the future, but worrying about
the future gets in the way.
And,
above all, exerting mental energy to worry about the inevitable
is illogical. If something is inevitable, there's nothing you
can do about it. And if there's nothing you can do about it,
what's the point in worrying?
Just
make certain you don't cavalierly apply the term "inevitable" to
a situation that doesn't warrant it. As I pointed out, very
few things in life are inevitable, and only one - death - is
100 percent certain. And since, as Sinatra put it, death is "a
pain in the ass," who wants to spend time thinking about
it?
A
better idea is to invest your mental and physical energy in
thinking about how to be the best parent you can possibly be,
the best son or daughter you can possibly be, the best sibling
you can possibly be, the best friend you can possibly be, the
best employee or employer you can possibly be, and the best
overall person you can possibly be.
Which
is a very tall order.
However,
as a bonus, to the extent you fill that order on a daily basis,
the other little issue that we worry so much about - financial
success - somehow works itself out without your having to fret
and stew about it.
[Ed.
Note: Get Robert Ringer's unique perspectives and profound
wisdom ... and join the millions of entrepreneurs, business
owners, salespeople, and individuals in all walks of life who
have taken gigantic steps toward achieving their personal and
professional goals. Click
here for three of the most powerful personal-development
books of all time on CD.]
* Highly
Recommended *
Don't
Bother Knockin' If the Marriott Is Rockin'
It's
coming down to the wire ... and nearly 200 Early to Risers
now have their travel itineraries locked and loaded.
Destination?
Delray Beach, Florida. Purpose? Converging for our breakthrough
Information Marketing Bootcamp starting October 30th.
The
stars are lining up ... and the joint's going to be jumping.
If you've ever been to an ETR Bootcamp, you know the feeling
of excitement and electricity in the air ... and it goes on
(and on and on) for three information-packed days and three
fun-and-networking-filled nights. (Catch up on sleep before
you come, because you won't be getting much here!)
And
if you haven't come down to see us yet ... what the heck are
you waiting for? This is the event of the year, and we're pulling
out all the stops ...
We'll
work with you to build your own customized online marketing
plan that can generate millions of dollars in sales every year.
You'll be mentored by a group of top online business-building
experts that are second to none ... extraordinary entrepreneurs
such as Rich Schefren, Joe Vitale, Brian Tracy, Jeff Paul,
Brad Antin, Jim Fleck, and Derek Gehl... not to mention Michael
Masterson himself.
And
that's just the "work" part of the conference! After
hours, you've got the ocean right across the street, dozens
of cool restaurants and clubs, hundreds of smart and fun people
like yourself for socializing and networking... It's quite
a happening! In fact, it's almost like breezing through four
years of college, your best friend's wedding reception, Mardi
Gras, and getting an MBA ... all in three wild-and-crazy days
and nights.
And
the whole ETR staff will be there with bells on: Will, MaryEllen,
Jon, Patrick, Suzanne ... and, of course, Michael Masterson.
We'll be looking out for you every step of the way.
But
again, I must issue this "Friendly Warning": This
event will be completely sold out within a matter of days.
So if you've been thinking about joining us, I urge you to register
immediately. Don't miss out on the event of
the year.
-
Charlie Byrne
Is
India Predicting the Future of Diabetes?
By
Jon Herring
Modern
India is a painful illustration of what happens when a country
adopts the standard American lifestyle. It seems that India's
middle-class - with its lack of exercise and unlimited access
to fast food - is facing a growing diabetes epidemic. (The
incidence of diabetes is still higher in the United States,
but that's because our shift to fast food and processed junk
happened 50 years ago.)
The New
York Times reports that in the city of Madras, an unbelievable
16 percent of the population has diabetes. Three of the city's
hospitals - called "sugar hospitals" - are dedicated
to the disease. Overall, six percent of the Indian population
now has diabetes, and the rate at which it's increasing is
faster than that of any other country.
Why?
It's simple. Throughout India, people are turning away from
their native diet of curried meat, legumes, and vegetables
in favor of Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and soft drinks.
The
message is quite clear. When you eat too much sugar and starchy
foods, your body can't keep up with the constant flood of glucose.
Sooner or later, your cells stop responding to insulin - and
this "insulin resistance" leads to obesity, diabetes,
and other chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
The
solution is simple. Stick to low-glycemic whole foods and exercise
consistently.
Dear
Michael Masterson: "I'd like to share my daily struggles,
joys, and so on through a website."
"Today
is the first day of the rest of my life. I know it's corny,
but it's truly the way I feel. It is the first day of my leave
of absence, which will eventually conclude in my being declared
legally disabled, and then, after a short period of time, my
death.
"I
am 38 years old and married to Melissa, my beautiful and caring
wife of nearly 13 years. I have two great kids, Joe, age 10,
and Jack, age 6. I am currently an Assistant City Attorney
for the City of Des Moines, IA. Previous to the current job,
I was in private practice for 12 years.
"I'm
undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for primary lung cancer,
my second diagnosis (diagnosed May 2006) of a primary cancer
after being previously diagnosed with primary brain cancer
(oligodendroglioma/astrocytoma) in November 2002. To quote
Bob Dylan in 'Idiot Wind,' 'I can't help it if I'm lucky.'
"I
want to share my daily struggles, joys, and so on through a
website. I don't necessarily need to make any money from the
website (although I wouldn't turn it down), but I do need to
break even. My target advertisers are the companies that make
Trileptal and Kepra (anti-seizure medication), which I can
honestly endorse. I don't have the foggiest idea about how
to approach them, nor how to get a website set up. Can you
help?"
Very
truly yours,
Thomas
J. Clarke Jr.
Des Moines, IA
Dear
Thomas,
You
have a great attitude. That will surely become your greatest
resource.
ETR
readers who are lucky enough to get into our Info
Marketing Bootcamp. next month (they tell
me we're practically "sold out") will walk away with
a comprehensive plan for any online venture they choose to
pursue. I don't have nearly enough room to do that here ...
but I will make a few comments that should be helpful, not
just to you but to anyone who wants to create an income-producing
blog.
1.
Major advertisers are very, very difficult to land.
The
big guys operate with big budgets that are planned at least
a year in advance. The pharmaceutical company ad reps themselves
would likely refuse to even listen to you. A better opportunity
would be with key executives. But you'd have to find out who
they are, and then make personal contact to pitch your cause.
You are a good writer and you have, as I said, a good attitude.
This should help in making your case.
2.
Remember that your primary motive is to publish your experiences,
not to make money.
If
that is your main goal, and you make it a priority, you will
achieve it. The good news about publishing via a website is
that you can do it by investing just a few hundred dollars.
Nobody can stop you. It's easy. To get someone to help you
set it up for free, write to an expert (several write articles
for ETR now and then), tell your story, and ask for their help.
3.
Publishing your experiences is one thing. Getting people
to read them is another.
To
encourage traffic, go to primary sources first. Those would
be other Internet-based resources (websites, blogs, e-zines,
etc.) that focus on cancer. The people reading and writing
these things are your best audience.
4.
Once you have established that you can keep your blog working,
and that it is good, you can begin to think about attracting
advertisers.
Again,
I don't think the big pharmaceutical companies will be interested.
For them, it's too much risk and too little reward. But if
you catch the ear of someone with a creative mind and some
power ... you may succeed.
5.
As your blog grows, publicize it to the media.
There
are books and learning programs available to help you promote
your website. Bob Bly is the top expert in that field. He's
going to send you a copy of his book Targeted
Public Relations: How to Get Thousands of Dollars of Free Publicity
for Your Product, Service, Organization, or Idea.
6.
Establish a functionality so your readers can occasionally
receive e-mail from you. Use that to ask for money,
if you want.
7.
Don't give up.
Put
me on your mailing list.
-
Michael Masterson
* Highly
Recommended *
Leave
This "Secret Ingredient" Out Of Your Commercial
Real Estate Investing -- and Be Left With A Bitter Taste
Investing
in Commercial Real Estate can provide substantial cash-flow,
require very little personal involvement to manage, and actually
be easier to obtain financing for than residential property.
But
there's a "secret ingredient" to moving up into large
commercial properties that can be the difference between early
retirement and decades of frustration.It's
a technique that can help you roll-up a single $5,000 investment
(or less, really) into a $1.5 million fortune that's throwing
off thousands in spendable income each and every month (to
the tune of six-figures a year).
Without
this technique? You could be looking at less than one-third
the assets, and cash-flow closer to $20,000 a year. (Not bad,
but certainly pales in comparison to six-figures!)
The
technique is called a 1031 Exchange --
a government sponsored wealth-building tool that is designed
specifically for investors looking to grow their portfolios.
It's simple to use, once you understand the correct steps to
follow, and the results are unparalleled. Keep
reading to see how you can start using 1031
Exchanges to propel your own real estate investments,
and receive three Free reports on cash-flow real estate investing.
Justin
Ford
Editor, Main Street Millionaire
Word
to the Wise: Vade Mecum
"Vade
mecum" (vay-dee MEE-kum) is a useful thing that one regularly
carries about. It literally means "go with me" in
Latin.
Example
(as used by Simon Winchester in The Atlantic): "Roget's
Thesaurus, which had come into being as a linguistic example
of the Platonic ideal, became instead a vade mecum for the
crossword cheat."
