* Highly
Recommended *
The
Billionaire Way
I
would recommend "The
Billionaire Way" program to anyone who is
contemplating a new enterprise or business start-up, or is
already in business for themselves. It enabled me to look at
my life, attributes, and habits in a refreshing new way. I
was delighted to discover that I too have a number of the traits
and qualities that many who are successful in business possess,
which I hadn't realized. I am very excited to apply the principles
that were presented in the program to my new business ventures.
A
tremendous benefit was to be able to talk with the author of
the program, Bob Cox, about my own business strategies and
ideas. Bob spent an hour on the phone with me after I finished
the program, and his personal insights and suggestions were
very helpful and inspiring.
I
know that I will often refer back to the information provided
in "The
Billionaire Way"
-
Catherine McNeil, Monte Vista, Colorado
The
Profit Potential of a Crisis in the Making
By
Andrew M. Gordon
The
electricity sector is a crisis in the making. And a crisis
in the making is an opportunity for you to make money ... with
the odds in your favor.
The
utility sector is at a major crossroads. Demand is skyrocketing
and supply hasn't kept up. In 1993, the U.S. energy bill was
around $150 billion. Last year, it reached nearly $300 billion.
Electric
utilities forecast demand to increase by 141,000MW in the U.S.
over the next 10 years. That's a 19 percent jump. Problem is,
our supply of electricity from projected committed resources
will increase by only six percent, or 57,000MW.
Listen,
there's no way a rate authority will approve "windfall" profits
based on lower fuel costs. But I'll take subsidized growth
any day of the week. And that's what you'd be getting with
an investment in utilities.
Utilities
will have to upgrade their infrastructure and expand their
facilities. And that costs money. You may not like what your
electricity bill looks like, but what the utilities are charging
these days doesn't take into account a big building spree.
Utilities will be going after (and getting) permission to raise
their rates to finance expansion. So, as our gas prices head
down, our electricity bills are headed up.
The
utility sector is going to be offering much more than safety
over the next 12 to 18 months. This is your chance to get in
before the rush.
[Ed.
Note: Andrew Gordon, ETR's financial expert, is the editor
of our new investment service, Income.
Each month, he uncovers specific stocks that promise safety
(first and foremost), along with much higher-than-average profit
potential.]
"Writing
doesn't have to be like a jigsaw puzzle, it can be a very
linear undertaking."
-
Guillermo C. Infante
Wall-Sign
Wisdom
By
Robert Ringer
I
recently ran across some handwritten signs that I had pinned
on my wall in my early days as a writer. The signs were positioned
so that whenever I looked up from my Selectric typewriter,
they were staring me in the face. Had it not been for my internalizing
the words on those signs, I doubt I would have become a successful
author.
I
want to share these signs with you today, because I firmly
believe the wisdom they convey applies to any and all professions.
Sign
No. 1: Force yourself to start. Once you
get going, don't stop to congratulate yourself.
Most
wannabes make both of these mistakes. They wait to become motivated
before they begin doing whatever they're supposed to be doing
- which is why they remain wannabes. After more than two decades
of experience, I can tell you that a writer is rarely motivated
to write.
What
separates professional writers from amateurs is that they take
action and start putting words on the computer regardless of
whether or not they are motivated. In my experience, after I
force myself to start writing, a seamless transition takes
place and I become motivated.
When
you force yourself to write, it stimulates your brain and body
cells and gets your creative juices flowing. And that, in turn,
revs up your motivation. It's the only way I know to combat
procrastination. Writing is not about the future. Writing is
about putting your hands on the keyboard now.
I
added the second part of the sign - Once you get going,
don't stop to congratulate yourself - because I found
I had a tendency to stop and admire my work whenever I got
on a roll.
To
be super-successful at anything, you need to take continuous
action. If you're in selling, for example, you know that there's
a tendency to relax after making a sale. But when you focus
on continuing to make contact with potential buyers, the law
of averages is virtually guaranteed to deliver results. The
more you stop to congratulate yourself for making a sale, the
fewer sales you'll make.
Sign
No. 2: Simplicity is crucial.
I
learned this gem from William Strunk's timeless little classic The
Elements of Style.This book has been
around for decades, and everything in it holds true today,
especially the little jewel that follows:
"Vigorous
writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary
words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason
that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine
no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make
all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat
his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."
Simplicity
is a crucial aspect of quality writing. I often remind would-be
writers that the power of the understatement is enormous.
I'm always amazed by how many extraneous words and sentences
people leave in their finished literary offerings - from books
to e-mails. Extraneous words and sentences can actually detract
from a writer's main point.
Again,
this rule applies to all professions. For example, when you
present a business deal, simplicity is crucial. Don't clutter
up your presentation with verbal furniture. If you add unnecessary
words or sentences, all you accomplish is making it more difficult
for the other party to understand your main point or points.
Which, in turn, makes it more difficult for him to make a decision
in your favor.
Sign
No. 3: Don't try to be all things to all people.
Authors
are just like anyone else - they want to be loved. Or at least
admired and respected. But this is a desire that can be fatal
if you try to please everyone - or, the corollary, try not
to offend anyone.
A
writer whose message is not clear-cut becomes "mushy." A
strong message translates into a lot of people who will not
like your work, and some who will even hate it. But it also
means that just as many people will probably love you for having
strong opinions.
I
first started thinking about this when my then graphic artist
told me, clear back in the 70s, that he "hated" Neil
Diamond. Since I used to play Neil Diamond for hours on end,
I inquired as to why. He replied, "His songs are trite,
corny, and stupid." A dagger through my heart! I mean,
we're talking "Sweet Caroline," "Song Sung Blue," and "Red,
Red Wine." What's not to like?
But,
guess what? Neil Diamond has made a fortune in spite of the
fact that my graphic artist - and probably millions of other
people - think his material is trite, corny, and stupid.
The
point is that, if you try to be all things to all people, you're
likely to end up without an enthusiastic, loyal group of fans,
readers, customers, or clients. Go after a specific market,
and don't make apologies to those who badmouth your product
or service. They haven't committed a crime. They've just voted
against you with their pocketbooks.
Forget
about the people who don't like what you're offering. Instead,
convert your desire to please everyone into improving the products
or services you sell to your market. Your buyers deserve
your full time and attention. A relatively small but loyal
following may or may not make you rich, but it definitely can
ensure that you and your family will enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
[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.
And
sign up today for a complimentary subscription to Robert's
thought-provoking and wisdom-filled e-letter, Voice
of Sanity in an Insane World. When you
do, you will also receive, as a bonus, a FREE e-copy
of one the most important personal-development books in history:
Robert's "To Be or Not to Be Intimidated?" That's
right - a FREE e-letter and a FREE e-book,
which together are guaranteed to have a dramatic impact on
both your business and personal life.]
* Highly
Recommended *
The
Top 12 Hidden Real Estate Bargain Towns
Real
estate markets go through cycles. Today, many US markets
have hit their highest peak, while others are just starting
to climb. Right now, I’m building fortunes
not just despite of, but because of this fact.
Following
vigorous research and travel, I’ve managed to sift through
hundreds of local US real estate markets…and uncover
the 12 Best Value Markets in the nation. Find
out which surprising cities made the grade… and
why.
Justin
Ford
Editor, Main Street Millionaire
Notes
From Michael Masterson's Blog: Week 1 of My New Eating Program
By
Michael Masterson
I
recently signed up for a new healthy eating plan with my new
VIP physician. After doing blood work to determine what you're
lacking, he recommends a combination of natural supplements,
pharmaceuticals (if necessary), and a diet and exercise plan.
Then he hands you off to his trainer/diet specialist to work
with you as your eating coach.
To
help me succeed, the eating coach put me on Calorie King, an
Internet service that keeps tabs on your daily food consumption.
It breaks everything down by key dietary considerations, such
as fats, saturated fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber.
He told me that the worst mistake he sees in patients is eating
too little fiber. That, as it turns out, is one of my worst
eating problems. And it's something I would never have been
aware of were it not for this new program and Calorie King.
Fiber
is key for good digestion, avoiding cancer, and a hundred other
things. I've been getting too little fiber for three reasons:
I wasn't really aware of which foods provide a lot of fiber
(which I now know include raw fruits and fresh vegetables),
I don't particularly love fiber-laden foods, and I wasn't paying
attention to my fiber intake anyway. Now I will.
[Ed.
Note: Read the rest of this article on Michael
Masterson's blog:]
-
Michael Masterson
ETR
Insider Report: The Road to Success... One Word at a Time
By
Suzanne Richardson
Can
you guess which topic in ETR provokes the most reader feedback?
Michael Masterson's marketing insights? Dr Sears' health advice?
Andrew Gordon's breakthrough investing strategies?
You
might be surprised to find that the answer is "none of
the above."
Sure,
we get plenty of comments on those topics - and on lots of
other subjects as well. But month after month, we never fail
to be surprised by the response to one thing that seems to
really hit home with our readers: Words. Plain old English
words.
It's
true. If you don't scroll down to the end of each day's issue
of ETR, you're missing out on one of our most popular columns:
Word to the Wise. Our readers love this daily vocabulary-builder.
(And if we should ever make a mistake, oh brother... instant
e-mail overload!)
Michael
Masterson chooses words for this column that are unusual, words
that most people don't know, or words that they don't use as
often as he thinks they could. He made the decision to include
this daily "lesson" in ETR because studies prove
that there's a link between a strong vocabulary and career
success. When you have a better vocabulary, you can enjoy more
challenging reading material... understand and participate
in more conversations... and generally sound more intelligent.
Plus,
as Michael has said many times, three foundations of success
are thinking clearly, speaking clearly, and writing clearly.
And when you have just the right word for the right situation,
it helps with all three.
Through
the years, many readers have written with a request similar
to this very recent one from Joe Agee of Hilton Head, SC. He
said, "I truly enjoy your 'Word to the Wise' each day.
Could you put all the 'selected' words in one document that
readers could easily access?"
Well,
Joe, we have done just that!
We're
compiling some of our best and most challenging words in a
three-volume CD set that you can listen to in the car, on your
treadmill, or while vacuuming. This new vocabulary-building
program is in the works right now. To get on our exclusive "hotlist" and
be one of the first to find out all the details, please
register here:. There's absolutely no obligation
and we'll let you know as soon as it is available.
* Highly
Recommended *
A
Turn-key Profit Stream Blueprint Handed Over To You...
Locked,
loaded, and ready to cash in.
That’s
probably the best way to describe the experience of over 200
Early to Risers at our just-concluded Information Marketing
Bootcamp.
Most
entrepreneurs go their whole lives without getting this kind
of inside information - and without anyone who can show them
how it’s done.
Everyone
knows that success
comes to those who act!
-
Patrick Coffey
Word
to the Wise: Paroxysm
A "paroxysm" -
from the Greek for "to sharpen/provoke excessively" -
is any sudden and violent emotion or action.
Example
(as used by Charles Dickens in Oliver
Twist): "Mrs. Bumble, seeing at
a glance that the decisive moment had now arrived, and that
a blow struck for mastership on one side or another must necessarily
be final and conclusive, dropped into a chair, and with a loud
scream that Mr. Bumble was a hard-hearted brute, fell into
a paroxysm of tears."
