A Plum In The Syrup

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A Plum In The Syrup

Welcome
First things firstthank you very much for your interest in my book.
I've been an entrepreneur for the better part of the past 20 years. I've been through a lot in the realm of
business over that time. And when you go through a lot that also means that you've been learning a lot.
So now that I have a solid 20 years under my belt as both a success and a failure as an entrepreneur, I
felt that now is the time for me to write this book.
I recognize your unique individuality. I am therefore careful to point out that I do not proclaim this book
to be a road map or blue print for success. This is not a "How To" book.
Rather, based on my many years of experience, I'm offering you truths, suggestions and observations
I've used to reach a point in my life where I'd consider myself a success. Which also reminds me; you are
a success when you consider yourself to be successful not when somebody else considers you
successful. I ask that you never let anyone else define the word success for you; you can only define it
for yourself. As you'll discover within the pages of this book, the word success, as you define it, is as
unique as your thumbprint.
So again I thank you and ask that you please keep in touch and tell me what you think of both this book
and the Easy Reader publishing model. The best way to reach me is through one of the links found
below. Thank you

Blog: http://www.DanielHerzner.com visit my blog today where you will find a

comprehensive library of well over 100 free eBooks
Facebook: http://www.DanielHerzner.com/facebook

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A Plum In The Syrup

PLEASE READ THIS VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:

In addition to writing the book "A Plum In The Syrup", I've also developed and have patented The Easy
Reader Publishing Model. This book is the first in literary history to be published using the Easy Reader
model. This publishing model was developed to help you boost your reading speed by as much as 100%
or more when reading books and documents on a computer screen or digital reader. People are looking
for a better, more efficient way to absorb information and this model will help them do just that.
Reading books and documents when rendered on a computer monitor presents a unique set of
challenges. Namely, skim reading is a method used by many to get through an electronic document
more quickly. The Easy Reader publishing model will assist with skim reading.
Here are the two rules to keep in mind to get the most from the Easy Reader publishing model: 1) Every
other line of a paragraph is rendered backwards. The words themselves in backwards lines are right
reading but the line itself is backwards. (Confused? Don't be you'll soon see for yourself how easy it is
to read a backwards sentence.) Rendering the book's text in this way will enable you to read in a zigzag
pattern rather than dragging your eyes back across the page. Reading this way will boost your reading
speed considerably with no loss of reading comprehension. 2) The first line of every paragraph is
rendered right reading, left to right, regardless of how the last line in the previous paragraph was
rendered.
Just a quick note: you may find The Easy Reader Publishing Model a bit awkward at first. That is both
understandable and expected. The mind will at first be somewhat resistant to reading this way but that
is merely because the mind is naturally resistant to change. This type of change in the way we read is so
negligible that you will be able to make the required adjustment after only the first few paragraphs. To
get the most from Easy reader, allow your eyes to scan ahead as you normally would when reading a
traditionally published sentence. Before you know it you'll be reading with an increased speed that you
never before thought possible.
So again I thank you and ask that you please keep in touch and tell me what you think of both this free
chapter and the Easy Reader publishing model. The best way to reach me is through my blog see
below.
Remember a traditional reading pattern requires that you read in one direction; from left to right, left
to right and so on. You are about to read in a zigzag left to right, right to left pattern. Give yourself the
first page to get used to reading this way and I'm sure you'll find reading the rest of the text to be a
breeze.
Please not the "end of line" indicators - < or > - to help you with your reading flow.

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A Plum In The Syrup

Heres the HONEST ABE Copyright

Notice
This book is copyrighted material by Transformation Time
Is Now, LLC and Daniel Herzner. This book belongs to you
and you alone. You may not resell it or give it away. If you
feel that somebody else would benefit from ownership of
this book then I ask that you please direct them to my
web site so that they can gain access to their own copy:
http://www.APlumInTheSyrup.com
Is there any way that I can ensure you will follow this
copyright notice? No there isn't.
But, if you are reading this notice and have not accessed
this book for yourself then you are in violation of business
decency. And, what comes around goes around so one
day you will get yours.
So, Im assuming you have gotten your own copy of this
book and your ownership of it will test your honesty.
I also ask that you not save the download link to this book
in any social bookmark web sites.
I thank you for having gotten a copy of this book and for
respecting this copyright notice.

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A Plum In The Syrup

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction

.......

P. 6

Prologue

P. 11

1 Evolution Is The Key To Your Success .

P. 15

2 No Excuses .

P. 20

3 The Nature Of Things

P. 24

4 Niche Yourself

P. 31

5 Identify A Trend And Get In Its Way .

P. 35

6 Create A Trend

7 Your Most precious Asset

P. 39

P. 43

P. 50

8 It's Better To Receive Then To Give

9 Believe In Yourself .

P. 54

10 Caustic Brain Farts .

P. 58

11 Stay Tuned In To Life's Lessons

P. 64

12 Focus On The Needs Of Others

P. 72

13 Do Not Make Other People's Problems Your Problem

P. 75

14 Do Not Subjugate Yourself To Failure

P. 79

15 Keep It Real

P. 83

16 To Be, Act As If

P. 91

P. 95

17 A Plum In The Syrup

Appendix A
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Please be sure to check Appendix A after reading this book for a very special message.

P. 101

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A Plum In The Syrup

Introduction
If there's any one thing I've learned about success over the years is that there is no
the of number a discussing be I'll book this of pages the Throughout .formula secret
things I see as integral to success. That's not to say that everything I touch upon is
.required absolutely
In fact, will I touch on all traits found in a successful person? No, that would not be
.book single a in accomplish to possible
Having said that, there are a number of traits common to all successful individuals:
the ,However .on goes list the and work hard ,wisely time using ,successfully thinking
complete picture of what makes person A successful as opposed to what has enabled
.different massively be can successful become to B person
The path you travel to success will be as unique as your thumb print. So there are two
for worked has what ;success to journey your on remember to need you things
somebody else will not necessarily work for you and achieving your goals is not a
are You .else anybody against progress your measure Don't .race a not it's ,contest
100% unique so the path you travel will be 100% unique.
Allow me to clarify this some for you. I've been involved in real estate investing and I
a niches of importance the on more) investing sale short in myself for niche a out carved
bit later in the book). In case you're not familiar, short selling is a strategy commonly
its and foreclosure in is property a If .estate real foreclosed with dealing when used
value is lower than the amount of money still owed to the bank, the lender or lenders on
short as to referred is This .owed is what than less take to willing be may property the
selling the property.
I learned short selling by taking a weekend foreclosure investing seminar. Everything
an structuring ,owner the with ethically dealing ,property foreclosed locating as insofar
offer for the lender, dealing with property appraisals, lining up new financing to pay off
this attending After .out laid neatly was transaction the of facets other all and note the

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seminar, short selling real estate seemed simple enough and seemed to make sense
.involved parties all for
Well, what you learn inside of a seminar environment about short selling and what
realization the to came quickly I .drastically differ world real the in transpires actually
that every short sale situation is unique. Successfully closing foreclosed real estate by
two no are there and parts moving of lot a with transaction a is selling short of way
transactions that will play out exactly the same way.
All short sale transactions may start off the same way (a home owner is in foreclosure)
what for lender the off paying) way same the end will ,executed successfully if ,and
they've agreed to accept as payment). But everything else in the middle, from one short
same the exactly out play ever will two No .unique 100% is ,next the to transaction sale
way.
And so it is with the journey each one of us will take to success. There are no two
be may success define you How .same the exactly are which success to pathways
completely different from how I would define it. And the path that you and I both take to
journey same the experience ever will people two No .different be certainly will there get
to the success they seek.
As in my short sale example above, you mustn't be pedantic about the path to success;
I'm hey" say to yourself allow never can You .path the as anyway thing such no is there
doing exactly what I've been instructed to do, why isn't this working out?"
If only success were that easy.
I think every last one of us wants the best out of life. Who doesn't want a nicer "this" or a
common a is life from more wanting That ?families their and themselves for "that" better
starting point for all of us. Sadly however, a shockingly low number of people will end up
.reaching envision they place that at
There are a lot of moving parts in your individual journey to success. Your own journey
blue a with you provide to not is book this of purpose the So .are you as unique as is

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print for success. Rather, it is meant to inspire you, give you food for thought and
.journey own your in use can you suggestions many hopefully
You may take everything I say to heart and use it all to your advantage. You may take
you'll all at anything adopt not may you and say to have I things the of selection a only
discover in this book.
And that's OK. Because of your uniqueness, it's up to you to embrace that which makes
others while selling face to face love people some ,example For .you for sense most the
are scared to death of the idea. Both people can become wildly successful and both will
.there get to paths different wildly take
Your success is a culmination of everything you learn and everything you experience
.things two those apply you how and
It's not possible for one, single book, program or seminar to provide you with everything
you ,Therefore .becoming of dream you success the become to need individually you'll
have to understand that your success is a never ending process of learning and
the in rung single a only least very the at is book this that hope only can I .discovery
ladder you use in your climb to the top.
At this point you may be looking at the example above I'd just given you on the unique
not ,no ,that thinking be might You .fulfillment of life a to travel must all we journey
everybody starts from the same spot. Look at somebody like Paris Hilton for example.
at look You ?she did ,one have didn't she like Seems ?success to journey her was What
a Paris Hilton and you realize she was born into a life of wealth and privilege. There was
to available immediately was Abundance .journey no really and point starting no really
her the moment she was born.
On the opposite side of this argument, look at somebody like Clarence Thomas. His
the when age early very a at homeless left was and 2 was he when off took father
family's house burned down. Against all odds, his journey lead him to become only the
.Court Supreme the on sit to American African second

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Here's the point; the overwhelming majority of us were not born with a golden spoon in
want don't I ,So .circumstances desperate and dire into born we were nor mouths our
you to become hung up on extremes. You won't be doing yourself any favors in your
of out that put so spectrum the of end extreme either at looking by success to journey
your mind right now. It will help you to get more out of this book and to get more out of
.life
There are many principles I've personally discovered to be true in living a life of
maybe them of Some .book this in you with them of 17 sharing be I'll and achievement
many or most of them are things you've already heard. And to that I say good! If thats
success important these with yourself re-familiarize to you help only will it ,case the
principles. After all, repetition is the mother of all learning.
I've heard it been said that there has been more information and reading material
I .combine years previous other all in then years 20 past the over published and printed
cannot say with certainty whether or not that is true. But, one thing I can say
disposal your at material reading of shortage no absolutely is there that is unequivocally
today.
Forget about all the books in all the libraries and book stores around the world. And
are that newspapers and magazines of thousands and thousands the about forget
published daily, weekly and monthly. With the information age that we're living in, the
last every on material reading of supply endless an access to us enables alone internet
subject you can possibly think of. And we can access those materials with such ease
computer our onto bring can web wide world the what granted for take easily so we that
screens with the simple click of a mouse. It is truly remarkable and mind boggling when
.it about think to stop really you
To say that our choices of available reading material is inordinate is nothing short of a
that humbled truly am I ,disposal your at read to much so With .understatement massive
youve chosen to read this book. I thank you for spending some of your precious time
for ability the beyond far compliment a is book this read to chose you That .me with

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words to express. I really hope my simple "thank you" is enough to tell you how
.am I appreciative
I have some things to tell you, things which I think you'll draw great value from, so I
.say to have I what enjoy you hope

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Prologue
The definition of the word "success" is as unique and individualistic as the person who
.close even Not .money the about always not is successful Being .it defines
Success is about living the life of your dreams whatever that might mean for you. It's
change would you that yourself to saying honestly and content perfectly being about
very little, if anything, about your existence.
If you think success comes down to how much a person has in the bank than you're
.mistaken sorely
After all, can anyone argue with the success of Mother Theresa of Calcutta? She was
countries many from dignitaries with met She .world and the around millions by admired
was adored and admired by presidents and kings.
Did Mother Theresa have money? Did she want money? Can you tell me she wasn't a
?success phenomenal
A person can be extraordinarily successful and live a very modest life. I think of a
professor a ;Beck Ed was name His .college in student a was I when had I'd professor
of Economics at SUNY Oneonta in upstate New York. Mr Beck made it a point to know
it and subject his and students his for love a had He .name by students his of each
showed. By all accounts Ed Beck was an incredibly successful college professor. You
.do to loved he what doing was he that tell just could
At the same time, a person can live a very elite lifestyle but be miserable inside. We've
a of appearance outward the gives who executive overworked the of story the heard all
successful life. He lives in the 6000 square foot home with a Ferrari parked in the
his ,However .jet private a in cities flung far in meetings to travels He .garage heated
home life is a wreck. His wife is lonely and miserable, because her husband is never
for there seldomly was discipline and love dad's because derelict a is son His .around
him. Despite his net worth being deep into the millions, can he be considered
?successful

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Albert Schweitzer said it like this: "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is
".successful be will you ,doing are you what love you If .success to key the
I'll say it again; being successful is not about having money.
Success is about following your passion. It's about doing what it is you want to do. It's
able being about It's .you to closest those by respected and admired ,loved being about
to look at yourself in the mirror and being unequivocally happy with the person looking
.you by defined be only can success personal own Your .back
Having said that, the word success in our society has pretty much become synonymous
.success judge to used commonly stick measuring the is money ,all After .money with
And there's nothing wrong with that. It is a materialistic world we live in and money is
live to just required is money ,fact of Matter .life good a live to required frequently
period.
And money is neutral. Money won't make you bad and money won't make you good.
generous and kind a you're If .are already you what of more you make is do will it What
person then having more money will enable you to be more kind and generous. If you're
bigger even an be you'll good are chances then wealthy become you and asshole an
asshole. Money doesn't give a damn who you are and its accumulation is not reserved
.other the or sex one ,other the or race one ,other the or class one for
Money, and lots of it, is out there floating around and it doesn't care where or who it
blood a can as wealthy become can Pope The as heart a kind as with person A .to goes
thirsty drug lord. A person with an above average intelligence can become wealthy as
.school high finished barely who person the can
You can hold a lit match to a worn out, beat up old single and hold that same match to a
;paper neutral is Money .smoke in up go both they'll and hundred new brand crispy
nothing more, nothing less.
But, as the great Zig Ziglar has said, "money is not the most important thing in life but it
after sought ,popular a whatmoneyyes Ah ".oxygen with there up right rank does

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thing this neutral paper is. There isn't much out there more popular than the almighty
.dollar
But the accumulation of money should never be the driving force of your life. What
your by driven be to yourself allow you as long As .passion your is you drive should
passion, the accumulation of money will flow naturally along.
There's something else worth mentioning here on the topic of money and the
long too Not .2009 ,21 April is date the ,sentence this write I As .wealth of accumulation
ago, back in December of last year, a guy by the name of Bernard Madoff was arrested
never have which of likes the fraud investment an orchestrating for authorities the by
before been seen.
I'm sure you're familiar with the story so I won't bother recapping it here. Even though
just are There .iceberg the of tip the only is he proportions epoch of swindler a is Madoff
too many stories of people grossly taking advantage of others in the name of
Lou ,Israel Sam ,Madoff Bernard aforementioned the There's .money accumulating
Pearlman, James Nicholson and the list just goes on and on and on.
What's the point? What good is accumulating wealth if you're doing so at the detriment
for freedom your compromising you're if money of lots having is good What ?others of
it?
It just doesn't make sense to me. For me personally it is far more important that I be
that knowing night at pillow the on head my rest and eye the in son my look to able
nobody is being hurt by my actions. Sure, I desire great wealth for myself and my family
.success for quest my by hurt be to going is else anybody if damned be I'll but
Look at money for what it is; a tool that can be used to improve the quality of life. Don't
use and people Love .you for do can money that things the love ,rather ,money love
money, not the other way around.
So as you read this book, understand that I use the word success frequently to mean
for success define to you want I ,importantly more far But .money of accumulation the

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yourself as only you can define it. Whether or not money is in your definition is only
.you for "success" word the define else anybody let ever Don't .you to important
Having said that, I wish for you a life of success that reaches far beyond your wildest
you help will book this of pages the within find you'll what that hope sincerely I .dreams
to get there.

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1 Evolution Is The Key To Your Success
I can sum up this entire chapter in a 7 seemingly

your success is a
reflection of the value you

become must you ,more have to :phrase word simple

more.

bring to others and your

This is a truth which transcends everything else if

value is a direct reflection

accumulation the includes success of definition your

of your skill set. The more

valuable your skill set, the

of wealth. Is that you? Does your definition of success

words these read ,so If ?account bank large a include
again and let them really sink in: to have more, you
.more become must

better your chances of

high achievement.

Look, everybody wants more from life but only a very

is what do to willing are us of percentage small
actually required to get it. If you're willing to accept
to truth definitive the as you tell to about I'm what
having your heart's desire, then everything you want
.yours be will - more and - life in achieve to
If youre expecting this to be some complicated,
of out youre ,say to sorry Im ,then formula out drawn
luck.

The fact is, any and all success in life can be boiled
ALWAYS is process The .process step two a to down
the same. The process, at times, is more involved,
always it but times other at than detailed more
remains the same.

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By the time youre through reading this chapter, youll know the exact success formula
saying I'm What .used already has life dream their achieved ever has who anybody that
here is not hype and I assure you that if you take this advice to heart, then youre
.conclusion foregone a is success ultimate
What's really nice about the formula I'm about to give you is that it can be used by
to entrepreneurs and advancement professional and wages higher garner to employees
command higher fees of their clients.
The process Im about to reveal does not discriminate; it can be applied equally by
other any or level education ,background religious ,race ,sex ,age of regardless anyone
obstacle you think might be standing in your way. I can promise you that if you apply
.certainty a is success your then consistency with you give to about Im what
To begin, understand this: your success is a reflection of the value you bring to others
the ,set skill your valuable more The .set skill your of reflection direct a is value your and
better your chances of high achievement. For example, an auto mechanic stands a
better a stands attorney an and laborer day a than more earning of chance better
chance of earning more than an auto mechanic. The reason for this is obvious. The
specialized more the ,And .skills greater for prices higher pay to willing is marketplace
the skill one can bring to their area of expertise, the more they can expect to get paid for
.service their
Its important you understand that the marketplace will always pay you what youre
.more become must you then ,more make to want you If .more penny a never and worth
From this observation we can conclude that the first part of the success formula is to
skill your to value Adding .set skill your upon improving by valuable more yourself make
set means learning something new acquiring more knowledge about your area of
.altogether expertise of area new a developing or expertise
In general terms, the more specialized or niche your chosen area of expertise, the
because "terms general in" say I .income higher a earning of probability your greater
how you choose to niche yourself will, in large part, determine your ultimate level of
after sought highly ,specific a in herself niches who woman the ,example For .success
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A Plum In The Syrup

area of international law stands a better chance of great success than the person who
.crochet of area the in niche a chooses
Equally important to the concept of improving your value to other is the avoidance of
the taken youve Once .perpetuity in set skill your to add to want Youll .stagnation
initiative to enhance your value then keep the momentum moving forward. There is
always is There .subject particular a of knowledge your expand to opportunity an always
the opportunity to become better at what you do. The more knowledge you acquire, the
.become you valuable more
Acquiring knowledge is the first part of the success formula, applying that knowledge is
?use good to put not its if knowledge acquired is good what ,all After .part second the
But, many people neglect this crucial step. I offer you the following example to illustrate
.point this
Lets say you decide to get involved in real estate investing. You know that real estate
have stuff their know who people many and investment dynamic a for make can
become wealthy in real estate. So you buy a book to learn more about the topic. The
you so more know to need you determine you but informative was it ,good was book
purchase a real estate training course or attend a seminar. You study the course and it
book another buy you ,So .niche interesting an is investing foreclosure like looks
specifically on how to buy and sell foreclosed property. After all, you owe it to yourself to
.matter subject complex this about possible as much as know
However, after a while, things at work have gotten really busy and whatever free time
of aspirations your ,end the in ,So .kids the of care taking spent is had mayve you
becoming a real estate investor are placed on the back burner life has simply gotten in
.way the
Does this scenario sound familiar? Have you ever let this type of thing happen to you or
reads who anyone ,is truth The ?describes story this whom someone know you perhaps
two books and studies a course on real estate investing has built up a great deal of
other most than topic the on more know probably They .subject the on knowledge
people theyll ever come in contact with. But sadly, all that acquired knowledge will go to
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A Plum In The Syrup

and applied never was it chance fair a given never was knowledge the because waste
used.
Sometimes, along these same lines, whats called analysis paralysis will hold someone
no that ready get to ready getting spent is time much So .more achieving from back
meaningful action is ever taken. There are many underlying reasons why we, as human
upon touch we'll lives our with more accomplishing from back ourselves hold ,beings
some of these reasons throughout the remainder of this book. It could be fear of failure
our of out getting of pain potential the be could It .success of fear ,enough oddly ,or
comfort zone. It could be just about any excuse we might want to tell ourselves. But, in
.lost opportunity is taken not action ,end the
To recap, the universal success formula can always be boiled down to a two step
and knowledge acquired the apply (2 and skills and knowledge new acquire (1 :process
skills.
In a later chapter entitled "Keep It Real" we'll go into greater detail on the importance of
that time this at note to important it's ,But .perspective proper their in things keeping
there is no such thing as an evolutionary silver bullet. Your evolution toward higher
make to take to need you steps deliberate of result a as about come will success
yourself more valuable to the marketplace.
Along the way you will discover what's known as "ah-ha" moments. Those are the
when ,know you that knowledge of bit useful some discover you when moments
applied, can help move yourself towards higher success. But, do not expect one book,
.reach to striving you're place that to you catapult to else anything one or course one
Think of it in terms of Darwin's theory of evolution. Knuckle dragging cavemen did not
definite a was There .man modern become they'd that find to day one up wake suddenly
evolution which took place.
Here are a few final thoughts: the knowledge and skills you choose to acquire will have
the ,skills your niche or specialized more The .others to value your on impact direct a
more valuable those skills are likely to be. And, always, always add to your skill set.
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A Plum In The Syrup

For example, an interior painter can make himself more valuable by learning faux
plastering Venetian learning by still valuable more himself make can He .finishes
techniques and so on.
You will always be compensated according to the value you're able to deliver to other.
demands reach to wish you income of level next Every .more penny a never and people
a new you.
You hold the key its all up to you. You can either survive or you can thrive. You alone
to are you resource a valuable how on based take youll path which determine will
others.

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A Plum In The Syrup

2 No Excuses
In the previous section we talked about the

You and you alone, can

hold yourself back from

There .value personal your expanding of importance

really is no other way around it; if you want more you
.more become must

greater accomplishment.
There is no outside force
or circumstance, there is
no other individual or no

And truthfully, there is no such thing as a force so

making from back you hold can which powerful
yourself a more valuable person. The ability to grow
.right birth your is limits without yourself

other "thing" that can

keep you back. You can
only do it to yourself.

However, in actuality, there is one force that can hold

a is this And .accomplishment greater from back you
force that only you can marshal. You have to be
wields it because force this of aware made
unmitigated power over you.

This force I speak of is you. You and you alone, can

.accomplishment greater from back yourself hold
There is no outside force or circumstance, there is no
you keep can that "thing" other no or individual other
back. You can only do it to yourself.

You are the one who can propel yourself on to live the
to back yourself hold to one the or of dream you life
live a life of mediocrity. And which path you choose
and out go you not or whether by determined be will
make things happen or you make excuses. That's

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make can you or excuses make can you Because .to down come all will it what really
things happen but you won't be able to do both.
The force you hold over yourself to keep yourself back from accomplishment comes out
are excuses All .matter doesn't it ;ones little ,ones Big .excuses of form the in
detrimental to your success. And, you should find no excuse you'd ever tell yourself
.acceptable
So as an example, in the previous section we said that to have more you must become
subject what care don't I .read to is more become can you that way best The .more
interests you, there is a book out there on the topic. And, with the internet so readily
finger your at there right knowledge of amount infinite an is there ,us of all to available
tips.
No excuses; if you want more out of life, start by reading.
Excuses are like the stars in heaven; they're limitless. It would be both impossible and a
why about themselves tell could person a excuses the with up coming time of waste
they don't read more but here are a few:
Excuse: "I don't have the time" nonsense, you better believe you have the time. If you
If ?now time your with doing you are what is yourself ask to question the ,don't you think
there's one thing we all have in common, it's time. I don't care who you are or where on
it's Whether .equally us of all on sets sun the and rises sun the ,live you planet this
going to sleep an hour or two later or waking up an hour or two earlier, you can find the
.self-improvement for time
Excuse: "I don't have any money" nonsense, self-improvement is entirely independent
you've Once .read to than yourself upon improve to way better no is There .money of
opened a book, you've also opened up the possibility for self-improvement. And, hello,
?courses self-improvement or books buy to money no have you say You !free are books
Well then go to the library.

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A Plum In The Syrup

If I were to ask you to open your wallet and show me how much money you have to
your were that if And ?"none" be answer your would ,books self-improvement purchase
answer, what if I were to then ask you to open your wallet and show me your library
"one have don't I" answer to were you If ?question that answer you would How .card
then guess what, you deserve to be broke.
One of the greatest institutions ever created by humanity is the public library system.
not for excuse good no is really There .disposal your at there right are books Free
reading and reading is the number one way to improve your skill set and make of
.person valuable more a yourself
Read. Period.
And finally, remember this: if you don't read, then you're no better off than the person
.read can't who
There is literally no limit to the number of excuses a person can tell themselves if they
more any listing book this in space anymore up take to not choose I And .to wanted
than the two above. I think you get the point and for your own sake, I really hope that
.do you
The reason excuses are so detrimental to your achievement is because they are the
victim a be to possible not just it's then prosperous be to want you if And .victims of stuff
too; the two simply do not co-exist.
Maybe you're telling yourself excuses and coming up with reasons why you're not doing
.in engage all we something is Self-talk .it of aware even aren't and life your with more
Our thoughts are always with us and we are always sending ourselves messages. If any
similar or "can't I" ,"only if " ,if what ,but" as things such includes self-talk your of
types of phrases then you are definitely victimizing yourself with excuses.
You've got to stay tuned in to your self-talk and determine whether it's supportive or
as nearly be can which you to say can anybody nothing is there ,Remember .damaging
destructive as what it is you say to yourself.

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A Plum In The Syrup

Another sign whereby you may be guilty of making excuses is if you're ever feeling
seems it when times Those .like it's what know I and there been I've .yourself for sorry
like you're putting your every effort into trying to make something work and it just seems
whatever and effort your ,time your ,money your in putting You're .nowhere going be to
else you feel your endeavor requires but your goal just seems to be getting further and
.away further
At such times it is very easy to feel sorry for yourself; to feel as though there is
making when time a is This .you against conspiring somewhere there out something
excuses and feeling sorry for yourself can be most detrimental. And believe me, I know
.there been have I feeling awful an it's feels it how
When you are feeling battered and even defeated by a lack of positive results in your
take ,rest a Take .doing you're is it what re-evaluate to sign a as it take ,business or life
a step back and take a good hard look at what it is you're doing. You'd be amazed at
.goal a of outcome the to make can adjustments minor few a difference tremendous the
The bottom line is, stay away from the "woe is me" trap. It has never served anybody
.either well you serve not will it ,well
There is a quote I one time came across that is perfect for this chapter; one that
.excuses to relates it as failure and success between relationship the up sums perfectly
Here it is: The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person
.excuse an finds
Which person are you?

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A Plum In The Syrup

3 The Nature Of Things
In the universal scheme of things, we all have a grand

know that you have a

grand plan pre-defined by
a higher power; no matter
where you are in life it's
where you're supposed to

to earth this on placed been has us of one Each .plan

fulfill a specific role. Those who understand this
their finding to necessary doors the open will truth
intrinsic purpose. And those who find that purpose will
.lives satisfying and full living to on go surely

For some people their purpose is more obvious and

be. It's part of your master

with familiar you're know I .easily so come to seems

plan. Now this is not to

this type of person; success seems to fall right into

say that you're supposed

to accept mediocrity

for James Lebron at Look .effortlessly lap their

example. Is there any doubt as to what his role and
those For) ?be to meant is earth this on purpose his
who might not know who he is, Lebron James is a
natural such possesses He .prodigy basketball
basketball acumen he was drafted into the NBA right
(.school high of out

Alas, the likes of Lebron James is the exception,

on go to have us of majority The .rule the not certainly
a quest to discover our true calling. Our universal
up is It .apparent readily not is here being for purpose
to us individually to find out what it is.

Very few people are willing to take the journey to

that reason this for is It .calling true their discovering
the hoi polloi finds themselves in a daily struggle just
abundance of life a living If .status quo the maintain to

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A Plum In The Syrup

is what you want, then you've got to discover your calling. Anybody who is not living
.life in calling their discovered not has who person a is abundantly
I will not get into a philosophical discussion on universal law but I believe everybody has
fulfilled a ,discovered is gift that when And .world the to contribute to gift unique some
life naturally follows. Again, we each were put on this earth as a part of a divine,
".parts spare no has universe The" ,says Chopra Deepak As .plan universal
Those who do not set out to discover their natural talents are destined to a life of
have you Once .beginning the just it's ,enough not is talent your Discovering .mediocrity
discovered it, you have an obligation to promote it; to get out there and share it with
,Truthfully .gift unique your sharing not by good any yourself doing not are You .others
not sharing your uniqueness with others is a societal injustice. You owe it to yourself
.have you what share and embrace to world the of rest the to and
I'll give you a perfect example. After living a life of obscurity for 47 years, a woman by
familiar not you're If .sensation global a becoming rapidly is Boyle Susan of name the
with her story, Ms Boyle had auditioned on a talent show from the United Kingdom
"Dream a Dreamed I" entitled song a sing to there was She ."Talent Got Britain's" called
from the play Les Miserables.
Boyle is a frumpy woman. She keeps a messy hairdo that looks like a bird's nest has
lives She .introvert textbook a be to seems She .down upside head her on placed been
unwed with a cat in a small row house in a Scottish village. By her own admission, she's
street the on by her passed you If .kissed been even never has and married been never
you more than likely wouldn't look at her twice.
Standing on the stage of "Britain's Got Talent", her moment had arrived. The song she
;back nothing held Boyle Susan .life her change subsequently would sing to about was
she let her voice go and brought the house down! Within a few days time the news of
YouTube on views video of millions of tens :globe the swept performance incredible her
dozens of news appearances, and an invitation to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show.

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A Plum In The Syrup

Here's the kicker; prior to taking the stage she revealed that she's been singing since
48th her of short Just ?audition the of time the at she was old How .12of age the
birthday. By the time she was done with her audition it was obvious a star had just been
thereby heard be to voice angelical her allowed audition minute 3 one That .born
opening the door to what is sure to be a magical recording career.
Where did she come from? How could somebody with such a voice have reached the
nobody but sing could she knew Boyle Susan ?discovered getting without 47 of age
else knew it besides for maybe the members of her church choir.
What if she hadn't taken the stage for that audition? What a shame it would've been for
would've she injustice great a What .us of rest the with talent that shared have not to her
done to herself and to us by not letting her talent shine.
What if she'd auditioned elsewhere 20 or 30 years ago? She's lost a massive
she'd where wonder only can One .sooner world the with voice that share to opportunity
be today had she taken initiative sooner to put her voice out there for others to enjoy.
Regardless of the reasons, her appearance on that stage only a week and a half ago (at
the needed world the Maybe .plan grand universal her of part is (writing this of time the
inspiration her story provides at a time when we're so mired in economic and social
.turmoil
Boyle's success from that audition is a feel good story that we can all draw inspiration
And .true come can still dreams ,yes that idea the with re-connect to us enables It .from
age and the past and personal appearance and "whatever" matters not. Well, Ms.
to years many ,many for here be you may and stage world's the to welcome ,Boyle
come.
Back to the point of this story, by sharing your intrinsic gifts with others, life will richly
.so doing for you reward
The universal grand plan" is sometimes also known as the law of attraction. By putting
universal a leveraging be you'll ,talents unique your expressing and there out yourself

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A Plum In The Syrup

force which will attract the exterior requirements needed to help you fulfill your dreams.
.from you hold can man no which birthright your is dreams your of fulfillment The
I will refrain from turning the remainder of this chapter into a discussion on the finer
as so do to me for pointless be would It .works it how and Attraction of Law the of points
I am by no means an expert in this area. Plus there already exists many terrific books
.topic single this on
At the same time however, there are a number of areas I would like to take a look at
.law universal to respect with
I will start by saying I am a proponent of the laws of universal attraction. At the same
.understand not do I that law this about much so is there that add must I ,however ,time
Ive seen the law in action in both my own life as well as in the lives of many others
or about read I ,basis daily a on almost ,hand other the On .personally know I whom
hear about things that happen which leave me scratching my head in disbelief.
A question I've always wrestled with is, "do I believe the law works constantly and
"?intermittent something it is or consistently
For example, I remember watching a show one time on lottery winners and how their
life his Throughout .profiled was man elderly An .lives their changed had lucre windfall
he bounced around from one menial job to next. He never managed to hold onto any
.employment meaningful of type
One day, he had won the lottery. It was a multi-million dollar jackpot. At the time of his
been hed ride The .carnival traveling a for operator ride a as working was he winning
working was one that would spin riders upside down. I remember him telling his
the After .fortune good very be to ride this operating considered hed interviewer
carnival had shut down for the evening he could walk around under the ride to pick up
.pockets peoples from fallen had that change loose the
Next thing you know, he had won the lottery. In an instant, he went from scrounging
.fingertips his at fortune instant an to change loose for around

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The law of attraction states that we attract everything we receive in life through our
attract you is it what determine will out put you energy the) vibrations energy internal
back into your reality). The law also states that there is no such thing as luck neither
who someone can how is with left was I question obvious the So .bad nor good
considered picking up loose change to be good fortune hit a multi-million dollar jackpot?
huge a such attract to vibrating been have man this could energy internal of kind What
financial windfall?
This cannot be reconciled as just good luck again, the law of attraction says there is
.thing such no
According to the law of attraction the question ultimately lies in what is particular to this
he how of question a Not .lottery the of winnings the attract to energy internal mans
obtained money before the lottery but a question of who he was before the lottery. I will
.questions these to answer the know to pretend not
The law also says to fully expect to receive that which you deeply desire.
I recall an interview I heard with Carrie Underwood following her victory on the
to expect even didnt she how said she ,interview this In .show talent "Idol American"
make it through the first round of auditions and was still in shock to have won the full
amazing an shes Underwood Carrie from away anything taking not Im Now .magilla
talent who deserves all the fame and good fortune she now enjoys.
But back to this truth on the law of attraction to fully expect to receive that which is
did how ,auditions of round first the through it make even to expect didnt she If .desired
the law of attraction play out so that she wound up the grand prize winner?
On the flip side, I recall a time a few years ago when I accompanied my niece Olivia
and town of out was law in brother My .dance daughter / daddy a to old years 6 then
my sister asked me if Id like to step in and go in his place. I was thrilled to do so.
Upon entering the dance, every little kid was given a ticket for a raffle that was to be
the all displaying lobby the in up set was table A .dance the of conclusion the at held
prizes that were to be raffled off that evening. Olivia was fixated on this radio cassette
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A Plum In The Syrup

combo purple ,miniature a was it it forget never I'll .prizes the among was that player
radio / cassette player called "The Groovy Grape". I swear she spent a good part of the
tell to as far so went even She.box boom little this at staring there standing just night
my sister and I repeatedly how badly she wanted it.
My sister and I, being the knowledgeable adults, proceeded to explain to Olivia that
given be to were prizes so or 20 only and dance the at kids hundred several were there
out. We explained to her that she had a really long shot at winning and not to get her
,But .adults worldly ,learned the are we ,all after ;logical was ,felt we ,This .up hopes
what does logic mean to a six year old?
When raffle time arrived, one item at a time was pulled from the table and the winning
the choose to permitted not was ticket winning the item particular that received ticket
item they wanted. Wouldnt you know, as God (and my sister) is my witness, when The
the won she and called was number Olivias table the from pulled was Grape Groovy
very prize that she was so fixated on!
It still makes me smile to this day 6 years later thinking about that special evening.
Yes, Ive seen the law in action and Ive seen events unfold that leave me incredulous. I
figured fully it have Ill ,die I before ,hope I and attraction of law the in believer firm a am
out.
I'm sure you've heard it said that nature works in mysterious ways and it sure does. All
to respect with fine just be you'll think I and mind in things few a keep to is you tell can I
the universal law of attraction.
Firstly, understand that each of us was put on this planet for a reason. We each posses
of life fulfilled a to us lead will ,others with shared when that special something
abundance. It's your job to discover your unique gift; it's your personal responsibility to
!it share ,purpose and talent true your discovering After .so do
Second, know that you have a grand plan pre-defined by a higher power; no matter
Now .plan master your of part It's .be to supposed you're where it's life in are you where
this is not to say that you're supposed to accept mediocrity hell no. You have to put
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A Plum In The Syrup

But .calling your discover to risks taking involves that sometimes and there out yourself
if the risks taken leave you battered and bruised, accept it as an important part of the
.process
For example, I've always been a risk taker. And at times more times than I'd care to
bother that let never I ,Yet .expected I'd way the out pan not did risks my remember
me. I'd always maintained a sense of inner calm knowing that wherever I was,
you'll struggles the at look to you encourage I .plan divine my of part a be to happened
face the same way.
Recognizing your struggles as being a part of your universal divine plan will also free
focus and courage the yourself giving be You'll .them by controlled being from you
needed to learn from your struggles rather than being held back by them.
Third, be bold. When you discover your unique gift, resolve to put it into massive action.
the ask to timid be ever Don't .reward potential your greater the ,action your greater The
universe for what you want.
Even at my lowest point financially I'd always dreamed big. Never did I quietly ask for
tremendous a was survival daily when times at even bills the pay to enough just
financial struggle.
I can clearly recall numerous times where I would look up in the sky at a jet flying
one having myself imagine would I finances poor of pinch the despite And .overhead
even though, in reality, ownership of a private jet seemed like a preposterous notion.
I would never allow struggle to hinder me from achieving my goals. I ask that you do the
.yourself for same
The point: be bold. Don't ever be shy about what you ask for in life.
That's it now get out there and discover your unique talents damn it. The rest of us are
.it on waiting here

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4 Niche Yourself
You can serve some of the people all of the time but

You will not be able to

make all of the people

time the of all people the of all not.

The true path to success in life is to serve others. The

happy all of the time. If

.be you'll successful more the ,serve you people more

you do if you try to

But, you have to serve those people well. Whether

please and appease

everyone you will be

or people 10 serve to you lead aspirations your

10,000 people or 10 million people you have to serve
.ability your of best the to people those

doomed to failure. The

most efficient path to

You will not be able to make all of the people happy

and please to try you if do you If .time the of all

success is to niche

appease everyone you will be doomed to failure.

yourself and strive to be

yourself niche to is success to path efficient most The

the best at what it is you

do.

and strive to be the best at what it is you do.

Your niche, by its very definition, will make you

the is niche your what at are you better The .unique
more you'll be recognized as an authority. Those
field any in authority an being as others by recognized
of endeavor are almost universally successful in life
.business in and

McDonald's is the largest restaurant chain in the

on worldwide customers of millions serve They .world
a daily business. Their niche is food served up quickly
customer huge a have They .prices cheap for and
base who loves their niche and they serve the

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A Plum In The Syrup

point I And .there out restaurant other any than better niche that appreciate who people
out McDonald's just so you can see that a niche is not exclusive to small business.
The field of law provides some great examples of what is meant by professionals who
can who there out lawyer a isn't There .specialties have Lawyers .themselves niche
specialize in all areas of law. If they tried to they would not be effective in any one single
.niche a of importance the of example excellent an are Lawyers .area
In determining what niche to pursue you'd want to make it an area that will enable you
to you enable would that niche a it make least at ,Or .people of number good a serve to
charge a premium for your services. As in the example of McDonald's, there's a niche
,say ,in specializes who one ,attorney an of example the in As .daily millions serves that
complex international financial law may not have a large group of people to serve but
very niche their making thereby service their for prices high very charge can they
lucrative.
When you go about making a determination of what niche is right for you, see to it that
other the over niche one into get you If .in interested are and love genuinely you one it's
because you think it will be your fastest path to making a buck then you've chosen the
love to have you that it's on agree people successful all thing one there's If .one wrong
what you do.
Having a deep passion for what you do is an important ingredient in becoming
you if little means success monetary ;introduction the in out pointed I'd As .successful
haven't got passion for your endeavors. If you don't love what you do but at the same
I .so think don't I ?success a considered be that can ,it doing money good make time
just want to impress upon you the importance of choosing your area of expertise based
.interest genuine upon
And if your chosen niche is going to serve as your path to success, make it one which
.desirable and valuable find will others
Let's say you have a passion for crochet and you make of yourself the best in the land
good a make to niche your in interested there out people enough there Are .craft your at
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A Plum In The Syrup

business of it? The answer I'm sure is yes. I'd just imagine though that those people are
will crochet of business good a make to them reaching Perhaps .wide and far flung
prove a great challenge.
Maybe your passion for crochet will serve you better as a hobby rather than a vocation.
One thing you can do to find a balance between passion and value when determining
on go ,list that with ,Then .have you interests genuine of the list a make to is niche your
the internet and spend some time researching each item.
Are there many other people who already serve that niche? If so that's a good sign.
can you that people of base strong potentially a with area an found you've means That
serve. What you'd want to do then is determine if you can sharpen the focus of that
more use can that somewhere there in nuance a there's if determine maybe and niche
attention.
When it comes to a niche, focus is important but don't get too carried away with it. For
to wanted I business marketing information online first my started I when ,example
structure a product to help people start and grow a home based business. However,
Marketing Network to down niche my focused I so term broad pretty a is business home
(aka multi level marketing or MLM).
However, this focus was still not sharp enough. When I did my research I found that
a grow to how on information great providing there out people of lots were there
Network Marketing business. But, I found very few products on the important steps that
great a was there that found I .started get even to order in front up taken be should
dearth of information on the important topic of MLM due diligence.
So that's where I started. I developed an information product to help people conduct due
for option viable a even was MLM fact in if determine help to industry the on diligence
them. The product I'd developed would walk you through a number of industry
you help to considerations important other and steps examination self ,steps evaluation
prepare to succeed in Network Marketing. I'd structured my product as such based on
.conducted I'd research the
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A Plum In The Syrup

I could've further sharpened the niche but like I said, there really is no limit to how sharp
over are who Pete named men be will niche my ,OK ,said could've I .it make can you
the age of 40 but younger than 63 who are looking for information on the Network
too niche your of focus the sharpen to Trying ?mean I what See .industry Marketing
much is only counterproductive.
Additionally, really knowing the people in your niche will help you to effectively market
don't you if effectively it market to able be won't you ,fact of matter a As .product your
know who is in your niche.
Suppose your primary sales tool will be a web site. You need qualified eyeballs looking
your drive to need you :Translation .sales many too making be won't you or site the at
target market to your site. Tons of traffic to a web site is useless when compared to a
.traffic targeted of amount smaller much
You need to know who your target market is so you can put a marketing campaign into
don't you if them find to able be won't You .people specific those out search to place
know who they are.
A final thought on marketing yourself or your product to a niche. You need to speak their
how and are challenges and problems their what exactly know to need You .language
your product helps them to solve those problems.
There are so many terrific resources available today to help you market to your niche.
book a is niche a to marketing of topic the ,book this in discussing I'm topics other Like
in and of itself. But what I would like to do is close out this chapter with a quote from
.mentor mentor's marketing the Kennedy Dan
Dan Kennedy says this: get into the conversation going on in your prospect's head.
or product your and conversation that of extension an be should marketing You're
service should answer their questions.

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5 Identify A Trend And Get In Its Way
A natural extension of the niche concept as outlined

You'll be putting yourself

at a great advantage by
identifying a trend and
getting in its way. Just as
defining your niche

being of importance the is chapter previous the in

able to identify a trend and structuring your business
has strategy business good a ,Historically .it around
always been to identify a hot trend which interests
.way its in get then you

This is a very easy thing to do very easy. There are

should be based on your

And .home earth planet the call who people of billions

passion and talents, so

the tastes, preferences, wants and needs of the

should any trend you'd

want to service.

this What .changing constantly are population earth's

means from a business standpoint is new trends are
.perpetuity in created

Identifying trends will require some due diligence on

serving be only you'll that mind in keep And .part your
yourself well by finding the ones that interest you
for just trend a of front in getting is good What .most
the sake of doing so? Make sure you're always in
.passion your of pursuit

There are some astronomical opportunities that stem

the is trend good a Finding .trends identifying from
first part, building a business around it is the second.

The most glaring example I can think of today is a

you guessing I'm .Twitter.com as known juggernaut
use Twitter or at least you've heard of it.

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A Plum In The Syrup

Twitter is described as a social networking and micro-blogging service. Since its
double consistent with scene Web2.0 the on exploded has Twitter ,2006 in introduction
digit monthly growth.
People from around the globe use Twitter for socializing, business promotion,
the ,popularity its Despite .more much so and photos and links sharing ,marketing
Twitter.com web site has numerous shortcomings. It enables only bare minimum
.functionality
In response, hundreds of applications have been created to make using Twitter.com a
take to created was itself Twitter.com .experience enjoyable and productive more
advantage of a trend the Web 2.0 trend and has itself become a trend.
And just take a look at Apple's iPhone. Thousands of applications have been developed
.iPhone the of popularity and power the harness to
The people behind creating productivity tools to be used with Twitter.com and the
the in got and trend popular a identified had iPhone the on run can which applications
way of those trends.
Profitable trends are not exclusive to the web or electronic gadgetry. Popular trends are
.accordingly way their in get and them of notice take ,you around all
I recall reading an article not too long ago about a burgeoning wedding trend. To make
grooms and brides some ,guests their for fun and memorable more weddings their
began to scrap their traditional first dance as a couple for something livelier and more
first amongst popular very becoming were routines dance Choreographed .fun
newlyweds.
In response to this trend, two dance instructors from New York City formed a company
formed who women two The .trend growing this serve to Mony MatriMony called they
the company would work with the bride and groom to choreograph a dance routine to
a in involved was party wedding entire the ,instances some In .guests their dazzle
dance routine to mark a couple's first dance as husband and wife; a miniature dance
.will you if production
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A Plum In The Syrup

Another very popular trend today is the "Green" industry. As more and more people
products green with responding are companies ,conscious environmentally become.
Green building materials, recycling, hybrid vehicles, all natural products, alternative
.today trends "Green" popular very all are sources fuel alternative and energies
I personally know somebody who is building a nice business and beating up his
a markets He .treatments care lawn (intended pun no) green offering by competition
chemical and pesticide free service. He promotes his service using the popular,
.angle friendly environmentally
Like everything else, trends do have their downside. Some trends can be short lived
.course their run will and
Do you remember the popularity of pre-paid, long distance telephone calling cards?
this spot to vision the with Those .popularity in exploded they introduced first When
trend early enough and get in the way of it did extraordinarily well for themselves
.course its ran eventually trend particular this ,However .financially
Today, pre-paid long distance phone cards are available in virtually any store you walk
.back be never will and passed has cards these of opportunity incredible The .into
The point is, timing is critical when deciding on a trend to jump in front of.
Some opportunities are omnipresent and although cannot be classified as trends, their
.trend a being of terms in at looked be certainly can relevancy
As an example look at today's real estate market. Buying and selling defaulted
But .itself estate real as long as for around been has that industry an is paper mortgage
at times such as these, with mortgage foreclosure rates going through the roof, dealing
I ?trend a as regarded be this Can .opportunity huge a presents paper defaulted in
would say its relevancy today certainly could be.
A final thought on identifying trends. Not all businesses are built on trends. Look around
on built not businesses of plenty see you'll street main down driving you're time next
trends. You'll see pizzerias, hardware stores, liquor stores, toy stores and the list goes
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A Plum In The Syrup

building to prerequisite a necessarily not is trend a spotting Although ?point the Get .on
a strong business, I do feel it can provide you with a strong upside potential.
You'll be putting yourself at a great advantage by identifying a trend and getting in its
so ,talents and passion your on based be should niche your defining as Just .way
should any trend you'd want to service.

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6 Create A Trend
Somebody originally came up with the idea to sell

the most beneficial

aspect of creating a trend

pretty a like seems it surface the On .water bottled

dumb idea, doesn't it? I mean, why would consumers
found be can Water ?water of bottle a for pay

is it means you'll be the

everywhere and for all intents and purposes, it's free.

first in a category and

of inventor the ridicule much how imagine only can I

you'll be the first in your

bottled water had to put up with when he (or she)

.action into idea their putting about went

buyer's mind. And that is

a pretty darn good place
to be.

Who's laughing now? Bottled water makes up just

refreshment liquid U.S. total the of 30% under
beverage market, second only to carbonated soft
bottled selling of idea the was ,retrospect In .drinks
water a good one? I'd say it was. One hell of a trend
pretty a be to seemed initially what with created was
dumb idea.

In the previous chapter we talked about the

of front in getting and trends identifying of importance
them as a path to success. In this chapter, let's talk a
.trends creating about bit

There was a time when changing the oil in your car

your schedule to have either You'd .deal big a was
car for service with your local dealership or you had to
other of lots had may've who mechanic your to it bring
cars lined up for service ahead of yours. Two pretty
.indeed options inconvenient

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A Plum In The Syrup

You could always do the job yourself. I remember as a kid growing up my dad would be
He'd .was that production a What .oil own his changing car his under around climbing
chock the back wheels, get out the jack the oil drain pan, a stack of rags and everything
his under grime ,hands dirty have he'd done was he time the By .required job the else
fingernails and a pan full of nasty old oil he now had to somehow dispose of. It all
.me to hassle a quite like seemed
Something as simple as changing the oil in a car should not be an ordeal. Somebody
to specifically cater would which business a start to opportunity an saw and that realized
changing your car's oil and thus a huge trend was started: the convenient 10 minute oil
.business change
Today we have Jiffy Lube, Pit Stop and Grease Monkey just to name a few. They're all
car's your change ;thing mundane one do essentially to created were which businesses
oil. These types of facilities provide additional services today but the trend was created
.oil car's your change to
You can look back through history and identify a countless number of trends that had
industries huge spawn to on go them of Some .ideas of simplest the with started been
as the two examples mentioned above. Meanwhile, others amount to nothing more than
unsustained and notoriety lived short with creators their provide to pan the in flash a
riches.
Who out there can remember the pet rock? Talk about a seemingly dumb idea. The pet
spawn it did nor industry an spawn not did It .trend a itself of and in was rock
competitors. The idea was hugely popular but only for a short while. It proved to a
.pan the in flash classic
More recently, a kid from England needed a way to raise some cash quickly to pay for
."Page Home Dollar Million The" called he something created he ,So .schooling his
Basically what he did was he created a web site and on the home page he sold
for pixel per $1 charged and pixels million one of grid a created He .space advertising
you to advertise your business. And, your ad would link out to your web site. Because a
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A Plum In The Syrup

his sold only he ,monitor computer a on measurement of unit tiny a such is pixel single
pixels in 10 by 10 blocks. Do the math; one block of pixels purchased would equate to a
.sale $100
His idea went viral. It was even written about in "The Wall Street Journal" and it spread
the on pixels the of all out sold he ,correctly remember I If .web the across fire wild like
home page of his web site in only a few weeks time. Again, do the math; he raised $1
.idea this with weeks few a just in million
Of course, the popularity of his idea was copied by a countless number of other people
selling of concept the ;it was that ,But .trend potential ,hot a spotted they'd thought who
blocks of advertising pixels had run its course. His idea ostensibly had started a trend
but all at trend a be to not out turned it but success his duplicate to tried people many
rather a flash in the pan. Every copycat that came along behind him failed to get legs.
Incidentally, his web page is still up and it actually looks pretty cool. You can go to
.yourself for out it check to http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/
My point in providing the latter two examples is just to let you know that trends can be
.pursuit of worthy and popular wildly be to sense make to have doesn't Something .fickle
If you happen to be lucky enough to come up with some cockamamie idea like the pet
.ride the enjoy then page home dollar million or rock
I don't think there's any advice I or anyone else could give you on whether or not your
he that rocks pet sold who guy the told could've Who .pursuit your of worthy are ideas
had a killer idea? Who knew that selling a pixel for a $1 on your home page would
?time weeks two in bucks million a raise to you enable actually
All I can tell you is to err on the side of caution. If you can afford to lose the money and
can that thing Worse .it go means all by then ,there out idea your get to required time
happen is it doesn't pan out. But as long as your idea doesn't require too high an initial
.off take to fails it if you kill won't it ,money or time of investment

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A Plum In The Syrup

I'd imagine that the Pet Rock or Million Dollar Home Page are two ideas which didn't
it out worked had neither event the in So .ground the off get to money of lot a require
would not have killed its creator.
But, above everything else, the most beneficial aspect of creating a trend is it means
a is that And .mind buyer's your in first the be you'll and category a in first the be you'll
pretty darn good place to be.

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7 Your Most Precious Asset
Each of us is in possession of an asset that is, by far,

If you had answered that

time is your most valuable
asset you'd still be wrong.

call to hope ever wed asset valuable most single the

our own. In fact, this asset is so precious it would be
This .value its on figure dollar hard a put to impossible
asset I speak of is, in fact, utterly priceless.

No, time is not your most

valuable asset. It is true;

I want you to take a moment and ponder the many

take you When .with blessed been youve assets

your personal time is

stock of all that you have, what would you say is your

extraordinarily valuable,

?others all tops that one the asset greatest single

but

Youre reading this book, right? So that means you

dollar hard a put to able you Are .eyes good 2 have
value on your eye site? Ill also bet that your overall
two and arms good two have you good is health
good legs and a sharp brain between your ears. Is it
?health physical your on figure dollar a put to possible
I dont think so. Your body is priceless. A healthy
.temple your is body physical

But, as priceless as your health may be, it is not what

there ,Well ?Why .asset greatest your consider I'd
have been many people throughout history who have
perfect than less with success extraordinary achieved
health.

Blind people are capable of achieving great success

great of capable fully also are Invalids .wealth and
achievement.
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A Plum In The Syrup

So, although your healthy body leaves you so much to be thankful for, it still cannot be
.asset cherished most one number your considered
So what is it? What could possibly hold such significance over your life and your
,have you that all of stock taking ,you ask I ,Again ?wealth and success for potential
what would you say is your most precious asset? Ill give you a hint this asset is a
have we and ours is asset this world this into born were moment the From .right birth
each been given it equally.
Without this asset, the accumulation of wealth becomes virtually impossible and the
.meaningless utterly becomes wealth of possession
If you had answered that time is your most valuable asset you'd still be wrong. No, time
.valuable extraordinarily is time personal your ;true is It .asset valuable most your not is
So valuable in fact that you should never limit the amount of money you make based on
top the hold not does still it asset valuable extremely an is time though Even .time your
spot on your most valuable asset list.
What then is at the top of the list? The single item to occupy the number one position on
,question without ,is freedom personal Your .freedom is list asset valuable anyones
your number one bar none most valuable, precious, irreplaceable asset. So
asset valuable most second your ,it without that freedom personal your is precious
time loses significant value. In fact, without your freedom one could argue that your
.worthless becomes time
Think about it. How you choose to use your time will determine conclusively how
has ,relinquished is freedom your if ,But .become to stand you successful or wealthy
your time lost significant value? I would say so. In fact, your personal time, without the
.liability a become actually can ,it spend you how choose to freedom
Lets take this discussion a step further. Earlier in this chapter you were asked if your
two ,arms good two that question no Theres .asset precious most your is body healthy
good legs, a healthy body, two good eyes the entire physical package is an asset to
who there out people some are there ,sound may this as ghoulish as ,But .cherished be
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A Plum In The Syrup

I'm sure would sell a body part for a multi-million dollar payoff if ever such an offer were
and destitute pretty some are there but legal is thing a such that Not .made be to
desperate people out there who probably would take that kind of a deal.
Ill bet that there are also some people out there who would give up time off their lives
multi-million a luck their on down someone offer hypothetically again Lets .money for
dollar payoff if they were to give up their final 5 years of life. Im sure there are some
you at throwing Im hypotheticals these know I) .too deal a of kind that take would who
may sound outlandish but stick with me here, Im making a salient point.)
Now, ask anybody to give up their freedom for a multi-million dollar payoff and Ill bet
.offer the take would who ,impecunious how matter no ,person single a find wont you
Why? Well, the answer is obvious. What good is any amount of money if you didnt
?it enjoy to freedom your have
If you were to accept any of these observations, it would then certainly stand to reason
.asset precious most your considered be could freedom that
Freedom is your God given birth right. So, for practical purposes your freedom is never
.taken you've action some of consequence a as it relinquish you ,Rather .you from taken
And, through due process which everyone is entitled to at least in much of the civilized
.freedom your lose to stand could you world
I understand that, unfortunately, freedom, in some parts of the world, is not always a
away taken be can freedom ,world the of parts some in that understand also I .right birth
without due process. And, yes, we occasionally hear of the individual who, as it turned
I ,are occurrences these as terrible as ,And .incarcerated mistakenly been had ,out
would say that in this day and age these are the overwhelming minority of cases.
in citizens free as born people all toward directed is commentary entire this ,Therefore
civilized societies throughout the globe.
Getting back to my point about recognizing freedom as your most precious asset; it is
.way hard the realize to came I something

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A Plum In The Syrup

I'd always looked at time as being the most valuable asset a person has until I had to
worst the was cell jail 8 X 6 a in hours 24 exactly spend to Having .jail in night a spend
ephemeral experience of my life. It was then that I realized that freedom, not time, is an
.peer without asset
I won't bore you with a long story but here's what happened:
I had a bricks and mortar business in the city in which I live; White Plains, NY. It was a
what minute a in explain I'll arrested been having to prior office the at Friday typical
lead up to this.
I was placed under arrest by two officers without struggle or fanfare. I was taken, in
the under was I .charges insignificant pretty two on booking central to down ,handcuffs
assumption I would've gone through the typical processing procedure and released on
.of accused been I'd what for typical pretty ;recognizance own my
However, much to my great chagrin, the person who decided to press charges had also
was I when afternoon Friday late was It .me against order restraining a requested
brought in for processing. The police can do the arrest processing, but they have no
,But .document a such issue can judge a Only .order restraining a issue to authority
because it was a late Friday afternoon, there were no more judges in the building. Every
.weekend the for off taken already had them of one last
The police on duty had no other recourse but to hold me over until Saturday. A judge
.Saturday on point some at building the in back be would
I had never been in any kind of trouble with the law up until this point. I'm about as
my running at (smart and) hard work I .anywhere find you'd as citizen a boring
businesses, pay my taxes and raise my son. I do the things any decent, productive
.does society of member
What hurts most is I lost a precious day of my life over a restraining order. I've never
restraining a need would anyone person last the I'm .will never and anyone harmed
order against. And truthfully, a restraining order is a worthless piece of paper that
.for meant really it's who criminal the deters seldomly
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A Plum In The Syrup

But, be that as it may, I'd spent exactly 24 hours in a jail cell from 3PM Friday until
freedom the without becomes time valueless how realized and Saturday 3PM exactly
required to do with it what you please.
My cell phone, belt and shoes were taken away from me. There were no books, no
blank the at stare to but do to nothing absolutely was There .magazines no newspapers
walls of this stinking little concrete box I was in and wait.
You're probably asking yourself how and why I found myself in this predicament to
.possible as short as this keep to try I'll .with begin
My wife had stopped by my office that morning to drop something off. She was with me
pick to again by stopped she'd day that Later .most the at minutes 15 than more no for
up one of my employees. When she stopped by this second time I saw through my
.ticket parking a her writing was maid meter a that window office
I went outside to find out why she was being given a ticket. The response I'd gotten was
in only was car the that explain to tried I .limit parking hour two a violating for was it that
that spot for a short while in the morning and now it happened to be in the same spot
the ,ticket parking legitimate a not was this that protested I'd When .afternoon this again
meter maid's reply was "I can do whatever I want" and proceeded with issuing the ticket.
Maybe I'm crazy but here I thought a two hour parking limit meant you were not allowed
meant it know didn't I .hours two straight a than more for area that in car your park to
that if you parked in that spot for any length of time that you're not allowed to park there
.day the of rest the for again
When the meter maid told me that he can do whatever he wanted to, I'm sorry to say
.marbles my lost I that
I understand that parking ticket revenue is a major part of municipal budgets. And, in
meet to have they quotas ticket have maids meter that secret no it's Plains White
otherwise they'll lose their jobs. Ticketing quotas have been reported on extensively in
and right what's on issued not are tickets that mean quotas These .newspaper local the

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A Plum In The Syrup

what's wrong, it means that many times they're issued for unsubstantiated, flimsy
.reasons
I'm sorry to admit that my frustration with the meter maid's callous response got the
gotten had what is next did I What .tirade a into went I .top my blew I and me of better
me in trouble.
Have you ever heard that sometimes a split second can change everything? Well, for a
ticket the grabbed and out reached I ,situation the with anger shear of out ,second split
writing machine. The machine never left the guy's hands and it took me literally a
split That .instantly machine the of go let and line the over stepped I'd realize to second
second cost me a night in jail.
I guess the meter maid requested the restraining order because I was beside myself
are employee my and wife my As .storm a up cursing and yelling and anger with
witnesses, I never laid a finger on the guy nor did I threaten any kind of violence against
.actions my by threatened felt he guess I Nonetheless .him
I know my reaction to the situation was poor at best. But, being human also means I'm
be can tickets parking all ,Sure .me of better the get emotions my let I ,such As .fallible
contested in traffic court but who has the time to diddle away 2 hours for a $25 ticket?
tickets these fighting with bothered be to want don't citizens that know Municipalities
which give them free rein to issue as many as they want willy-nilly. The really sad part is
to court in time waste to have you and guilty you makes automatically ticket parking a
try and prove your innocence. It's the complete opposite of the basic presumption our
.guilty proven until innocent :upon built is system judicial
I have no good explanation for why I let anger grab hold of me the way it did. To
uses Plains White which in ways draconian the know to have you'd guess I understand
their ticketing practices. Parking violations in this town are no longer about any measure
a own I .grab revenue blatant a than more nothing become now It's .wrong or right of
home and business in White Plains and am painfully familiar with receiving violations
particular this guess I and me of better the got frustration The .sense no make just that
violation was the proverbial straw which broke the camel's back.
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A Plum In The Syrup

It's usually best to just hold your nose and pay the fine. However, lucid thought is
,full take I that say me let ,record the For .emotion by overshadowed sometimes
unconditional responsibility for having spent a night in jail. It was my own actions which
a as freedom own my relinquished who alone me and me was It .there me landed
consequence of how I'd reacted.
All I can tell you is to please always consider the potential consequences of your
just I'd incident this to prior work at day fine perfectly a having be to happened I .actions
told you about. My actions that afternoon were in no way premeditated or planned. Like
.reaction jerk knee ,dumb a for price dear a paid who being human fallible a I'm said I
What I will now never understand is how people can do things which are premeditated
others and Madoff Bernard mentioned I'd .freedom their relinquish to potential the with
earlier who willfully steal from people for their own personal gain. In court when he
was doing was he what knew he that judge the told Madoff ,plea guilty his entered
wrong and he knew his day of reckoning would come.
Why would he do it? Is money that important to him that he would wreck thousands of
your of price the worth money of amount any Is ?freedom his jeopardize and lives
personal freedom?
The reason why many believe time is your most precious asset is because what you
many What .become you'll successful how determine directly will it with do to choose
people take for granted is your freedom enables you to choose how you'll use your time.
.you for decision important that made effectively has else somebody ,freedom Without

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8 It's Better To Receive Then To Give
We've all heard the saying "It's better to give than to

how are you going to

help somebody else if you
haven't first helped

who it heard you've up growing sure I'm ."receive

knows

how

many

times

from

your

mom

or

valuable the taught were you as teacher kindergarten

lesson of sharing. After all, sharing is caring, right?

yourself? You have to

first help yourself which

Altruism is one the greatest gestures we can perform

at another out help to ability the that think do I .life in

puts you in a position to

his or her time of need is a cornerstone of what

provide others with

for win a is Philanthropy .beings human as us defines

assistance.

everybody involved.

When you're able to give a helping hand to your

unlike inside feeling warm a you gives it ,man fellow
any other. There's a definite satisfaction and "fuzzy"
out helping with associated experience good feel
somebody in need there's a win for you. And the
is assistance your of end receiving the on person
happy to have the help there's a win for them.
.another to gives one when wins Everybody

But, there's a major flaw in the notion of it being better

to nothing have you if What .receive to than give to
give? If you're struggling just to maintain your own
?receive to than give to better still it is ,survival

Let's suppose you regularly frequent your local house

the of purposes the for religion your) worship of
following example is insignificant).
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A Plum In The Syrup

At some point during the services, donations are requested to help support the church.
a is bills monthly your paying just and moment the at you for tight very is Money
struggle. But, be that as it may, you donate your last dollar to the church. By doing so,
worship of house your love you ,all After .thing good really a doing are you that feel you
and you're happy to provide the support.
But really, what is your last dollar going to do for your church?
I know, I know, you're saying "but it's not just my dollar, mine is only one of the many
single many ,many ,True ."up adds all It .going church the keep help to donated dollars
dollar bills certainly can add up to a sizable sum of money. But, we're not talking about
donation dollar one the about talking we're example this in ,many the from donations the
from you.
Before I go any further, lest you think I'm in some way bad mouthing church collections,
do to happy I'm And .charities religious to and church my to money of plenty given I've
so. I think it is extremely important to help support your church and its causes. But by all
the ,yourself help to able you're more The .first yourself help to you telling I'm means
better you'll be able to help others.
Thus the title of this chapter: it's better to receive THEN to give.
Think of it this way you're on an airplane, all passengers are seated and the pilot is
pre the through going are attendants flight The .gate the from away pull to preparing
flight safety procedures. Have you ever paid any attention to these procedures? I know
an of case in that noticed would've you had you if But .do actually us of few very
emergency you're instructed to first put on your own oxygen mask before helping others
a child a helping before even mask own your on put to instructed You're .theirs with
child for crying out loud! Who needs more help in an emergency situation than a small
your put to instructed you're ,help your need may who of regardless ,still But ???child
mask on first.
Do you know why? Because how are you going to help somebody else if you haven't
to position a in you puts which yourself help first to have You ?yourself helped first
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A Plum In The Syrup

provide others with assistance. So take that pre-flight procedure and use the same
.first yourself Help .donations charitable your in concept
Look, there is nothing noble or pious about being broke. Being broke only means you
others help to able be to want you Do .else somebody alone let yourself help barely can
or your church or whatever or whoever in a really big way? Then it's your duty to
.be can you as successful as become
My son was born on the evening of January 15, 2006 at White Plains Hospital in White
& Neonatal Silberstein Sylvia & William The" in born was he ,specific be To .NY ,Plains
Maternity Center" wing of the hospital. As soon as you step off the elevator and enter
;benefactors wing's the of portrait large a see you center birthing art the of state this
William & Sylvia Silberstein. Now why do you suppose this wing of the hospital was
the in hanging them of portrait large a there was why and Silberstein's the after named
lobby?
Could it be that they donated a little money towards the construction and outfitting of the
getting to donors major were they the that obvious It's .so say would I ?center birthing
wing built thus the wing bears their name. See what happens when you first help
a touch to able be you'll better the ,life in yourself help you more the And ?life in yourself
lot of lives in a really great way.
My example of donating millions to build a hospital wing is a bit extreme I'll admit. But
first you've when scale smaller a on others of lives the impact can you how of think just
helped yourself. Think about the toys, clothing and shoes you could donate to an
.center youth local your to provide to able be you'd equipment sports the Or .orphanage
You're reading this book which is proof that you have the desire to be more and to do
more The .more give to desire the have also you that means that hopefully ,And .more
you got the more you can give.
Remember in the prologue I made a point of saying that money will make you more of
.mind in chapter this with prologue the into statement that wrote I ?are already you what
For me, the most significant aspect of becoming wealthy in life is the ability to give back.
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A Plum In The Syrup

more become to obligation an have you ,before ever than today so more ,now And
successful and wealthier than you are. Your favorite charity or charities are counting on
.so do to you

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9 Believe In Yourself
Are you a news junky? Do you make a habit of

Having a firm, committed

belief in yourself is the

perhaps or television on news evening the watching

reading newspapers on a daily basis? I'll admit that
Then .junky news a was I ago years few a until up

foundation of achieving

one day I just quit cold turkey; I cancelled both of my

everything you aspire to

off

in life. Think about it,

sworn

have

and

subscriptions

newspaper

watching TV news coverage.

when you have a can-do

I just couldnt take all of the negativity anymore. If the

attitude youre giving

was it crime senseless some about wasnt story major

yourself the power and

energy to accomplish
anything.

about how our economy and banking system is in

is Enough .day after day after day ;day Every .ruins
enough already repeated bad news will do nothing
.anchor boat a like down you weigh but

And let's face it, the main stream media thrives on

.news bad reporting

Before you might even realize it, exposing yourself to

bad pretty some do can out day and in day news bad
damage to the psyche. Everything you hear and
mind subconscious your in away stored is experience
and I mean everything. I'm no scholar on this subject
sources credible many from enough read have I but
to know that it's true.

So it stands to reason that the more you expose

and crimes senseless about stories to yourself
violence, the souring economy and general doom
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A Plum In The Syrup

youll is happen eventually could What .hurt of world a yourself doing you're gloom and
start to fall victim to the negativity without even realizing it.
And if that ever does happen; look out. You see, victimhood is a very, very dangerous
such) influences outside of victim the be to themselves allows who Anybody .be to place
as bad news) is on a slippery slope to a lot of disappointment dont let this happen to
.you
Heres the deal all you've ever needed and will ever need to succeed is already inside
and yourself in believe is greatness your out bring to do to need youd What .you of
NOT let outside influences get in the way. This may sound simplistic but it is the
achieving of foundation the is yourself in belief committed ,firm a Having .truth absolute
everything you aspire to in life. Think about it, when you have a can-do attitude youre
always will "to how" The .anything accomplish to energy and power the yourself giving
appear to the person who believes that they can do.
One of the greatest challenges you'll ever confront in life is yourself. How you see
brain Your .subconscious your from comes yourself about believe you what and yourself
is extraordinarily powerful. Like a computer, it can be easily programmed. Your mind will
doesn't it positive or negative ,bad or good ;receives it instruction the on based perform
care. Therefore, you have to give top priority to what you let your mind absorb.
world the and yourself about beliefs your where is mind your into let you Whatever
around you will come from.
It really makes no difference what beliefs you mayve formed for yourself. Your beliefs
youre ,abilities your doubt you If .false or true are they whether on act will you what are
defeating yourself before youve even begun. When you doubt your abilities your mind
.fail will you ,eventually and beliefs your support to circumstances attract will
Next thing you know you'll be telling yourself, "you see, I knew this was gonna happen. I
powerful how is really ,friend my ,That ."this attempting even for foolish was I that knew
your beliefs are.

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A Plum In The Syrup

Believe in yourself, have no doubts about your abilities and DO NOT let outside
.you control influences
Unfortunately, many people go through life being envious of other peoples success
realize even dont they how is part sad really The .them for reach of out its that thinking
that theyre sabotaging themselves with such an attitude. A big part of this self-defeating
.past your from comes behavior
So what if you were cut from the high school team that you really wanted to be a part
that Did .team basketball school high his from cut literally was Jordan Michael ?of
stop him from becoming one of the NBAs all time greats?
Robert Kiyosaki, Americas rich dad, has stated that hed always struggled with the
from him stop that let never has he ,But .schooling his throughout literature of subject
becoming one of todays most widely read authors. His Rich Dad franchise is one of the
a is he that jokes Kiyosaki ,Today .publishing of history the in series book popular most
bestselling author, not a best writing author.
As a matter of fact, the deficiencies that may have prevented you from achieving certain
best the yourself make to today use can you that tools very the are past the in things
youre capable of today. Both Michael Jordan and Robert Kiyosaki used early rejection
.heights great to themselves propel to fuel as influences outside from
The desire to prove people wrong, to shut them up when they tell you that you won't be
.motivator powerful very a is ,time your wasting stop to and "it" do to able
Obviously, believing in yourself that you can accomplish whatever it is you put your
still you'll yourself in have you belief a great how of Regardless .step first the is to mind
be confronted with many struggles along the way. But, through persistence and a
.nuisances than more nothing become will struggles those yourself in belief committed
Starting today, do yourself a huge favor by not allowing your past to dictate your present
your in believe and are you individual unique the as yourself Appreciate .future or
capabilities to accomplish anything you dare to dream of.

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A Plum In The Syrup

And heres the really fun part you can adopt whatever beliefs you choose. Only you
circumstances your about and yourself about beliefs specific adopt can alone you and
and surroundings. Once you realize this, it will become very empowering for you.
Finally, change is rarely easy. Changing a lifetime of beliefs you hold of yourself is not
in but discipline and work of deal great a take will it times at ,Yes .undertaking easy an
the end it is always, always worth it.
Id like to conclude with this killer thought: you can spend your time and spend your life
waste NOT DO .once only both them spend can you ,however ,choose you anyway
your time mired in the past. Rather, spend it learning from your past and use that
!it worth are you and yourself to it owe You .tomorrow better a build to learning

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10 Caustic Brain Farts
My son Daniel is 3 years old. Ever since he was a

We know so much more

today about the human

of topic the about him with talk would I newborn

money. I don't think I'm unique there. I would think
with money of topic the discuss parents many that

psyche and the way in

their children. Maybe where I am a bit unique is I'd

which the subconscious

he day the from him with conversations these started

mind works than we did

was born.

only a few decades ago.

I tell my son that the accumulation of wealth is a

We now know that what

that ,no ,OK it's that know to him want I .pursuit noble

we pick up from the day

it's more than OK, it's great in fact, to be wealthy. I do

mindset

with

up

grow

to

him

want

not

we're born either good

counterproductive to being successful and wealthy.

or bad will stay with us

generation my with problem the of part big a think I

for life.

and generations before mine are that we've grown up

to counterproductive and statements phrases hearing
success. These statements are what I like to refer to
.farts brain caustic as

As an example, have you ever heard the statement

a is That ?"honest we're least at but poor be may we"
classic caustic brain fart. If you've grown up hearing
you telling is subconscious your then stuff of kind that
wealth equals dishonesty. If you have that kind of
got it's then subconscious your in around lurking crap
to be identified and purged if you ever hope to
will money ,earlier said I Like .successful become
only make you more of what you already are. If you're

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,Remember .dishonest more be to you help will money having ,nature by dishonest
money is neutral it doesn't care who you are and what you do with it. But, make no
no by and dishonest person a make automatically not will alone money ,it about mistake
means is dishonesty a prerequisite to becoming wealthy.
We know so much more today about the human psyche and the way in which the
what that know now We .ago decades few a only did we than works mind subconscious
we pick up from the day we're born either good or bad will stay with us for life.
the from receive we messages the to receptive most are we that suggests Research
ages of 0 5.
Frequently,

becoming

successful

in

adulthood

requires

us

to

reconcile

.past the from messages counterproductive

In a nutshell, when we're born and as we grow, we look at our parents, teachers and
growing a As .us to say they everything believe We .figures trusted as general in adults
child your parents can tell you that the color of a banana is red and you'd believe it.
other and teachers ,parents your Whatever .better any know don't you ;to have You'd
adults say to you as a very young child is gospel. You simply do not know enough to
.life of years earlier your in receive you messages the challenge
So, whatever messages you may have received as a child on the topics of wealth,
you with stay will messages those And .believe to have would you money and success
as you grow. The effects of these messages are quite profound.
A big part of your becoming successful today is to identify, and let go of, whatever
beneficial any in you serve not do They .to on holding be may you farts brain caustic
way and you need to get them out of your speech and out of your system.
A big part of the problem in getting rid of these evil statements is they're frequently
still can they ,yet there they're that know even don't You .subconscious your in buried
wield a great deal of power over you.
You and you alone are the one to make sure these caustic brain farts are not holding
.process step three a is them of rid Getting .after you're success the from back you
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Identifying any of these statements which may be stuck inside your head is the first
the is life your into back them letting never and second the is them of rid getting ;step
third.
So, what I'd like to do is talk about a number of them that you can probably identify with.
say can you guessing I'm and hearing up grown I'd statements are following the know I
the same. Most importantly, I'm hoping to jar your memory to help you identify some of
.ears your between around lurking be still may that farts brain caustic personal own your
Remember: identify them, get rid of them, don't let them back in.
Here are the ones I've identified for myself
You cant have your cake and eat it too you know what this statement is telling you?
a ,all After .harmful so is statement This .happy be to allowed not you're that saying It's
big part of living a fulfilled and successful life is the pursuit of happiness. What good is
?it eat to allowed not you're if cake of piece a earning or having
I say that you should strive to get your cake. And not any cake, I want you to go after
put and ,ala mode cake your have ,prefer you if And .all of best love you which cake the
whipped cream and cherries on it if you wish. And of course, I want you to eat that cake
about go to you want I ,importantly Most .so doing for apologies no make and gusto with
getting your cake and eating it again and again and again.
Good things come to those who wait. What? Are you kidding me? No they dont; good
come do really things good If !happen things make and out go who those to come things
to those who wait then why do so many people die lonely and broke? Theyve waited
?them to came never things good come How ?they haven't ,lives their all
The creators of YouTube sold their creation to Google for $1.65 billion that's Billion
for wait to have they Did .launching after half a and year a only "B" capital a with
their good things? Hell no! And why? Because they went out and made something
.happen

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Oh, here's a doozy: Money cant buy happiness. What utter nonsense this one is.
the ,have you money more the ,And .happiness of plenty buying of capable is Money
more happiness you can buy. Wouldnt a fat bank account enable you to travel the
the Procure ?things beautiful with yourself Surround ?restaurants fine at Dine ?world
best medical attention? Wouldnt all of those things make you happy?
Wouldnt money enable you to donate more to The Make A Wish Foundation? And,
ill terminally a of life the in happiness some buy would donations those think you dont
child?
Dont be fooled money can buy plenty of happiness. Strive to accumulate great riches
apologies NO make ,again And .choose you as happy as yourself make and life your in
for doing so!
"It takes money to make money". Oh, does it? If it takes money to make money than
point some at miserable and broke themselves find winners lottery many so do why
after winning a jackpot? I personally know of many people who have inherited
the into business the drive subsequently to only businesses flowing cash substantially
ground.
It takes a combination of many different things to make money and believe me, money
than money without money make to able not you're if :this Understand .list the on not is
you'll never be able to make money with money.
If you're feeling stuck in life and telling yourself that you're in that position because you
I all then it make to it need you think you If .mode victim in living you're then money lack
can tell you is to hunker down because your life will not be getting better anytime soon.
It DOES NOT take money to make money so you better strike this one out today!
"Money doesnt grow on trees". OK, maybe money doesn't literally grow on trees but
lack a from comes statement a of kind this Making .bit little a one this into dig let's
mentality which believes there is a limited supply of money out there. If there's any one
it of amount unlimited an is there that it's money about understand need you thing single
out there in circulation. Literally, an unlimited amount.
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There are trillions upon trillions of dollars in circulation just floating around looking for a
,week per not) DAY PER dollars million one spend to were you if ;this Consider .home
not per month, but PER DAY) since the birth of Jesus Christ up to today, you would not
?this getting you Are .dollars trillion one spent have
A lack mentality will accept the statement of "money doesn't grow on trees". An
entire an perhaps or tree money a plant to how out figure will mentality abundance
orchard of them.
"The customer is always right". No way! It's especially important for business owners to
matter a As .right always customer the is way No .heads their of out statement this get
fact, all successful business owners fire their pain in the ass customers.
Hanging on to a difficult customer or client for fear that it would cause a financial hit to
seek people business successful All .mentality lack a having from comes business your
only to work with customers and clients whom they choose to work with. Successful
.one better ,new a for room making means client difficult the dumping that know people
It's always in your best interest as a business owner to serve your customers and clients
on deliver to backwards over bending means this times At .ability your of best the to
what you promise. But, there's a tremendous difference between going above and
.happy client ass the in pain incessant an make to trying and expectations beyond
"Patience is a virtue". I have mixed feelings about this. I'm afraid a lot of the time the
the behind hide will "wait who those to come things good" believes who person
statement "patients is a virtue".
Patience is a very good quality to have in some instances and a terrible one to have in
I patients the all takes it ,complaining and whiny is son my when ,example For .others
can possibly muster up to not let it get to me. In this instance, patients is a huge virtue.
There are other times where exercising patients and waiting around can be very
to slow is who client a have you say Let's .success your of being well the to detrimental
pay their invoices. You give them some slack but they always seem to come up with
.killer a is patients ,instance this In .other the after excuse new one
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"Its better to give than to receive". We've already looked at this one in quite a bit of
be it would Why ?why is ask to like I'd question the But .chapter earlier an in depth
better to give than to receive? Who's to say that giving is better than receiving?
Work on becoming a good receiver. Open yourself up to receiving on every level; I'm
your on compliment a you gives somebody When .here money about talking just not
appearance, what is your reaction? Do you accept the compliment graciously or do you
?untrue as off statement the fluff to way some find
Most importantly, feel worthy of receiving, feel as though you richly deserve it. Accept
of deserving and worthy are you because life your into fortune good all and compliments
such things.
In life you will always get what you feel you deserve. Most people are stuck living
that Understand .better deserve they though as feel don't they because lives sub-par
you do deserve better. Whether good things show up for you in the form of compliments
.graciously things those receive and accept ,whatever or money or
Well, there you have it. I've just given you my personal list of caustic brain farts. I'm sure
is remember to thing important The .own your of more many of think to able be you'll
these statements that you may've grown up with serve you no valuable purpose today.
And here's a quick disclaimer: some people may think my labeling these
those To .taste poor in or crude is "farts brain caustic" as statements counterproductive
people I would say that what is actually crude and in poor taste are the statements
head your from farts brain caustic these expel to interest best your in is It .themselves
just as you would the real thing from the other end.

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11 Stay Tuned In To Life's Lessons
It is important to keep yourself tuned in to lifes

You'll be faced with a

number of challenges in
building a successful life.

the as such experiences Daily .times all at lessons

activities we enjoy, interactions with others, and what
teacher primary a become can witness and hear we
in your success in business.

If you try to blindly

navigate those challenges

Life is constantly providing valuable lessons. Its up to

those absorbing and receiving to open remain to you

by trying to figure out

lessons. All you need to do is keep your internal

everything on your own,

.everything about curious remain and up antenna

you'll be setting yourself

With that as a starting point youll be amazed at what

.you teach can life everyday

up for a long, painful

struggle.

One of the purposes of this book is to provide you

one Step .business in succeed to how on insight with
is accepting lifes lessons and applying what you've
simple one this With .business own your to learned
task, I promise youll be giving yourself an edge in
.success desired your achieving

Dont be discouraged if youre not able to fully grasp

you're that lessons The .away right lessons lifes
looking out for are frequently referred to as lifes
a as life leveraging of part big A ."lessons hidden
teacher is through reflection.

You wont always recognize every experience as a

.occurrence its of time the at lesson valuable

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Sometimes it will be years later before youll draw the lesson from a particular situation.
your as life everyday of experience the to open yourself keeping ,worry to not But
classroom, the lessons youll need to incorporate into your business-life will remain with
.process this facilitate will experiences your in Confidence .you
Allow me to provide you with a personal example of exactly what Im talking about:
About two years ago I took a vacation. Well, it wasn't exactly a vacation. As you'll see in
a with me provided trip this not or it Believe .trip a as described be better can it minute a
series of terrific business lessons. At the time of the excursion the lessons I would take
through months few past the over been only Its .me to apparent not were it from
reflecting on the experiences from my trip have I been able to assimilate the lessons
.business home own my in them use and learned
This entire process of recognizing everyday life as a teacher is fun and exhilarating. The
is it disguise in lessons lifes of one as experience an to up wake you moment
enlightening.
The trip Id like to tell you about was to Baja California ah yes, the famed Mexican
.peninsula Baja
Though the Baja is commonly acclaimed for its beautiful beachfront resort destinations,
,raw of miles square its With .excursion motorcycle off-road an was trip my of focus the
naturally lush beauty the peninsula was an ideal destination for this trip. We rode in the
underdeveloped ,deserts ,forests pine mountainous ,trails through countryside Mexican
beachfronts, and farmlands.
Over the course of a three day trip, the agenda scheduled over 600 miles of riding. In
hard on was I hour an of span the In .changing always was terrain the miles 600 those
packed soil, deep, loose sand and rugged, craggy terrain. The skills required to
.adaptation and flexibility for called terrains varying the navigate successfully
It was a trip I'd taken with 13 guys. We left the wives and children home for this one. It
.temperate and pleasant was peninsula the in temperature the and December early was

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The trip started off at Ensenada, a great, little beach front city right on the Pacific coast.
Before .destination boat cruise popular very a and city bustling a is Ensenada
embarking on the off-road part of the journey we traveled roughly 15 miles on paved
.pueblos surrounding its and city the of out way our making road
Having just gotten used to the safety and security of a tame, paved road I entered the
a as and loose and deep is desert the in sand The .security of sense false a with desert
rider you feel the challenge instantly. The front wheel of the bike becomes virtually
.sand the by "around pushed" literally being floats and drifts it as uncontrollable
Regardless of upper body strength it is virtually impossible to maintain steady control
.sand deep through riding when bike the over
Care and caution are no solution to tackling the desert. This is a situation where you
through circumnavigate successfully to way only The .control zero have you if as feel
the sand is to do it quickly. The faster your speed the more stability and control youll
.gain
I realized I had to nail the throttle, get the bike into higher gear and just go all out. I
was thinking ,told be Truth .doing was I what about think to chance the have even didn't
not a requirement. What is a requirement? Speed. The faster youre willing to go, the
a through blasting about talking not Im ,record the For .becomes navigation easier
small sand pit. On the contrary, conquering the Baja desert requires making your way
.time a at sand deep of miles 30 20 through
The desert is not entirely soft, deep sand. There are also many sections of relatively
important is it but ,thrilling always is trails of types these along Riding .trail packed hard
to be aware that danger can present itself at a moments notice during this section of
.trip the
When youre flying along a trail at a high rate of speed, unforeseen turns and obstacles
yourself find certainly almost will you fast too turn one hit you If .dangerous become
skidding and possibly crashing. Unfortunately, as I threw caution to the wind and
.me to happened what exactly is that moment the with taken fully be to myself allowed

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Luckily, skidding and crashing a motorcycle in the Baja desert is not equivalent to
.road paved a on crashing
Remember how I told you that successfully making your way through the deep sand of
the just require trip the of legs other at Success ?speed requires desert Baja the
opposite.
Wed hit a trail that was very badly damaged by recent, heavy rains. I remember gazing
out washed had fall rain the from run-off The .hard pretty hit was that hill steep a down
entire chunks of the trail and left unstable soil and a lot of exposed, large and sharp
.behind crags out washed deep and rocks
Slow and steady with intense concentration was required to make it through this section
your let you If .it do to way other no was simply There .successfully trail the of
concentration go for one second the bike could easily slip into one of the many deep,
a and crash certain a mean would washout a in up caught Getting .washouts craggy
bad one at that.
Another stretch was a trip down the coast at the shore of the Pacific Ocean. This stretch
was kind any of concentration No .experience reflective and calm a for provided
required during this section of the trip. The terrain was nice and flat with no imminent
steady nice a keeping than more Nothing .ahead up seen be to kind any of dangers
pace was required. Riding along the coast afforded the opportunity to look around to
.surroundings beautiful naturally the appreciate and enjoy just
It amazed me at how adeptly our tour guide was able to lead us through all parts of this
to guide our of experience the Without .desert Baja the in signs road no are There .trip
lead us from one trail system to the next, completing the 600 mile trip would have been
.task impossible near a
So, to get back to the point of this story which is not to tell you how thrilling off-road
Ive thrills best the of one is it although) desert Baja the through is riding motorcycle
ever experienced) the point is the invaluable business lessons I was able to draw from
.experience the
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Getting through the deep, loose sand required speed and limited thought; the trick was
based home your in times many be will There .possible as quickly as through it make to
business where conquering a situation will call for the same approach. Sometimes
your trusting and Promptness .make can you mistake worst the be can overanalyzing
instincts to make it through as quickly as possible is the answer.
There are other times when navigating certain business obstacles will require a slow
trails out washed the traveling as just ,thought cognizant and concentration with pace
had required. Trying to rush your way through sometimes will only mean disaster; an
.will you if crash inevitable
Of course, as in my example of tearing through trails at full throttle, you must avoid
if good any yourself doing be wont You .activities business your in reckless being
youre moving too rapidly causing obstacles to spring up quicker than the time you've
.adjustments necessary make to allotted
There are times in your business where you should allow yourself to coast. By opening
to able been youve what enjoy can you surroundings your appreciating and eyes your
do for yourself. And you owe it to yourself to occasionally take time to appreciate
my to parallel runs self-appreciation This .back the on pat a yourself give and yourself
experience of riding along the ocean shore.
Finally, there was the lesson of working smarter, not harder. The 600 mile trip through
,guide tour a following By .success complete a ,part most the for ,was desert Baja the
the challenges of navigating the desert were minimized; not eliminated but minimized.
Yes, there were some bumps and bruises and broken motorcycle parts. But, in the end,
.success huge a be to out turned trip the and piece one in through it made everybody
Just as we had followed the guidance of somebody experienced in navigating the Baja
to nothing was There .success of challenges the navigating in you should so ,desert
stop us from riding through Baja California without a tour guide. However, I'm willing to
failed would've probably most we chance good a there's that have I everything bet
miserably if we tried.
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Maybe we could've eventually completed the entire 600 mile trip on our own. But not in
could've things poorly how knows Who .sure for that's piece one in not and days three
turned out had we not invested the money upfront in somebody else's experience.
You'll be faced with a number of challenges in building a successful life. If you try to
you'll ,own your on everything out figure to trying by challenges those navigate blindly
be setting yourself up for a long, painful struggle.
If your goal is to succeed in life and in business then you must work smarter, not harder.
means It .education business your and yourself in investing means smarter Working
following the proven path of somebody who has already succeeded at what it is you're
an making meant miles Baja grueling 600 riding successfully as Just .do to attempting
investment in somebody else's experience, so will succeeding in life.
All successful people invest in themselves they have to. There are no shortcuts to
required they're what on up hung get never success their about serious Those .success
to pay up front to learn something valuable from somebody more experienced. Rather
And .run long the in them provide will experience that value more much how at look they
that, my friend, is the definition of working smarter, not harder.
There was a point where we took a rest stop in the desert. The temperature was a
our continue to motorcycles the on back get to preparing were we As .70s mid pleasant
journey, our tour guide pointed to the cloud covered mountains that we were about to
.precipitation some encounter would we that comment a made and traverse
Naturally I assumed he meant rain. After all, we were in the Baja what other kind of
,that way hard the out found we surprise our to Much ?be possibly it could precipitation
yes, snow does fall in the mountains of the Baja peninsula.
By the time we had made it to the mountain top we found ourselves smack in the middle
werent it if enjoyable been have would It .experience wild a was It .blizzard out full a of
for the frigid temperatures and our feet sloshing around inside of our newly rain-filled
physically most the of one was trip the of stretch that ,aside kidding All .boots riding
strenuous activities Ive ever experienced. My clothes were soaked and I was chilled to
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A Plum In The Syrup

a as felt that shower hot a having ever remember don't I .leaf like shaking bone the
good as the one I took back at the hotel.
I am aware that pounding through the Baja desert on a 450cc dirt bike is an activity that
am I point the on you lose to not is intention My .demographic select a to only appeals
trying to make.
Find an appealing activity that gives you the opportunity to push your physical limits.
you limitations physical predefined your past further much how at amazed be will You
are able to go.
Getting caught in the snow storm may have taught me one of the most important
It .today it about laugh and experience that through get to able was I .all of lessons
reinforced my ability to recognize that I can get through anything. There is no obstacle
climb ,around go ,through get to how out figure wont I where me at throw can life that
over or burrow under thanks to riding that dirt bike through the mountain blizzard.
Ive been to events where participants partake in breakthrough activities. These
the or ,barefooted embers hot red across walking ,walk fire the include may activities
breaking of a solid board with your bare hands. The purpose of these activities is finding
As .impossible seem may first at that tasks accomplishing of capability own your out
long as you put your mind to it, you can do it.
Don't mistake me here, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the type of trip that has
can I .vacation type resort a loves who guy first the Im .agenda the on self-indulgence
have a great time lounging with my wife in the sand with an umbrella drink in hand or
.son my with pool wave the in around splashing
What I am suggesting though is that you do make it a point to send yourself on a trip
sky- a be could This .limitations self-imposed your test to chance the you gives which
diving excursion, big game fishing in the Gulf of Mexico or running with the bulls in
.Spain ,Pamplona

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A Plum In The Syrup

It is very important to your success that you prove to yourself that any limitations you
nature this of trip a taking ,And .self-imposed purely are yourself about have might
grants you the opportunity to crush these pre-conceived limitations.
One final thought on learning life's many lessons. Life does not give us all the lessons
the through lessons learn and recognize to need we ,Frequently .directly need we
experiences of others.
Here's an example it's a sad example and one that I hope everyone takes seriously
popular and beautiful very a Richardson Natasha 2009 ,18 March On .from learns and
stage and screen actress died from a fall while taking skiing lessons. Her death was
.spill harmless pretty a be to seemed what by caused definitely was it but immediate not
I will not try to recreate what transpired in the moments and hours following her spill but
medical immediate and proper with spared been could've life her that us tell accounts
attention. Said medical attention would've been completely unrequired had Natasha
.helmet ski a wearing been Richardson
The untimely and tragic death of Ms Richardson ought to serve as a valuable lesson to
ride son me let I will again Never .granted for safety personal our take never to us of all
his tricycle without a helmet. How fast can a three year old go on a tricycle? And how
to about not I'm and know don't I ?off topple to were he if into get he can trouble much
find out the hard way.
I've accepted the death of Natasha Richardson as a wakeup call a valuable lesson
Natasha if that me tells Something .else somebody through taught has life that
Richardson knew that her untimely passing had resulted in the saving of somebody
.that about smile would she ,helmet a wear to reminder a as served it because life else's
She would be pleased that her death was not in vain.
Tune in and pay attention. Life is constantly teaching you lessons directly or through
.waste to go lessons those let Don't .others

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12 Focus On The Needs Of Others
It's been said that you can get everything you want in

It's been said that you can

get everything you want
in life if you help enough

is it what get to people other enough help you if life

that they want in life. This statement is a basic truth
pursuit their in by live entrepreneurs all virtually which
of success.

other people to get what it

is that they want in life.

There are basically only two things which motivate

attain either to do they things the do People .people

This statement is a basic

pleasure or to avoid pain. The decisions people make

truth which virtually all

all are live to how or buy to what ,go to where on

entrepreneurs live by in
their pursuit of success.

driven by these two essential issues; avoid pain or

greater a is pain of avoidance the ,And .pleasure gain
motivator than gaining pleasure.

Everybody goes through life with their own set of

people's some Although .with contend to issues
issues are unique, you'll find that many people have
to on go who Those .common in issues same the
great entrepreneurial successes focus on helping the
attain or (problems solve) pain avoid to masses
pleasure (improve quality of life).

Great ideas to do one or the other attain pleasure or

look just ,nose your under right are pain avoid
around.

Let's take a look at a simple product that seems to be

attain to people helps which today rage the all
pleasure.
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A Plum In The Syrup

Essentially this product is a blanket with sleeves named a Snuggy. A very simple yet
one only in comes it ;product forward straight ,simple very a It's .idea popular apparently
size and there are a few different colors to choose from. How hard was it to create a
?sleeves with blanket
Here's another that comes to mind; a hanging planter which enables you to grow a
advertised Topsy-Turvy a called item this seen may've You .down upside plant tomato
on TV.
Growing up I saw my dad every day in the spring and summer working his vegetable
a of kind what saw I ,though time same the At .love of labor a was it ,him For .garden
hassle it was to grow tomatoes. Dad would germinate the seeds in his greenhouse in
to grew they as plants the tie and garden his in out seedlings the replant ,spring early
tall stakes. Half the time the deer and other wild animals would get to the ripened fruit
.did he before
There's nothing quite as tasty as a homegrown, garden fresh tomato but there are
urban an in live you if what And .them growing with involved challenges definite
environment or on the 12th floor of a high rise? If you don't have access to a plot of soil
?tomatoes own your grow to going you are how then ,garden vegetable a start to
Somebody saw these challenges and created an item which enables you to grow your
very a It's .problems associated the all obviating thereby down upside plants tomato
simple yet very effective solution to a problem tomato lovers everywhere were faced
.tomatoes growing of out hassle the take to how ;with
Do either of these aforementioned products seem obvious to you now that they've been
;planter tomato down upside an and sleeves with blanket A ?market the to introduced
two very simple products. One of them delivers pleasure a blanket with sleeves to
;freely hands your use to you enables but months cold the during warmer you keep help
and the other helps to avoid pain an upside down tomato planter which takes the
.tomatoes fresh garden enjoying of out hassle

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A Plum In The Syrup

Sometimes great idea comes from nature. Are you familiar with the story of how the
the in out was man a when created was It ?created was fastener loop and hook Velcro
woods with his dog. Upon returning from his walk in the woods, he took a close look at
,noticed He .fur dog's his and clothes his to stuck were which (basically ,seeds) burs the
under a microscope, that these burs had hundreds of hooks on them that would grab
manmade a into idea the adopted He .them against brushed which anything of hold
equivalent and thus Velcro was born.
The Post-It note is a great example of a serendipitous invention. An engineer at the 3M
really was one no ,first At .adhesive reusable ,tack low a invented "accidently" Company
sure what to do with this "invention" until somebody used the stuff to make himself a
office is rest The .realized was notes Post-It for potential the ,moment that At .bookmark
supply history.
In an earlier chapter I'd urged you to remain curious about everything. Here's another
see to you enable will curious Remaining .that just do to want you'd why reason great
things which others may be missing.
The funny thing about so many of history's greatest creations is that they seemed so
think you that something see you if is here lesson important the So .along all obvious
others may be missing, act on it. How many people do you think may've thought of a
were there sure I'm ?out came Snuggy The before sleeves with blanket all fits size one
a lot of them.
I can go on but I'm sure you get the point. What problems do you see around you? What
to ideas with up Coming ?them solve to with up come you can solution simple a of kind
help people avoid pain or gain pleasure does not have to be a complicated process.
.possible it's proven already have you before people of thousands ,it do can You

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13 Do Not Make Other People's Problems Your Problem
Solving other people's problems can put you on a

work at keeping things

in their proper perspective

making ,add to hasten I ,But .success certain to path

other people's problems your problem is a sure path
people Helping .two the confuse not Do .failure to

and listen to your gut.

solve their problems versus taking on those problems

Your gut feelings will

matters different completely two are own your as

always tell you whether or

entirely.

not you're putting yourself

Not too long ago I'd carved out a niche for myself in

in peril by taking on

My .investor foreclosure a as market estate real the

problems which aren't

your own.

specialty was negotiating short sale settlements for

mortgage their on default in were who people
payments and had little or no equity in their
.properties

In business, time is money so it was important to

was I not or whether ,phone the over right ,determine
able to assist a distressed homeowner when they'd
homeowner a because Just .office my contact initially
is in foreclosure does not necessarily mean a short
.situation their for right is sale

Working with foreclosed properties is gratifying in that

the At .need of time their at people help to noble it's
same time, however, it was a business and I could
and sense made they felt I if projects after go only
that I had a good shot at closing the transaction.

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Without question, the hardest part of working the foreclosed real estate market for me
.through going was homeowner distressed the that pain the from myself separating was
The sad stories I'd heard of what had caused people to go into foreclosure in the first
.bear could I than more become had place
As a side note, in my experience it takes a really strong stomach and something of a
for desperate are who people are These .homeowners foreclosed with work to skin thick
a solution to their problems. They want answers and they seek some certainty about
ethical in make can you mistake one number the ,However .future term near their
foreclosure investing is to guarantee a homeowner any kind of a successful outcome.
I'd had people literally crying, asking me for money in lieu of a successful short sale
a being from far is situation foreclosure any in outcome successful a ,However .outcome
certainty. As much as my heart went out to the people I've dealt with, it would've been
.money of amount any front to standpoint business a from imprudent very
Had I done so, had I provided a distressed homeowner any amount of money up front, I
the is really that And .problem my problems their made ,moment that at ,have would
number one rule in foreclosure investing; do not assume somebody else's problems. In
.general in business in rule one number the considered be also can this ,actuality all
There's another important example I'd like to offer you on this topic. Throughout my
Marketing Network various with involved been I've ,entrepreneurship of years
companies. Success in Network Marketing means building an organization. You want to
their of organization an build to them help and business the into people new sponsor
own. The more people you help to build successful organizations, the more successful
.business own your in become you'll
When a person decides to get started in Network Marketing they're typically required to
to company one from varies cost startup The .kind some of investment upfront an make
the next but there's always some initial investment required. Frequently, somebody new
a of behalf the on investment initial the make actually will Marketing Network to
prospect; a person they wish to get into their organization.

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On the surface, doing something like this seems to make sense. After all, the person
the and business their grow to eager is else somebody for investment initial the making
person on the receiving end of this gesture needs the helping hand. This looks like a
.involved sides both for win-win
All I can tell you is doing something like this is a big mistake. If a person is really eager
the Making .it do to way a find they'll ,notwithstanding money ,business own their start to
initial investment for somebody else is actually a lose-lose for you both. Although your
else's somebody make to was done essentially you've all ,placed well be may intentions
problems your problem. The person on the receiving end of this scenario will see zero
to approach serious a take to anybody For .made you've investment the in value
business they've got to have some skin in the game; they've got to lay their own money
.line the on
Frequently, creating a business around helping others to solve their problems will
,But .course of literally not ,figuratively shoes their into yourself put to you require
projecting yourself into a problem in order to come up with viable solutions is a heck of a
.own your problems those making than different lot
There are some entrepreneurs who have built very successful businesses out of taking
a make to able are who those that is say will I What .problems people's other on
success of this type of business model have a great deal of experience in what they do.
their upon rely and carefully very risks their calculate who women and men are These
vast, very focused, and frequently hard earned, experience.
The assumption I'm making in this chapter is that the reader is a new, budding
people's other Solving .words my heed please then you describes that If .entrepreneur
problems can be the foundation for a winning business model. Making other people's
what of detail little every knowing really without or unnecessarily problem your problems
you're doing can be disastrous.
Look at the following as an example of a type of business which takes on other people's
Numerous .turmoil in is industry banking global the writing this of time the At .problems

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banks are being taken over by other, larger banks. Acquisitions take place in all areas of
.industry banking the to exclusive not is it ;business
When one business acquires another, that business is taking on all the existing
after made only are acquisitions these But .be may they whatever ,issues and problems
very careful analysis. Some people even have made a substantial business of buying
.around them turning or rescuing and companies troubled
I realize that most people reading this book are not and will not be engaged in returning
it felt I ,discussion the of sides both to fair be to ,But .profitability to businesses broken
was important to mention this.
When I say to avoid making somebody else's problems your problem, I'm speaking
not does rule this saying without goes it think I .perspective business a from strictly
apply on a personal level when it comes to helping a loved one. If your spouse has a
.too problem your it's default by then problem
Finally, work at keeping things in their proper perspective and listen to your gut. Your
taking by peril in yourself putting you're not or whether you tell always will feelings gut
on problems which aren't your own.

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14 Do Not Subjugate Yourself To Failure
Wouldn't life be grand if whatever we attempted were

With failure being as

prolific as it is it's far

a being there of Instead ?favorably out work always to

95% failure rate amongst all new businesses, every
owner its make and successful be would them of one

more likely that you'll fail

rich. If things were to always work out well, anybody

at something than succeed

would've market stock the in invested ever has who

at it why even bother

taking a chance? If failure

gotten

wealthy

doing

point?

the

public

would've

Knievel Evil and Coke New embraced enthusiastically

would've made that jump over the fountain in front of
.Palace Caesar's

hurts and you're most

likely to fail, what's the

so,

But, alas, 95% of all new businesses fail, many an

,Street Wall on beating financial a taken has investor
New Coke is recognized as one of businesses
out came finally Evil and blunders historical greatest
of his coma after 29 days.

Failure is never easy. With failure invariably comes a

even person a would why ,hurts failure If .pain of lot
entertain the prospect of enduring it? There are much
a over yourself fling to than live to ways easier
fountain in front of a huge audience or to stake your
.restaurant new a opening on savings life's

And nobody is keeping the facts of failure hidden. I'll

well is business new a opens who everybody bet
aware that he or she has only a 5% chance of making
the into money their place who those sure I'm .work it

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stock market have some idea of the risks involved. And I know that Evil Knievel knew he
he when that say interview an in him saw I .jump that make to able be wouldn't
surveyed the jump from the top of the takeoff ramp prior to making his attempt he told
.anyway it did he butcrash to going was he himself
With failure being as prolific as it is it's far more likely that you'll fail at something than
likely most you're and hurts failure If ?chance a taking bother even why it at succeed
to fail, what's the point?
I think ultimately how you answer this question will come down to how you define
is success of definition your that you told I book this of prologue the In .success
completely unique to you. So ask yourself, how do you define success?
Success, however you define it for yourself, will require some degree of risk to attain it.
therefore and ,risk keep can You .failure inviting you're ,risk a take you whenever And
the possibility of failure, to a minimum by playing it safe. But again, it will all come down
.success define you how to
For example, if your definition of success is it to live conservatively, put in a 40 hour
.risk personal minimizing you're then ,return in paycheck a receive and week work
You're not eliminating it entirely but you won't be taking on any risks with potentially
.consequences painful
However, if you define success as being independently wealthy, traveling the world in
you'll then home ostentatious an in living and cars sports exotic driving ,style class first
be taking some pretty high risks in life to get those things.
It then stands to reason that how much potential pain of failure you're willing to endure
.yourself for success define you how on depend ultimately will
I'd mentioned in a previous chapter that, essentially, everybody wants more out of life.
world This .it get to required what's do actually to willing are people few very ,However
is filled with worker bees who unhappily go about their daily business. They risk very
are they where stuck masses the keeps What .life of out little very get therefore and little
is their own inability to take on risk because of the fear of failure.
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This is what I mean when I say do not subjugate yourself to failure. If you want more out
you if And .simple that just it's ,it get to necessary risks the take to got you've then life of
have an inability to take on risk because you're afraid of the potential of failure then
.life of out much too get to expect don't
Failure is a very misunderstood concept. Those who achieve great things understand
an as failure embrace They .experience learning a than more nothing is failure that
important part of achievement and learn to leverage their failures as stepping stones
.goals their reaching towards
Our lives would not be filled with the wonderful innovations we have today if the people
success more begets Success .failing of afraid were innovations those for responsible
that's true. But you know what? Failure does not necessarily beget more failure. Failure
rather but success of born not is success ,way another it put To .success begets always
success is born of failure. Look at it that way and you'll realize that failure is literally
.desire you life the achieve to necessary
Personally, I've always looked at it as a prerequisite to success; a kind of rite of
a It's .life of part a it's ;Failure .it at fail first must you ,something at succeed To .passage
part of life as an entrepreneur anyway. With only the slightest exception, every
.failure with dealt has reading through know to gotten have or know I person successful
It's an integral part of becoming successful.
Look, there are very few guarantees in life. Achievement of your goals is certainly no
to come will accomplish to out set you things the that guarantee no is There .exception
pass. You may not reach a goal on your first attempt. And maybe not on your second,
you attempt every with ,certainty with you tell can I this But .either attempt fourth or third
make, your chances of reaching your goal are greatly increased.
There is one major caveat of making repeated attempts to accomplish a goal and it's
leverage To .from learn to you for lesson valuable a holds attempt failed every ;this
failure to your advantage then you've got to learn from it. There is nothing wrong with
from valuable something learning not and failing with wrong everything is There .failing
the experience. From failure is born experience and from experience is born success.
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Very few people will achieve anything noteworthy with the life they've been blessed with
;types all needs world this ,But .failure of fear their to down comes all it part large in and
it needs great achievers, it needs the proletariat and it needs all classes in between. Not
1980 the in Noonan Danny to said Smails Judge As .things great do will everybody
movie "Caddyshack" "Well, the world needs ditch diggers too."
Who do you aspire to be? Are you one of the world's proverbial "ditch diggers" or are
you're risks the to down come will question that answer you How ?that than more you
willing to take and how you look at failure.
I'll wrap up this chapter by offering a quote from the immortal Michael Jordan. In
from quotes of number countless a across come I'd chapter this for notes my gathering
famous people throughout history who talked about the important role failure had played
so that one the is Jordan Michael from quote this ,However .success ultimate their in
eloquently summed up the importance of failing.
Here's how Michael Jordan had put his failings into perspective: "I've missed more than
take to trusted been I've times 26 .games 300 almost lost I've .career my in shots 9,000
the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life
".succeed I why is that and
Failure; don't expect it but accept it.

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15 Keep It Real
I remember being a kid back in the 1970's watching

It is crucially important
for you to keep things in

black ,fuzzy the on "Family The In All" of episode an

and white console TV parked in the living room. This
scheduled regularly a was show the when back is

their proper perspective.

sitcom. The scene was where Meathead and Gloria

Keeping things real in this

they that Edith and Archie to news the breaking are

day and age is a challenge

in and of itself. The intent

would not be having any children. Archie and Edith

looking were they because disappointed visibly are
forward to being grandparents.

of this chapter is to help

you keep things in their
proper perspective.

Archie pressed them on why they weren't planning to

that was response Meathead's and children any have
"they didn't want to bring any children into this
planet this that was reasoning His ".world crummy
was already too over crowded, polluted and not a
.grow to child a for place pleasant

That episode originally aired over 30 years ago. If

world the that then back thought Gloria and Meathead
was too polluted, overcrowded and too crummy a
think they would what ,up child a bring to place
today?

The funny thing is this; every generation could find

they which in world the about complain to reasons
live.

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My younger brother Mark frequently comments about how much easier times must've
and taxes and cheaper were gasoline and cars that argues He .1950's the in back been
general prices of things were a lot lower. He actually has a whole list of reasons why life
was there that him to appears just It .today life than easier been must've past years from
somehow not as much pressure to live back then as there is today. Mark wasn't even
he's Maybe .true even is this not or whether idea no has course of he so 1972 until born
right, maybe not; I don't know.
Here's the thing though; the world in which we live is what it is. Stressing over what's
abundant an living for purpose good no you serves you around world the in place taking
life. I don't think any generation necessarily thinks they have it any better than the
in living you're that thoughts with out yourself psyche you before ,So .before generation
trying times, just remember that most everyone from previous generations probably
.thing same the thought
As I'm reviewing my notes, I realize this chapter could easily be the longest one in this
today there out around swirling hyperbole and hype much so be to seems There .book
that it becomes difficult to separate myth from reality. We live in a time known as the
is today disposal convenient our at information of crush utter The .age information
pandemic.
It is therefore crucially important for you to keep things in their proper perspective.
this of intent The .itself of and in challenge a is age and day this in real things Keeping
chapter is to help you keep things in their proper perspective.
For example, take a look at the law of attraction; a subject we'd discussed in chapter 3.
main become has (attraction of law the ,aka) energy vibrational ,internal of topic The
stream today. Was that the case yester decade or before? Probably not; I'd imagine
of cadre flung far a by discussed secretly ,best at underground was topic a such
sociologists.
Thanks to the blockbuster success of books like "The Secret", the law of attraction
books or "Secret The" read you Have .topic stream main ,discussed openly an is today
like it? If so, are you now magically attracting the things into your life that you deeply
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A Plum In The Syrup

it keep you as long aswork does really attraction of law the ;can you Because ?desire
real.
One of the exercises "The Secret" suggests is to use visualization to attract the things
.tools visualization recommended the are boards vision and Meditation .life in want we
If you're meditating about the things you want in life and making vision boards in order
understand ,But .start good a to off you're ;great reality your into things those attract to
this, it doesn't end there. Just because you deeply desire something does not mean that
.life your in appear magically somehow to going it's
For example, lets say you have a vision board. On your board you have a picture of a
every boat that of picture the at stare You .owning of dream you that boat speed sexy
day. You meditate about owning the boat. In your meditation you see yourself in the
you what on Based .day sunny ,gorgeous a on blue ocean the cruising seat captains
know about the law of attraction through your vision board and meditation you are
the make to do to need you All .reality your into boat dream that drawing magnetically
boat your possession is to visualize having it and it will be so. Right? Wrong!
The reality is that nothing on your vision board will materialize unless you take some
of law the thinks who anyone ,see You .it acquiring actually towards action of sort
attraction alone will bring them everything they want in life is sorely mistaken. The law of
action Taking .worthless is ,action meaningful with combined not when ,alone attraction
also means keeping it real.
Here's another example; home based business is a very hot topic today. In response to
based home to attention their turning are people of thousands ,market job souring a
entrepreneurialism. If this describes you then please, PLEASE make sure you keep it
.real
Have you ever searched out the topic of home based business on Google? Holy
lesson on a need up come which sites web these of some behind people the do smokes
keeping things real. Go onto Google and search that keyword. You'll find tons of web

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wealthy become can anyone which of ease the about claims outrageous making sites
from a home office just by latching onto whatever it is that particular site is offering.
I've seen sites that say such things as, "Our robots make you money while you sleep".
reality a need somebody does man oh Man ?sleep I while money me Making ?Robots
check. Now I'm not scoffing at automation and streamlining a work process. In fact, the
make I money of amount the on limits no having is me for success word the of meaning
and also having all the free time I need to enjoy it. What good is having money if you're
this to crucial is process flow work automated an up Setting ?it for silly yourself working
goal.
But to think that all you need to do is buy and plug in some robot that will automatically
an up setting in involved work of lot a is There .preposterous is rich you making start
automated system to assist you with your work flow and it's not going to happen
.overnight
What I find very frustrating are the claims of easy home based riches made by too many
based home regarding misinformation and hype The .there out sites web
entrepreneurialism online is rampant. You'll always only see the rosy side of making
tears and sweat ,blood prerequisite the about hear really never you but home at money
which go into building a home business.
Work harder not smarter is the mantra. And a damn good mantra it is. All successful
word the used I notice you Did .harder than rather smarter work to learned have people
"learned" in the previous sentence? What that means is working smarter will come
hard work can You .process learned a is smarter working ;work hard of result a as about
without working smart but you'll never be able to work smart without first working hard.
Keeping it real means reminding yourself of something your mother used to tell you
In .is it true be to good too sounds something if :kid little a just were you when back
terms of money and success, work, and lots of it, has to come first. The only place
.dictionary the in is work before comes success where

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All I'm asking you to do is be extremely cautious if you're researching business
willing ,ready there out charlatans skilled of shortage no certainly is There .opportunities
and able to pounce on the ill-informed.
Many of the claims being made today would lead you to believe that for a minimal start
charlatans skilled These .you to handed business generating cash a have you'll cost up
I talk about know how to appeal to a person's sense of greed. Things are made to
.easy like they ;like people what that's and easy so sound
Starting off at a point of easy riches is a fallacy. I'm not saying such a thing is
to seem who there out people successful of plenty are There .all at not impossible
make money with great ease and you can be one of them. All I'm saying is getting to
will Nobody .point starting a not is it ,earned hard something is riches easy of point that
hand you a lucrative career or a successful business; those things must be earned.
One of the tactics used by the "easy money shysters" (as I like to call them) is to display
in raking they're money big the of evidence as sites web their on statements bank the
every month. What they don't show you is the amount of money they spend on
a showing statement a see you'll ,example For .campaigns marketing and advertising
figure of $20,000 in monthly revenue but you don't see the $18,000 monthly Google pay
.revenue that generating for responsible bill click per
Something else we all need to keep a reasonable perspective on is the phrase
completely A .Boyle Susan up brought I chapter earlier an In ."success overnight"
unknown singer one day, a global sensation the next. The proverbial "overnight
said ,words own her in ,Boyle Susan ,now Remember ,all at not ,No ?right ,"success
she was singing since age 12; she's now 48. Does that sound like "overnight success"
?to you
Ask anybody who's ever been referred to as an overnight success whether or not they
of kind some been always There's .no you tell they'll sure I'm and title that deserve
preparation required sometimes a whole lot of preparation before the big
without materialize never will breakthrough big that And .pass to comes breakthrough
the intense preparation that nobody ever sees.
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Keeping things in perspective keeping things real is such an important topic; one I
there but necessary than loquacious more be to want don't I .about on and on go can
are a few additional points which I think are worth mentioning on this subject.
I'd read a book a year or two ago entitled "You Call The Shots" by Cameron Johnson.
guy a He's .22of age the at book this written had who man young unique very a is Cam
who seems to have the entrepreneurial Midas touch.
He'd started his first business at the age of 9 with a home computer and by the age of
every admission own his By .resume his on businesses profitable dozen a had he'd 19
business he'd started up to that point was a success he lost no money on any of them.
He's an admirable young man to be certain but Cameron Johnson is certainly the
.rule the not exception
The path most entrepreneurs take is one lined heavily with failures, losses and
will lead to wish you life the to path your that suggesting necessarily not I'm .frustration
be fraught with failures. But, in the spirit of keeping things real, don't be surprised if it is.
.you stop that let don't and it accept ,is it if And
I won't go into a dissertation on the topic of failure but you have to learn to accept it and
not and something at Failing .detrimental not is something at Failing .it from learn
learning from it is.
History is loaded with stories of men and women who eventually made their mark in this
failures more overcome to have you Whether .repeatedly defeat overcoming after world
than somebody else along your road to success makes no difference. What will make
you times tough whatever through persevere to ability your is difference the all
encounter. I've already said a lot on the topic of failure in chapter 13 so I'll leave it at
.that
Like I said earlier, this topic could easily fill a book; even a complete volume. But of
there's If .politics at look a having without this like chapter a conclude couldn't I course
any group in the USA who needs some serious lessons on keeping things real, it's our
.agencies its and government
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A Plum In The Syrup

News recently broke that lifelong senate republican Arlen Specter has switched political
his of many or one Did ?move this make he did Why .democrat a now he's ;parties
republican colleagues somehow upset him? Did he wake up one morning and decide
his changed suddenly he'd philosophies and beliefs conservative of lifetime a after that
mind? No to both questions.
Specter switched parties in a move to improve his chances of staying in office. Polls and
never will himself He .switch party the for reasons primary the are re-elected getting
come out and admit such a thing but on this point numerous political pundits agree.
to real it keeping like sound another to party political one from switch sudden this Does
you?
Arlen Specter is just one teeny example that I use because his changing parties is
.real things keep to inability their for famous are general in politicians But .news recent
An entire volume of books can easily be written on examples of how our elected officials
.means "real it keeping" what to as clue no have
Keeping it real also means that you must operate your business within the boundaries
the within" so do to but "integrity with operate" to say didn't I Note .integrity own your of
boundaries of your own integrity". As I'd mentioned earlier, money is neutral paper and
lie who People .honesty of level high a with operate only who those for reserved not is
and cheat can achieve their own definition of success as well as the person who
.honesty with operates
To be truly successful, you must feel good about how you go about attaining your
conducting means yourself for real it keeping then nature by honest you're If .success
your business in an honest way. If wealth is how you define success then attaining
staying means Success .well you serve not will tactics unscrupulous using by wealth
true to yourself.
The decisions you'll make in life come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Don't
important most What's .decisions small the on energy and time your of much too waste
is that you base your big decisions on principle. As long as you do so, you'll be keeping
.yourself for real it
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Living a life of happiness is synonymous with living successfully. You will live happily
.real it keep always you as long as successfully live will you and
Keeping things real and keeping things in their proper perspective will help you to forge
are which principles the on living you're that well full knowing times tough the through on
important to you.

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16 To Be Act As If
In his book "The Art Of The Deal", Donald Trump

To be a great champion
you must believe you are

estate real a as days early his about length at talks

developer. For those who may not be familiar with his
development estate real his started Trump ,story

the best. If youre not,

company from a couple of small offices in Brooklyn. It

pretend you are.

Trump that 27 about of age old ripe the until wasn't

made his move into Manhattan.

Upon his arrival in the big city his first order of

.people right the to himself "sell" to was business
Meaning, he had to forge the relationships and make
a as career his advance to necessary connections the
real estate developer.

As he began to meet with the people he felt he

name formal no had he ,with good in get to needed
for his fledgling development company. So he began
he As .Organization Trump the company his calling
puts it, "Somehow the word "organization" made it
."bigger much sound

At the time, Donald Trump had no experience or

he but aspirations his up back to accomplishments
had something far more important; he had a vision.
like act to had he ,reality a vision that make to And
the person he dreamt of becoming long before he
.person that became actually

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If Trump hadn't first taken himself seriously as a big time New York City real estate
asking now I'm .either such as seriously him taken would've else nobody then developer
you to utilize the same strategy Donald Trump used to kick start his ascent to success.
must you then become to wish you person the as others by recognized be to want you If
first recognize your own self as that person. In short, to be, act as if.
Here is what Muhammad Ali had to say on this subject: To be a great champion you
,him hate or him Love ."are you pretend ,not youre If .best the are you believe must
nobody knew the power of belief in self better than Muhammad Ali.
In addition to seeing yourself as, and acting as, the person you wish to become, you
Trump Donald ,example previous the in As .create to wish you life the see also must
saw himself as a big time New York City real estate developer and he had a vision of
other the never is it ;reality precedes always vision A .pursue to wanted he projects the
way around. Never has success been achieved by somebody who hasn't first
.reach to wanted they goal the envisioned
There's the story of Walt Disney who saw his completed Disneyland theme park in his
Steven of story the also There's .it build to broken was ground before long mind
Spielberg who snuck into an empty janitorial closet on the grounds of Universal Studio,
."Director ,Spielberg Steven" ;read which door the on sign a hanging Hollywood
Disney and Spielberg are not alone. The history of business is filled with similar stories.
A strategy I've used to help me "act as if" is to read biographies and autobiographies of
Donald ,Stewart Martha about and by books read I've .people business successful
Trump, Lee Iacoca, Bill Gates, J.P. Getty and many others. Doing so has enabled me to
become to used have others strategies the of elements valuable many up pick
successful.
And I never took the approach of doing exactly what I'd read about in these books.
and personality own my with well fit felt I which elements the extracted I'd ,Rather
individuality. Following examples set by other successful people does not mean letting
.not you're somebody like act or be to trying mean doesn't It .identity own your of go
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A Plum In The Syrup

What it means is extracting characteristics which resonate with you; things which you
.existence own your into fold can
I guess you've noticed a common theme which I stress throughout this book is the
I activity single other any than me for more done has Reading .reading of importance
can think of. I don't want to veer too far off the subject of this chapter but please indulge
.mind don't you if moment a for me
You can tell a lot about a person based on what it is they read or don't read. One
next The .habits reading their is next the to person successful one from commonality
time you find yourself in the office or home of a person who you'd consider a success,
I what see you'll and that do and ahead Go .bookshelves their lines what of notice take
mean.
Then, take notice of what a person living a life of mediocrity has lining their
do magazines of types What ?bookshelves have even person this Does .bookshelves
they have lying on their coffee table? Do you see magazines such as "Money",
be to magazines gossip celebrity only there are or "Economist The" and "Entrepreneur"
found in the living room?
Let me add that a person does not have to have their face constantly buried in a
celebrity a through flipping with wrong nothing There's .magazine or book business
gossip magazine or picking up a trashy novel every now and again. Hey, we all need
you time the of majority the is suggesting am I What .reality from break occasional the
take to read should be on beneficial subject matter. And yes, you better take the time to
.read
OK, I went off on a little bit of a tangent there, let's get back to the subject at hand.
Acting like the person you aspire to become is frequently easier said than done. Each
It's .us at chattering constantly is which heads our inside voice little that has us of one
that little drunken monkey we have between our ears who loves to tell us that we can't
.immune is nobody ,one have all We .something do shouldn't or

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What you've got to do is tame that little beast. In order to "act as if" you've got to get that
an be would so do to Trying .him of rid get say didn't I Note .control under monkey
exercise in futility. Nobody is able to get rid of their little, drunken monkey entirely but
own your are You .be need when control under him keep to able are people successful
worst critic and this is why the monkey never goes away.
Even Tiger Woods, who seems to always produce when things are on the line, has a
control to ability his from comes greatness Tiger's .head his in living monkey drunken
the monkey when he needs to.
Every successful person, and I really do mean every single one of them, has
of times those at it's And .success to journey their on times at struggle experienced
struggle when the drunken monkey is at his worst. Your resolve to become the person
the at especially bay at monkey the keep to use you'll tool the is becoming of dream you
most difficult times. Always "act as if" and eventually the monkey will have no choice but
.itself to criticisms its keep and up sober to
Here are a few final thoughts on this topic. We are all conditioned to take the path of
at easy be to going not is zone comfort your from break a Making .resistance least
times. Yes, becoming successful isn't always easy but then again, neither is living a life
.mediocrity of
If you ever feel as though you're stagnant and unable to move forward to a higher place
re- to you for time it's that sign a as that Accept .bit little a up things mix to time it's then
strategize and try a different approach. As the saying goes, if you continue to do what
.gotten always you've what get to continue you'll done always you've

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17 A Plum In The Syrup
By now I'm sure you get it; that your personal

it's not so much the

cards you're dealt which

you as unique as is "success" word the of definition

are. And, the journey you take to that place which you
.unique as equally is success as define

matters but the way you

play the hand that will
make all the difference.

Something I find fascinating is that everybody every

best the want all We .success wants us of one last
that life has to offer. Yet only a very small percentage
than better anything achieve

ever will us

of

mediocrity.

Everybody wants a greater sense of financial security.

their and themselves provide to wants Everybody
loved ones with a good life. Everybody wants the
money that knowing from comes which mind of peace
will never be an issue or concern. Sadly, however, the
never will us of majority overwhelming the is reality
get there. Most of us will spend a lifetime struggling
.quo status the maintain to just

What makes this dichotomy more interesting is that

has have-nots and haves the between divide the
nothing to do with a persons race. It has nothing to
with do to nothing has It .sex persons a with do
where someone was born, who their parents are,
field what ,schooling their finished they not or whether
of endeavor they choose to pursue or how high their
.is IQ

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Going all the way back to the time of cavemen, there has always been and always will
choose they whatever at successful are who people of percentage smaller much that be
to pursue.
But why? Why are there so many smart, sincere, hard working, well meaning people in
What ?lives their of all struggle financial than more little experience will who world the
are the small number of people amongst us doing to live in financial abundance that the
?not are rest
As you contemplate this question you may come up with dozens of good answers. And,
is there ,However ,other any than better is answer one any that you tell to going not Im
one good answer to this question which I personally feel is the single common thread
of definition individual person's a of Regardless .share people successful all that
success and apart from the unique path taken to get there, this is the one characteristic
us amongst successful most the :is it here And .common in have people successful all
take full, unconditional, personal responsibility for their own lives.
If you fail to take personal responsibility for your own life you're living in victim mode. If
in mired being for reason your as boss dumb your or job lousy your blame you
mediocrity, youre playing the role of a victim. If youre blaming the lousy economy for
yourself find ever you If .victim a of role the playing youre then circumstances your
complaining about anything at all, you guessed it, youre in victim mode. And, there
somehow to happen did ever victim a If .victim successful a as thing such no is simply
stumble upon success, that success would certainly be short lived.
Taking responsibility for yourself also demonstrates that you understand that nobody
.yourself for happen it make to have You .you for happen it make will else
Now heres the real kicker people, subconsciously, want to be in victimhood. As crazy
may They .victim a of role the playing comfortable are people most ,sound may this as
not realize it or will disagree vehemently with this observation. However, if they were to
feel would somehow they that see would they themselves at look honest ,hard a take
threatened by success because success would take them outside of their comfort zone.

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And that is where the real problem lies people, by their very nature, want to stay with
.with comfortable most are they what
So the idea of taking full, unconditional and personal responsibility for your own life is
.around arms your wrap to need really you something
Most importantly, taking responsibility for your own life means that even though you
,complete have do you life in experience you everything over control little very have
unconditional control over how you react to that which you experience. To put it another
the play you way the but matters which dealt you're cards the much so not it's ,way
hand that will make all the difference.
Life is constantly throwing us curve balls. We are tested every day by the trials and
as defined commonly is this terms layman's In .immune is nobody ;life of tribulations
"shit happens". The very essence of being human means confronting and efficiently
,

.challenges daily life's with dealing

All around you, and every day stuff is happening and there's nothing you can do to stop
of level your determine will it to reaction your and happens which that confronting And .it
success in life. You can play the role of victim in response or the role of victor. The
.yours entirely is choice
Therefore, the one quality which will determine the type of life you will lead is how you
have You ,you to deals life cards of hand the play you how ;circumstances life's handle
virtually zero control over THE circumstances you'll have to deal with in life but at the
a In .them with deal you'll HOW over control complete 100% have you time same
nutshell: what happens to you in life is not what's important, it's how you deal with it
.important that's
And this is the number one deciding factor in what separates the successful amongst
.crowd the of rest the from
Nobody is perfect so your reactions to life's circumstances will not always be optimal.
it with deal to learn must you and happens Stuff .fallible you're therefore human You're
accordingly.
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I'd purposefully saved this chapter for last. If there's any one single concept that I'm
point this from life your in day every use to put and book this from take you'll hoping
forward, it's this one. The concepts discussed in this chapter are what literally separates
.pack the of rest the from successful truly the
It would be entirely impractical of me to tell you not to get upset, frustrated or angry over
the so emotions have you ;human You're .way your throw will life challenges the
feelings associated with the challenges you'll face are natural. What's most important
enable will what is emotions your of control Gaining .emotions your controlling is then
you to meet life's challenges head on allowing you to respond to them in a productive
.way
Sometimes you'll need help and support in dealing with your challenges. At other times
dealing and life own your for responsibility full taking But .you to up all be will it
effectively with the challenges you'll face will be the catalyst of your success.
This concept became crystal clear to me a few years back.
It was the summer of 2000. I was visiting my folks at their home in Pennsylvania's
in Pennsylvania in lake a on live They .birds snow are parents My .Mountains Pocono
the spring and summer then take off for Florida for the fall and winter.
When they're back in the north east, their house in the Poconos provides for a great
.weekends summer enjoy to place
It was a Saturday morning and we were gathered at the breakfast table sipping coffee
also was ,time the at three was who ,Olivia niece My .talk table general making and
seated at the table. In front of her sat a plate of syrup with remnants of the pancakes
.breakfast for eaten just had she
As the adults were talking, Olivia stood up on her chair and reached to grab a plum from
little her ,down back sit to went she As .table the of middle the in sat which bowl fruit the
3 year old hand had lost its grip on the plum which wound up in the plate of syrup in
.her of front

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We adults were snapped out of the conversation we were having when Olivia let out a
,yummy the when upset very was she out turned it As .cry to began and scream loud
purple plum she was about to bite into fell into the syrup.
Grandma to the rescue!
My mom, who was standing at the sink hurried over to the table, grabbed the plum from
the handed she ,towel a with dry it dabbing After .off it rinsed promptly and plate Olivia's
piece of fruit back over to my niece and the little girl sat there beaming with joy. Just like
.world little her in again well was all and cured was angst Olivia's ,that
My mother then made a comment which I've personally adopted as a metaphor for
my of rest the for me with stick will which comment a is It .challenges life's with dealing
life.
She said, "Olivia, you'll learn in life that there will be lots of times when your plum will fall
".happens it when it with deal to how learn to have just You'll .syrup the into
Today, I will say the same thing to you. There will be many times in your life, from the
the into drop will plum metaphorical your where ,die you'll day the to born you're day
syrup. You can cry about it and play the role of victim or figure out a way to rinse it off
.victor the be and
Victors give themselves permission to succeed in life, victims do not.
Sometimes you'll be able to rinse the plum with a gentle stream of water. Other times,
be always can plum your ,this remember But .plum your rinse to hose fire a need you'll
rinsed. Victors always find a way to rinse their syrupy plums.
How to do it won't always be obvious. But the fact remains that they can always be
.rinsed
Obviously, at three years old, my niece did not have the answer for how to deal with her
she And .on goes life as learn will and now 12 She's .syrup the in up wound which plum
will find that learning how to rinse her plums is ongoing just as you will learn the same;
.process ending never a it's
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A big part of learning how to rinse off your own plums will come from taking personal
a with dealing Sometimes .syrup the in up wind they when times the for responsibility
plum when it falls into the syrup is an individual responsibility. At others times, you may
.plum Olivia's off rinsed mother my when case the was as others from help need
The major point you need to take away though is this; if you want to live the life of your
.way productive a in circumstances life's with deal to learn to got you've then ,dreams
You can do little to control the circumstances you'll face in life and at the same time you
.them to react you'll how about everything do can
Folks, your life is in your own hands make the most of it. Once its gone, its gone for
either and successes see youll day one life your on back look you When .good
disappointments or regrets. Disappointments will mean that you tried; you gave it your
.all at try even didnt you that mean will Regrets .short up came but all
Live your life to fill it with as many successes as possible and smile about the inevitable
see you hope I ,back look to comes day that when ,importantly Most .disappointments
few, if any, regrets.
Here's a final thought I'd like to leave you with which should help you fill your life with
,born were you When :regrets the minimize and disappointments your accept ,success
you were crying and those around you were smiling. Live your life so that when your
.crying be will you around those and smiling be you'll world this from pass to arrives time

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Appendix A
How do you handle life's proverbial plum when it falls into the syrup? As I'd been
gathering my notes for this book I had so many people offering me their stories of
overcoming life's adversities. I've heard stories of everything from dealing with terminal
diseases with dignity to being embarrassed in public and everything in between. Every
story I've heard of folks who had dealt with their plums in the syrup were so inspirational
to say the least very powerful stuff indeed.
And now it's your turn. I'm asking you to share your story with me. How have you been
able to overcome adversity? How have you been able to rise above and come out the
other side of a difficult situation smelling like a rose? Whether it's business or personal I
want to hear what you have to say.
To submit your plum stories, please visit:
http://www.apluminthesyrup.com/sharemystory.htm
Thank you and here's to your tremendous and continued success.

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