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…

The proper uses of I and me are among the first grammatical rules that schoolchildren are taught. Yet even as adults, writers and speakers sometimes get it wrong.

The distinction is not that difficult to keep straight. Grammarians call I the nominative case and me the objective case. So use I when you’re the actor: “I’m going to the office.” And me when you’re the object of the action: “Please give the package to me.”

True, a few situations arise where following the rules might create a stilted or pretentious result. “It’s me” sounds more natural on the phone, for example, even if it’s technically incorrect. (Officially, “It’s I” abbreviates the phrase, “It is I who is speaking.”)

Similarly, “How do you know it was I who signed it?” is a trifle awkward. But problems like this can usually be solved via adroit rephrasing. One possible option: “How do you know I was the person who signed it?”

This column brings to mind two movies that were popular when I was growing up. The title of The Egg and I was admirably correct. But Me and the Colonel was ungrammatical. Of course, the filmmakers knew what they were doing.

[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 that shows writers and other creative professionals how to diversify their careers into speaking, consulting, training, and critiquing.]

• 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…

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.

As Brian Edmondson, Director of the Internet Money Club, put it during his presentation yesterday at Bootcamp:

• Many people try to figure it out on their own — and usually fail.

• A few people manage to reach their goal by following a proven system.

• But the most likely to succeed seek out those who have come before. They look for mentors and coaches to guide them.

Michael Masterson has said it many times. And he’s shared how he has personally benefited from mentors throughout this career. With a mentor, you avoid “first-timer” mistakes. Your learning curve is drastically cut. And just having someone to encourage you can be extremely motivating.

A mentor is the fastest way to get from where you are now… to where you want to be.

Have you found yours yet?

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Do you feel like crap? Are you tired all the time?

Well get ready for a big change!

Read on to discover a secret that will give you an endless reservoir of energy. This could really change your life. You’ll learn…

• The 5 best natural antidotes to stress…

• How to make the blues a thing of the past…

• A super simple 4 step program to have all the energy you ever wanted and more!

Keep reading and re-energize your body and mind once and for all…

It wasn’t the typical opening to an Info-Marketing Bootcamp presentation.

But MaryEllen Tribby, Publisher and CEO of Early to Rise, is not your typical presenter.

Those words were spoken by her doctor just last June. And, as MaryEllen revealed, the rest of that day passed as a blur, as if she were a spectator. All she could think about was her three kids, and how devastated they would be if something happened to her.

MaryEllen is fine. A biopsy confirmed that she did not have cancer.

But the experience changed her.

A few weeks later, MaryEllen was in Denver for ETR’s Five Days in July conference, teaching budding entrepreneurs how to start their own Internet businesses. She saw the passion of the attendees. Their drive.

And that convinced her she had to do something more herself.

Yes, she had a great job. She was working with the best in the industry. And she was well compensated.

But after years as a leader of other companies and businesses, she wanted to go it alone.

For some time, she’d been dreaming of starting a business combining her two biggest passions: Helping the millions of homeless children around the world. And reaching out to working mothers to make sure they led the balanced lifestyle they deserve.

In fact, she had purchased a domain name for her dream business in 2007. But, like many aspiring entrepreneurs, she kept saying to herself, “I’ll do it someday.”

As soon as she came back from Denver, she started working on her business in earnest.

And what she did can work as a step-by-step guide for you if you’re ready to start your own business. I can’t provide the specific examples and all the details she provided in her two-hour speech, but these are the core ideas.

Spend Most of Your Time on What You Know Best

You may be used to working as part of a team. Somebody does the graphics. Somebody writes promotional copy. Somebody else develops the marketing plan. But when you’re solo, you’re in charge of everything.

Some tasks you can just ditch. And some you can delegate. Establish your priorities. Should you spend time on the phone with your website hosting provider? No, you should delegate that. Should you spend time on content and offers geared toward your market, which you know better than anyone else? Yes.)

Make Technology Your Friend

You may be used to letting others handle the “tech” stuff in your workplace. But when you’re running your own business, you’re the tech guy. And, as MaryEllen discovered, it turns out much of it is pretty easy. For things you can’t figure out, take a class. If it’s really complicated, hire a freelancer.

You don’t have to know everything. But you need to know enough so you’re not at the mercy of your outsourced help. You don’t want to be overcharged or told something is impossible when they just don’t want to do it.

Don’t Ask for Favors, Ask for Advice

At meeting with the mega-successful entrepreneur Richard Branson, MaryEllen was invited to talk about her business. Instead of asking for help, she simply explained what her venture was about and asked for suggestions. Richard offered his support. And, already, his charitable organization, Virgin United, has been in touch with her.

You don’t have to know Richard Branson to take advantage of this approach. Just think about it. If you’re constantly asking people for favors… how long will they feel like granting them?

Create a Network You Can Brag About

Get the best people in your industry in your network. Not people you’ve only met once or see once a year. I’m talking about people you can call at any time. People who will do anything for you. (Of course, you have to be willing to do anything for them, too.)

When you’re starting out, you probably won’t be in touch with industry giants. But you can still make great contacts. Start with likeminded people who are as focused as you are on growing their businesses. As your businesses grow, you will be able to help each other.

Create Accountability Partners

You are 65 percent more likely to accomplish your goals if you have someone watching over your shoulder. As MaryEllen pointed out, it probably has a lot to do with not wanting to admit to not doing what you said you would do. That fear keeps you motivated.

So set up a time to speak with a colleague or business partner once a week. Talk to each other about what you’ve been doing with your businesses. Call them out if they’ve been slacking. Ask them to do the same for you.

Understand Your Market Intimately

One of the first things MaryEllen did was research her market and her competitors. Using keyword research tools from Google, she found that 43 million people a month search terms related to “working moms.” She visited every site in the organic results and pay-per-click ads.

She looked in depth at their site layouts, sales letters, offers, products, and marketing strategies. She figured out what other companies were doing right. And what they were doing wrong. (For example, many didn’t have sign-up boxes on their home pages to build their e-mail lists.)

Work on Your Business Every Day

You can’t just work on the weekends. You have to do something every single day to advance your business. If it’s important to you, you’ll do it. Get up extra early if you have to.

If you want to sell supplements online, for example, you could start researching which products are hot right now. You could contact some suppliers. Buy a domain name. Build your website.

Learn, Understand, and Strive to Master Direct-Response Marketing

Direct marketing is the key to online success. An e-commerce site like Amazon may work. But you’re not Amazon. You can’t wait for customers to find your site. You must reach out to them, get their contact information, and start building relationships that lead to sales.

Don’t Fall Victim to the Biggest Entrepreneurial Curse

Four projects halfway done yields ZERO revenue. One project 100 percent finished brings cash in the door.

Focus on one thing at a time — the one most important thing — and complete it before you start another project.

Ready, Fire, Aim

You have an idea for a business — and six to nine months later, you’re still working on getting your site together. And you’re still working on your marketing copy. Know this: Everything doesn’t have to be perfect before you launch.

As MaryEllen pointed out, most of what you learn about business comes from doing it. You’ll find out what people will buy and for how much. You’ll discover the best way to reach your customers and build your list.

Turning Someday Into Payday

These days, MaryEllen is working toward her dream: to start her own online business aimed at working mothers. And she’ll help kids in need at the same time. Her venture will allow her to work from home, spend time with her family, and make enough money to live the lifestyle she wants to live.

After years of putting off her dream until “someday”… it’s finally happening.

What are you doing to make your “dream” business a reality?

Maybe you’re waiting ’til after the holidays… or for the kids to get a little older… or for that big project at work to be finished… or for the economy to pick up again.

If that’s the case, now’s the time for a little MaryEllen-style tough love: Those are just excuses. Sure, they are real obstacles — but they’re still excuses. And you can always find more of them if you want to.

Stop trying to come up with rationalizations for not taking action. The truth is, now is always the best time to start a business.

[Ed. Note: Want to start your own Internet business... but have no idea how? MaryEllen Tribby is just one of the featured speakers at this year's Info-Marketing Bootcamp. She is being joined by a dozen of the top experts in Internet marketing, entrepreneurship, business building, search engine optimization, and much more. And every single minute of every single presentation, including MaryEllen’s two-hour talk yesterday, will be on video. You can find out more about how to get those videos here.]

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How pinpointing the “Missing Link” can kick your online business into overdrive

Every inefficient system… whether it’s an overweight body, a sputtering old car, or a losing football team… has a “missing link” that prevents it from operating at full capacity.

It’s the same thing with a floundering online business.

There’s a “missing link” that keeps it from bringing in big-time revenues.

The good news is, once you pinpoint this “missing link” and get it handled, you can make more money online than you ever dreamed possible.

And the best part is, this is so simple to do, you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it first.

Let me show you how…

There was a moment in it that sliced through my heart.

It didn’t come from the legendary movie actor himself, though.

It came from Brando’s Apocalypse Now co-star, Frederic Forrest. He said this about Brando:

“I never had any scenes with him. He killed me twice — in Missouri Breaks he shot me out of the outhouse, and in Apocalypse Now he cut my head off. But I never got to have a scene with him. I regret that. But God Almighty, I wish I had had enough nerve to meet him… to know him. But I was too in awe.”

What struck me was the true sense of regret Forrest put behind these words. You could tell it pains him to this day.

Have you ever been in a similar situation… where you wanted to take action, but didn’t?

Perhaps, like Forrest, you wanted to introduce yourself to someone, but let the moment slip by.

Your story might not be as dramatic as missing the chance to hang out with Marlon Brando, but it’s no less important.

Perhaps you were at a social event and spotted a local business hero. But when you started to walk over to introduce yourself, your feet acted like they were nailed to the floor. You remained frozen in place and silent — leaving you to always wonder what might have been…

In the marketing world, it would be like having an opportunity to have a conversation with an industry icon — the likes of Michael Masterson, Bob Bly, Bill Bonner, or Herschell Gordon Lewis (to mention only a few) — and not taking advantage of it.

In a minute, I’ll give you some tips on how to make a good impression on someone you admire and respect. Doing a few relatively simple things can have a big impact on your life. Because on top of the thrill of meeting that person, you may end up with some “glicken.” (If you’re not familiar with the word “glicken,” it’s an unexpected bonus.)

Meeting the Man Who Wrote the Book

That’s what happened to Pam Foster.

Pam, a member of American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI), is a copywriter. But before she even thought of becoming a copywriter, she worked for L.L. Bean. And they just happened to have a copy of Bob Bly’s The Copywriter’s Handbook.

Reading it is what got her interested in copywriting. That’s when she signed up with AWAI. And once she did, she found the name “Bob Bly” popping up quite often.

You see, Bob is the author of more than 70 books on copywriting and marketing. He’s been paid millions of dollars in fees, royalties, and advances from more than 100 publishers, editors, and corporate clients. With more than 25 years of experience, he’s received numerous awards and has been recognized as one of the top people in the industry.

So when Pam spotted Bob at AWAI’s 2005 Copywriting Bootcamp, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She walked over and introduced herself.

The result?

“We’ve since become friends and colleagues,” Pam says. “He refers work to me and has been an affiliate for my Internet book. He’s a great person to know, and I never would have met him had I not gotten up the nerve to introduce myself to him.”

The Power of One Little Conversation

This past May at AWAI’s Writer’s Retreat, Toni Rockis started up a conversation with AWAI Co-Founder Paul Hollingshead.

Toni, a grant writer, told Paul that there was a need for a program to educate people on the ins and outs of submitting grants. And she suggested that offering a grant-writing program would be a great opportunity for AWAI.

Paul talked to Katie Yeakle, AWAI’s Executive Director, about it. And the very next day, they asked Toni to write up a program outline. (They’re moving forward with the project as I type this.)

What made Toni’s meeting with Paul so successful was that she planned it in advance. She knew he would be at the Writer’s Retreat. And she thought out what she would say to him and how she would introduce her idea.

Like Toni, you can “prepare” to meet the person you want to introduce yourself to. Doing this accomplishes two things:

1. It calms your nerves. You’ll be rehearsed and confident — with no fear of sounding silly or saying the wrong thing.

2. It exponentially increases your chances of getting “glicken.” You’ll know the best way to introduce your ideas, since you’ll have thought about it long and hard.

What Pam and Toni have in common is that they had the courage to take action.

And they got to meet their “Marlon Brando.”

If there’s a “Marlon Brando” in your life, I encourage you to take action.

Here’s how to make that all-important first impression…

• Walk up to your “Marlon Brando” confidently. Smile! No one wants to meet a grump.

• Introduce yourself and tell him what you do. Make eye contact.

• Compliment him on his work or tell him how much something he’s written or said has helped you. Don’t make it overly flattering or you could come off as insincere.

Let the conversation evolve from there.

• Use his name during the conversation. A person’s name is music to his ears.

• Be a good listener. Give him your full attention. Focus on and react to what he says.

• Have some questions in your back pocket. This will help move the conversation along (and avoid those awful silent gaps). If, for example, he’s an author, ask if you can expect to see another book from him soon. If you’re a newbie in his area of expertise, ask what advice he would give to someone just starting out.

• Be mindful of his time, and don’t over-stay your visit. When it feels right, say something like “I know you must be busy, so I’ll let you go. It was great meeting you.”

Right about now, you’re probably thinking, “Easier said than done.” Most things are. But you might just be surprised by how easy this will be. Most successful people are very friendly and will be happy to talk to you. (Provided you aren’t overbearing or bumptious.)

Remember, you don’t have to be witty or come off as intellectually brilliant. You just have to be genuine and honest.

Take the initiative and, like Pam and Toni, you’ll never have to think “What if…?”

[Ed. Note: If you're interested in pursuing a copywriting career, you might want to check out AWAI's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting. It contains hundreds of copywriting techniques, as well as a step-by-step "how-to" guide. Learn how to make $100,000 a year (or more!) right here.]

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Why You Don’t Need To Be an Author to Have a Bestselling Book

A Florida martial arts expert “found” a dusty old book. Then he turned it into estimated sales of over $20,000 in one month. With another book, he’s pulled in over $332,250.

A 30-something Internet marketer used the same formula to dig up his own bestseller. The little-known art book he found made $19,453 in just 3 weeks.

These books weren’t first editions. They weren’t famous. They weren’t wildly popular. Best of all? These hidden treasure troves don’t have to cost you a penny.

You could unearth the next bestseller. Find out how right here.

However, there’s a better way to deal with these people.

Find something that you have in common. Maybe a favorite sports team. Or an interest in wine, stamps, or Frank Sinatra. It may seem hard to imagine that someone you don’t like can share a passion with you. But if you dig beneath the surface, you will be surprised at what you discover.

I remember having a tough time convincing HR, a big-shot financial author at the time, to work with an editor of mine. I got them together for dinner one night, and forced a long and painful conversation. I was hoping some common interest would pop up. I tried all the obvious things — business, art, and politics. But they were polar opposites.

Then, just as dessert was served, the subject of “Saturday Night Live” came up. And it turned out that both of them had a perverse fascination with a particular skit that was popular back then.

So spend a little time trying to find something you share with your enemy. Then, the next time you’re together, say something specific and engaging about it. See how the conversation goes. If your experience is like mine, you’ll discover that more than half of such relationships will become less stressful. The essential differences between the two of you won’t go away. But it will be easier to work out disagreements and come to terms when you have a way of having fun together.

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Where Can You Find the Best Business Partners? – You may consider your competitors to be bitter enemies. But in business – especially online – some of your most profitable deals will come from partnering with them. In the Internet Money Club, you’ll learn how to set up these lucrative joint ventures. And put together win-win deals.

You know the person I mean. The dreamer. The bright, starry-eyed optimist who was once in charge of your body and soul.

I have wanted to be a writer since I was six years old. It was my father who first encouraged me. After reading a poem I wrote called “How Do I Know the World Is Real?” (Can you believe I can still remember it? Cripes, I can still recite it!), he told me I had a special talent. And that if I nurtured it, I could be a great writer some day.

How about you? What did you want to be… or do… when you were a child? And what kind of dreams have you had since?

Do you still have ambitions you haven’t achieved? Of course you do.

We all have dreams. And we’re all guilty of putting off those dreams.

In my case, fiction writing too often takes the back seat to other things. During the course of a normal workweek, I manage a half-dozen sizeable businesses, consult with a half-dozen more, write ETR, write business books, learn languages, and practice new skills. I’m no goof-off.

But I still regret every morning I don’t work on a novel or short story or screenplay or poem.

So be honest with yourself. Have you achieved all of your most cherished dreams? Are you even working toward them? Do you even remember what they were?

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Are You Truly Happy? – As Michael Masterson pointed out today, life is short. And there is no time like RIGHT NOW to pursue your dreams. But is self-doubt stopping you? Are negative thoughts holding you back? Dr. Srikumar Rao has taught thousands to break those barriers. Learn what his lifelong study of human potential can help you achieve…

Every entrepreneur had to learn how to be effective at what he was trying to accomplish — and practice being effective until it became a habit.

I don’t talk about it much, but before I opened my chain of hypnosis centers, I traveled all over the world, learning from the best neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and hypnosis teachers. I was certified in NLP by Richard Bandler himself, the creator of NLP. I studied with Robert Dilts, Michael Hall, and every other big name out there.

I am telling you this because I want you to know that when I share something I know about learning new skills, you can pretty much bet it is based on a concept I was taught by a master.

Today, I want to share an NLP learning model with you. Once you understand the model, you can leverage it to establish new skills rapidly.

First, I’ll explain the model. Then, I’ll give you examples to make it easier to understand. And then, I’ll show you how to use it to make yourself more effective at any skill you’ve chosen to pursue.

The 4 Stages of Learning a New Skill

Stage 1. Unconscious Incompetence. This is when you don’t know how to do it, and you don’t even know that you don’t know.

Stage 2. Conscious Incompetence. This is when you know what you don’t know, and you begin to work on learning it.

Stage 3. Conscious Competence. This is when you know what you need to know — and you can do it. But it takes all of your concentration.

Stage 4. Unconscious Competence. This is when you can perform the skill without even thinking about it. It’s now a habit.

Okay. Now let me give you two examples of how this works.

Learning the alphabet…

Stage 1. When you were very young, you didn’t even know that there were 26 letters in the alphabet. You didn’t know what you didn’t know. Hence, you were unconsciously incompetent.

Stage 2. You learned that there was such a thing as an alphabet, and that it had 26 letters, but you didn’t know them all. You knew what you didn’t know. Hence, you were consciously incompetent.

Stage 3. You finally learned all the letters. So you knew what you needed to know. But in order to write a word, you had to really concentrate on each letter. Hence, you were consciously competent.

Stage 4. Now, you can write words without even thinking about it. Hence, you are unconsciously competent.

Just to make sure you really get it, let’s look at another example.

Driving a car…

Stage 1. There was a time when you had no idea of what was involved in driving a car. Hence, you were unconsciously incompetent.

Stage 2. You started to learn about driving. You read the book. Your parents explained what they were doing while they were driving. You asked questions and got answers. You gave it a try — with Mom or Dad in the car — and realized you still had a lot to learn. You were consciously incompetent.

Stage 3. After a lot of practice, you could drive. But you had to really concentrate on what you were doing. You were consciously competent.

Stage 4. By now, you’ve driven so much that it’s become automatic. You no longer have to think about what to do, you just do it. You are an unconsciously competent driver.

But… are you unconsciously competent at parallel parking?

Most people are not. They haven’t parallel parked enough. They are consciously competent at it — meaning they can parallel park. But first they have to turn down the radio, stop talking, and focus.

What all this has to do with the achievement of your goals…

The parallel parking example illustrates that when you are working on developing the skills you need to achieve your goals, simply being effective from time to time won’t help you fully establish the habit.

To become unconsciously competent at those skills, you must recognize which stage you are at — and then understand what you need to do to move to the next stage.

More than likely, there are still a few areas where you are unconsciously competent — things you simply don’t know you don’t know.

So your job right now is to become cognizant of what you need to know to achieve your main goal.

That will help you transition to Stage 2.

In Stage 2, you will start to learn what you need to know to be effective.

In Stage 3, you will apply your newfound knowledge. But you must do it consciously, consistently, and often.

Before long, you will pass on to Stage 4: unconscious competence. At that point, you will be effective by habit, performing the skills that ensure your success without even thinking about it.

P.S. What are you doing this weekend? Why not join me, and a dozen other wealth building and Internet marketing experts, in Delray Beach, Florida for ETR’s Info-Marketing Bootcamp? There are still spots available. Find out all about Bootcamp and our $10,000 promise, here.

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Early to Rise’s $500,000+ Gamble

We’re betting on your success at ETR’s Information Marketing Bootcamp next week. In fact, we’ll “see you and we’ll raise you”!

You see, we’ve put the 12 gurus we’ve invited “on the spot.”

If you don’t learn from them how you could make at least your first $10,000 in revenue with your online business by May 2010… we’re going to give you back your entrance fee AND give you another $1,000 for your trouble.