Early to Rise » Daily Issues

5 Steps to the Perfect Guarantee

Early To Rise — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:10:52 +0000

Issue #2528

WEALTHY: Have you been ripped off by a “charity”? (Jason Holland)
HEALTHY: Fast-food utopia (Kelley Herring) )
WISE: William Pepperell Montague on skepticism

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Without this crucial element, your sales will slow to a trickle (Bob Bly)
What do you think you’re too old to do? (Jon Benson)
It’s Fun to Know… how to get in touch with the new president
Add “vertiginous” to your vocabulary

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Click here to get all the inside details…

How to Avoid a Common Holiday Scam

By Jason Holland

“I bought some Girl Scout cookies last night,” Suzanne told me the other day. “And,” she added proudly, “I donated a box of cookies to the troops.”

“What troops?” I asked. “Did they tell you which branch of the military they would be sending the cookies to?”

“No…” she trailed off. “Come to think of it, the sign was really vague. Who knows? Maybe they put the cookies I ‘donated’ back on the table once I left!”

Did Suzanne get scammed? I hope not. The holidays are a time of giving - and not just to family and friends. Charitable organizations of all kinds receive a flood of donations at this time of year.

Unfortunately, scam artists take advantage of this situation to pose as charities… and then take the money and run. So before you write that check or pull out your credit card…

Don’t pay bills or invoices you receive in the mail from charities you’ve never talked to.
Ask for a copy of the charity’s financial report and a list of its activities.
Find out how much of your donation will go to programs… and how much will go to “operating costs.”
Pay close attention to the name of the charity. Often, scammers will use a name that’s very similar to the name of a reputable one.
Never give cash (except to Salvation Army bell ringers). Always make your check payable to the organization - not an individual.
Be wary of “emergency” appeals that insist they need the money right away.
Never give out your credit card number or bank information over the phone.

For a list of reputable charities and information on their activities, check out these websites: www.charitynavigator.org, www.give.org, and www.guidestar.org.

(Source: Arizona Daily Star and Consumerist)

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“Skepticism is not a denial of belief, but rather a denial of rational grounds for belief.”

William Pepperell Montague

5 Steps to the Perfect Guarantee

By Bob Bly

“Use a strong guarantee” is standard advice in direct marketing. Without a strong guarantee, your sales will slow to a trickle. Buyers are loathe to buy products sight unseen - over the Internet, by phone, or by mail.

But what, exactly, makes for a “strong” guarantee?

A strong guarantee has five defining characteristics.

1. It is good for a long period of time.

As a rule of thumb, the longer the guarantee period, the better.

Typical guarantee periods are 10, 14, 30, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days. Of these, 10 days is the weakest, because it requires the prospect to act too quickly for comfort. He is afraid that, if he puts the product aside, the guarantee coverage will expire and he’ll be stuck with something he can’t return. And so he doesn’t order in the first place.

Thirty days is a standard guarantee period, and certainly adequate. Sixty and 90 days are better. All the information products I publish and sell online are guaranteed for 90 days.

I don’t like lifetime guarantees, because they create a financial liability on the books that may be problematic when it’s time to sell the business. Six- and 12-month guarantees may be worth testing, but won’t work for some products. For instance, a one-year guarantee doesn’t make sense for an annual directory.

2. There are no strings attached.

A conditional guarantee might say: “Return the product in saleable condition for your money back.” A guarantee like this will make the prospect worry that you will quibble with him over “saleable condition.” That you may, for example, refuse to issue a refund for a book he returned because, say, the dust jacket has a smudge on it.

Another conditional guarantee that stops prospects from buying is the one used by many sellers of home-study programs. They say: “If you are not satisfied, send back the course for a refund. Just prove to us that you made some effort to follow our system.” Then, when you ask for a refund, they ask for more and more proof. And no matter how much proof you send, the seller counters with “You didn’t do what we said” (or enough of it) - and denies your refund on that basis.

Much better is to offer an unconditional guarantee. Tell the customer all he has to do is return the product for a full refund - no ifs, ands, or buts - without question or quibble.

3. Everything is clearly stated and spelled out.

Don’t use any wording that the consumer can misinterpret. For instance, a performance-based guarantee - “If you do not earn extra money trading options with our program, return it for a refund” - sounds good but raises a potential concern. Does it mean that if you DO make some extra money with the product, you can’t return it? Even if you only made 10 bucks?

Rewrite the guarantee so no condition or ambiguity is stated or implied: “If you do not make extra money trading options with our program, or you are not 100% satisfied for any other reason - or for no reason - just return the program within 90 days for a full refund.”

4. It is graphically emphasized within the promotion.

Don’t bury the guarantee in body copy or put it in an asterisked footnote in 8-point type. Print the guarantee in 12-point copy with a large, bold headline. Put a box or even a certificate-style border around it to make it stand out.

5. It is generous.

The best guarantees are unfair - but unfair in favor of the buyer, not the seller. That means if the customer takes advantage of the guarantee, the seller is, in a sense, getting ripped off.

Example. For regular books sold via mail-order, the guarantee is simple: “Return the book and we will send you your money back.”

But think about that same guarantee for e-books… Can customers really return the e-book? Do you expect them to send back the copy they printed out… or sign an affidavit that they erased the e-book from their hard drive… or shredded the printout? (Some online marketers have done just that!)

Most information marketers skirt the issue of returning e-books in their guarantees. They say: “If you are not 100% satisfied, let us know within 90 days for a full refund.” No discussion about returning or erasing or not using it.

In the landing pages I write to sell the e-books I publish (see, for example, myveryfirstebook.com), I go a step further. I turn the fact that the customer does not have to return the e-book into a benefit. I say: “If you are not 100% satisfied, let us know within 90 days for a full refund. And keep the e-book free, with my compliments. That way, you risk nothing.”

I’ve always suspected that this overly generous offer has boosted my sales, but never split-tested it. However, at a recent Internet marketing seminar, DP, who heard me make this point in my presentation, said that he too tells his customers to keep the e-book even if they ask for a refund. But DP has split-tested it. And he swears that “Keep the e-book free” increased his conversion rates on average by 21 percent.

The bottom line: Make sure your guarantee is…

Long. 90 days is ideal for most offers.
Unconditional. No strings attached.
Clearly stated with no ambiguity or possibility of misunderstanding.
Highlighted with bold typography, color, and graphics so it really stands out on the screen or page.
Overly generous - so if the consumer exercises the guarantee, he is essentially taking almost unfair advantage of you, the seller.

The overriding principle of a strong guarantee is to take all the risk off the buyer’s shoulders and place it on the seller’s shoulders - where it should be.

[Ed. Note: Knowing how to put together an irresistible offer is one of the best ways to make money online - for your employer, a client, or even your own business. For more marketing tactics from freelance copywriter and marketing expert Bob Bly - and from nearly a dozen other world-class Internet marketers - pick up a copy of ETR's 2008 Information Marketing Bootcamp DVD Library. With their advice, you could learn how to make $1 million or more with your own Internet business in 2009. Get all the details here.

To learn more marketing secrets from freelance copywriter and marketing expert Bob Bly, sign up for his free e-zine, the Direct Response Letter. Do so today and get $116 in bonuses.]

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How to Become a Money-Making Powerhouse

In an unparalleled “meeting of the minds,” two marketing masters have combined their 50+ years of business experience…

They’ve come up with 12 proven strategies that have literally helped them make hundreds of millions for their clients…

And they’ve put their wisdom and advice down on paper… in an easy-to-understand format that anyone can use to make millions for themselves and their businesses…

Now’s your chance to become a money-making powerhouse.

“Don’t Put an Age Limit on Your Dreams”

By Jon Benson

“Don’t put an age limit on your dreams.” That’s a quote from Dara Torres, one of my heroes and an Olympic champion. At the age of 41, she dared to enter the 2008 Olympics and swim a “kids’ race,” the 100 meter free. It’s an all-out sprint. One length of the pool. Winner takes the gold medal.

Dara lost the gold by 1/100th of a second. That’s almost too short to measure.

She won silver. She beat the American 16-year-old who was swimming just a few lanes over. She beat her personal record set when she herself was a teenager. She smashed the American record. She bested her last Olympics, and the one before that, with a time that, except for a slight start mistake would have won her a gold medal.

Let me put that into perspective: Dara lost by 1/100th of a second to a girl young

enough to be her daughter. In fact, ALL the other racers were young enough to be her daughters.

Dara is not “old.” She’s not even “middle-aged.” Those are terms that limit our ability to achieve. Dara is simply an athlete. A mom. A true woman of power. Someone who lives in the present. Dara is a champion, and there is no age requirement attached to the label “champ.” Even Olympic champ.

She beat her personal best, set almost 20 years prior, and did it in the toughest arena ever created. And Dara was not the oldest Olympian this year. John Dane III, 58, crewed a boat for the Olympic sailing team. Libby Callahan, 56, became the oldest U.S. female Olympian of all time. She competed with the shooting team.

So, I ask you: What do you think you’re too old to do?

[Ed. Note: There's no age limit on success. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You can start your own business, increase your income, and even start on the path toward real wealth. Learn how here.

Jon Benson is a life coach and nutrition counselor who specializes in helping individuals discover a life-altering mind/body connection. His work in the field of post-40 fitness and mental empowerment has helped countless thousands rediscover a youthful body and positive outlook. Discover how you can do the same by clicking here.]

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Clean & Green Fast Food

By Kelley Herring

If you’re having trouble hunting down restaurants that serve healthy, inexpensive, fast food, one option to try is Chipotle Grill. They currently have over 500 places throughout the U.S., and their Mexican food is top burrito. Not only do they get their meats from natural sources (including Niman Ranch) and slow-roast them to perfection, everything on their menu us made from whole foods and natural ingredients.

So when the fast-food craving strikes, consider Chipotle. And consider splitting your entree with a friend. The portions are generous. Opt for one of the restaurant’s salads. (Avoid the white-flour tortillas.) Top with pork carnitas and black beans, and ask for a side of guacamole, for a power-packed, low-glycemic meal in about five minutes for about five bucks. Ole!

[Ed. Note: Healthy food, as nutrition expert Kelley Herring points out, doesn't have to taste like cardboard. Simply make smart choices when it comes to what you eat, and you can live a healthier, fuller life. For tasty, good-for-you recipes - plus the latest health breakthroughs and easy to follow fitness techniques - sign up for ETR's natural health newsletter.

Survive the holidays with Kelley's brand-new recipe e-books, Guilt-Free Desserts and Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres. You'll find 60+ healthy recipes you can easily make at home.]

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It’s Fun to Know: Hey, Prez, How R U Doing?

If you want to get in touch with the new president when he takes office in January, you’ll have to write a letter. Barack Obama will have to give up e-mail (and his treasured BlackBerry).

No, the president-elect isn’t worried about being distracted by instant messages or forwarded pictures of cute puppies from the Secretary of Defense. First, there is the concern of hackers breaking into the presidential e-mail account and finding sensitive information. And second, the Presidential Records Act makes all correspondence with the president - public and private - part of the official record. No doubt his friends and family wouldn’t want to be subject to such scrutiny.

(Source: The New York Times)

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Hey, Rat Race Runners… Need a Change?

If your soul has been screaming at you to get out of the never-ending rat race, here’s your chance. After all these years, don’t you deserve to live the good life? Get started making money for yourself instead of your boss.

Word to the Wise: Vertiginous

Something that’s “vertiginous” (ver-TIJ-uh-nus) - from the Latin - is (1) unstable, or (2) threatening to cause the dizzying sensation of vertigo.

Example (as used by Will Blythe in a New York Times review of What Can I Do When Everything’s on Fire by Antonio Lobo Antunes): “There are novels out there as vertiginous as the dread K2, steep with degrees of difficulty that put readers into the same position as mountaineers staring at a terrifying traverse.”

[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 new Words to the Wise CD Library.]

How to Become a Success Machine

Early To Rise — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:10:06 +0000

Issue #2527

WEALTHY: 6 steps to becoming a top-level worker (Michael Masterson)
HEALTHY: Better health - in just 3 minutes (Craig Ballantyne)
WISE: Napoleon Hill on refusing to quit

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot dogs, insults, and a marketing lesson (Yanik Silver)
The power of white space (Suzanne Richardson)
It’s Good to Know… the truth behind “iffy” food items
Add “microcosm” to your vocabulary

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WANTED: Fast, Easy, and Automatic Internet Profits

Sound good, but hard to believe? If you can suspend your skepticism, you could bank $800 a month in automatic income that flows straight into your bank account. These income streams could often be even more money, sometimes A LOT more…

Hang on to your hat, because one man used these simple techniques to bring in $187,296 in one day! You can copy the exact steps for bringing in money faster than you might imagine. And get this: you’ve got nothing to lose because there’s no risk. I guarantee this new program, called Instant Internet Income, does exactly what I promise. Click here to learn more and get started today!

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.”

Napoleon Hill

How to Change Your Work Habits and Become a Success Machine

By Michael Masterson

Throughout the year, I’ve been providing you with a blueprint for changing your life. So far, we’ve covered the difference between goals, objectives, and tasks… and how to structure a plan for success.]

You may be motivated to get to work on your plan, but worried because you have never been able to work as hard as you know you will need to. You’ve made resolutions before. And you’ve even started to make improvements. But you have been distracted by problems and unexpected events. And you have stopped.

That’s the big problem you face now. How can you make sure you keep on working?

The following story, which dates back 40 years, explains how I did it.

How I Became an “A” Student

Near the end of my senior year of high school, Mrs. Bigsley, the career counselor, called me into her office.

“I’ve been looking at your grades and your aptitude tests and your conduct reports,” she said, thumbing through a stack of papers.

I waited expectantly. Mrs. Bigsley was the person in charge of getting students into good colleges and universities. “Maybe she’s seen the potential I have,” I thought. “Maybe she is going to help me get into an Ivy League school.”

She put the stack of paper down on her desk and looked up at me.

”In all my years of teaching, I have never seen such a complete waste of DNA,” she said. “Your parents are college teachers, are they not?”

I admitted they were.

“And your two elder siblings were ‘A’ students?”

“Yes, but…”

“And they went to top universities on scholarship?”

“Yes, but…”

“I’ve talked to Mrs. Crow, your homeroom teacher. And Mr. Dean and Dr. Mackel, too. They all say the same thing. You will never amount to anything that has anything to do with reading, writing, or math. Your grades support their opinion.”

“But…”

”Your performance in high school indicates only one career choice as far as I can see: enlisting in the Army. I think you should talk to a recruiting officer. As soon as possible.”

I tried once more to protest, but Mrs. Bigsley - and apparently Mrs. Crow and Dr. Mackel and Mr. Dean - had come to a fixed decision. I was a complete and utter failure as a student.

It was the low point of my academic life. It was humiliating. I felt nearly defeated.

But Mrs. Bigsley’s low assessment of me made me mad. I stewed about it that night and woke up the next morning with a completely new frame of mind.

I decided I would no longer be a screw-up. From that moment on, I was going to be a good student.

I started immediately by enrolling at the local community college. (If you have a beating heart, they accepted you.) Then I planned my summer. When I wasn’t working, I would spend every waking hour reading and preparing for the classes I’d be taking.

Each day, I felt better about myself. I was learning what I should have learned in high school. Day by day, I was making progress.

Still, I was afraid that when I started classes I might revert to my bad habits. To make that scenario less likely, I found a “nerd” to share an apartment with and refused to sign up for any sports or pledge any fraternities. I also told my friends that I would be “out of touch” for at least a year. I explained my goals to them and asked them to respect me by leaving me alone until the following summer.

What I was doing, I realize now, was making a radical personality change. I was changing the way I thought about myself - not by thinking positive thoughts but by taking specific actions that made me feel like a good student.

When college began in September, I sat in the front row of every class, something I’d never done in high school.

I made it a point to always do at least 50 percent more than I was asked to do. If the assignment was to write a 500-word essay on religion, I’d write 750 words and include a glossary of impressive sources. If the assignment was to read King Lear by the following week, I’d read it twice. And then I’d go to the library and read critical essays about the play so I’d be aware of all the major interpretations.

I raised my hand every time a question was asked. And I turned in extra work, even when it would get me no extra credit.

In short, I turned myself into a full-blown hardworking, overachieving, ass-kissing “A” level student… and I made sure my instructors, and my fellow students, saw me that way.

In the beginning, other students in my classes did as much work as I did. But as the weeks went by, many of them started slipping. Each time one of them fell behind, I was motivated to work even harder. And I was thrilled when I got those early test scores back. I had never before understood how good it could feel to get an A or B+.

Those good feelings motivated me to push even harder. With each passing week, the distance between me and the other “good” students widened. And by the time freshman year was over, I saw myself as a completely different person. I was no longer the funny screw-up I’d been in high school. I’d changed into the “Teacher’s Pet” who sat in the front and had the right answer to every question.

Once my image of myself changed, my motivation became permanent. I was among the best two or three students in every class. I was going to keep that position, no matter how much work it took.

I maintained an “A” average for two years and easily got into City University - a tougher school - where I continued to perform as I had become used to performing. Two years later, I graduated magna cum laude. Two years after that, I graduated at the top of my class at the University of Michigan. And later, at Catholic University, I received honors on my doctorate work.

To become the hardworking person you must become, here is what you should do:

1. Get up early, and give your day a jumpstart by doing something meaningful… first thing.

2. Work as late as you have to.

3. Do at least 50 percent more than what is asked of you.

4. Volunteer for challenging assignments.

5. Educate yourself on the side.

6. Become better than anyone else at the essential skills you need to accomplish your goal.

Becoming top dog takes a lot of extra time, so you’ll have to make significant sacrifices. If you are like most people, your biggest distractions will be television, the Internet, friends, and family. Get rid of your TV. Limit your “recreational” use of the Internet to one hour a day. And let your friends and family members know that you won’t be able to spend much time with them in the foreseeable future.

Work like mad until you’ve become number one in your class, job, or outside interest. When that happens - and it shouldn’t take more than six months - you’ll feel great about yourself. And once you experience that feeling, you’ll never have to worry about motivation again.

Well… almost never. Everyone needs a motivational recharge once in a while. But after the first time, you’ll understand exactly what you have to do to get yourself going again.

[Ed. Note: With Michael Masterson's six steps to turning yourself into a success machine, you now know what it will take to make a positive change in your life. For three more simple but powerful success secrets that can help you accomplish your goals, pick up your free report here.

As a special thank you to our best customers, Michael has started a new VIP service in which he gives insider business-building advice usually reserved for his private clients - a twice-weekly newsletter called Ready Fire Aim: The Michael Masterson Dispatch. If you have bought an ETR product or attended a conference and are not receiving Ready Fire Aim, please let us know by sending an e-mail to Michael@ETRfeedback.com.]

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Your Ph.D. in Persuasion – for Quickly Launching Your Career and Doubling or Tripling Business Sales

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It can do the same for you.

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This program is like getting a Ph.D. in persuasion. You have nothing to lose by taking a quick look at the details right now.

An Important Marketing Lesson From a Hot Dog Stand

By Yanik Silver

While in Chicago few weeks ago, I stumbled across a marketing lesson in the strangest of places: the Wiener’s Circle in Lincoln Park.

Wiener’s Circle is a hot dog stand that’s normal during the day but gets wild at night. It’s utter chaos. The gals behind the counter harass and crack jokes at their customers’ expense. Give it to them, and they’ll give it right back five times as hard. I couldn’t stop laughing. If you don’t know what to expect, you’ll be shocked by what you hear. (Look them up on Yelp.com or YouTube.com for the scoop.)

The BIG marketing lesson, here, is about creating a truly unique experience for your customers. Do so, and you’ll inspire word-of-mouth about your business that will attract people from far and wide.

There are hundreds of hot dog stands in Chicago, but several people told me that I had to check out this one. Yes, the hot dogs at Wiener’s Circle are good - but not better than some others I’ve had. But the craziness… now that’s worth the trip.

What are you doing to get people talking about your business?

[Ed. Note: As master Internet marketer Yanik Silver (www.MaverickBusinessInsider.com) says, giving your customers a unique experience can really get the buzz going about what you have to offer. Word-of-mouth isn't the only way to get people excited about your business. Discover 12 profit-boosting strategies right here.]

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ETR Insider Report: The Simplest Way to Make Your Writing More Readable

By Suzanne Richardson

You can make your writing twice as readable - and, therefore, twice as powerful - by taking advantage of one amazingly simple little secret. It will take you about 30 seconds to learn. And it will help you for the rest of your writing life.

Simply use more white space.

Charlie Byrne, ETR’s Associate Publisher, demonstrated how this “trick” works just the other day.

A new writing assistant had drawn up a chapter-by-chapter summary of Michael Masterson’s book Ready, Fire, Aim. She’d done a good job with the content, but it was next to impossible to read. That’s because she stuck everything into big, blocky paragraphs. %%track {http://web-purchases.com/700SRFA/E700J910/?o=[messageid]&u=[memberid]&l=[urlid]} -name {edmen-RFA-E700J910}%%

“I can’t believe how often I see this from would-be writers and copywriters,” Charlie told us. “My brain immediately says, ‘Nah, sorry. Looks like too much work to read this. Next?’”

So he copied the writing assistant’s summary into a new document… and added a few paragraph breaks.

Ta da! It was suddenly easy on the eyes and much more inviting to read.

[Ed. Note: Writing well is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. And if you master one type of writing - copywriting - you can persuade and influence others... sell more for clients who hire you (and command top dollar)... start your own business... and much more. Get all the secrets behind mastering this skill right here.]

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Can You Walk for 3 Minutes?

By Craig Ballantyne

Nothing happens fast enough these days. Lights stay red too long. Pizza takes too long to get delivered. And television commercial breaks are getting longer and longer. So when researchers discovered that 10 minutes of walking done three times per day could improve your health, it’s not surprising that people demanded results in even less time.

Well, now researchers from the UK have found that shorter bouts of brisk walking reduce postprandial plasma triacylglycerol (the level of fat in your blood after you eat) and resting blood pressure in healthy young men. And this will probably work even better for out of shape folks who have a few extra years - and inches - under their belts.

The subjects did 10 3-minute bouts of fast walking in one session and one 30-minute bout of fast walking in another session, both after eating a high-fat meal. And the results were the same. The 10 short walks and the one long walk reduced post-meal triacylglerol levels by 16 percent compared to the control session (where they did no exercise after the meal). Both forms of exercise also reduced systolic blood pressure by 6-7 percent compared to the control.

So get your butt off the couch as much as possible and move it. Even short little speed-walks, when they add up, can help your heart.

[Ed. Note: Keeping yourself healthy doesn't have to be difficult or even time-consuming. Simply making healthier lifestyle choices - like taking a brisk walk after your high-protein, low-carb meal - can help you stay fit and lean. For more easy-to-implement ideas about how to live longer and feel better, click here.

Looking for exercise that is enjoyable and can help you lose weight? Try fitness expert Craig Ballantyne's Turbulence Training exercise program.]

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It’s Good to Know: The Truth Behind “Iffy” Food Items

Moldy bread? Well, you just have to throw it out. But what about foods that are within their expiration date but look a little “off.” Are they safe to eat? Here are few examples that you’ve probably run across. They’re still edible - though you might choose to pass anyway after reading the explanations:

• Green spots on potato chips are not mold - just chlorophyll, which some potatoes produce in an attempt to sprout.

• The “rainbow oil slick” on a piece of deli ham is simply a thin layer of fat.

• That tooth-chipping chunk in sausage is probably not a bone chip. It’s more likely to be a piece of tendon or ligament that hardened during the cooking process.

(Source: Men’s Fitness)

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== Highly Recommended ==

An Almost Magical Switch That Could Put All Your Dreams Within Reach

We’re all born with two things: The same 24 hours in the day. And the same opportunity to make our dreams come true.

I firmly believe that each and every person on this planet has a “success switch” somewhere deep inside them.

And all you have to do to accomplish your longest-held dreams is to flip that success switch to the “on” position.

Let me show you how…

Word to the Wise: Microcosm

A “microcosm” - from the Greek for “small world” - is a smaller, representative system that’s analogous to a larger system.

Example (as used by James S. Fishkin in The Voice of the People):

“There is a classic Jimmy Stewart movie, Magic Town, about ‘Grandview,’ a small town in the Midwest that is a perfect statistical microcosm of the United States, a place where the citizens’ opinions match perfectly with Gallup polls of the entire nation.”

Why Scarcity Triggers Sales

Early To Rise — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:10:03 +0000

Issue #2526

WEALTHY: Add an extra comma to your bank account with this sales trigger (Yanik Silver)
HEALTHY: Why you should bulk up on B6 (Kelley Herring)
WISE: Bob Bly on value

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

A new kind of passport (Lori Allen)
Are you sure they said it? (Don Hauptman)
It’s Fun to Know… what’s better than cashmere?
Add "verisimilitude" to your vocabulary

== Highly Recommended ==

A Former Blueblood Elitist Switches Sides - and Reveals All

I’m about to reveal a startling secret to you.

My doing this is going to really anger a lot of people.

These people are angry because they don’t think that you are the right “kind” to have this information.

You see, the people I’m talking about are what I call “blueblood elitists.” They are the Wall Street insiders who make truckloads of cash no matter what the market is doing.

I used to be one of them.

But, with all of the crazy things that are happening in the markets now…hard working people…with retirement funds…families…and kids to send to college…watching their dreams vaporize…I decided I couldn’t keep quiet any longer!

I’ve switched sides and I’m revealing it all. I’m going to let you in on the secrets that will allow you to make a fortune…no matter which way the market is going.

I can only allow a limited number of people into my inner circle. If you are ready to stop being on the outside looking in, get the full story now.

"The shorter the supply of something, the more it is valued. That’s why gold has a much higher price than copper, even though copper has many more practical uses."

Bob Bly

The "Hidden" Hot Button to Getting More Prospects to Say YES!

By Yanik Silver

If you have not read Robert Cialdini’s monumental work, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion - grab it now! One of the major psychological triggers he explains is the principle of "scarcity," and how it affects a person’s decision to make a purchase. The principle is based on the fact that human beings have been hard-wired to want what is going away. And far more people are motivated by the thought of potential loss than potential gain.

If you get this principle right, you’ll be astonished by the sales results. A lot of marketers think they understand it, but that’s not the case. There’s more to it than simply saying "x number of units will be sold" OR "limited-time opportunity" or "buy before midnight tonight."

Many buying decisions are made in response to an emotional trigger. So whenever you buy something, it’s always a good idea to step back and see if you can figure out what the emotional trigger was that motivated you to do it. Because if something works on you, there’s a good chance it will work on your customers, too.

Scarcity is one of the emotional triggers that works on me.

For instance, my first sports car was a Honda S2000. When it came out in 2000, the car was impossible to get. My local dealer had an allotment of two or three of them for the year. Only 5,000 were made, and about 2,000 of those came to the U.S. I searched all over the country, looking for the rare color combination I wanted (silver with a red interior). I found my S2000 about 800 miles away in upstate New York, and drove it all the way down to our place in Maryland in the pouring rain.

Here’s an example of an ad that applies the principle of scarcity in a way that’s believable. It’s from Porthos.com, a company I buy a fair amount of wine from.

By mentioning that less than 300 cases were produced, the ad telegraphs exclusivity, rarity, and scarcity without being over the top. Also, if you trust the company’s recommendations (and I do), you believe that this wine will most likely hit $100+ cult status. And notice this at the bottom of the ad: "NO SALES TO RETAILERS." Yet another scarcity trigger.

Porthos does an excellent job of using scarcity to sell to their market. Most wine collectors are considered to be affluent and sophisticated consumers. As you can see, you can use this psychological trigger in a way that does not insult your customers’ intelligence.

Let me give you a few more examples…

The Enzo is Ferrari’s $600,000+ supercar, named in honor of Enzo Ferrari, the company’s founder. They produced exactly 399 cars. That’s it. Ferrari collectors know that when Ferrari tells them a car is a limited edition, it really is.

Only a privileged few can own a Ferarri, and not only because of the high price. Ferrari makes potential buyers apply to buy one of their limited-edition cars, placing restrictions on what may and may not be done with it. They enforce those restrictions by threatening to withdraw perks like factory tours and the chance to buy future Ferraris. I was talking to the owner of an Enzo at a car show in New York, and he told me you had to have been a registered owner of three other Ferraris to qualify for the privilege of applying for an Enzo.

You see a lot of special editions created for collectible and high-end merchandise like pens, cigars, and spirits. For example, I found the following pen on a website that keeps track of all their sold-out editions as proof that what they’re selling really is scarce:

I think verisimilitude - the appearance of truth - is the key to making scarcity work for your business. E-books don’t have it. You can say you’ll sell only 500 copies of your e-book, but there’s no "appearance of truth" in that. An e-book is just bits and bytes, so why would it be truly limited? I’ve seen some marketers use scarcity ploys that had me wondering if they really expected their customers to believe what they were saying. If your customers question your credibility… you’re done for.

To avoid falling into that trap, my advice is to combine scarcity with another one of the psychological triggers Robert Cialdini talks about in Influence: giving people a "reason why" your offer is limited.

[Ed. Note: As master Internet marketer Yanik Silver (www.MaverickBusinessInsider.com) says, scarcity is a powerful motivator when you're trying to get prospective customers to buy. I saw him at ETR's Bootcamp, and I'll tell you, his info blew me and the crowd away.

For more sales tactics from Yanik - and from nearly a dozen other world-class Internet marketers - pick up a copy of ETR's 2008 Information Marketing Bootcamp DVD Library. With their advice, you could learn how to make $1 million or more with your own Internet business in 2009. Get all the details here.]

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== Highly Recommended ==

WANTED: Fast, Easy, and Automatic Internet Profits

Reader Feedback: "I was overwhelmed by the incredible talents and real genius qualities of the speakers and the faculty at ETR’s Bootcamp."

"Please extend my sincere thanks to your entire group for a very dynamic and lively conference at the Marriott. I was overwhelmed by the incredible talents and real genius qualities of the speakers and the faculty at ETR’s Bootcamp.

"I thought all the geniuses were in Science and Medicine. After the conference, my narrow focus has expanded to the mind-boggling aspects of Internet Marketing.

"Alex Mandossian blew my mind with his ability to ‘connect’ with everyone, express a genuine, sincere interest, maintain a high level of energy, and share an incredibly genius entrance into the world of Internet Marketing. His extraordinary talent is enhanced by his ‘down to earth’ sentiments and personality.

"Brian Edmondson, another genius talent, impressed me with a purity of intent that is hard to find among the ‘Gurus.’ (My daughters are both married. I wish I had another one for him!)

"I don’t mean to single out these two speakers. They were all excellent and did everything possible to deliver accurate and usable information. I thoroughly enjoyed them all."

Constance Alfano-Weigand, MD, CCN, ND

Medical Consultant for Nutritional Medicine

www.mypocketMD.com/nextstep

[Ed. Note: What was your favorite part of ETR's 2008 Info Marketing Bootcamp? Let us know at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com.

Didn't make it to Bootcamp this year? Discover dozens of techniques for winning over your customers - and making tons of sales - with ETR's 2008 Info Marketing Bootcamp "Take Home Edition" DVD Library.]

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Another B Vitamin That Fights Colon Cancer

By Kelley Herring

You recently learned about the power of folate to help reduce your risk of colon cancer. Now here’s another B vitamin to add to your cancer-fighting arsenal: vitamin B6.

A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention found that vitamin B6 - from both dietary and supplemental sources - is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of colorectal cancer. In fact, the researchers found a reverse relationship between vitamin B6 intake and the risk of colorectal cancer - as vitamin B6 intake increases, cancer risk decreases. What’s more, participants in the study who got the most vitamin B6 were about 20 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer.

Boost your intake of vitamin B6 deliciously by enjoying wild salmon, Pacific halibut, free-range poultry (including chicken, turkey, and Cornish game hens), garbanzo beans, naturally raised pork, grass-fed beef, and pistachios.

[Ed. Note: Making your life - and the foods you eat - healthier doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. You can find recipes for plenty of wholesome, healthful meals - plus get the latest breakthroughs in health and fitness - in ETR's natural health newsletter. Sign up for free right here.

Survive the holidays with nutrition expert Kelley Herring's brand-new recipe e-books, Guilt-Free Desserts and Healthy Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres. You'll find 60+ healthy recipes you can easily make at home.]

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Travel Slimmer… With the Passport Card

By Lori Allen

If you travel a lot by car or by sea between the U.S. and the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, or Canada, now you might be able to leave your passport at home. Because you can apply to the U.S. Department of State for a wallet-sized Passport Card.

The Department of State started issuing the smaller cards in July. You can’t use them for air travel or for travel to any countries outside the above list… but in every other way, the cards act just like a full passport.

You can apply for a card as a renewal to your passport, or apply for both at the same time. Get more details on the Department of State website.

[Ed. Note: Stay up-to-date with the latest travel tools, tricks, and tips by signing up for The Right Way to Travel FREE e-letter from AWAI's Travel Division. Sign up here.]

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The Language Perfectionist: You May Misquote Me

By Don Hauptman

Recently, both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times published letters from readers citing the same familiar expression. Unfortunately, both readers - and the editors of these two distinguished newspapers - got it wrong.

The Times letter offered this version: "It’s not what you don’t know that hurts you. It’s what you know that just ain’t so." The writer credited Satchel Paige. In fact, this witticism was crafted by Josh Billings in 1874 - three decades before Paige was born. ("The trouble with people is not that they don’t know, but that they know so much that ain’t so.")

This is surely one of the most frequently misquoted and misattributed aphorisms. I have a file of clips with numerous variations. Among those erroneously credited are Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Artemus Ward.

The irony is perfect. Because so many people are mistakenly certain that they have it right, the quotation proves its own point!

The words "As so-and-so said…" are often a prelude to an error. Examples:

"There’s a sucker born every minute." P.T. Barnum? He never said it. Some historians credit Joseph Bessimer, a late 19th century con man, while others attribute it to David Hannum, a showman who was a rival of Barnum.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Though commonly attributed to Voltaire, and consistent with his beliefs, this stirring declaration has never been found in his writings. The myth arose from an ambiguous and misinterpreted passage in a biography.

"If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." This was a popular expression five centuries before Isaac Newton said it.

A particularly fertile area for these errors is technology predictions. "Everything that can be invented has been invented" wasn’t uttered by a 19th-century patent commissioner. IBM founder Thomas Watson didn’t forecast "a worldwide market for maybe five computers." And Bill Gates never scoffed that "640K ought to be enough for anybody."

Don’t fall for these quotation myths, or others like them, and don’t repeat them in your writing, presentations, or conversation. Two reliable books that set the record straight are The Quote Verifier

by Ralph Keyes and They Never Said It by Paul F. Boller, Jr. and John George. Be especially careful online. Numerous reference sites routinely misquote and misattribute. One you can trust is quotation guru Mardy Grothe’s: www.drmardy.com.

[Ed Note: For more than three decades, Don Hauptman was an award-winning independent direct-response copywriter and creative consultant. He is author of The Versatile Freelancer, an e-book recently published by AWAI that shows writers and other creative professionals how to diversify their careers into speaking, consulting, training, and critiquing.]

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**It’s Fun to Know: Scratchy Cashmere Sweaters?**

Move over cashmere. When it comes to cuddly sweaters, those made from the wool of the vicuna, a llama-like animal native to Peru, have you beat. The extreme fineness of the individual wool fibers (nearly half the size of cashmere fibers) is what gives vicuna such a soft texture. In fact, those who have worn vicuna sweaters say cashmere is rough in comparison.

The fur of the vicuna has been made into garments since Incan times. High fashion designers started using it in the early 1990s. The luxury comes at a price, however. A vicuna sweater (dry clean only, please) will run you nearly $5,000.

(Source: National Geographic)

== Highly Recommended ==

Billionaires Are NOT Born - They’re Made

You might be thinking, “It takes money to make money.”

And that the only way to become filthy rich is to be born into it.

But you’d be dead wrong.

Four men climbed their way up the billionaire ladder. One was a factory worker… another began as a file clerk… and two others toiled as a grocer and a shop assistant.

They never based making their fortune on "luck" or connections.

Nor did they have "daddy’s money" to bank roll them.

And yet, they all went from zeros to heroes.

Now, you can crack the very same “wealth code” that put them on the path to massive wealth.

Word to the Wise: Verisimilitude

"Verisimilitude" (ver-uh-suh-MIL-uh-tood) - from the Latin for "truth" - is the quality of seeming to be real or true.

Example (as used by Yanik Silver today): "I think verisimilitude - the appearance of truth - is the key to making scarcity work for your business."

What Makes an Entrepreneur?

Early To Rise — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:10:18 +0000

Issue #2525

WEALTHY: Time for a reality check (John Carlton)
HEALTHY: 3 ways to make your tea drinking safer (Kelley Herring)
WISE: Denis Watley on being a winner

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

E-mail and instant gratification (Suzanne Richardson)
A formula for more powerful writing (Bob Bly)
It’s Good to Know … a common misconception about winter
Add “inexorable” to your vocabulary

== Advertisement ==

How to Turn a $200 Investment into $1.2 Million

Imagine turning a $200 penny stock investment into a waterfall of cash.

There’s a reason penny stocks have been Wall Street’s favorite hidden investment for years now: they give the best shot at winning it big.

A select group of profit-seekers already racks up the big penny stock wins with scientifically selected plays.

Click Here to Find Out How You Can Invest $200

”The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.”

Denis Watley

What Makes an Entrepreneur?

By John Carlton

A few weeks back, I visited my hometown (yeah, I grew up in Cucamonga, what’s it to ya?) to see my family. Pop still lives in the same house he bought just after WWII, and it’s hard for me not to feel like I’m 15 again when I’m there.

Not that I feel all young and vibrant. Naw. More like I get back in touch with how freakin’ clueless I was for the first half of my life.

It was a great childhood, a gruesome adolescence, and even now ghosts from my past haunt every corner of the neighborhood.

Always interesting/spooky/insightful to go back to old stomping grounds. I love my family. And I’m still chewing over how that town shaped who I am today. In fact, it got me pondering long and hard about what “makes” an entrepreneur.

A lot of people - including me - talk about the value of goals in launching any entrepreneurial venture. Figuring out what you truly want … setting a plan in motion to attain it … and following through.

There is, however, a difference between “understanding” goal-setting behavior … and actually DOING it.

So here is what I propose you do this weekend: Give yourself a brutal reality check.

Are you spending enough time figuring out what you really want to do when you grow up?

This is not a trick question. Most rookie goal-setters need to refine their skills at this over a frustrating period of time.

The first goals you set are likely to be things you actually don’t want, after all. There is an art to looking deep into your own heart and soul and coming to grips with what REALLY rocks your boat … and what will continue to make nice waves in your future.

It’s never enough to want to be “rich.” You must spend time thinking about what “rich” means to you. Not to your buddies or your colleagues or anyone else. You.

And if you decide you want to be filthy rich … well, you’ve got to do more than just set that as a goal. Ya gotta work out your plan to get there. With lots of little goals along the path.

If you’ve yet to make dime one online, for example, then a goal of becoming a billionaire online isn’t a goal … it’s a dream. You’ve got to earn your first buck. Then your second. And go on from there.

Your first goal may be to weed through all the info available out there … find the resources you feel you can trust … and dig in.

Those subsequent “dig in” steps - the actual goal-by-goal stepladder that will take you toward your desired destination - cannot be glossed over.

And there are consequences to consider. You may not yet know what awaits you as a cash-generating genius. But you sure can examine how your life starts to change as you go.

Every detail of your life can morph in strange ways when the money starts coming in. Your friends and family may wrestle (often unsuccessfully) with your rise in status, liquidity, and self-confidence.

It won’t always be pretty. But the more you “arm” yourself with insights like these, the less surprised you’ll be when you hit each milestone in your quest for a better life.

You’ll be … uh, what’s the word? … prepared.

Goals are great. But I’ve known too many people who ONLY set goals. They never go after them.

Movement is key. And you’ll feel better about moving toward your goals if you spend some serious time thinking about them.

Play with them. Mold them. Constantly put them through your “What if?” grinder. (What if you can’t do it with your first idea? Will you try again? Try something else? What?)

The “secret ingredient” of great goal setting is to cogitate obsessively on the consequences of actually meeting each goal once you set it. This not only helps you blow through failure … it also creates a “vision” of yourself that keeps your motivation hot.

This requires “forward thinking” … which doesn’t come with the default equipment you’re born with. Ya gotta exercise it.

Without goals, you’re just being taken for a ride by Fate.

Goals do not guarantee anything … except, once you take steps to attain them, you will move SOMEWHERE new in life. And you’ll be doing as much of the driving as possible.

Fate will still screw with you. But you’ll no longer be helpless.

At first, even five minutes of focused “forward thinking” will make you sweat and want to go do something else.

Get over it. Stick with it. Soon, you’ll be an ace at peering into the fog down the line, and you’ll be able to exert more control over events than you ever dreamed possible in your pre-goal-setting days.

This weekend, get your five minutes in. Move through the sweat and avoidance.

Jumpstart something new.

[Ed. Note: Now's the perfect time to start setting your goals for making money in 2009. Follow Internet marketing expert John Carlton's advice and take a little time this weekend to practice focused thinking. Once you know where you're headed, pick up a copy of ETR's 2008 Info Marketing Bootcamp DVD Library. It will give you dozens of money-making marketing ideas you can use to help accomplish those goals.

John Carlton is an expert copywriter, a pioneer in online marketing, and a teacher of killer sales copy. He knows marketing inside and out. Discover how to get your hands on the kick-ass secrets of the world's smartest, happiest, and wealthiest marketers.

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== Highly Recommended ==

Why Get Your Hands Dirty When You Don't Have to?

Where there's a stampede, there's an opportunity...

Thousands of wannabe entrepreneurs have jumped on a bandwagon to find, fix-up and flip foreclosures.

They thought they were being smart. They thought they were doing the opposite to the crowd and had the license to print money.

Little do they know... they ARE the crowd!

Now, please don't misunderstand me. It's a fact that many properties (sadly) are becoming available at rock bottom prices due to foreclosure. It's also a fact that a few people are making money by flipping foreclosures...

And they're earning every penny (when it all works out)!

Flipping foreclosures may sound great in principle, but stop and think about what you have to go through to achieve that…

Not my idea of easy money.

So what if I could wave a magic wand and show you a way to cash in on the foreclosure situation WITHOUT the need for ANY of the hard work?

The Dangers of E-Mail, Part 1: The Angry E-Mail Effect

By Suzanne Richardson

You open your inbox, and there it is ... an e-mail, waiting patiently for you to read it and respond. A few seconds, a few quick keystrokes on your laptop, a click of the send button, and your response is shuttled instantaneously to its recipient.

It's quick and easy.

But therein lies a hidden danger ...

The ability to respond quickly and easily via e-mail can land you in scalding water.

For one thing, it takes the thinking out of your response. You can "blurt out" anything in just a few seconds. Click send before you've had a chance to reconsider ... and your words are going to be delivered, whether you like it or not.

This can be a big problem when you respond in anger. Take "Glen," for example. A top-level executive at ETR sent him an e-mail that didn't make Glen happy, and Glen shot off an angry reply ... full of curse words, overblown accusations, and defiant remarks.

Can you recover from mouthing off like that to your superiors? Possibly. But I wouldn't want to try it.

Instead, think long and hard about your response before you send it. If you're angry or upset, give it at least 24 hours. If you must put your feelings in writing immediately, do so in a blank e-mail or, better yet, in a Word document. (That way, there will be no chance that you'll accidentally send it.) Once you've cooled down, write a new response. You'll probably find that you're able to explain how you feel in a calmer, more rational way.

[Ed. Note: Have you ever sent an angry e-mail ... and regretted it? Let us know right here.] (To protect everyone’s identity, please use initials or pseudonyms!)]

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4 Steps to Creating Better Info Products

By Bob Bly

The most common mistake you’re likely to make when trying to create your own information product is not having a good understanding of the subject you are writing about. You might have strong writing skills. But if you lack mastery of your topic, your writing will be vague, unfocused, and have little value, credibility, or authority. To prevent this error, use the following four-step formula:

1. Accumulate knowledge.

Before you can write, you need to have something to write about. This means acquiring in-depth knowledge - through a combination of research and experience - of a subject people will pay to learn.

2. Organize your content.

What’s the best way to present your subject? Is it a process with definite sequential steps that must be performed in a specific order? Find a logical organizational scheme that fits the subject matter. For example, an e-book on vitamins and minerals could present each one in alphabetical order, starting with vitamin A and ending with zinc.

3. Teach your subject.

Use illustrations, stories, examples, case studies, photos, diagrams, tables, analogies, metaphors, comparisons - whatever it takes to make your subject clear to the reader. Provide plenty of worksheets, resources, and model documents that the reader can copy so he does not have to reinvent the wheel.

4. Polish your prose.

Here’s where your writing skills come into play. Write in a natural, conversational style - like one friend talking to another or a patient teacher looking over the reader’s shoulder. Use small words, short sentences, and short paragraphs. Avoid jargon. Write in plain simple English.

[Ed. Note: Becoming a powerful writer is your ticket to creating marketable info products, as well as sales copy that sells. For expert insights into the world of direct marketing, be sure to sign up for Bob's free monthly newsletter, Direct Response Letter. Do so today and get over $100 in free bonuses.

For more multimillion-dollar advice about how to be a top-notch marketer, pick up a copy of Breakthrough Advertising.]

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Brewing Up a Pot of Fluoride

By Kelley Herring

You probably know that green tea has an array of active compounds that promote health - from calming theanine to antioxidant EGCG and heart-healthy tannins and cancer-fighting flavonoids.

But there’s another active compound in tea that produces some very unpleasant effects. Fluoride.

Fluoride is a toxic substance that can negatively impact multiple organ systems. It has been linked to hypothyroidism, skeletal fluorosis, brittle bones and teeth, gastrointestinal inflammation, and more. And because tea leaves accumulate more fluoride than any other edible plant, enjoying this otherwise healthy beverage could put your health in jeopardy.

To reduce your exposure to fluoride, here are a few things you can do:

1. Steep Less. The longer you steep, the more fluoride you’ll reap. In fact, in one study, after tea was steeped for 10 minutes, the measurable amounts of fluoride (and aluminum) almost doubled.

2. Go for White. While all true teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, the amount of fluoride varies with the different “colors.” Green tea contains the most, black tea is next, and white tea contains the least. Instant tea mixes have been found to contain very high levels of fluoride.

3. Opt for Extracts. Many tea extracts, like Body Ecology Diet’s Green and Black Tea Extracts and Chi Green Tea Extracts, are free of fluoride.

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It’s Good to Know: A Common Misconception About Winter

It’s a common misconception that the Earth is farther away from the sun during the winter months. We even published this incorrect statement in Early to Rise.

But, as Brad M. and several other ETR readers pointed out, the Earth’s orbit has nothing to do with whether we have cold or hot weather. In fact, our planet is closest to the sun in early January.

The change in seasons is caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis. Right now, the northern hemisphere of Earth is tilting away from the sun and the southern hemisphere is tilting toward the sun - which means that, right now, we are farther from the sun and the southern hemisphere is closer. So it’s winter here and summer in Australia. But, come June, the Earth’s tilt, and the seasons, will be reversed.

(Source: Space.com)

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== Highly Recommended ==

How a Simple Internet Mistake Can Make You $3,012 in Just Two Days

Actually, you could make more, even faster. By complete accident, one of my colleagues discovered a “back door” to online money-making that is faster and easier than you may imagine…

You don’t have to be pinching pennies anymore because this new online program for raking in some good money works in almost no time flat. That $3,012? My colleague made that in only an hour. No hype, no kidding. Read on to discover how you could do the same starting right now.

Word to the Wise: Inexorable

“Inexorable” (in-EK-sur-uh-bul) - from the Latin for “not to be persuaded by entreaty or prayer” - means unyielding, inflexible, relentless.

Example (as used by James Carrol in The New York Times): “But the idea of providence, whether the biblical version or the Enlightenment’s or Marx’s, is at bottom a tragic notion, for it implies that individual human choices count for nothing against the weight of an inexorable, overwhelming force, whether benign or cruel, whether known as God, History, Destiny, Progress, or DNA.”

What are you grateful for?

Early To Rise — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:10:00 +0000

Issue #2524

WEALTHY: Happy Thanksgiving! (Michael Masterson)
HEALTHY: A spice-cabinet staple that can fight aging (Kelley Herring)
WISE: Brother David Steindl-Rast on being grateful

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

If you get to this point, you’re done (Suzanne Richardson)
The best of both worlds (Wendy Montes de Oca)
It’s Fun to Know… about the origin of Thanksgiving
Add "postprandial" to your vocabulary

== Highly Recommended ==

The Missing Piece of the Internet-Riches Jigsaw Finally Revealed…

All this time, so many of the “gurus” kept this a secret, while they use it to make themselves big online profits.

I’ve had enough, and I’m telling all. If you want to make money online, all it takes is 3 easy steps and a push of a button. No kidding. And there’s nothing stopping you from doing this time and again, until you are tired of the profits that come in. You’ll be shocked to see how much money is out there for you, and how you were kept in the dark all this time.

To discover the truth and get started on the road to making real money, click here…

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more."

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Wanting Things

By Michael Masterson

I don’t remember being thankful very often when I was a kid. I remember wanting things - lots of things - all the time.

I wanted toy trucks and cap guns and Lionel trains and baseball mitts. I wanted army men and model planes and erector sets. I wanted everything I saw advertised for boys on television. And everything other kids at school had, including boxed lunches and meat sandwiches instead of peanut butter and jelly in a paper bag.

I wanted to live in a nice house instead of the broken-down place my seven siblings and I grew up in. I wanted the new bikes and new clothes and professional haircuts my schoolmates had.

I wanted, as I said, all kinds of things. But gratitude? I didn’t have much time for that.

Check that.

I was thankful to Bruce Conger’s family for donating a box of his clothes to our family one Christmas. Bruce was the coolest dresser in 7th grade. I became, at least in my own mind, the coolest kid in 7th grade the following year when I wore his clothes to school. Tight, tight olive-green pants with creases so sharp they could cut you. Shiny black shoes with tips so pointed you could open a beer can with them. And sky blue cashmere socks. Oh, was I cool!

I was also thankful two years later when my godmother, Jean Kerr, gave me one half of a share of one of her plays. It wasn’t one of her big hits, but it was enough to buy me a brand-new pool cue that I used at the Rockville Centre Cue Club.

I was grateful, too, in my senior year, when, after having gotten caught in a riptide at Jones Beach and given up my life in an exhausting attempt to swim directly ashore, I was carried by the current around the jetty and back to safety. I had already lost my faith in religion at the time, but I was grateful. Very grateful.

Otherwise, as I said, I spent most of my emotional energy wanting things.

After high school, I was grateful that I wasn’t drafted into the Vietnam War. Someone from my local draft board called me up and told me I was to report for duty, but they never followed up on that call and I never heard from them again. I can only imagine that my file was lost. I still sometimes expect it to be found… and then find myself the oldest recruit in the army.

In college, I developed an appreciation for learning and learned to be grateful for the great teachers I had. Harriett Zinnes, who taught me something about poetry, and Lillian Feder, who taught me to love good writing, were two of the best.

Then, after college and graduate school, I spent two years in the Peace Corps. I remember sitting on my porch in Africa, watching the rain pour down on my plaster-coated mud house and thinking, "You may get rich one day but you’ll never live in a house that will give you more pleasure than this."

I was grateful for that house - for having the privilege to live in it when so many of my students lived in shacks. And I was also grateful for my gratitude. I had begun to understand how good it feels.

When I returned to the States, a married man, I remember feeling grateful each time one of my sons was born. Grateful that they were all healthy. And I remember feeling grateful when, on Sundays, we would take the children on walks up and down 16th Street in Washington, DC to look at the stately mansions there. I was not envious of those elegant homes. Being able to see and appreciate them was enough.

In 1982, we moved to South Florida and I took a job with a small newsletter publishing company there. I felt lucky to have the job - running the editorial department - because it meant that I was on my way to achieving my longtime goal of becoming a writer.

But two years later, I had a change of heart. I switched my goal from writing to making money. And when I did that, I stopped being grateful.

It was an interesting experience. I was fired up about making money. And I spent all my emotional energy pursuing it. But, looking back now, it’s clear to me that I was once again preoccupied with wanting things. I wanted a higher income. I wanted money in the bank. I wanted a new car. And I wanted a mortgage-free home.

I’ve written a good deal about the tricks and techniques I used to acquire a lot of money during those years. But I never wrote about how ungrateful I was for the things that money bought me. I felt like I deserved them. And the moment I got something I wanted, I was thinking about the next thing I wanted.

When I turned 50, I realized that making wealth my number one goal had been a mistake. In doing so, I had learned a lot. But I had also lost a lot, not the least of which was my capacity for gratitude.

I am grateful now that I didn’t lose my soul completely during those wanting years. And, yes, I realize that it’s much easier to feel the way I now feel when you don’t have to worry about expenses. Still, I feel grateful that I was able to make that change.

Lest you think I am grateful only for soulful things, I readily admit to being grateful for material things too. I’m grateful for my 17-year-old NSX and my eight-year-old Ranger truck. I’m grateful for some of my clothes (those that make me feel good) and for my pool table (which I keep in my office) and to be living in a house that gives me as much pleasure as the mud house I lived in 30 years ago. (I was wrong when I thought that couldn’t be possible.)

But when K and I talk about how grateful we are, the same three things always top the list:

1. We are grateful that we and our children are alive.

2. We are grateful that we and our children are healthy.

3. We are grateful to have so many good friends.

And I am personally grateful for being able to spend most of my working hours writing - which was my first and most important lifetime goal - and especially grateful that ETR affords me 400,000 readers to write to!

What’s on your list?

[Ed. Note: Another thing that Michael Masterson is grateful for is that he is making a living by selling products and services he's proud of - products and services that help ETR's customers achieve their own goals. So, as a special thank you to our best customers, he has started a new VIP service in which he gives insider business-building advice usually reserved for his private clients - a twice-weekly newsletter called Ready Fire Aim: The Michael Masterson Dispatch. If you have bought an ETR product or attended a conference and are not receiving Ready Fire Aim, please let us know by sending an e-mail to Michael@ETRfeedback.com.]

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== Highly Recommended ==

Your Chance to Take Your Business to New Heights

You’ve got a business-building giant with 30 years in the trenches and nearly half a billion dollars in business revenues under his belt…

And a hotly sought-after marketing superstar who can triple a company’s revenues in under 2 years…

Who’ve come together to lay out, in simple, easy-to-follow terms, the most effective marketing strategies they’ve ever used.

Quite simply, it’s the perfect chance for you to transform yourself into a marketing superstar… get the raise you’ve always wanted… and wow your employer.

Or, if you prefer, to finally start that side business you’ve been dreaming about… and watch it soar.

Your financial independence is right in front of you.

All you have to do is reach out and take it.

Learn Something New Every Day

By Suzanne Richardson

Guess what? You don’t know everything.

And MaryEllen Tribby doesn’t either.

If you think I’m being impertinent, please read on…

MaryEllen, as you know, is a successful woman. She’s got 20+ years of publishing and business experience. She’s responsible for more than tripling ETR’s revenues in 15 months. And she’s the co-author of an Amazon.com best-seller.

There’s no doubt she’s an expert in marketing and business building. And she has a lot to teach.

In fact, she let a truly important lesson drop last Wednesday morning, during an informal chat before a meeting.

A couple of ETR staffers had just returned from a search engine marketing conference. They were talking about one of the other conference attendees who’d put up a stink. He was an expert in search engine marketing, he kept saying. And the conference leaders had a lot to learn from HIM - so he wasn’t going to listen to what they had to say.

"I’ve occasionally run into people like that," MaryEllen said. "They’re accomplished in their careers and, for some reason, think there’s nothing left for them to learn."

"I hate that attitude. If you get to a point where you believe you know everything, you’re done. You’re just done.

"You can learn something from everyone, every day. Even when I’m speaking at a conference, I always listen to the other speakers’ presentations. Because you never know what useful idea or process you’re going to pick up."

A big part of being successful is opening yourself up to new ideas, new people, and new experiences. If you’re not always learning - actively - you might as well pack up shop.

If the CEO of a multimillion-dollar company can say she still has things to learn, so do you. So make sure you get out and learn something new - every single day.

[Ed. Note: You can learn more from MaryEllen - and get the benefit of her massive marketing expertise. Just pick up a copy of the book she co-wrote with Michael Masterson - Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business - and supercharge your learning curve.]

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A Tasty Way to Reduce Wrinkles

By Kelley Herring

Do you want people to do a double-take when you reveal your real age? Then do this: Eat cinnamon and cloves.

Recent research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that these spices - which are often used in holiday goodies - not only provide antioxidants but also significant protection against the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

And "AGE" is certainly an apt acronym. You see, AGEs trigger the body’s defense arsenal and lead to inflammation and tissue damage. This results in lines on your face, inflexible arteries, and a host of other metabolic consequences.

So, how do you get the most out of these age-defying spices?

The first rule is this: The fresher the flavor, the more benefits. The researchers found a direct correlation between the phenol content in the spices and their ability to block AGEs. And since phenols are destroyed by light, heat, and exposure to air, keep your spices in a cool dark place for maximum potency.

Plus when you bake with these spices, make sure you use a safe sweetener too (i.e., one that does not spike blood sugar and promote AGEs), like erythritol or stevia.

[Ed. Note: Healthy agents don't have to come in a prescription bottle. In fact, you can find plenty of all-natural methods for staying healthy. Now, you can access the latest breakthroughs in weight-loss programs... healthful recipes... and other ideas for achieving optimal health - all from one of the largest integrative-medicine practices in the country. Learn more here.

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My Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition: The Best of Two Worlds

By Wendy Montes de Oca

For my husband and me, Thanksgiving is an international delight. My family is Italian and Irish. His is Latin American. When he was growing up, my husband and his family did not celebrate our American holiday. But since they’ve moved to the United States, they have embraced it wholeheartedly.

Dinner at our house is a culinary tour de force with the best traditional American, Italian, and Latin American foods you can imagine. Of course, we have turkey with stuffing (pavo con pan relleno), mashed potatoes (pure de papas), and veggies. We also have my Uncle Joe’s famous antipasto with the sharpest of provolone cheese, pepperoni, and artichokes, as well as my mother-in-law’s mouthwatering lechon and ensalada Russa. Lechon, a holiday dish in South America, is a whole or quarter roasted pig. And ensalada Russa, or "Russia salad," is simply potato salad with peas, carrots, and hard-boiled eggs.

After hours of eating, chatting, drinking sidra (apple cider), and listening to Uruguayan folk music, the meal is topped off with good ole American apple pie… and a game of soccer. Truly the best of both worlds.

[Ed. Note: What is your #1 favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Let us know right here.]

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It’s Fun to Know: The Origin of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, as we celebrate it today, did not originate with the special event we know and love. There were several "thanksgiving" feasts held in early colonial days, including the most famous one at Plymouth.

Most historians agree that the holiday grew out of a combination of the religious tradition of New England Puritans, which was more a day of prayer than of feasting, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England.

Thanksgivings were celebrated sporadically (on different days of the year) throughout the colonial era and in the early days of the United States. Abraham Lincoln officially decreed the last Thursday of November to be a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. His proclamation played a dual role. It was also a call for unity during the Civil War.

(Source: History.com)

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== Highly Recommended ==

Can You Really Change Your Life in Just 30 Days?

You have big money problems… ones that are affecting your family’s future and your own health. You are at your wit’s because you just-don’t-get it!

You keep doing the same thing over and over again just like it says in the “new program” you just bought (for the umpteenth time!) and yet it’s not working.

Yes, you followed the instructions… HOPING this time every thing is going to work and you’re going to make LOTS of money!

But it doesn’t, does it?

Just then, a very wealthy man enters your life. Not just any wealthy man, but a mega-wealthy man who personally mentored 4 men to becoming billionaires… (that’s with a “b”).

He makes the bold statement that he can help end all your bad “money habits” and replace them on a silver platter with “Billionaire Wealth Attraction habits” that will bring money and lots of it!

Here’s the amazing thing: He is so sure of your success that he personally GUARANTEES to transform you into a “money magnet person” in just 30 days!

Why 30 days? Because Psychologists have proven it takes 30 days to lose a bad habit and learn a new positive one.

So are you ready to change yours? Click here to get all the inside details…

Word to the Wise: Postprandial

Something that’s "postprandial" (post-PRAN-dee-ul) - from the Latin for "a late breakfast or lunch" - happens or is done after a meal.

Example (as used by Sylvan Fox in Newsday): "When I wake up in the morning, I can have my usual breakfast - a slightly bizarre concoction of three kinds of cold cereal topped with grapes and a cup of decaf - and then stagger back to bed for a postprandial snooze."