Do You Make This Classic Success-Thwarting Mistake?
I sent a memo to IWT last week reporting on a clever and very effective scheme that one of our competitors is using to make a lot of money. IWT’s response was to explain to me “what’s wrong with what he’s doing” and “why our way is better.” There may…
Creating A Second Income
Dear Early to Rise Reader, You want more money. Nothing wrong with that. And you’ll get more — a lot more — if you… 1. make yourself more valuable at work, and 2. get yourself a second income. Let’s talk about how you can create a second income. One thing…
When Your Marketing Founders Take Charge of Selling
We are in a recession, and, though most of the businesses I know are still profitable, the margins have fallen and profits are low. Back-end sales are still healthy. What’s changed is the new customer income. All those sales and marketing tricks that worked so well for so many years…
If Your Product Has A Reputation For Quality, Should You Trade On It?
For the first time ever, Americans will be able to own a Mercedes for less than $28,000. This will certainly give the German automaker a bigger share of U.S. car dollars, but it sets its longstanding reputation for class in a very precarious place — like bringing a senator to…
How To Write A Great Business Plan
If you spend countless hours and hundreds of pages planning your new business venture, you are wasting a lot of time. That’s mostly because you don’t know the most important secrets about the new (to you) market. What’s most critical to know about any business is invisible to newcomers. No…
When You Think It’s Time To Tell Off Your Boss
Joe, a longtime ETR, says his boss is both difficult to speak to and seriously mistaken about some important corporate “issues.” He believes many ETRs may be in the same position and asks, “Should we tell the boss like it is?” It’s impossible to answer Joe’s particular question without specifics,…
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…
Five 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…
Why 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…
Remember That Life Is Fleeting
As I told you before, I’ve made it a point to spend a few moments every day sitting back and paying attention. I recommend it strongly. Just after Christmas, I received the following letter from RS, a longtime ETR reader and a copywriting student of mine, with a reminder of…
Promise #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…
Promise #7 for the New Year: To Grow Richer Every Day
On January 7, 2001, I made a two-part resolution: (1) to make more money than I had made in 2000 and (2) to invest a higher percentage of my gross income than I had previously. If you were with me on January 7, you were asked to do the same.…