Don’t Let What Went Wrong with Islam Go Wrong with You
Bernard Lewis, the Western World’s foremost Islamic historian (whose new book “What Went Wrong: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response” is scheduled to be published this month), has an interesting view of Islamic history that provides a lesson to anyone interested in success. Lewis says, “For many, many centuries, the…
READ MORETwo Clever Little Ways To Dramatically Boost Your Speaking Power
In Message #513, I suggested that one of the New Year’s resolutions you should consider is to make yourself a more interesting person. And I said that one way to do that would be to develop your strength as a speaker. Yes, you understand the power of words. And, yes,…
READ MOREFive Business Start-Up Secrets
If you want to be a business-building genius — or just make a ton of money this year — learn these five proven (and absolutely true in my experience) habits of highly successful entrepreneurs. 1. Don’t spend too much time planning. Based on interviews with the founders of 100 businesses…
READ MOREWhy This Is The Best Time Ever To Build Wealth
Some see economic recovery just over the next hill. It doesn’t look that way to me. Still, I’m certain that now is the best time ever to build wealth. Why? Because now is always the best time. Now is always the best time to start something good. Good things take…
READ MOREGet To Work At Least 15 Minutes Earlier
On January 9, 2001, I asked you to figure out, on the average, what time you had been getting to work each day. Then I asked you to promise yourself that you would get there at least 15 minutes earlier from then on. I explained that 15 minutes a day…
READ MOREPromise #8 for the New Year: To Build Your Network of Support
On January 8, 2001, I resolved to make one new business or social contact per week. I suggested you do the same. My goal was too lofty. It was not possible for me to cultivate a new relationship every week of the year. I did manage, however, to make about…
READ MOREMake Major Progress Towards Your Career Goal
So far, you have made several important resolutions. You’ve promised that you would commit to doing better this year, that you would achieve better health, that you would perfect a financially valuable skill, and that you would make yourself a more interesting (and interested) person. That’s a good start. Today,…
READ MOREYou Too Can Invest More Profitably
Dear Early To Rise Reader: Success in business and in life depends on making good decisions and avoiding self-destructive behavior. This is especially true when it comes to investing. Most investors lose money because they have bad psychological habits…habits that work against sound trading decisions. I want to recommend a…
READ MOREPromise #5 For The New Year: To Develop The Personal “You”
The social “you” is always under scrutiny. Your employer and clients evaluate your work. Your spouse and children match your behavior to their expectations. Under such circumstances, the achievement-oriented person naturally improves because he feels the censure of his critics and strives for the approval of those he cares to…
READ MORELearn (Or Perfect) A Financially Valuable Skill
On January 4, 2001, I asked you to promise yourself that you would learn (or perfect) a financially valuable skill. I asked you to forget (at least temporarily) about all the interesting talents you have that nobody will pay you for and focus, instead, on developing the one ability that…
READ MOREGet Your Email Habits In Order
“It is in self-limitation that a master first shows himself.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Natur und Kunst) You know the ETR rule on e-mail: Unless you are in the very unusual situation of being responsible for hourly deadlines (in which case you probably need to work your way up…
READ MOREWhat Is Your Valuable Skill? Are You A Master At It?
In all human endeavors, there are four levels of accomplishment: 1. Incompetence Regardless of how smart or gifted you are, to learn a new skill you must go through a period of not knowing — of taking the baby steps and stumbling. This is the very necessary stage of incompetence.…
READ MORE