Beware of Melting Butter
Issue# 2728
- WEALTHY: 3 simple steps to keeping your website visitors happy (Howie Jacobson)
- HEALTHY: 2 foods you must eat (Craig Ballantyne)
- WISE: Early Wilson on temptation
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Can you resist temptation? (Robert Ringer)
- 3 strategies for enhancing one of your greatest assets (Michael Masterson)
- It’s Fun to Know… about wool coffins
- Add “mea culpa” to your vocabulary
* Highly Recommended *
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How Your Website Is Like My New Favorite Car Dealership
I just took my 2002 Prius to the local Toyota dealer here in North Carolina for its 100,000-mile servicing .
Now I’m used to service stations and dealers in New Jersey, where standard operating procedure is to make customers guess where to park, what line to wait i n, and what those stains are on the back of their computer monitor, walls, floor, and, eventually, your credit card. So it was a nice surprise to see how the system works at this dealership .
And it got me to thinking about how what they’re doing right can be applied to Web landing pages.
Lesson #1: Show visitors exactly what to do.
As I drove up to the dealership, there was a sign that told me exactly where to go for service. It pointed to a row of four large, clearly marked parking spaces.
Have you clearly marked on your landing page what you want your visitors to do? Is your sign – up box prominent? Is the “buy” button plainly visible?
Lesson #2: Immediately create a feeling of safety.
When I dropped off the car, I couldn’t help but notice rolls of paper and plastic right next to the service lanes. They were obviously being used to keep customers’ cars clean while they were being worked on.
Does your landing page immediately make the visitor feel safe? Do you have instant credibility boosters? Does your site design communicate “fly by night” or “here to stay”?
Lesson #3: Show why/how you’re better/different.
While I was paying, an employee opened the door behind me marked “Authorized Personnel Only” and ushered in a prospective customer for a tour. I heard him talking about the facility’s cleanliness, its capacity, and how quickly repairs get done.
Does your landing page offer a glimpse into your expertise, process, or some other important differentiator? Or at least a link that says something like “Why buy from us?”
Lesson #4: Leave them wanting more.
After I paid, I went outside to look around for my car. Based on past experience, I expected to find it jammed into some pseudo parking spot. But before I had time to start searching, I saw my little baby driving up right next to me .
I don’t care how “sticky” your website is. At some point, every one of your prospects will have to leave. So what’s your “temporary exit strategy”? How do you leave them wanting more?
Whenever I offer a download or an opt-in, I always take the time to create a thank you page. The reason I do that is to make the prospect’s last contact with my site (for the time being) a positive experience. Leave them happy, and leave them wanting more.
[Ed. Note: Internet marketing expert Howie Jacobson's advice can help you keep your Web visitors happy. But before you can make them happy, you need to attract them to your site. Now, Howie has come up with a comprehensive guide to getting massive traffic to your site in the first place. Discover how you can skyrocket your traffic by 1,200% and make five times the cash with the quickest, easiest, most effective traffic attractor available online.
And be sure to pick up Howie's complimentary AdWords ER Report "Why Most AdWords Campaigns Fail - and How to Make Yours Succeed" at www.AskHowie.com.]
“Ever notice that the whisper of temptation can be heard farther than the loudest call to duty.”
- Early Wilson
Beware of Melting Butter
When yet another politician bit the dust not long ago, I couldn’t help but think of Henry Kissinger’s all-too-true observation that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” I don’t have a lot to say about Governor Mark Sanford’s situation, except that I think the whole thing is very sad. I don’t know Sanford personally, but he always came across as a sincere individual who was genuinely dedicated to his job.
To his credit – unlike a number of politicians who preceded him on the Infidelity Path – Sanford did not try to deny his affair when confronted with it (though he did keep it under wraps for at least a year). He also impressed me by not humiliating his wife further by having her stand dutifully by his side at his mea culpa press conference – ala Eliot Spitzer, Jim McGreevey, David Vitter, et al. Attention politicians with uncontrollable libidos: When you’re caught, act like a man and stand before the public alone!
On the negative side, had I been Governor Sanford’s advisor, I would have told him not to drone on and on about his relationship with “the other woman.” Apologies, yes. Details about how innocently it all began, no. For his sake, I hope he keeps further specifics to himself.
More than 20 years ago in Dallas, I recall having a related discussion with motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. Zig made the point that most extramarital affairs begin innocently. He said what men (and women) need to do is have the self-discipline not to get into situations where innocence has an opportunity to heat up.
The example he used was that of a boss who invites his secretary to lunch. Big mistake. “At some point,” he said, “they reach for the butter at the same time and their hands accidentally touch.” (My translation: Melted butter.)
During that same trip to Dallas, I watched Zig lecture a church full of pastors on the same subject. He advised them, “When you counsel a female member of your congregation, for goodness sakes do it with your office door open.“(My translation: Avoid melting the butter.)
Since then, of course, all hell has broken loose in the U.S. and we’ve devolved into an anything-goes society. Take a good look at what’s being aired on TV these days, and you’ll see what I mean. Not only have the shows become increasingly slimy, many of the commercials, are, to put it politely, sexually explicit.
The madness of prime-time TV aside, when you get down to it, having an extramarital affair is no different than getting yourself into any other kind of trouble – embezzlement, DUI murder, obstruction of justice… you name it. Yes, human beings are weak. It’s hard to avoid temptation – hard, but certainly not impossible. Put simply: When the snake starts talking to you, don’t take the shiny red apple. Walk away.
Having said this, I believe that all mature adults realize that good people sometimes do bad things. Which means it’s wise to think about our own embarrassing missteps before joining a feeding frenzy every time we see blood in the water. As Ayn Rand said, “Judge and prepare to be judged.” (Remember, Mark Sanford voted for the impeachment of cigar-trickster Bill Clinton – and offered a number of moralistic comments to boot.)
My guess is that Mark Sanford is a decent human being who yielded to temptation and fell in love with another woman. You may not want to hear it, but as Ayn Rand explained, it is indeed possible to be in love with two women – or two men – at the same time. Common sense compels us to accept this reality.
Only when we acknowledge our own frailty are we able to develop a strong enough mental state to avoid getting ourselves into tempting situations in the first place. But even if you achieve an A+ in that effort, you will still have a goodly number of “sins” listed in your Book of Life when you move on to the next leg of your Eternal Journey.
We’re all imperfect… which is why we all have to be vigilant when it comes to not getting ourselves into compromising situations.
[Ed. Note: The prevalence of high-profile affairs is just one indication that the United States is on the wrong path - morally as well as economically. To learn how to survive and prosper during the turbulent years ahead, check out Robert Ringer's powerful audio series Succeeding in a World of Chaos. And be sure to sign up for a FREE subscription to his one-of-a-kind e-letter A Voice of Sanity in an Insane World.]
* Highly Recommended *
Remove Your Success Stumbling Blocks
Having trouble reaching your goals?
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Do You Have a Reputation for Reliability?
In some ways, I’m a very reliable person. I’m very loyal. And I’m very committed to my work. But in most other things, such as returning phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner, showing up for appointments on time, and meeting deadlines, I’m not so good. I make up for my deficiency by apologizing profusely and then giving more than I promised in the first place.
That said, I’m the first to admit that having a reputation for reliability is an extremely valuable asset. So here’s what I’m doing about it…
- To improve my record of returning calls and e-mails on time, I’m blocking out adequate time each day on my calendar for doing nothing but that. I shut the door. I tolerate no interruptions. I get to it and get it done.
- To make sure I get to appointments on time, I’m reviewing my calendar first thing each morning and e stimating – realistically – how long it will take to get to each one. To make it easier to leave on time, I’m making it a point not to start on a major task 15 minutes before I’m supposed to be on my way.
- If I am being asked to do something that I know I won’t be able to do right away, I don’t put it off in the hope that I ‘ll find the time to try later in the day. I r espond to the request immediately (during my blocked-out time), saying that I intend to have it done by a certain date. Then I put that deadline on my task list.
If you, too, have reliability “issues,” I suggest you do the same.
[Ed. Note: Reliability is just one of the traits that make a successful businessperson. For more tips on communicating with colleagues effectively, projecting power in the workplace, and persuading others to follow your lead, check out Michael Masterson's book Power and Persuasion.]
Superfoods!
You don’t have to sacrifice flavor or variety to eat healthfully. In fact, two types of foods can help you fight disease and live longer – and they come in many delicious varieties.
According to cardiovascular health expert Dr. Shah, as reported in Men’s Health m agazine, these two super- food groups are:
1. Inflammation-fighting cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, collards, daikon, horseradish, kale, mustard greens, rutabagas, turnips, radishes, and watercress.
2. Blood pressure lowering berries, including blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Dr. Shah recommends that you indulge in both food groups daily – at least half a cup of crucifers and half a cup of berries.
You’ll find that these fruits and veggies are ideal for mixing with other healthy foods. I especially like raw broccoli with hummus – and I include blueberries in all my breakfasts (whether with oatmeal, oat groats, or nuts).
Twice a week, I stock up on:
- 2 pints of blueberries
- 6 bananas
- 6 red delicious apples
- 6 pears
- 2 grapefruits
- 1 watermelon
- 2 bunches of broccoli
- 2 red peppers
- 1 orange pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 green pepper
- 2 avocados
- mushrooms
- a bag of baby spinach
With so much to choose from during the summer months, you should have no trouble getting a daily dose of inflammation fighters, blood pressure reducers, and vitamins that your body needs to stay strong and free of disease.
[Ed. Note: Eating the right foods is only one aspect of losing fat and staying healthy. You also need to exercise regularly. Fitness expert Craig Ballantyne can help you burn fat and build muscle with three 45-minute workouts a week. Learn how right here.
For more easy-to-implement ideas about how to live longer and feel better, sign up for ETR's free natural health newsletter.]
It’s Fun to Know: Wool Coffins
Eco-watchers say that traditional wood caskets can have a negative effect on the environment as a result of all the metal, plastic, and other “trimmings” that end up buried in the ground.
Enter the eco-alternative: a casket made of wool on a cardboard frame. The Swaledale coffin – co-produced in England by a coffin manufacturer and a textile company – is completely biodegradable.
(Source: Boing Boing)
* Highly Recommended *
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Word to the Wise: Mea Culpa
“Mea culpa” (MAY-uh KUL-puh) – Latin for “through my fault” – is a formal acknowledgement of personal blame or error.
Example (as used by Robert Ringer today): “[Governor Mark Sanford] also impressed me by not humiliating his wife further by having her stand dutifully by his side at his mea culpa press conference – ala Eliot Spitzer, Jim McGreevey, David Vitter, et al.”
[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 Words to the Wise CD Library.]
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