For example, if you want to impress someone, the direct way to do it is to point out your admirable qualities and accomplishments. But talking about yourself usually makes you feel a little foolish. (And sometimes embarrassed.)

The indirect way to impress another person is simply to be impressed by him. The more impressed you are — by who he is or what he has accomplished — the more impressed he will be by you.

If you want to get someone interested in you, the direct way is to tell him all about yourself. But the indirect way works better. Simply become interested in him. The more interested you become in him, the more interested he will become in you.

If you want to be happy, the direct way is to do things that will make you happy. However, the most enjoyable and lasting form of happiness comes from making someone else happy. It’s the Law of Indirect Effort at work again. When you do or say anything that makes someone else happy, you feel happy yourself. You boost your own spirits, your own self-esteem.

How do you get another person to respect you? The best way is to respect him. When you demonstrate respect or admiration for another person, he feels respect and admiration for you. Sociologists call this the Principle of Reciprocity. When you do something nice for someone else, that person will want to reciprocate by doing something nice for you. (Most romances and friendships are based on this principle.)

How do you get a person to believe in you? The answer is to believe in him. By showing that you have confidence in him, he will have confidence in you too.

You get what you give. What you send out, you get back.

The most important application of the Law of Indirect Effort has to do with developing a healthy personality. You are structured in such a way that everything you do to someone else has a reciprocal effect on you. Everything you do to raise the self-esteem of another person raises your own self-esteem — at the same time and in the same measure. Since self-esteem is the hallmark of a healthy personality, you can actually improve the health of your own personality by taking every opportunity to improve the health of the personalities of others.

What you sow in the lives of others, you reap in your own life.

Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. This is especially true in the area of self-esteem and self-confidence. Everyone grows up with the need to be praised and recognized. No matter how successful or how elevated people become, they still need to have their self-images reinforced.

There is a line that says, “I like you because of the way I feel about myself when I am with you.” This line contains the key to human relations. The happiest men and women are those who make other people feel good about themselves when they are with them.

When you go through life raising the self-esteem of others, opportunities will open up. And people will help you in ways you cannot now imagine. So take every opportunity to say and do things that make other people feel more valuable. Each time you express a kindness toward another person, your own self-esteem improves. Your own personality becomes more positive and healthy.

The way to raise the self-esteem of others is simply to make them feel important. Everything you do or say that makes another person feel more important boosts his self-esteem at the same time.

When you practice the Law of Indirect Effort — going through your day looking for ways to make others feel important — you will be popular and welcome everywhere. You will be healthier and happier. You will get more real satisfaction from life. You will have lower levels of stress and higher levels of energy. You will experience greater peace of mind. Above all, you will genuinely like and respect yourself.

[Ed. Note: You can become a more positive, persuasive, influential person with Brian Tracy's The Power of Charm.Many of the most successful people in the world, and throughout history, have been described as "charming." In this one hour CD, you will learn how to become more charming with everyone in your life. Get yours today.]

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Increase Your Wealth by Managing Risk Like the Pros Do

You can’t take all the risk out of investing. But you can take much of it away. More important, you can remove the worst aspects of risk — those that cause fear and result in bad investment decisions. ETR’S own Charles Newcastle has developed a quick and simple four-step “risk removal” system that could bring you 132%+ gains in a matter of weeks.

But there are obstacles along the way to achieving those dreams.

Business management expert Elihu Goldratt explains this with what he calls the “Theory of Constraints.” In accomplishing any goal, he says, there is a bottleneck that serves as a constraint on the process. This constraint sets the speed at which you achieve the goal. But he has found that if you concentrate on eliminating that limitation, you can speed up the process.

Let me give you an example.

Let’s say you want to double your income. What is the limiting factor that’s holding you back and slowing you down?

Well, you know that your income is a direct reward for the quality and quantity of the services you render to the world. This tells you that if you want to double your income, you have to double the quality and quantity of what you do for that income. Or you have to make a change so that your time is worth twice as much.

The 80/20 Rule in Action

A friend of mine is one of the highest-paid commission-based professionals in the United States. One of his goals was to double his income in three to five years. By applying the 80/20 rule, he found that 20 percent of his clients contributed 80 percent of his profits. He also found that the amount of time he spent on a high-profit client was pretty much the same as the amount of time he spent on a low-profit client.

So he very carefully, politely, and strategically handed off the 80 percent of his clients who represented only 20 percent of his income to other professionals in his industry.

He then put together a profile of his top clients and began looking exclusively for new clients who fit that profile. And by taking on only clients who could become major contributors to his profits, instead of doubling his income in three to five years, he doubled it the first year!

What Are Your Constraints?

So what is holding you back? Is it your level of education or skill? Is it your current occupation or job? Is it your environment or health? What is setting the speed for achieving your goals?

Remember, whatever you have learned, you can unlearn. Whatever situation you have gotten yourself into, you can probably get yourself out of.

Three Keys to Living Without Limits

To live without limiting what you can achieve, you must recognize your constraints and then act to expunge them. To do that, you need clarity, competence, and concentration.

#1. Clarity

Clarity means that you are absolutely clear about who you are, what you want, and where you’re going. You write down your goals and make plans to accomplish them. You set priorities and do something every day to move yourself forward.

The more progress you make toward accomplishing what’s important to you, the more self-confidence you have and the more convinced you become that you have no limits.

# 2. Competence

Competence means that you begin to become very good in your chosen field. You apply the 80/20 rule to everything you do and you focus on becoming outstanding at the 20 percent of tasks that contribute 80 percent of your results. You dedicate yourself to continuous learning. You never stop growing. You realize that excellence is a moving target. And you make a commitment to do something every day that enables you to become better and better.

# 3. Concentration

Concentration means having the discipline to focus on one thing, the most important thing, and stay with it until it’s complete.

It’s knowing exactly what you want to be, have, and do. It’s persevering, without diversion or distraction, in a straight line toward the things that can make a real difference in your life.

When you allow yourself to dream big dreams, abandon the activities that are taking up too much of your time, and focus your energies on alleviating your constraints, you start to feel an incredible sense of power. As you focus on doing what you love to do and becoming excellent in a few areas, you begin to think in terms of possibilities rather than impossibilities. And you move ever closer to the realization of your full potential.

[Ed. Note: Do you have the feeling that you could be doing better? Why is it some people are wildly successful while you seem to be struggling? It's no secret -- they are clear about what they want. Brian Tracy's "The Power of Clarity" will show you how to zero in on your goals and simplify your life so you can achieve your goals faster than you ever could have imagined. (Learn more here.)]

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MaryEllen Just Met the Man of Your Dreams - He’s got dark hair and piercing eyes. And he brings in sales of $5 million per month. He’s gone “beyond Google.” And 99.9% of Internet marketers have never even seen his strategy for powerhouse marketing. You can meet him… but only at ETR’s Info-Marketing Bootcamp in just a few weeks.

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Then I called a politician I had worked with. I asked him if he had any advice. I still remember his words: “Are you financially independent?”

When I told him that I was a long way from financial independence, he said that if I ran for office in my thirties (successfully), I would never be financially independent. I would have a much lower income than I could earn in the private sector. And I would probably worry about money all my life.

That slammed the brakes on my political ambitions. I folded my campaign and went back to work as a business consultant and real estate developer. Eventually, I became a professional speaker.

It has been said, “A butterfly flapping its wings in Peru can start a change in the weather that leads to a typhoon in China.” The application of this idea is that even a casual meeting with an acquaintance can have major long-term effects.

At every stage of your life, there will be someone giving you insights and guidance that can point you in a better direction. At the same time, you can be the person giving insights and guidance that will help others.

How many times has your direction changed because you interacted with another person? Sometimes an observation from someone with more experience can change your destiny.

The Secret has been a bestseller for years. According to the book, “If you visualize and think positive thoughts, you will attract all good things into your life.”

Unfortunately, this idea is misleading. Of course, it is important to think positive thoughts. But that is not enough. You must also take continuous action in the direction of your goals, overcoming resistance, adversity, and temporary failures.

Success is not based on the Law of Attraction. It is based on the Law of Probabilities. This law says that there is a probability that everything can happen. And that you can influence those probabilities by doing more of the things that are likely to lead to your success.

Interacting with others is one of those things.

The salesperson who sees more prospects is going to make more sales than the one who stays in the office and shuffles business cards. The professional who networks with other professionals is going to dramatically increase the probability that he will meet the right person, at the right time, with the right insight or guidance that will lead to a career breakthrough.

Networking is one of the surest ways to improve your chances of meeting the right people.

How do you network? Go to industry events. Join a local entrepreneurs’ group. Attend continuing education workshops in your field. Interview successful people. However you network, you’ll meet people who can help you succeed… faster than you could do it on your own.

P.S. Jobs, referrals, discounts, and deals will flow to you when you know how to make powerful and lasting connections with every person you meet. Learn how to capitalize on your network. There’s no limit to the benefits you’ll experience when you master this invaluable skill! Become a Power Networker Today!

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The “Obvious” Marketing Strategy… That Almost Every Start-Up Business Forgets – Your favorite restaurant almost certainly does it. So do McDonald’s and the Starbucks down the street. But I’ll bet your new online business doesn’t. And you’re probably losing thousands. Read more to find out what “it” is…

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More wealth, health, and wisdom from Masterson…

I’ve often talked about incremental degradation — how you can wreck your business by gradually decreasing the quality of what you do in an effort to save money. On the flipside, you can improve your business by making small, incremental improvements.

So, today, I want you to think of one small but significant way you can improve the quality of your product or service. It shouldn’t cost much. (It might not cost anything.) And it doesn’t have to be obvious to your customers/clients. But it has to be an improvement that you believe in.

Start by imagining your business sometime in the future. Five to seven years from now. Maybe longer. Imagine it not as it is today but as something much bigger and more successful… and with a reputation for providing the best product/service in your industry.

Just think about that for a while. Try to enjoy it.

Next, figure out one thing you can do to make that happen. Something that can be accomplished in a relatively short time — weeks or months, depending on the nature of your business. Hint: Use ETR’s philosophy of treating each customer as if he were your only one. (If you had only one customer and you depended on him for all your income, what would you do for him that you are not doing now?)

Two or three things may come to mind. Then ask yourself, “Which one of these things can I implement immediately?”

Get to work on it. Make a phone call. Write a memo. NOW.

Always set deadlines every time you agree — or get someone else to agree — to accomplish a task. The deadline should be specific, with a date and even a time of day.

We are often tempted to ask people to work on an ASAP deadline. That’s okay… occasionally. But as ETR’s Suzanne Richardson put it:

“The truth is, your top priorities are rarely going to be the same as other people’s. And if you are depending on them to get something done for you, you need to get them to move it up on their priority list.

“Only if the task is truly NOT time-dependent should you say ‘as soon as possible.’”

Walt Disney once said that deadlines are good for everybody and everything. Even beavers, he pointed out, need deadlines. They sit around doing nothing all summer, and start building their dams only when the weather gets cold and winter approaches.

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When was the last time you slept for 8 hours straight?

Dr. Jim LaValle (known as the “doctor’s doctor”) has just released a report with the secrets to getting you back to sleeping through the night… without drugs… in just 14 days.

In it, you’ll discover:

• How to eliminate the #1 reason why you toss and turn for hours (Your spouse will thank you, too!)

• Tested psychological “tricks” that are guaranteed to knock you out cold

• How to “burn off” the hormones that are keeping you wide awake at night (and half asleep during the day)

If you’re ready to sleep like a baby all night… and wake up bursting with energy… click here for your report.

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The first is simply “I was wrong.”

Non-creative people are so concerned with being right that all their mental energy is consumed by stonewalling, bluffing, blaming, and denying. If you’re wrong, admit it… and get on to the solution or the next step.

The second is “I made a mistake.”

Non-creative people think it is a sign of weakness to admit to having made a mistake. On the contrary, it is a sign of mental maturity, personal strength, and character. (Remember, everybody makes mistakes every single day.)

The third statement is “I changed my mind.”

It is amazing how many uncomfortable situations non-creative people get into and stay in because they are unwilling or afraid to admit that they’ve changed their minds.

Here are two ways you can break away from those old, limiting ideas and become a more creative thinker.

1. Be willing to admit that you are not perfect, you make mistakes, you are wrong. This is a mark of intelligence and courage.

2. When you get new information, be willing to change your mind. Most of what you know about your business today will change completely in the coming years, so be the first to recognize it.

[Ed. Note: Would you be surprised to learn that you can have all the success and happiness you dream of... just by changing the way you think? With Brian Tracy's powerful one-hour seminar CD, Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, you'll be able to use your thoughts to turn your dreams into reality!

Jumpstart your goal-achieving efforts with Bob Cox, a success mentor who has helped thousands achieve their life's ambition. Check out his Total Success Achievement program here.]

So if you want to be a big success, look for those tracks. Find out what successful people in your field are doing, and do the same things. You will shorten your learning curve and accelerate your results.

That’s what I did.

When I studied the interviews, speeches, biographies, and autobiographies of successful men and women, I found that they all had something in common. They were all described as being “extremely well-organized.” They used their time very, very well. They were highly productive and they got vastly more done than the average person in the same period of time.

I followed their paths and it made me who I am today.

Here are two things you can start doing immediately to put this idea into action:

First, develop a plan to learn from the actions of the experts in your field. This can save you years of hard work.

Then, study everything you’ve learned and choose one of those things – the most important one – to implement. Decide how to do it. Then do it.

[Ed. Note: With Brian Tracy’s Flight Plan, you can discover how to achieve more, faster than you ever dreamed possible. You also receive 2 BONUS CDS!

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And it begins with determining what it is you believe in and stand for – your values.

Successful people are successful because they are very clear about their values. Unsuccessful people are fuzzy or unsure. Complete failures have no real values at all.

Clarifying your values is the beginning exercise in building self-confidence, self-esteem, and character. When you take the time to think through your fundamental values, and then commit to living your life consistent with them, you feel a surge of mental strength and well-being. You feel more capable. You feel more centered in the universe and more competent to accomplish the goals you set for yourself.

Here are two things you can do immediately to put this idea into action.

1. Decide for yourself what makes you truly happy, and organize your life around it.

2. Identify your values – what it is you stand for and believe in. Commit to living in a way that’s consistent with these innermost convictions… and you’ll never make another mistake.

[Ed. Note: You need a flight plan to succeed. But having the plan isn't enough. Like a pilot, you must make course corrections along the way in order to arrive at your destination. With Brian Tracy's Flight Plan, you can discover a how to achieve more, faster than you ever dreamed possible. You also receive 2 BONUS CDS. Learn more here.]

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Pausing before you speak has three specific benefits.

• You avoid the risk of interrupting the prospect if he has just stopped to gather his thoughts.

• Your silence tells the prospect that you are giving careful consideration to what he has just said. This is a compliment, and makes him feel valuable.

• Pausing before replying means that you will actually hear and understand the prospect better because you’ve given his words a little time to soak into your mind. You will be more alert to how his words can connect with other things you know about him in relation to your product or service.

When you pause, not only do you become a more thoughtful person, you convey this to the customer. By extension, you become a more valuable person to do business with.

[Ed. Note: In his audio program, Communicate With Power , Brian Tracy, master salesman and business coach, will show you how to influence people and get what you want by using only words.

And what better way to hone your communication and sales techniques than by setting up your own Internet business? The Internet Money Club Independent Learner Edition gives you the complete, start-from-scratch guide to finding financial independence online. Get all the details now]

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One way to cut a big task down to size is with the “salami slice” technique. With this method, you lay out the task in detail, and then resolve to do just one piece of the job for the time being – like eating a roll of salami, one slice at a time.

Psychologically, you will find it easier to start on a single, small piece of a large project than to start on the whole job. And once you have completed that small piece, you will feel like doing just one more “slice.” Before you know it, the entire job will be done.

[Ed. Note: Time is valuable, and learning how to use it to your advantage is a vital skill that every top achiever should master. Learn how to zero in on the critical tasks, organize each day, get more done faster, and get the right things done with Brian Tracy's book, Eat That Frog. .

For dozens of strategies that can help you accomplish your dreams faster, sign up for ETR's Total Success Achievement Program. Success mentor Bob Cox will provide you with all the tools you need to succeed in 2009 and beyond.]

Attack of the Clones

By Kelley Herring

If the thought of eating cloned meat doesn’t appeal to you, make sure you’re buying only pasture-raised meats.

In January of this year, the USDA officially defined “naturally raised” livestock as being raised:

• without growth promotants (including growth hormones)
• without animal byproducts in feed
• without antibiotics (except for parasite-reducing ionophores)While these three prohibitions are important, the USDA’s definition doesn’t address whether the animal came from cloned or genetically engineered stock, the environment in which it was raised (pastured or confined), or the type of feed it received (pesticide-free or pesticide-ridden grain).

Protect yourself by looking for “pasture-raised” and “grass-fed” and “organic.” Visit the EatWild website for a directory of companies you can trust (e.g., U.S. Wellness Meats).

[Ed. Note: Eating right goes a long way toward helping you stay healthy and live longer. Pick up a copy of nutrition expert Kelley Herring's collection of recipes for dozens of delicious and guilt-free desserts today. .

For more advice on which foods you should - and shouldn't - be eating to stay in top health, sign up for ETR's free natural health newsletter. ]

The fact is that the average person today is working at 110-130 percent of capacity. And the jobs and responsibilities just keep piling up. One recent study concluded that the average executive has a backlog of 300-400 hours of reading and projects at home and at the office.

What this means is that you will never be caught up. Get that out of your mind. All you can hope for is to keep on top of your most important responsibilities. The others will just have to wait.

The key question you can ask is: “What is the most valuable use of my time, right now?”

Every hour of every day, there is an answer to this question. Your job is to ask yourself that question, over and over again – and to make sure you’re always spending your time working on whatever is most important at that particular moment.

The more accurate your answers to this question, the easier it will be for you to set clear priorities and overcome procrastination.

[Ed. Note: In his book, Eat That Frog!, personal effectiveness expert Brian Tracy shows you how to zero in on the critical tasks and organize each day - you'll not only get more done faster, but you'll also get the right things done! Get your copy and learn how to stop procrastinating right now.]

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Here are three things you can do to start making powerful and lasting connections:

1. Make a list of the 25 people you feel it would be most useful for you to get to know. Develop a strategy to meet every one of them over the next 12 months.

2. Network at every opportunity. Join business and trade associations. Attend meetings. Volunteer to serve on a key committee.

3. Get involved in community service organizations. The best people in every community, the people you should know and who should know you, are usually involved in public service in some way. Start with the United Way in your own city, or get involved in any cause you care about or are interested in.

Follow these steps and jobs, referrals, and deals will flow to you.

[Ed. Note: Increasing your contacts to expand your influence and build your career is just a small taste of the business and personal development skills taught by Brian Tracy (www.briantracy.com). Learn how to get the most out of your networking circle here.

Going online is another sure way to build your business and profits. Learn how ETR can help you do just that here. ]

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