================================================================= A Better Life: ItsYourFuture! Be Happy Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper ================================================================= Vol. 3, No. 4 March 1st., 2001 ISSN 1442-5211 CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE ---------------------- 1. Our Sponsor 2. Welcome - From the Publisher 3. Our Motto 4. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE Inspiration: - The Legacy You Leave - Forgiveness - A World Village Humor: Ingratitude Romance: Great Ball Of Fire Article: Getting Grandma Online 5. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION Weights Work's Best Strength Exercise: The Squat How Many Calories Do You Need? Recipe Of The Month: Shrimp Fantasia 6. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS Feature Article: 10 Marketing Tips For Success 7. Our Companion Ezine 8. Classified Ads. 9. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice 10. Contact Information ================================================================= 1. Our Sponsor: ================================================================= Consider giving the gift of hope to a needy child this holiday season. Sponsor A Child. Click Here: http://www.onresponse.com/onR_Ads.asp?a=&d=1371 ================================================================= 2. Welcome from the Publisher ================================================================= Hi all! Welcome to the first MONTHLY ABL:IYF! You'll notice that it's a little larger than usual. I've tried to put a bit more in each issue for you. I hope that the size isn't a problem for you, and that you can take a bit of time to work your way through all the good 'stuff'. As you know, my other ezine is called Web Marketing Ezine. It's founded on the basis that at some time, in some way, everyone does some marketing. Yes, you too! Think about the fundraising for the PTA; recruiting for the Little League team; publicising your church's functions; helping a friend with their small business; or maybe evn getting started on your own! We all market at some time, and the Web is the way of the future. Hence WME. This issue, I'm happy to publish an article by a good friend I've made online, Shelley Lowery, which gives you the '10 Marketing Tips For Success'. There's lots of good advice there. I hope you can use it to your advantage. If it gets your creative juices flowing, why not subscribe to WME? The details are in Section 7. Until next time, John ================================================================= 3. Our Motto ================================================================= Our Motto is- "Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper." >From this Motto, we can define the three areas in which we intend to assist our readers. ================================================================= 4. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE ================================================================= Quote: "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius Inspiration: The Legacy You Leave --------------------------------- ©2001 Rick Beneteau All You will leave behind for the world to remember is Your Legacy, so ask yourself: Will you have earned the respect of your peers and the admiration of your critics? Will you have acted humbly at the peak of success and graceful in the face of defeat? Will you have kept your childlike wonder and reveled in the beauty of the world and the small miracles that each day brought? Will you be remembered for how often you laughed and brought smiles to the hearts of others? Will small children and the elderly have been overjoyed to be around you? Will others have trusted you with their inner most secrets? Will you have forgiven and offered heartfelt apology? Will you have looked for the very best, and done your utmost to build worth, in others? Will you have fed a hungry child or clothed a naked man or given hope to a stranger in dire need? Will you have left this world a better place by the life you have lived? Ask yourself, what kind of Legacy will You Leave? ----------------------------------------------------------------- This item was written in honor of Rick's father, who passed away in 1996. He must have been a wonderful human being. I'm proud to know Rick, and to be an affiliated with his business program at http://www.ezinemoney.net/sgx/d.cgi?2742 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Inspiration: Forgiveness ------------------------ Is it difficult for you to forgive? To let the past be past? It is for me. Nearly impossible sometimes. I'm a little like the elderly Virginian woman who lived to see her beloved Richmond occupied by Union troops after the American Civil War. The matron was walking down a Richmond street when she tripped over a step and fell. A Union soldier courteously helped her up. "How very kind of you, young man," she said acidly. "If there is a cool spot in hell, I hope you get it." Maybe it was still a bit early for her to let go of those deep-seated resentments. But angry and bitter lives are never happy lives. We are told that in the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he/she is taken to the center of the village. All work ceases and every man, woman and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused. Then the tribe bombards the rejected person with affirmations! One at a time, friends and family enumerate all the good the individual has done. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with some detail and accuracy is recounted. All their positive attributes, strengths and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length. Finally, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the outcast is welcomed back into the tribe. What a beautiful ritual of restoration! They replace hurt with happiness; pain with peace. Once again they are family. The rejected one is restored and the village is made whole. Paul Boese has said, "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." As brothers and sisters in our global village, is letting go of those resentments really an option? - More Encouragement From Steve Goodier ================================================================= My gift to you. Free Report: How To Write A Book in 14 Days or Less! Click here http://www.writeabooknow.com/welcome/write97now ================================================================= Inspiration: A World Village ---------------------------- My thanks to Jeff Davis, who sent me this item. It's based on a now-defunct website called WorldVillage, and it makes you realise how well off we are. If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following: There would be: 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south, 8 Africans 52 would be female 48 would be male 70 would be non-white 30 would be white 70 would be non-Christian 30 would be Christian 89 would be heterosexual 11 would be homosexual 6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States. 80 would live in substandard housing 70 would be unable to read 50 would suffer from malnutrition 1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education 1 would own a computer When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. Humor: Ingratitude ----------------- An old couple died in a car crash and go to heaven. They had been in good health their entire lives due to the wife's interest in health food and exercise. When they reached the pearly gates, St. Peter met them and took them to their mansion. As they looked everything over, the old man asked Peter how much the place was going to cost. "Everything's free," Peter replied, "this is Heaven." Peter then took the couple out to see the championship golf course that bordered the home and explained that the course changed to a new one each week representing the great golf courses on earth. The man asked, "What are the green fees?" Peter replied, "This is heaven, so you play for free." Peter then took them to the club house and showed them the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisine's of the world laid out. "How expensive is the menu?" asked the man. "You mean you don't understand yet? Peter replied with some exasperation. This is heaven, it is free." "Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?" the old man asked timidly. Peter patiently explained, "That's the best part ... you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is Heaven." With that the old man went into a fit of anger, throwing down his hat, stomping on it, and shrieking wildly. Peter and the man's wife both tried to calm him down, asking him what was wrong. The old man looked at his wife and said, "This is all your fault. If it weren't for your blasted bran muffins, I could have been here ten years ago!" Romance: Great Ball Of Fire --------------------------- by Michael Webb Holidays and special anniversaries are wonderful reminders for romance. However, they are also the most predictable. A small but meaningful gesture on an "ordinary day" often has more impact than a larger investment on an "expected day." One way to encourage spontaneous romance is with a Friendship Ball/Box. Find a nice small hollow ball or box. It is important that it can be opened and shut. The friendship ball is almost like a "hot potato." You are supposed to put a little treasure inside and place it for your love to find. Then it is their turn to fill it up and give it back to you. The intention is to be a never ceasing exchange of tokens of love. You might choose to place the ball inside the refrigerator with a hand picked flower or a piece of luscious chocolate inside. It could be returned to your pillow with tickets to the theater or a favorite comic strip. The exchange could possibly go on indefinitely. Regardless if it does or not, hopefully the romance in your relationship will always be on fire. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Webb is author of The RoMANtic's Guide: Hundreds of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love, available from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786884347/itsyourfuture For more of Michael's FREE tips, visit http://www.TheRomantic.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsor---------------------------------------------------------- Tried self-help books, tapes and seminars but didn't get what you wanted? FREE five lesson class reveals why and shows you how to improve the results you produce. Visit: http://www.lifechangetips.com/t.cgi/101892 WARNING: don't click on the link unless you're open-minded and are willing to innovative! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Getting Grandma Online ---------------------- by Tom Glander I was talking to a psychiatrist friend about what I'm doing for a living. "I quit the health center. Did you know that?" "No! What are you doing now, destroying your health by sitting in front of a TV all day?" "Kind of like that. Working full time at my Internet business." "Really! You must be doing okay for yourself then? I mean mentally?" The conversation went forward with more discussion, then moved on to the benefits of a senior owning a computer and connecting to the world. Nothing more was mentioned about my mental wellness, thank you very much. Even if he is a shrink. I mentioned the idea of getting a computer for grandma, and showing her how to make new friends by email. He thought this was a tremendous idea. "Why don't you start your own company that gets computers for the elderly and shut-ins and teaches them how to use them?" "It's already being done." The facts are that computers and the Internet have changed the lives of millions of people. Disability becomes a non-issue on the Web. It's a whole world of wonder, new friends, gossip, story telling, and incredible community. No longer can we use the term "shut in" without considering the impact of email, video mail, and instant connectivity. If your loved ones aren't hooked up, but could be, don't waste another minute wondering if it's something you should do. Get Grandma a computer. Then go and visit her every week to teach her how to use it. Or send her to The Newbie Club at http://www.newbieclub.com?free_membership and we'll help. And yes, our flagship program, Windows for Newbies comeshighly recommended. Oh, and don't forget Grandpa. Or Uncle, or Aunty, or anyone else who may be able to put one of these machines to good use. My own grandmother lives 3,000 miles away, and is too far for me to make a quick visit to get her connected. But if you live in the Napa Valley in Northern California and feel the need to help out a kindly little elderly lady, just let me know. Too old to learn? Nah. It just takes a very patient teacher and lots of lists. And that's all I have to say about that. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Glander, together with partner Joe Robson, brings you 'The Newbie Club'- a wonderfully useful website full of encouragement and information... http://www.newbieclub.com?free_membership ----------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================= 5. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION ================================================================= Quote: "The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than thirty percent of the people in this world." - Bob Orben Weights Work's Best Strength Exercise: The Squat ------------------------------------------------ If you aren't doing squats in your gym workout, then you don't have a workout. It shapes the body and develops performance power, asserts Don Chu, Ph.D., director of the physical-therapy program at Ohlone College in Newark, California. "It's the easiest power move to learn, and you'll see the fastest results," both in strength and muscle size, adds Jason Pulido, personal training manager at the Crunch gym in lower Manhattan. To get more out of the squat: Focus on squatting deeper, rather than heavier. The key is to descend until the tops of your thighs are parallel to the floor, while still keeping your heels on the floor and maintaining the natural arch in your lower back. (Use a light weight until you develop the correct form.) This deeper squat builds muscle faster and is safer for your knees than a squat in which you stop before your thighs are parallel to the floor. When you cut a squat short like that, you turn your knees into brakes. And you know what happens to brakes. They wear out. How Many Calories Do You Need? ------------------------------ by Shannon Entin- Editor of FitnessLink If you're searching for the perfect formula to determine your caloric needs, you're likely to find quite a few variations. What I like to do is calculate my "needs" from a few different formulas, then take an average. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council offers this guide for determining approximate daily caloric intake needed to maintain your body weight: * very sedentary (movement restricted such as patient confined to house)- 13 cal/lb (calories per pound of body weight) * sedentary (most Americans, office job, light work) - 14 cal/lb * moderate activity (weekend recreation) - 15 cal/lb * very active (meet ACSM standards for vigorous exercise 3x/wk) - 16 cal/lb * competitive athlete (daily vigorous activity in high energy sport) - 17+ cal/lb Remember that this is to *maintain* body weight - you'll need to cut calories and exercise more if your goal is to lose weight and you may need to increase calories if you are working to build muscle. Here's another formula to try: http://www.fitnesslink.com/nutrition/calorie.shtml AOL users click here for calorie requirements Sponsor---------------------------------------------------------- Want to win Free Cash every day? Try the newest Freebie site on the Internet today, FreebieClub.com. Of course it's loaded with free loot: great vacations, magazines and samples galore! Check it out and pass it on-it's worth it! The more people you tell, the more chances YOU get for cash. Get Free Stuff Today! Just Click http://www.freebieclub.com/FC_myFreebies.asp?a=11168 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Recipe Of The Month: Shrimp Fantasia ------------------------------------ This simple, tasty, one-skillet meal can be served over any whole grain or pasta. 1 pound shrimp, thawed and deveined 1 tsp. Dark toasted sesame oil 4 medium plum tomatoes, small and diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 scallions, chopped 1 1/2 tsp. mild curry paste or 1 1/2 tsp. total of curry spices (cumin, chili, coriander) Freshly ground black pepper and tamari to taste A nice amount of fresh basil, chopped Heat sesame oil in large skillet, saute scallions, garlic, ginger and spices for two minutes. Add shrimp and cook for two minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, pepper and tamari. Cook on medium heat until shrimp are done and tomatoes are heated through. Serves 4-5. (Courtesy the "New Life Guide to Healthy Eating" by Jimmy LeSage with Gretchen Salisbury. To enjoy more delicious recipes like this, visit the New Life Hiking Spa at http://www.newlifehikingspa.com ) ================================================================= 6. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS ================================================================= Quote: "It is my observation that being beaten is often a temporary condition, that giving up is what makes it permanent. - Marilyn Vos Savant 10 Marketing Tips For Success ----------------------------- by Shelley Lowery 1. FREE... I got your attention, didn't I. Offer a free report, e-book or "how to" course. Information is the top selling product online. You can use this to your benefit by offering free information. - As a sample of your information product (teaser) - To identify a problem and promote your products or services by providing a solution - To bring traffic to your site Providing free information is a great way to build a targeted list of contacts. Pick up free autoresponders at the following sites: - SendFree - http://www.sendfree.com/ - GetResponse - http://www.getresponse.com/ - Fast Facts - http://www.fastfacts.net/ - MyReply - http://www.myreply.com/ - AutoBot - http://www.autobot.net For more information about creating an e-book read the article entitled, "How To Create An E-book & Drive Massive Traffic To Your Site By Giving It Away..." http://www.web-source.net/ebook_creation.htm 2. Newsletter (e-zine) - Start your own newsletter and begin creating your online community of contacts. Visit any of these sites to create your list, free. - Onelist - http://www.onelist.com - Egroups - http://www.egroups.com - Listbot - http://www.listbot.com 3. Write Articles - There are thousands of online publications looking for quality content. Writing and distributing your articles will provide you with free massive exposure. After you've written your article, subscribe to these publications to assist you in getting published. - Article Announce - An article announcement list providing free content to hundreds of ezines, newsletters, magazines and web sites. Writers announce your articles free. Subscribe - mailto:article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com - Writers and Publishers Connection Newsletter Where publishers announce their article needs. Subscribe - mailto:Writers98@aol.com with subscribe Writers and Publishers in the subject. 4. E-zine Advertising - The best form of advertising available online. Reach thousands of targeted potential customers very inexpensively. Ruth Townsend of Lifestyle Publishing offers a complete listing of publications, ad costs, circulation and more in "The Directory of Ezines." - http://www.lifestylespub.com/cgi-bin/ezines.cgi?11914 5. Classified Ads - Continuously place classified ads. People DO read the classifieds. This is very time consuming and you may want to purchase an auto posting software. - BeCanada - http://www.becanada.com/ - Classify 98 - http://www.trellian.net/classify/index.html For a listing of some of the top classified ad sites, visit: http://www.web-source.net/web/Classified_Ad_Sites/ Free For All Link sites - Continuously submit your link to free for all sites. This can also be very time consuming so may want to use a software program. You can download FFA Blaster free of charge. This software will instantly submit your link to 100 Free For All sites. An upgrade is available which will post your link to over 8,000 sites. - FFA Blaster - http://www.submitad.com/ 6. Press Release - Write a quality press release about your product or service and tell the world! For more information on press releases, visit any of these sites: - IdeaMarketers.com http://www.ideamarketers.com/ - Press Promoter http://www.presspromoter.com/ - PRweb http://www.prweb.com/ 7. Networking - Create a network of like-minded marketers to help promote one another, provide recommendations, exchange prominent links, etc., Note: Be cautious when selecting your networking partners and making recommendations as your reputation is on the line. Only network with individuals you truly believe in. 8. Newsgroups - Post to appropriate newsgroups. For a complete listing, visit: http://www.deja.com/ 9. Discussion Lists & Boards - Subscribe to appropriate email lists and visit discussion boards to participate in online discussions. Although blatant advertising is not permitted, signatures are acceptable. Visit Web-Source.net for a listing of some of the top discussion boards. - http://www.web-source.net/web/Discussion_Forums/ Visit List Universe for a complete listing of email discussion lists. - http://list-universe.com/ 10. Offline Promotions - Advertise in newspapers, magazines, on the radio, TV, etc., Visit these sites for complete listings. Gebbie Press - http://www.gebbieinc.com/ NewsDirectory Newspapers - http://www.ecola.com/news/press/ Newspapers Online - http://www.newspapers.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shelley Lowery is the Webmaster of Web-Source.net - A complete resource portal for the Internet entrepreneur. The site assists the entrepreneur in developing a serious Web presence by providing a wealth of free information, resources, tools and content. http://www.web-source.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================= 7. Our Companion Ezine: ================================================================= ===================== WEB MARKETING EZINE ===================== Let us help YOU succeed on the Web with Tips, Tools, News & Views on Web Marketing and E-Commerce, from a street-smart Marketer. Subscribe FREE at: http://www.itsyourfuture.net/ezines.shtml Or mailto:webmarketing-subscribe@itsyourfuture.net =============== THE HUMAN FACE OF WEB MARKETING =============== ================================================================= 8. Classified Advertisements: ================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Most Important Letter You'll Read This Year If you don't have much money to spend promoting your business or if you're sick and tired of wasting time and money on gimmicks that don't work (like bulk email, free-for-all link sites, classified ads and so forth), then this will be the most important letter you read this year. Read about your business's future at: http://www.ezinemoney.net/sgx/d.cgi?2742 ----------------------------------------------------------------- TO SUCCEED ON THE WEB YOU NEED A PRODUCT- YOUR OWN PRODUCT! Take the FREE InfoProduct Masters course... It's an intensive 5-Day e-mail course on creating, producing and online-selling your very own infoproduct. Take your first step to independence. Just send a blank e-mail to timsitsyourfuture@sitesell.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- Article Announce - Writer & Publisher Connection - Designed to get writers published and assist e-zine publishers in finding the articles they need. A complete listing of available articles for publication delivered to your email address. Subscribe: mailto:article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- WOMEN! THIS LIST IS FOR YOU! THE BALANCED WOMAN! Parenting tips, household hints, ideas for pampering yourself, articles on subjects such as time management, money management and more. Subscribe to The balanced Woman. It's easy and it's FREE. Just send a blank email to; TheBalancedWoman-SUBSCRIBE@egroups.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- Click here and send a blank e-mail to receive The Affiliate Masters course... It's an intensive 5-Day e-mail course on becoming a high-earning affiliate champion. Its Your Future! mailto:tamsitsyourfuture@sitesell.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- More Than 50% Of A Website's Traffic Comes From Search Engines Get your FREE WebPosition Gold Software: Invaluable tool to save you time and to help build traffic to your web site. WebPosition Gold reports your site's search positions and then helps you improve them. http://www.webposition.com/d2.pl?r=IT0-557E ----------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================= How Much Is One Good Sales Letter Worth To Your Business? Yanik Silver has created the ultimate no-brainer, fill-in-the- blank sales letter writing resource. In less than 3 minutes you can create a winning letter guaranteed to sell your product or service...WITHOUT WRITING! Check out =====> http://www.instantsalesletters.com/al/affiliates.cgi?959 ================================================================= ================================================================= 9. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice ================================================================= PRIVACY POLICY: Your privacy is important to us. We will not, under any circumstances, divulge your details to a third party, without your approval. DISCLAIMER: A Better Life:ItsYourFuture! Ezine is intended to increase your knowledge of the opinions and options in the fields that we cover. Its contents should not be used to replace professional advice. If you use this information without the approval of a qualified professional, no responsibility can be taken. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of A Better Life:ItsYourFuture! A Better Life:ItsYourFuture! may only be redistributed in its unedited form. You are welcome to forward it to as many people as you wish, with our thanks. Written permission must be obtained to reprint or quote original material published in the Ezine. ================================================================= 10. Subscription and Contact Information ================================================================= TO SUBSCRIBE: mailto: ItsYourFuture-subscribe@itsyourfuture.net TO UNSUBSCRIBE: mailto:ItsYourFuture-unsubscribe@egroups.com SEND A MESSAGE: ItsYourFuture@egroups.com ARCHIVE: http://www.egroups.com/list/ItsYourFuture ================================================================= This ezine is a member of Ezine PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION. Join Free At: http://www.EzinePublisher.org ================================================================= ================================================================= ItsYourFuture is published By John Payne AAMI AIMM At March 1st.,2001, 1426 subscribers in 48 countries ================================================================= Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/