A Better Life: ItsYourFuture! Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper ------------------------------------------------------------ Vol. 1, No. 4 June 15, 1999 ISSN 1442-5211 CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE ---------------------- 1. Welcome - From the Publisher - Contest 2. Our Motto 3. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE Faith and Fear: by Beth Pugh Humour: What if Data was Microsoft Windows Compatible? 4. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION Article: How to Raise Your Child's IQ- John Payne Article: How Safe is Conventional Health Care?-Karen Baker Regular Feature: 'Food Fit for the Fit' Recipe -Glen Esse 5. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS Article: How To Create and Sell 500,000 Booklets Without Spending A Penny On Advertising -Paulette Ensign Article: Introduction to Networking- Part 3.-Nancy Roebke 6. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice 7. Contact Information ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Welcome from the Publisher ------------------------------------------------------------ Hello again, and welcome to Issue 4, You may notice a couple of changes at the top of our Ezine. The first is a change of title. To explain what we are about a little better, and to take advantage of the fact that many listings of Ezines are in alphabetical order, we have adopted a new title- "A Better Life: ItsYourFuture!" The second change, is that our Ezine has been allocated an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN). This is similar to the ISBN numbers allocated to print publications, and registers our publication in an International Database. Thanks to those who have sent kind words on our content. Many of you obviously enjoyed The Plan in the last Issue. I have to thank Paul Hancox, the Editor of the excellent Ezine Be-Ahead Internet Marketing!, for The Plan. Paul's Ezine is a treasure-trove of great marketing ideas, and is well worth a look. You can get a copy by sending a blank email to: ahead-subscribe@listbot.com Over the next four weeks, I'd like to ask all of you who are enjoying our ezine, to help us find new subscribers. Please tell as many friends as you can- word-of-mouth is always the best form of promotion! Send me an email by the 13th. of July, and tell me the email addresses of those you have encouraged to subscribe. The person we can thank for the most new subscribers will WIN AN ITSYOURFUTURE POLO SHIRT. Be sure to let us know your size when you send in your entry! We will print the names of the winner, and all entrants in the July 15th. Issue, with our sincere thanks. Enjoy this Issue! John ------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Our Motto ------------------------------------------------------------ Our Motto is- "Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper" >From this Motto, we can define the three main areas in which we intend to assist our readers.. ------------------------------------------------------------ 3. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE ------------------------------------------------------------ "Success results more often from attitude than ability." -Mark Yarnell Faith and Fear -------------- By Beth Pugh A friend and I were recently talking about personal growth. He was commenting on how some people have an awareness of growth issues, yet they choose to do nothing to implement them in their lives. His comment was the age-old quote of, "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink." Hmmmm. After the conversation, I began to think about that phrase and all it really means. True, you cannot force a horse to drink, as far as I know. I really know nothing about horses, but I will believe this to be true. Then I began to expand this idea of the horse and the water. Imagine this: it is a clear day, a beautiful summer day. Two horses are walking through the meadow enjoying the warmth and leisure that surrounds them. After a while, they come upon a lovely pond. As the sun is getting hot, the one horse, Faith, decides she wants to get wet, drink and cool off. The other horse, Fear, wants no part of that. He wonders what would possess Faith to want to get in that water. Who knows what is underneath? It could be muddy and dangerous. There could be snakes. She could cut herself on the rocks. She could even potentially drown. No, Fear thinks it is best to stay on the shore and gaze at his proud reflection in the water. He doesn't want to look silly and he won't be caught up in the mud or come out of that water hurt in any way. But Faith takes a chance. She steps carefully into the water and the cool gentleness surrounds her. She feels the mud below and it squishes around her. She moves forward and stumbles just a bit on a rock that she could not see below the surface. She catches herself, not as gracefully as she would like, but she doesn't fall. She is uneasy and even though it is scary, she is far enough in now where she is committed to keep going. She wishes Fear would join her, but understands that he is not willing. After a bit if time, Faith begins to get used to the water, as it feels refreshing and comfortable. Soon thereafter, she is splashing around and swimming like a champ. She waves to Fear who wistfully watches her joy from the shore. Her confidence radiates from the water. Fear is happy for her, but too unsure of himself to go in. It might not work out as well for him if he decided to take the risk. Best to play it safe. And so it goes with us humans too. Why is that we sometimes forget to truly live? Faith had much to lose by taking a chance. She did it, not without some snags and hurts, but she gained everything in the end. Fear on the other hand, had nothing to lose because he would not take a chance and, in the end, gained nothing. Living means trusting, being vulnerable and taking risks. It means following your heart and committing to take the plunge. Life offers no guarantees that there will not be pain and snags along the way. It does guarantee growth and hope with every step forward we take. To take a risk and grow, we have to learn to replace Fear with Faith. And so it goes with us. We all have the opportunity to go swimming if we choose. We also have the choice of standing on the shore and never risking growth. For me there is no question about what I should do. I am going to call my friend now and ask him to come swimming with me. Copyright 1999 by Beth Pugh, Attribution required for distribution/duplication. ************************************************************ Beth is a self-improvement coach, who works with her worldwide clients by telephone and email. She is a member of the International Coaches Federation and a graduate of Coach University. Create the life you desire through her training and expert guidance. Email - mailto:MsCoach4U@aol.com or call: (770) 220-9339 for more information. ************************************************************ A Touch of Humour ----------------- Our item this week is dedicated to all those who love Star Trek, and to those who battle daily with Bill Gates' Windows software. What if Data were Microsoft Windows Compatible? ----------------------------------------------- (author unknown) WORF: Captain, there are three Romulan warships decloaking dead ahead. PICARD: On screen. [The main viewing screen changes to a pattern of horizontal lines, each only a single pixel wide.] PICARD: Data, what's wrong here? DATA: Captain, the main viewscreen does not have sufficient video memory to display an image of this size. May I suggest that you select a lower resolution? PICARD: Make it so. [The screen blanks, and then an image appears, with big, blocky square pixels. Three objects appear in the center, which could be Romulan warbirds, but which actually look more like the aliens in Space Invaders.] PICARD: Data, open a hailing channel to the Romulans. DATA: Aye, sir [Data picks up an hourglass from the floor beside him, turns it over, and places it on the console in front of him. He punches some buttons on the console and sits motionless for several seconds. A flash of light blossoms from one of the Romulan ships on the viewscreen.] WORF: Incoming plasma torpedo, Captain! PICARD: Shields up! DATA: I'm sorry, Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue your next command. PICARD: What on earth do you mean? Data, this is important! I want those shields up right now. DATA: I'm sorry, Captain, but I am still attempting to complete your last instruction. I must ask you to wait until I have finished before you issue your next command. LAFORGE: Allow me, captain. [to Data] Control-alt-delete, Data. [Data removes the hourglass from the console, and returns it to the floor.] DATA: The Romulans are not responding to my hails. Press my nose to cancel and return to Windows. Pull my left ear to close this communications channel which is not responding. You will lose any information sent by the Romulans. [LaForge pulls Data's left ear.] PICARD: Shields... [There is a tremendous explosion. The bridge shakes violently, and all the crew members are thrown to the floor. A shower of sparks erupts from Wesley Crusher's station at the helm, throwing Wesley back away from the console.] PICARD: Up, Data! DATA: Aye, sir. RIKER: All decks, damage report! WORF: Captain, Ensign Crusher is injured. He appears to be unconscious. [Data picks up the hourglass again, places it on his console, and punches some more buttons. He waits a few seconds, then puts the hourglass back on the floor.] DATA: Shields are now up, captain. PICARD: And not a moment too soon. Worf, lock all phasers on the lead Romulan ship. WORF: Aye, sir. [He punches buttons on the weapons console.] PICARD: Mr. Data, take the helm, and prepare for evasive action. DATA: I am sorry, sir, but I do not have the proper device driver installed for that console. PICARD: Well, damn it, install the right one. DATA: Please insert Setup Implant #1 in my right nostril. PICARD: Number One, where do we keep Data's setup implants? RIKER: I left them with Geordi. LAFORGE: [in a surprised voice] What!!? I thought you still had them! PICARD: Data, don't you have device drivers stored in your internal memory? DATA: Not found, sir. Please insert Setup Implant #1 in my right nostril. PICARD: Data, I don't have Setup Implant #1. DATA: Not ready reading right nostril. Abort, Retry, Fail? PICARD: Abort! DATA: Not ready reading right nostril. Abort, Retry, Fail? PICARD: Well, fail, then! DATA: Current nose is no longer valid. [Data walks over to the helm, and presses several buttons. The ship lurches, the images of the Romulan warships suddenly shift to one side of the viewscreen, and a high-pitched whining noise is heard coming from somewhere else in the ship.] LAFORGE: [alarmed] Data, what the hell are you doing? PICARD: Number One, do we have a customer service number for Data? RIKER: Yes sir, but last time I tried to call them, I got put on hold for two hours before I was able to talk to anyone. And that person wasn't knowledgeable about androids of Data's model. She specialized in industrial control robots. [Suddenly, the lights all go out, the viewscreen goes blank, and all the usual noise of fans, motors, and so on whines to a halt. After a few seconds, the red emergency lights come on. Data is standing by the console, absolutely motionless.] PICARD: What's going on? LAFORGE: [checking the helm console] Lieutenant Data has caused a General Protection Violation in the warp engine core. PICARD: These androids look really sharp, but you can't really do anything with them. [The shimmer of the transporter effect appears, and six Romulans in full battle dress materialize on the bridge. A seventh figure, a Ferengi, appears moments later.] FERENGI: [with a mercenary grin] Can I interest you in a Macintosh, Captain? ------------------------------------------------------------ 4. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION ------------------------------------------------------------ News Item: NEW YORK, May 26 (Reuters Health) "High-intensity strength training using weight machines and free-weights improves cholesterol levels as much as aerobic exercise in previously sedentary young women,researchers report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The same strength training exercise program also reduced body fat, they add." INCREASE YOUR CHILD'S IQ: ------------------------- DISCOVER THE NUTRITION RESEARCH THAT SHOWS YOU HOW! ---------------------------------------------------- By John Payne * Poor nutrition costs your children IQ points * Good nutrition boosts their IQ. * Nutritional supplements have an important role to play. These are the startling conclusions to be drawn from medical research that goes as far back as 30 years ago! In a study published in the Journal of Applied Nutrition in 1983 (1), Schauss and a team from MIT looked at the IQ score and the amount of refined carbohydrates (which are very low in nutrients) in the diet of their subjects. They found that the higher the consumption of sugar, white bread, commercial cereals etc.-the lower the IQ. Those with the highest levels of high refined-carbohydrate consumption had an IQ score 25 points LOWER than those with the lowest consumption! In 1960, Kabula and his colleagues took 351 students, and tested them for the vitamin C level in their blood (2). The 351 were then divided into two groups- high and low vitamin C level. The two groups were then tested for their IQ score. The fascinating result was that the 'high' vitamin C group had an average IQ of 113; the 'low' group's average was 109- a 4 POINT DIFFERENCE! These two studies indicate that low nutrient status has a strong corelation with a lower IQ score. Can nutritional supplements help? The answer seems to be a resounding YES! Across the Atlantic, in the United Kingdom, 60 children took part in a study (3) to test the effect of nutritional supplementation on mental performance. Half the children were placed on a placebo; half on an optimal multi vitamin and mineral supplement. After eight months, the non-verbal IQ's of the two groups were tested. The results were published in the prestigious medical journal, the Lancet. The researchers reported that there was no change in the group taking the placebo. However, the group taking the nutritional supplement had an average 10-POINT INCREASE in their IQ! In California, researchers conducted a study with 615 schoolchildren (4). The children were assigned to one of four groups. One group was placed on a placebo, the other 3 groups on a nutritional supplement program that represented 50%, 100% and 200% of the US RDA's. After three months the children's IQ's were tested. In the group taking the placebo, there was no difference. In the other 3 groups, the average increase in IQ was OVER 4 POINTS! What are the lessons we can learn from this research? * limit your child's consumption of highly refined carbohydrates- that means, soda pop ('soft drinks'), cakes, cookies, confectionery etc. * introduce as much fruit and vegetable into their diet as possible. * use wholemeal and multi-grain breads to replace white bread. * give them a good multivitamin/multimineral supplement (see below) Follow these guidelines, and the research shows that your child will enjoy a higher IQ. It's an advantage during their school days that will give them a vital headstart in this increasingly competitive world. I am indebted to Patrick Holford, Founder of the UK's Institute for Optimum Nutrition, and author of The Optimum Nutrition Bible for the information in this article. His book has a graph summarising the results of eight studies. (For more information on the children's multi vitamin, multi mineral product I recommend, just send a blank email to kidsiq@SmartBotPRO.NET ) Footnotes; (1) Schauss, A., J.App.Nutr., 35,1, (1983) (2) Kabula, A.J., Gen. Psych., 96 p343-352, (1960) (3) Benton D., 'Effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation on intelligence of a sample school of school children', Lancet (Jan 23, 1988) (4) Schoenthaler, S. et al., 'Controlled trial of vitamin- mineral supplementation:Effects on intelligence and performance,' Person. Individ. Diff., vol 12:4, p351- 362, (1991) Article: How Safe is Conventional Health Care? ----------------------------------------------- By: Karen Baker Ever wonder why so many people are interested in alternative medicine? The reasons are as diverse as the people who believe in them. Millions of people in the United States are cut off from conventional medicine because they simply cannot afford it. Between soaring physician fees and astronomical insurance rates, middle-class America is being left behind in their quest for proper medical attention. Another reason is mistrust of conventional medicine and those who practice it. Consider these quotes: "150,000 to 300,000 Americans are injured or killed each year because of medical negligence (i.e., mistreated diseases, surgeries, drug reactions, misprescribed drugs)." -- Wall Street Journal, Jan. 13, 1993 "Latrogenic diseases, generally defined as diseases that result from a physician's action or in response to a drug, are believed to be a major problem in terms of morbidity and hospital expense." -- Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec.12, 1980 "Over a million patients are injured in hospitals each year, and approximately 180,000 die annually as a result of these injuries. Therefore, the iatrogenic injury rate dwarfs the annual automobile accident mortality of 45,000 and accounts for more deaths than all other accidents combined." -- Journal of the American Medical Association, July 5, 1995 "Current research suggests that 36% of physician visits are unnecessary; 36% of hospital admissions are caused by side effects from other medical treatments; 53% of surgeries are unnecessary; and half of all time spent in hospitals isn't medically indicated." -- Let's Live, February, 1995 "Each year, nearly 2 million people in the United States come down with an infection in the hospital they didn't have when they entered; more than 80,000 of these die." -- Let's Live, June, 1995 "Errors in judgment or technique concerning either the anesthesia or the surgery, or a combination of the two, contribute to close to 50% of the mortality in the operating room." -- Dr. James Mannis, "Cheating Fate," Health, April 6, 1992 "Stanford University doctors compared the effects of chemotherapy to doing nothing in patients with slow growing tumors of the lymph nodes. The patients whose treatment was deferred for years did just as well as patients who immediately recieved expensive and unpleasant chemotherapy. Nineteen of the 83 (or 23%) experienced spontaneous remission lasting four months to six years. A review of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded, "... deferring treatment ... may allow for spontaneous regression of the disease." -- "Cheating Fate," Health, April 6, 1992 "Chemotherapy and radiation can increase the risk of developing a second cancer by up to 100 times, according to Dr. Samuel S. Epstein. -- Congressional Record, Sept. 9, 1987 "Of every 1000 American women getting mammograms each year between the ages of 40 and 50, 345 will recieve false positive results, often with unnecessary intervention as the result." -- New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 11, 1993 "Harvard researchers studied hospital records from the State of New York over a one year period. They estimated that more than 13,000 New Yorkers were killed and 2500 were permanantly disabled due to medical care. More than 51% were blamed on medical negligence." -- New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 7, 1991 During 1983-1992, between 90,000 and 110,000 Americans died from reactions to prescription drugs, 320 from over the counter drugs, and three from all dietary supplements combined, including contaminated L-tryptophan, and zero from herbs. -- Sources: American Association of Poison Control Centers, FDA, AAPCC, USDA, JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine. Now you know why so many people believe in herbs, supplements, and alternative medicine. ************************************************************ Source: Altmed Forum on AOL, a production of J2S2 Online Productions. ************************************************************ * Glens "Food Fit for the Fit" Recipe ------------------------------------- 5 Cup Loaf ---------- 1 cup bran 1 cup skim milk 1 cup S.R. Wholemeal Flour 1 cup Mixed Fruit 1/2 cup Honey 1/2 cup Walnuts Combine all ingredients well. Bake in a loaf pan sprayed with non-stick for 45 minutes @ 180C Serve sliced and spread with a little lite cream cheese or margarine. I'd also like to share with you a favourite quote of mine from Dr. Neils Carl Loenberg... "There's nothing like sex, good food, music and humour to stay fit, and overdoses are impossible." ------------------------------------------------------------ 5. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS ------------------------------------------------------------ Article: How To Create and Sell 500,000 Booklets Without Spending A Penny On Advertising ------------------------------------------------- By Paulette Ensign Way back in 1991, when my organizing business was already 8 years old, I spotted an offer for a free copy of a booklet called "117 Ideas For Better Business Presentations" . Well, because I do business presentations, and because the price was right, I sent for it. My first reaction was, 'geez, I could knock something like this out about organizing tips.' Then I threw it in a drawer. Six months later I was sitting in my office, bored, baffled and beaten down by the difficulty of selling my consulting services and workshops. I had no money. I mean no money! I remembered that little booklet. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but something hit me, and I knew I had to produce a booklet on organizing tips. I started dumping all those ideas I ever had about getting organized onto a file on my computer. These were all pearls that came out of my mouth when I was with clients or when I did a speaking engagement or a seminar. I could do one booklet on business organizing tips and another on household organizing tips. Two 16-page tips booklets, each fitting into a #10 envelope. The first one was "110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life" and the second one "111 Ideas for Organizing Your Household". My first run was 250 copies. That was the most expensive per-unit run I made, but I had to get samples to distribute to start making money. It took a few months to pay the printer only $300. The only way I could think of selling the booklets was by sending a copy to magazines and newspapers, asking them to use excerpts and put an invitation at the bottom for readers to send $3 plus a self-addressed stamped envelope. I had no money to advertise. Then the orders started dribbling in, envelopes with $3 checks in them or 3 one-dollar bills. This was great stuff. I remember the day the first one arrived. It was like manna from heaven:$3! Of course, the fact that it took about 6 months from first starting to write the booklet until the first $3 arrived somehow didn't matter at that moment. I cast seeds all over the place, hoping that some would sprout. I found directories of publications at the library and started building my list. Finally, February of 1992 'the big one hit. A 12-page biweekly newsletter with 1.6 million readers ran nine lines of copy ABOUT my booklet. They didn't even use excerpts!! That sold 5000 copies of my booklet. I distinctly remember the day I went to my P.O. box and found a little yellow slip in my box. It said, 'see clerk'. There was a TUB of envelopes that had arrived that day, about 250 envelopes as I recall, all with $3 in them. In April, that same biweekly newsletter ran a similar nine lines about my household booklet, starting all over again. This time I sold 3000 copies. Round about June, I stopped and assessed what had happened. Was I making any money? By then, I had sold about 15,000 copies of the business and the household organizing tips booklets one copy at a time for $3. When I checked my financial records, I realized I had tediously generated not a ton of money. And some of the lessons I had learned along the way were expensive ones. I didn't realize my bank was charging me $.12 for each item deposited until I got my first bank statement with a service charge of $191. Some very wonderful things happened while selling those 15,000 copies though. * A public seminar company ordered a review copy to consider building another product from my booklet. They did, and I recorded an audio program based on the booklet. I can sell that tape to my clients as well and it led to a 20-minute interview on a major airline's in-flight audio programming during November and December one year. * I was sorting through the envelopes, ...$3, $3, ,$1000, $3, ..... wait a minute. Well, a manufacturer's rep decided to send my booklets to his customers that year instead of an imprinted calendar. * A company asked me to write a booklet that was more specific to their product line. * I got speaking engagements from people who bought the booklet. * I found out that the list of people who bought my booklet was a saleable product. Things were starting to pick up. So, back to June and taking stock of where I was. You know those advertising card decks in the mail? Well, that day in June I was so bored, I opened one. Glancing through it, I said, 'jeez, here's a company that oughta see my booklet. And here's another one, and another one.' I sent booklets to each. Less than a week later, a woman called. At first, it sounded like a prospecting call. Fortunately, I wasn't too abrupt with her. She was calling to ask me the cost of 5000 customized copies of my booklet for an upcoming trade show. She wanted to know if I could match a certain price. I slightly underbid her price, she was thrilled and the sale was a done-deal. I thought, 'oh, this will be easy to sell large quantities now'. Wrong. It was another three-four months until the next large-quantity sale. But, the trade show they were attending was an organization I had contacted about getting my booklet into their catalog. They rejected it because I wasn't in their industry. So, my buyer had bought 5000 copies of my booklet, with my company information in it, to distribute at that trade show. I loved it! One day, a guy I know from a major consumer mail- order catalog company said, "Why don't you license us reprint rights to your booklet. We can buy print cheaper than you, so if you charged us a few cents a unit, you wouldn't have to do production." Well, 18 months later after lots of zigging and zagging that sale happened: a non-exclusive agreement for them to print 250,000 copies. We exchanged a ten-page contract for a five-digit check. They provided the booklet free with any purchase in one issue of their catalog and made a 13% increase in sales in that issue. They were happy.I was happy. I looked for other licensing prospects (even though it took eighteen months for this sale to happen, and the five-digit check was low five-digits, not enough to sustain me). Round about spring 1993, I designed a class on how to write and market booklets and wrote an 80-page manual. The class was small and mostly people I knew. They paid me money, and I had a chance to test-run the class. So now, I had another new product, an 80-page manual, a blueprint of how I had then sold more than 50,000 copies of my booklet without spending a penny on advertising. I like teaching and now I had a new topic besides the organizing I had been presenting. I also like traveling. So I took the 3-hour class on the road and had great fun doing it. I toured the country for about 2 years, 6-8 classes a year. Many people have written interesting booklets on all kinds of topics. Some have hired me to write a customized marketing plan for their booklet or to coach them by phone to develop their booklet business. Midway through that year (August 1994), I discovered CompuServe. My sole purpose for getting online was to market my business. The third day I was online, I saw a forum message from a guy from Italy who had a marketing company there. He told me his client base was small businesses and companies who served small businesses. I told him I had a booklet he might find useful. I sent it to him, he liked it and we struck a deal. He translated, produced and marketed it, and paid me royalties on all sales. This January he wired several thousand dollars to my checking account from Italy. He made the first sale of 105,000 copies to a magazine that bundled a copy of my booklet with one issue of their publication. That meant I have sold more than 400,000 copies of my booklet, in two languages, without spending a penny on advertising. One slow week, I posted a message on some CompuServe forums about the story of the Italian booklet as an example of an online success story. Even though blatant selling is not allowed, creating mutually beneficial relationships is. I had received money from someone I had never spoken to and had only communicated with online, by fax, earth mail and EFT. Folks who read those postings replied that they would be interested in doing the same thing with my booklet, but in French and in Japanese. This never even dawned on me. At this moment, I have discussions open with people in 10 different countries. Once these relationships are established, it makes sense to discuss brokering some of the other booklets I have access to among the people from my classes or whom I've coached or who have bought my manual. I've also discovered licensing opportunities for my booklet content in other formats. * Two different companies who produce laminated guides (one hinged, the other spiral bound) licensed my content and will launch these next year. They are also interested in other content so I expect to broker the content of booklet writers. * An in-flight video information service is interested in expanding their content and is looking at my proposal. * I've created a new division in my company called Tips Products International. * I've started writing tips for booklet production and other uses by developing three different packages of 25-100 tips and recommended uses. The tips packages are created from the clients' materials recycled into tips or doing original research for them. * I've been writing customized marketing plans for people's booklets for a while now, which fits into the menu of services for this division. I never could have written a business plan for how this has all unfolded. ************************************************************ Paulette Ensign has never taken a business course in her life. She taught string instruments in public elementary schools for eleven years, and did all her computer online work with no hard drive and a 2400 baud modem until recently. She has a complete how-to manual/video/booklet package and by-phone Tele-classes for the do-it-yourselfer, consulting services for those who prefer partnering, and full writing and production services for the delegator. Paulette Ensign, President Tips Products International booklets@compuserve.com http://www.tipsbooklets.com 12675 Camino Mira Del Mar #179 San Diego,CA 92130 Phone: 619-481-0890 Fax: 619-793-0880 ************************************************************ Article: Introduction to Networking Series : Part Three -------------------------------------------------------- by Nancy Roebke The purpose of this section will be to explain the various types of networking that are available to you. They are in many ways distinct, but they all succeed well based on the essential components : Connect, respect, and refer. ** Casual : Casual networking can happen anywhere, any time, and for any reason. It is the sort of thing that is spontaneous, usually based on recommendations from friends, and is normally just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. These types of referrals are based on personal feelings more than anything else. They are better than trying to run down new sales, but they are not normally the highest quality referrals. That will depend on the person you're dealing with but overall, people think they're doing you a favor by simply sending you work. They forget to think about the payment end of things. Or just what a nuisance their brother-in-law can really be. These tend to be haphazard things that many people consider an extra, rather than a regular part of doing business. That's a mistake. If you can get to the point where you are selective about which jobs you accept this can be a lucrative source of extra business for you. First, you have to recognise that it's not going to do you, or your friendships, any good for you to take work that costs you more than it's worth. You'll resent the person who recommended you, and likely make an enemy of the person to whom you were recommended. Be tactful always, but don't take the trouble jobs. Unless they are willing to pay the higher price you need to make it worth the time and effort. Once you have made that decision, life is much easier. Get into the habit of making sure that the people you meet know what you do for a living. Don't hit them with commercials during a social gathering, but it never hurts to say something nice about a customer. This gives them a very good image of you, and helps to make sure they remember you. Perhaps something like answering the question "How are you ?" with "Great ! I've been doing a kitchen remodeling job for a couple this week who are tremendous. This guy knows more funny jokes ... Super people." What image does this portray ? You respect and like your customers, first of all. Secondly, they like you, which usually means they like your work. Trouble free business, where everyone's happy. Does that sound like someone you want to do business with ? I'll bet it does... It also gets out the line of work you're in without making that an issue. That's secondary in your comment. The main point is how nice the people you are working with are. You have just created a solid, pleasant mindset for this person concerning you and your business. Yes, it's that quick The reverse can also happen if you talk badly about customers. Don't. By thinking of these sorts of things in advance, you have just stepped into the next phase of networking.... ** Directed/Personal : Still on the seemingly casual side, this is a more deliberate form of networking. It involves being aware of the opportunities involved in making sure people know what you do and have the kind of thinking that will encourage them to send you business. The person who uses this type of networking is usually known for their contacts, but not in an overt way. They'll often be the ones you hear people talk about when they say "I don't know. Ask Chris. Chris usually knows who to go to..." This is the person who has made the decision to take the first step and make the referrals to good businesses. They have learned to listen well and identify those businesses. And they treats others with respect and genuine concern for their well being. They also look for ways to match people up. The first thought in mind when they hear about a problem is "How can I help this person ? Who do I know that could handle this well for them ?" This type of networking evolves into actually putting yourself in situations where the people you meet are potential sources of referrals. This happens almost naturally, as people see that you do business on a quality level and treat them well. They will be comfortable introducing you to their friends and helping you along just as you have helped them or their friends. At this point, if you are consciously working on these areas, you have moved into the next level of networking skills .... ** Planned/Personal : This is the most profitable aspect of personal networking. It is also surprisingly easy to do. The idea here is to make sure that you have a conscious and a ctive plan to make new contacts each week. Do things that get you out and around new groups of people. Make yourself accessible to them. And remember the basics. Keep in mind that your circle of acquaintances is not necessarily limited to the people you know now. That last is an obvious statement, but it's one that people forget. If you make a real effort to be helpful or pleasant to people you don't know, they will likely return the favor, and will certainly be more receptive to getting to know you better. You know that already, but do you use that idea to widen your circle of contacts deliberately ? What kinds of activities are the best for this ? Anything that will put you in a setting where you get a chance to talk with new people. Some suggestions : * Attending trade shows * Taking adult education classes * Frequenting new businesses * Attending parties * Attending charity functions * Joining a gym/health club * Joining community organizations * Rotary/Kiwanis/Lions Clubs * Going to different restaurants * Chamber of Commerce meetings While at these places, keep in mind that you have a purpose of your own in addition to participation in the groups activities. Meeting people who can help you to get more business. The way to do that is to help them get more business. ************************************************************* Nancy Roebke is the Executive Director, for Profnet, Inc, a professional business lead generation corporation. She specializes in teaching business professionals how to generate more revenue for their firms through strong networking skills. Nancy has spent ten years working with entrepreneurs, after owning her own retail establishment for 9 years. She is a 1993 inductee into Who's Who, Who's Who in America, The Top 2000 Women in America, and a 1997 inductee into Who's Who Internationally. Nancy Roebke Execdirector@Profnet.Org Web: http://www.profnet.org Learn to Network! Increase income, cut costs, and put an end to cold calling. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter that teaches you the secrets of successful networking. mailto:subscribe@just-business.com ! ProfNet- Helping Business Professionals Find More Business ************************************************************* *Don't forget the New Subscriber contest! (see Welcome above)* -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice -------------------------------------------------------------- PRIVACY POLICY: Your privacy is important to us. 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