Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - Volume 2 Issue 17
Colin Evans, Editor (mailto:
)
In this issue
- From the Editor
- Featured Success Article - Happiness is Yours for the Taking - By Chris Widener
- Featured Online Marketing Article - What's the #1 Thing People Do Wrong? - By Joe Vitale
- Motivational Quotes
- Take A Break - Whales...
- Tell Me what You Think
From the Editor - Colin Evans
Hi Everyone 
Welcome to this edition of Cols-A-To-Z.
My long time dream of going into space is getting closer to be
being fullfilled.
Burt Rutan's pioneering SpaceShipOne is going to be launched
tomorrow, Wednesday, September 29 from Mojave Airport. If all
goes well, a second fight is scheduled for Monday, October 4.
This is a bid to claim a $10 million prize by putting a
privately financed manned craft into sub-orbital space.
Under the terms of the Ansari X Prize, a team must be able to
launch, land and re-launch the same spacecraft capable of
carrying three passengers within a two-week period to collect
the prize money.
And on Monday, Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson announced
plans to offer private trips into space from 2008 in a deal
with Rutan's partner Paul Allen (a Microsoft founder) of
Mojave Aerospace Ventures that would utilize the SpaceShipOne
technology.
Wow! Within the next ten years I'm going to be in space.
Something to consider when setting up your own goals is that
you don't have to rely purely on your own efforts. There are
times when the efforts of other people will help you succeed.
In this case my dream (soon to be goal) is going to become
reality through the efforts of people like Burt Rutan and
Richard Branson, I don't have to do anything out of the
ordinary. All I have to do is make enough money to pay for
the ticket.
Now, back down to earthly matters...
I have some gifts for you
I have created an e-Book download area at the Cols-A-to-Z
website and have added the following e-Books to it:
- Guaranteed Success Thinking - By Jim Edwards
- The Secret To Winning Every Time -By Jim Edwards
- Millionaire Mindset Secrets - By Leslie Fieger
- Napoleon Hill's 13 Success Principles revealed and Explained - By Leslie Fieger
- Taking Stock - a Self-Assessment Guide to Create a Fulfilling and Rewarding Life! - By Leslie Fieger
They are a gift to you, and you can download them here:
>> http://www.cols-a-to-z.com/ebooks.html <<
One last issue...
I have decided to start making ad swops with other e-zines. The
subscriber base of Cols-A-To-Z is quite small and if I want to
travel into space within the next ten years, I better earn some
money.
While there will be advertisements in future editions of this
e-zine they will be topical and tasteful. You have no idea how
I have agonized over this decision, but making enough money to
be financially independent is one of my goals.
Passing on eveything I learn to help other people reach finincial
independence is another of my goals, so making this e-zine
profitable is one way to accomplish both.
Until the next time...
Featured Success Article - Happiness is Yours for the Taking - By Chris Widener
Happiness. The pursuit of so many. In fact, we are known in
America as those who live for "Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.'
But so many seem without happiness. Why is this? Is happiness
truly elusive or do we simply not know how to take hold of it?
It is my contention that happiness is yours for the taking. That
is, anyone can be happy if the choose to be - and if they know
how to get it.
So what does it take to bring us to a state of happiness? Here
are a few thoughts to get you on your way:
Do not try to control circumstances. One of the biggest
"happiness busters" I see is in the frustration people experience
(and wallow in) because circumstances have gone awry. This is
because their mind-set, whether they know it or not, is that they
should be somehow able to control circumstances. But let's get
this straight: You can't! So the first thing you can do to give
yourself happiness is to stop trying to control, or taking
responsibility for circumstances that are outside of your
control!
Understand that you can only control yourself. There is only one
thing you can control in this world and that is yourself. You
can't control the weather, other drivers, your kids or spouse, or
anything for that matter outside of your own beliefs, thoughts,
attitudes and actions. Focus all of your attention on developing
yourself and doing what is right controlling yourself while
letting what will happen, happen - and you will find happiness
opening up within you.
Decide what it is that you want out of life and then stick to it
relentlessly. This is two parts: First, know what you want. Get
real clear with yourself. Take a private retreat to be alone if
you have to, but come to grips with what you want your life to
look like.
Secondly, devote yourself to that passion and do not be
sidetracked. It is interesting to me how many options we have -
good options - that if we pursue them they will actually crush
our happiness because they will take us away from what will
really make us happy.
Live for a legacy. We cannot be self-absorbed and live only for
ourselves. Yes, we only control ourselves, but we can live for
the betterment of others. Live your life in such a way that
others are touched and you will find yourself feeling happiness
in ways that you could never imagine. For example, I get some of
the most touching emails from people I have never met (and
probably never will) who tell me how I have helped them. There
is little else that brings me such happiness!
Settle your finances. Whatever your financial goals are, get
them! Having poor finances is one of the major causes of
unhappiness. Now, some people are completely content on $30,000
a year. Others need $200,000 a year. That is okay. We all have
different desires, needs, and goals. But the key is to know what
you want your financial life to look like and then do what it
takes to get there. Among the major things to do is to eliminate
as much debt as possible, if not all!
Surround yourself with good friends. Good friend are such a
blessing! I have some of the most intelligent, capable,
successful, and caring friends a person could have. I have three
or four people in my life that I completely trust and admire.
When friendships are clicking, there is almost nothing that
provides more happiness. Take time to develop your friendships.
Spend time with them, do fun things with them etc. Even as life
gets more and more busy, make time with your friends a priority.
Develop your primary love relationship. I spoke at a groom's
dinner recently and one of the points I made was that marriage
will show you both heaven and hell! Marriage, when it is going
well will send you out the door each morning on cloud nine. When
it isn't going well, it affects every area of your life
negatively. Do whatever you can - work hard - at developing your
primary love relationship. The rewards of happiness you reap
will be tremendous!
Happiness is yours for the taking and hope you will take the
time to develop your life in such a way as to be able to
experience all of the happiness you can handle!
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made
for Success and Extraordinary Leaders, two companies helping individuals and
organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their
lives and achieve their dreams.
Join subscribers in over 100 countries around the
world! Get Chris' FREE weekly Made for Success E-zine by sending a blank email
to
.
Get his FREE daily SuccessQuote™ with action point
by sending a blank email to
.
Get his FREE monthly
Extraordinary Leaders E-zine, one of the world's most widely distributed leadership
newsletters, by sending a blank email to
or visit his
websites at
http://www.madeforsuccess.com
and http://www.extraordinaryleaders.com
Copyright 2002-2004 Made for Success. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Featured Online Marketing Article - What's the #1 Thing People Do Wrong? - By Joe Vitale
I admit it. I'm frustrated. I'm tired of getting emails from
people who write, "I can't do what you did because ---."
Just fill in the blank with whatever excuse you can think of.
People say they can't write as many books as I have because they
don't have the time, or they're too old, or too young, or too
married, or too single.
People say they can't make their book a best-seller like I did
because their book is different, or they're different, or the
timing is different.
People say they can't ask celebrities for endorsements because
they feel insignificant, or insulting, or imposing.
The list of excuses is endless. Here are some more actual ones
I've received:
"You're more famous than me. I could never write people and ask
for their help, as they wouldn't give me the time of day."
I started asking people for help, advice, input, suggestions and
direction when I was a teenager. I have letters from FBI king J.
Edgar Hoover, boxing legend Jack Dempsey, and master magician
John Mulholland. I was certainly unknown then. Yet people always
helped me. I've managed to connect with Evel Kneivel, Donald
Trump, Jimmy Carter, best-selling authors and more--- and I did
it before anyone knew my name. I simply ASKED for their help.
They were kind and replied. Today I'm doing the same for anyone
who writes me who sounds sincere and respectful.
"You have a large network of people to ask for things."
Yes, I do. NOW. But I didn't when I first started. I developed my
network by building relationships. I reached out to people,
helped them, they helped me, and trust was formed. Because I've
nurtured my relationships online for almost ten years now, a bond
is set. When I announce that I want contributions for a new book,
my network responds. When they want something, I respond. I was
able to compile all the information for my most recent book, "The
E-Code: 47 Surprising Secrets for Making Money Online Almost
Instantly," in less than 7 days --- all because I asked my
network for help.
"You have a big mailing list so you can sell things faster."
I went online with no mailing list. NONE. I didn't even recognize
the importance of having my own list until one day I offered my
first e-class to my then tiny list and made $22,500 in one week.
Then I woke up. I've been working on building my email list ever
since. Anyone can do it. And while you're waiting to do it, you
can always joint-venture with people who already have mailing
lists. How? Just ASK. One day some person in Norway wrote me. He
wanted to know if I would help him sell his new software. I liked
his program and agreed. He didn't have a list. I did. He had
software. I liked it. I did a mailing and split the profits with
him. It was a win-win.
"You are more talented as a copywriter so you can sell better
than me."
I learned to be a copywriter by investing time, money and effort
into studying the greats and getting out there and doing it. My
first sales letters were garbage. I still write and rewrite to
make my letters as hypnotic as I can. I wasn't born writing,
reading, or even walking. I learned it all. Can't you?
"I don't have anything to offer free to get people to buy what I
am selling."
There are a million things for free online. You can find
thousands--- thousands!---of free e-books online. Just grab a few
and offer them as your incentives to get people to buy your
product or service. Anyone can do this. Just look around online.
The fruit is there for the picking. I've seen people take
classics of literature---now in the public domain and available
as e-books---and offer them as incentives for prospects to buy
their product. It works. How do you find them? SEARCH.
"I can't teach an e-class like you because I have no
credentials."
Your credentials are you. They are your life experiences more
than anything else. Few today care about whether you have a
degree or any other credential. They care if you can deliver on
whatever you promise. My lifemate, Nerissa, is about to teach an
online video editing class. Anything you can teach off-line can
be taught on-line. With video, audio, graphics, text, and chat
rooms, you can have a virtual classroom on ANYTHING you can
imagine. Why not?
"I can't make money selling my stuff on the Internet."
Look around. The Internet is so big and vast and even
incomprehensible that truly anything can be sold online. I've
seen people sell tumble weeds and buggy whips, greeting cards and
computer generated art. Anything sold off-line can be sold
on-line. Go look at Ebay. People sell cars, used clothes, dirt
and even snow there. I once sold an "Elvis Mermaid" at Ebay. (You
can see a picture of it at www.mrfire.com) Are there really any
limits to what can be sold online?
"I missed the right time to sell my idea."
Really? Just look at the title of one of my books: "There's A
Customer Born Every Minute." A new crowd of prospects appears
every single day. You can sell virtually anything at virtually
any time if you think of what people want and cater to them.
Sometimes you have to think of other uses for the same product,
or other audiences than what you originally had in mind. But the
best time to sell what you have is now. What are you waiting for?
"You live in America and I live in Mexico and selling doesn't
work here."
Give me a break. Friends of mine always go to Mexico (and other
countries said to be behind us) and they come home with truck
loads of things they bought. Besides that, with the Internet,
where you live is almost meaningless. Take your product and go
online. Then you're not selling to your poor neighbors, but to
the entire planet.
Think BIG.
The list goes on and on.
To me, excuses are the #1 thing people do wrong -- online and
off. While all of these excuses seem legit to the person saying
them, they are virtually all hogwash.
Excuses are beliefs. If you buy into them, you're stuck. If you
believe instead that there's always a way around whatever the
excuse is, then you'll move forward. My philosophy is, "There is
ALWAYS a way."
So let me try to help you here.
First, what are your excuses?
When I began this article by asking the question, "I can't do
what you did because ---", what did you say? How did you complete
the sentence? Those are some of your excuses.
Second, ask yourself if there's any way on earth to get around
your excuses. In other words, are the excuses you stated real or
imagined? Have you tried to get past any of them? Has anyone
else, ever, gotten past the same excuses?
Finally, what would you do if you had no excuses?
Whatever your answer, get out there and JUST DO IT.
Leave your excuses behind and your prosperity will begin to come
to you.
Leave your excuses behind and you can achieve success, too.
Leave your excuses behind and your life will begin to soar.
If you don't act now, why not?
Whatever your answer, THAT'S an excuse.
Are you going to let it stop you?
Dr. Joe Vitale's most recent book, co-authored with Jo Han Mok
and a cast of Internet celebrities and super stars, is "The
E-Code: 47 Surprising Secrets for Making Money Online Almost
Instantly." Joe is also the author of the #1 Amazon best-seller,
"Spiritual Marketing," the author of the #1 best-selling e-book
"Hypnotic Writing," and the author of the #1 best-selling
Nightingale-Conant audioprogram, "The Power of Outrageous
Marketing." His newest book is "Adventures Within: Confessions of
an Inner World Journalist," available now at www.amazon.com
Sign-up for his free monthly newsletter at http://www.mrfire.com
Motivational Quotes
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.
- Winston Churchill
If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there
isn’t any limit to what you can do with your business and your
life.
- Harvey Firestone
Take A Break - Whales...
A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to
swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal
its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow
a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl: said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher: asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl: replied, "Then you ask him".
Tell Me What You Think
I would love to hear what you think of this issue of the "Cols-A-To-Z" Newsletter.
And of course, if you have any suggestions for upcoming issues that you'd like to
share with me, please send those, too!
Just e-mail me at:
To subscribe to my "Cols-A-To-Z" Newsletter, go to the following URL:
http://www.cols-a-to-z.com/join.html
Written by Colin Evans
Editor, Cols-A-To-Z.com
88 Central Parade
Herne Bay
Kent
United Kingdom
CT6 5JJ
+01227 740171
© copyright 2004 Cols-A-To-Z.com
