Well, some people keep trying.

You’ve seen it. The ne’er-do-well who keeps bragging about his big plans. The office screw-up who keeps apologizing for his mistakes and committing to do better in the future.

You probably don’t do that kind of thing. But if things fall apart, you may be tempted to climb out of the hole by making promises.

Resist the temptation. You’ve already established your good reputation. It was built on what you did, not on what you said you would do. If you want people to keep thinking highly of you, do more and talk less.

Promises are powerful weapons, but they lose their impact when they miss their targets.

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The Simple Six-Figure Marketing Strategy – Paul Lawrence spent less than $100 to start his first business. He used just one marketing plan. Soon he had so many customers, he hired someone to do the work. He went after new business. He used his marketing plan again. Almost instantly, he was making $4,000 a month. The people he sold the business to (so he could finish college — paid for by the sale, by the way) used the same plan. They are making $100,000 a year. Read more…

According to LL, a young colleague of mine who’s recently become a real-estate broker, you should hit the prospect with “is its?”

“You want to sell the house, don’t you?”

“Well, yes.”

“And you plan to list it with a broker, right?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“You appear to be hesitant. Is it because I’m a woman?”

“Oh, no. Of course not.”

“Is it because I’m too young?”

“No.”

And so on, until there are no more “is its?”

“It really works,” LL says.

LL didn’t say so, but I’d guess you would not want to offer an “is it?” that really could be “it.” For example, you wouldn’t want to say, “Is it because I’ve never sold a house this big before and I couldn’t possibly know anybody rich enough to buy it?” Ask a question like that, and you might be stumped by a “Yes, that’s exactly it.”

That qualification stated, the “is it?” technique makes a good deal of sense when you are dealing with irrational objections.

In some cases, that may be necessary. But in most cases I’ve witnessed, second-guessing is a response to a real problem. So before you accost your bossy boss and set him straight, make sure his worries are groundless.

Next time you feel you’ve been questioned or criticized unfairly, calm down and take a deep breath. Repeat after me: “I am not perfect. It is possible for me to be wrong in this case. If I am wrong in this case, it doesn’t mean I am human waste.”

Once you are comfortable with the idea that you may be wrong, try to figure out why your boss thinks you are.

What, exactly, happened that shouldn’t have? What didn’t happen that should have? Did you have all the resources you needed? Did you follow sensible procedures? If you had to do it again, from scratch, how could you do it to produce the desired outcome?

You need to ask yourself these questions — and you should also ask a trusted friend or colleague for input.

Once you understand what went wrong and how it could have been right, set up a meeting with your boss. Admit your mistakes. Tell him what you’re doing to avoid the same missteps in the future. And ask him for his suggestions.

I can’t imagine any good boss not being impressed with that. If he doesn’t respond positively, then he’s the problem, not you. Look for another job.

“Just what I needed to hear.”

“I just wanted to say thanks for some great content in the ETR newsletters. I find something useful in just about everyone of them.

“Michael’s lead article prompted me to respond today. A number of times, he’s shared some really useful tips for dealing with difficult people and situations. And they’ve been just what I needed to hear, like this one was today.

“Many thanks.”

Stuart May

Torquay, Devon, U.K

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Ready to Impress Your Boss? – You’ve just read about one way to handle a second-guessing boss. Wanna know the best way to avoid such a situation altogether? Know more than he does about business and marketing. Just read Michael Masterson’s book, Ready, Fire, Aim, cover to cover.

There are those who advocate a “me-first” approach. Loyalty, they argue, is a sentimental attachment that winners cannot afford. When people are no longer useful to you, get rid of them.

Success is determined in no small part by the quality of the people who surround you. I’ve argued in past ETR essays that when it comes to the key people in your career, good is not good enough. But does that mean you should dump a loyal employee or vendor the moment you find someone better?

In a word, no.

When you mistreat a longtime supporter, you create a lifelong enemy. Populate your world with enemies, and you assure yourself (and your career) an untimely death. More to the point, loyalty is a two-way street. Develop a reputation for “using” people, and you will find yourself used when you least expect it.

So how do you avoid the terrible choice of keeping someone who’s been with you for years or bringing in someone “better”?

The best thing you can do — by far — is to hire (and partner with) only great people to begin with.

You must also provide your key people with the information, technology, and direction they need to be excellent.

Finally, recognize that loyalty doesn’t mean you must do what others think you should do for them. Someone might expect to be your business manager someday. But that doesn’t mean you have to put him in that position.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Don’t suggest benefits you can’t provide. Hire and partner with excellent people. Teach them. Listen to them.

Do that and you will help your loyal employees grow. They will recognize the value you’ve given them and be grateful to you for it. If something out of your control happens and you have to let them go, they will be better able to get a good job because of what they’ve learned from you.

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Build It and They Will Come… and Other Myths - A fancy website has zero bearing on how much money you make online. In fact, you could lose money! Internet Money Club Director Brian Edmondson knows a better way. And it uses one of the simplest Internet tools: e-mail. Find out more here…

Many managers are specific about the steps to take but vague on intent. This is a mistake.

Just because you’ve achieved good results by following a certain procedure, don’t assume that everybody who works for you must approach projects your way.

It’s much more effective to make sure they understand the ultimate purpose of the job you’re asking them to do, and the time and money limits attached to it. You can explain what’s worked for you. But then get out of their way and let them get the job done without your constant interference.

Do you have trouble with this advice? It may be because you have trouble with delegating itself. If so, you will accomplish much less in your career than you could if you learned the value of letting your people develop their own methods.

“Tattooed on everyone’s head.”

“This quote from Michael’s article should be tattooed on everyone’s head and taught from preschool on: ‘If it’s going to be worth less after you buy it, or if you’ll have forgotten all about it by this time next year, pay cash.

That includes stereos, vacations, dinners out, clothes… you get the idea. Use credit only for things that are going to appreciate in value — such things as houses, investments, or an income-producing side business.’”

Jon S.

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Delegating for the Web Entrepreneur – Do you work solo on your Internet business? Most start-up entrepreneurs do. When Bob Bly decided to start his own online business, he recruited dozens of people to help him out. Many of these people helped him for free. And some of them were paid, but only if they got results.

Bob makes thousands of dollars a week now, working only an hour a day on his online business. Find out his secret — and dozens of other tips for making a full-time income from part-time work – here.

• They set goals.
• They are action-oriented.
• They are willing to outwork the competition.
• They are eager to learn.
• They are persistent.

Today, for a change, let’s talk about what you don’t need to succeed.

• You don’t have to be smart.
• You don’t have to be good-looking.
• You don’t have to be thin.
• You don’t have to be nice.
• You don’t have to be right — all the time.
• You don’t have to be even-tempered.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t be kind, sympathetic, and patient. You should try to be all of those things, because those qualities will make you a better and happier person.

But in remaking your personality into that of an automatic wealth builder, focus on enthusiasm, diligence, and determination. Set goals. And take action.

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Success Comes in All Shapes and Sizes – Success coach Bob Cox helps people get what they want out of life — to make more money, build loving relationships, or turn long-held dreams into reality.

He agrees with Michael Masterson. You don’t need to be smart or nice or good-looking to succeed. But he does insist on a willingness to follow one simple rule:

“They must be open-minded enough to simply look at my program,” he says. “When they see how it works and read about the success I’ve had with my clients, they will be motivated to jump in with both feet.”

Find out more about Bob’s unique approach to success and how his clients have achieved so much so quickly here…

There’s a reason for that, says Total Health Breakthroughs’ Managing Editor Jon Herring. “The fat has been replaced with sugar and refined carbohydrates. And those are more dangerous to your health.”

The mania for low-fat foods has led to a host of health problems, some inconvenient and some downright deadly. These problems are becoming more common as more people jump on the low-fat bandwagon, Jon says. “And to make matters worse, the federal government and much of the medical establishment are advocating a low-fat diet!”

Among the problems caused:

• An explosion of obesity
• An increase in adult-onset diabetes
• Increased hypertension
• More heart disease

“Fats are a healthy and integral part of the healthful diet,” Jon says. “But you need to know what kinds of fats to eat and in what quantities.”

Check out Jon’s latest THB Undercover for all the details.

Walk through any casino in the wee hours and you will notice how miserable the gamblers look. Even at the high-stakes tables, otherwise successful people will be slumped over, watching their money disappear, one stack of chips at a time.

Long shots are for losers. Invest your money, time, and love into businesses, activities, and people that are likely to give you a positive return.

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Are You Gambling With Your Investments? – There is something to be said for the thrill of that 40-to-1 shot. But if you take such a chance, know that you have a 90% chance of being a loser.

When it comes to building your wealth, act like a casino owner, not a gambler. That means putting the odds in your favor — with sound investments based on a mountain of research and in-depth analysis.

That’s exactly what the editors of Sound Profits bring to the table. Find out more here.

Make your important phone calls more productive by briefly outlining what you need to find out and what you want to get accomplished. Keep that outline in front of you while you talk.

It’s also a good idea to:

1. Start off by stating the amount of time you expect the call to take.

2. State the purpose of the call — and make sure the other party agrees.

3. Issue a warning a few minutes before you have to get off the line.

“True to life.”

“Just wanted to comment on your recent ETR newsletter about the junkie’s secret. While most of your ETR writings are very good (which is why I keep reading them), this one was a gem. You hit the nail on the head. It was insightful, inspiring, true to life.

“It was a great piece.”

Mike Gouin
Cincinnati, OH

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The “Obvious” Marketing Strategy… That Almost Every Start-Up Forgets – Your favorite restaurant almost certainly does it. So do McDonald’s and Starbucks.

But I’ll bet your new online business is missing out on it. If so, you’re leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Read more to find out what “it” is…

“The percentage of mistakes in quick decisions is no greater than in the long, drawn-out vacillations, and the effect of decisiveness itself makes things go and creates confidence.”

That’s from Ann O’Hare McCormick, a writer who understood how easy it is to waste time deliberating.

You need to think through important decisions. You need to seek counsel. But don’t keep deliberating out of fear of not finding the perfect answer.

In making any important decision:

• First, be aware of your initial, gut instinct.

• Then, ask questions. But only of people whose opinions you respect and only for a predetermined period of time.

If both processes (one subconscious and instantaneous and the other conscious and calculated) point to the same answer, act without hesitation.

If they disagree, act according to your gut.

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“The Cholesterol Theory of heart disease is quite possibly the largest cover up in medical history,” says cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Dwight Lundell.

Get ready to discover:

• How an entire nation was lured into believing cholesterol causes heart disease, a theory that lacks scientific proof.

• How “no fat dieting” and the propaganda against saturated fats actually caused an epidemic of inflammation.

• Simple, natural ways to reduce the effects of inflammation by attacking its cause.

• Proof that lowering inflammation is the best way to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

It is time to stop the cholesterol madness.