Smart Business & Career Tips

Solving the Mystery of Letting Go

Sometimes the greatest truths are laid right before our eyes, in the simplest of things, and yet we just can't see them. Take for instance our own hands: what a miracle they are. If we consider for even a moment all they are capable of doing, it's evident that a great wisdom sits hidden behind their incomparable design. But, with this thought in mind, permit me to add one other to help us see another part of their special purpose that lies "hidden" in plain sight.

What good would our hands be to us or, for that matter, to the world they are made to help shape, if all they could do was close down around something and cling to it? How stale and old everything would soon be for us if the act of "holding on" to things were all our hands had the power to do? Just imagine what life would be like if we were unable to touch anything new.

To be able to touch and appreciate what is new, our hands are also created to open up -- and, as needed -- to let go of whatever is in them that is no longer useful.

This same basic truth applies, even more so, when it comes to our need to release those old feelings and worn out thoughts that first clog up, and then compromise our heart and mind. These tiresome states of ourselves have become "stuck" within us because we haven't learned how to release them.

Once we understand that letting go is the missing half of the whole happiness our heart longs for -- that it is a necessary and full partner in the power to discover and complete our True Self -- everything about our life grows easier. Old regrets dry up and blow away. We awaken to a quiet kind of faith that fears nothing. New possibilities for us appear almost moment to moment because we've hung an "open for business" sign on the door of our life. And, as our contentment grows with who we are -- within ourselves -- we stop compromising ourselves in order to win the approval of the world around us.

And best of all, as a result of our growing discoveries about the secret of letting go, we find ourselves on the threshold of solving the greatest mystery on earth: who are we? Why are we here? And what is our true role in this world? For as we start to see reality -- as it is -- in its timeless expression of creating life, perfecting it, and then letting it go, only to start all over again, we realize that we ourselves are an integral part of this Great Endless Story. And if the whole of Life is being made new in each and every moment -- and we ourselves are a part of its never-ending process of perfection -- then letting go isn't some distant and difficult faculty to be acquired. To the contrary: letting go is an effortless state of our own consciousness; it is a natural power of ours needing only to be actualized in order for us to realize the freedom that it alone can grant.

- Guy Finley

Bring Your Story Home to Your Reader

By John Carlton

Let's go deeper into storytelling, what d'ya say? My last article in ETR ("You, The Movie") seems to have hit a nerve.

In that article, I discussed the importance of storytelling as a skill, especially for copywriters attempting to persuade prospects to become customers. The brief exercise I suggested was aimed at sharpening your ability to weave a pithy tale... and the response was overwhelming. At last count, more than 160 folks posted their efforts in the new "comments" section on ETR's website. (And I read every single one. Thanks, again, to everyone who participated. It was fun, wasn't it?)

Today, if you're up for it, I have another exercise that will help hone your writing chops to dangerous "street-wise salesmanship" levels.

But first... let's do some triage.

In case you missed it, I reviewed specific submissions in the comments section. But, in general, if there was one glaring fault in the three-sentence stories that were posted, it was the lack of a clear punch line. This is the most common error rookies make (and it's an easy fix, once you get hip to advanced storytelling tactics). Many of the narratives sort of "floated," without moorings. And while meaningful to the writer, the tales remained mysteries to the reader.

Great storytelling sucks people into your world. This is especially important when one of your ultimate goals is to use your writing to sell stuff. (Most legendary ads involve some type of storytelling.)

Even the most rollicking yarn can put people to sleep if it's too complex, goes off on too many tangents, or doesn't tickle the reader's short attention span.

And most people are not natural storytellers... so they sometimes ramble off on quirky paths, repeating themselves, unable to clearly explain plot points, and bombarding the listener with irrelevant details. "Did I tell you about the UFO that attacked us? No? It was Tuesday last week. No, wait, it was Wednesday. Yeah. It must have been Wednesday, because I was headed to IHOP to meet Suzy for waffles. You know they have specials every Wednesday, don't you?"

This is how people get strangled.

In my long experience trying to force folks to tell better stories, the first task is nearly always to trim the excess verbiage and fluff.

The outline to follow is: the set-up (the tease of the payoff to come)... plot elements (relevant details)... action (the fulfillment of the tease)... and punch line.

Focus on your reason for telling your story... which could vary from pure entertainment to providing insight to persuading someone to buy. When you're done, you want your listener or reader to FEEL something. Happiness ("Aww, the puppy got rescued")... alarm ("My God, I'm gonna keep a loaded gun by my bedside from here on out")... astonishment ("My neighbors are doing what at night?")... or, yes, even greed ("Hey! I want that kind of deal too!").

The process can also be described biologically. Like this: foreplay... climax... resolution.

Stories, like sex, benefit from a focus on the goal. The less extraneous interruption, the better.

In other words: It's not about you at all, even if you're the star of the story.

It's about your reader.

Ideally, he will "see" himself in your story. Or feel like he's temporarily privy to the world you create with your words - a world he would not otherwise have access to.

Have you ever read a story to a child? Once they get a taste for it, just saying, "Once upon a time..." will glaze their eyes over, as they eagerly prepare themselves to be transported to a world far different than their own.

The concept of "transporting" is critical. You're driving the story, and it's your responsibility to keep it on the road. Your reader will abandon you at the first hint that you don't know where you're going. And he'll despise you for getting his hopes up for a good tale if you then dash them with a feeble punch line.

That's why striving for pithy, concise stories is so important for writers. Set-up... plot elements... action... punch line.

And the three-liner is classic. One of the best: "I've been poor. And I've been rich. Rich is better."

No need for any details. In this example, the words "rich" and "poor" carry their own payload of emotional backstory with them, because, in this context, nearly everyone will have a feeling about being rich and a feeling about being poor. A long-winded rant about HOW poor you were, or HOW rich you became, is excessive.

Concise, memorable stories pack a punch.

Even better, there is a segue into the life of the reader in that three-line beauty. "Rich is better" may seem like an obvious statement, but coupled with the set-up lines, it delivers a strong message that smacks of truth. You want to hear what else this guy has to say.

The flow of a quick story, told with feeling, is always ripe with implications for the reader.

However, good ad copy doesn't rest on implications. It's got to move quickly to specifics.

So here's a simple tactic from my own bag of tricks that has helped bring many a story "home" to readers: First, you tell your tale, aiming for the kind of breathless prose that makes your prospect afraid to exhale for fear of missing a delicious detail.

Then, you deliver the punch line or the moral or just the ending. Don't try any clever transitions back into your sales pitch. Instead, you merely say: "And here's what that means for YOU..."

When reading fables to kids, any attempt to explain the moral would ruin the transcendent pleasure of listening to them. Ideally, you want the ending to rattle around in their heads, while they mull over the ethical implications and come up with their own conclusion. (Kids hate it when adults wag fingers and try to force lessons on them.)

But when you're writing to adults, you no longer have that luxury. Especially with ad copy. Adults are so numb to incoming data, they will hear even a great story, store it away somewhere in their cluttered brain, and move on to the next volley of arriving stimuli without coming to any conclusion whatsoever.

So, as the copywriter, it's your job to complete the thought.

You just continue the thread, going deeper into your sales message.

"I've been poor. And I've been rich. Rich is better. Here's what that means for you: You can continue on with your life believing that 'money can't buy happiness,' if that makes you feel better. But I'm here to tell you that having a pile of extra cash is actually a fabulous feeling... and your life will get better almost immediately. Plus, since I've already done the hard work of going from clean broke to filthy rich, I know all the shortcuts... and I'll share them with you..."

Et cetera.

So, if you're up for it... here's your next assignment: Tell a short, three-sentence story (using the set-up, plot, action, and punch line outline). And then write a one- or two-line segue that brings the story home to your reader. Leave it in the "comments" section on ETR's website here. 

You're allowed to be nonsensical for this exercise. In other words, you don't actually have to be selling anything. You can make it all up.

Just think - really, really hard - about how the punch line of your story MIGHT lead into a sales message.

Be concise, and bring it home to the reader. That's the key to world-class sales messages.

You cannot "fail" at this exercise, because you're just warming up your chops.

You don't learn to ride without hopping into the saddle. And it's okay to fall off, as long as you climb back on.

Again, I'll read every submitted story, and comment as needed.

[Ed. Note: Think storytelling doesn't matter? Think again. John Carlton is an expert copywriter, a pioneer in online marketing, and a teacher of killer sales copy - and he's honed the storytelling craft to a fine point. From John, you can also discover how to get your hands on the kick-ass secrets of the world's smartest, happiest, and wealthiest marketers.

And be sure to read his insights, tactics, and advice on copywriting and marketing at his blog.]

This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.

Scheduling Stress Breaks

   By Michael Masterson

If you work as hard as I do, you will be forever on the verge of a nervous breakdown unless you do something about it. One of the best things you can do is schedule at least two (and preferably three or four) stress breaks every working day.

A stress break is not a stress break unless:

1. You get at least 10 feet away from your desk.
2. You are completely distracted by it.
3. It lasts at least five minutes.
4. It relaxes you.
5. It energizes you.

If you have good control over your daily schedule, you can plan stress breaks between tasks. Ideally, you’ll want a five-minute break every 90 to 120 minutes. If your schedule is too frenetic or unpredictable to do it that way, use an egg timer and simply break away from whatever you are doing when it rings.

Suggested stress-reducing activities:

1. Stretching
2. Yoga
3. Billiards
4. A walk in the sun
5. Meditation

What will NOT reduce stress?

1. Lifting weights
2. Any strenuous exercise
3. Talking about work
4. (Probably) talking about anything
5. Sex

You will notice that the stress-reducing activities suggested above are solo ventures. That is not a coincidence.

This is something you can start today. If you think you are too busy to start today, you really, REALLY need to start today. If you have no problem with the idea of taking stress breaks, you don’t have enough stress in your life because you are not working hard enough. Get to work.

This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.

 

Creative Business Ideas: The Winner is Nintendo Wii

In this New York Times article it is argued that the Nintendo Wii has hit the top spot with gamers overtaking Sony's Playstation.

read more | digg story

Emotional Freedom Techniques

Based on impressive new discoveries involving the body's subtle energies,Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) has been clinically effective in thousands of cases for
            Trauma & Abuse
            Stress and Anxiety          

          Fears & Phobias
            Depression
            Addictive Cravings
            Children's Issues
            hundreds of  Physical Symptoms including headaches,
            body pains and breathing difficulties.
            

Properly applied, over 80% achieve either noticeable improvement or complete cessation of the problem. 

              ...Often works where  nothing else will.
              ...Usually rapid, long lasting and gentle.
              ...No drugs or equipment involved.
              ...Easily learned by anyone.
              ...Can be self applied

Download a free manual

EFT for Job Fears

According to an article in Washington Post (April 4, 2006) though getting fired ranks as one of the events in life which cause  greatest stress it seems that the constant fear of losing your job can actually damage your mental and physical health even more.

It appears that the unrelenting nature of the stress is linked more strongly to depression and health problems than actual job loss.

The constant stress causes a variety of problems generally starting with sleeplessness, which is itself linked to yet more health problems. Since the nineties  there has been a growing trend of companies downsizing and merging.This could have major troubling health implications for North American workers.

While life events can trigger negative emotions there are things we can do to reduce the impact of these negative responses. We can concede that our feelings are very complicated and fragile.If we manage to empower ourselves with positive emotions then we send positive energy to boost our immune system. This generally results in vibrant health.

The danger for most of us is that we live in societies which encourage dwelling on negative feelings. It's fine to accept and acknowledge that we will face challenges in life. How we respond to them determine not only our physical health but our emotional and spiritual well being. Wallowing in self pity and other negative responses can encode harmful emotions deep into our cell memories.

Our jobs are  the major focus of  the lives of most of us. There is tremendous potential for both risk and success. So although many studies show that periods of employment are detrimental to our health it is not a surprise that the worry of losing your job can be even more harmful to our health.Often in my counseling I urge my clients to watch what they say about their life.( Often I recommend the book The Game of Life by Florence Shovel Shin written in early 20th century) It's quite astonishing how often we unconsciously manifest bad things in our lives.Many spiritual teachers have taught that we create self fulfilling prophecies by focusing on fears of what might happen. Therefore if you are constantly putting your intention on the fear of losing your job you increase not decrease the chance of it happening. In a perverse way you add your own energy to propel that event into being.

If on the other hand you choose to love your job and send love and light( from Stuart Wilde's The Little Money Bible)  to your superiors,your company and your fellow workers you have a much greater chance that you will be happier and healthier.Learning to deal with stress can be quite simple. Don't get me wrong I'm not advocating some chemical anti-depressant or long periods of costly therapy. I heartily recommend a simple to learn technique which I have been using on myself and my clients for the last two years. It's called EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique . You can learn it in a few minutes.You may need the help of someone who has used it often to deal with hidden fears.

---

Milton Drepaul is a Career Consultant and Author. He adds EFT,Reiki and Numerology to his business writing skills for clients who request a deeper insight into their vocational choices. Visit his sites

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3 Instant Strategies to Overcome Fear and Achieve Happiness and Peace of Mind

Once you know these three strategies, fear melts away. Let me illustrate the three secrets with a quick story. Then, I'll give you them to you

I spent time in the Midwest where an old livestock farmer said to me, "Lori, I've learned my greatest life lesson from Hereford cows."

I thought that was a bit unusual. After all, I've spoken to many great people who have shared many incredible life lessons. What could we learn from cows?

Well, I was shocked and grateful.

On cattle ranches, the freezing rain, bitter winds and extreme temperatures of winter storms can wipe out entire herds. Flying ice can even cut into flesh.

Facing this dangerous enemy, most cattle turn their backs and slowly drift downwind until they find another obstacle which stops them. Be it a river, fence or something, they pile up against the obstacle and die in large numbers.

But Herefords intuitively stand shoulder-to-shoulder facing the icy storms with their heads down against the bitter blasts.

The farmer told me, “Well, Lori, you almost always find the Herefords alive and well. It is the greatest lesson from the open range. Just face life’s storms.”

When a person stands up to a challenge or fear that challenge or fear tends to fold and give way. People with courageous persistence win.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”

Do not attempt to ignore what you fear and go drifting with the wind. Every person must decide over and over whether to deal with fearful situations or to run away.

Most fears are unfounded and empty. A successful businessman in his 60’s calculated that only about 8 percent of what he feared had happened. He looked back on his life saying that 92 percent of what he feared never came to be.

Of the 8 percent of fears that did occur, he said, “Lori, I just stood up to them with persistence. It was my persistence that overcame them. All fears are controllable.”

Here are three strategies to overcome fear and achieve happiness and peace of mind.

Lori Prokop Happiness and Peace of Mind Strategy #1

Be a person of persistent faith. Most importantly, say morning, noon and night, “I will not be motivated or dominated by fear or anxiety any more. I remove fear and anxiety from my mind. I now decide my fear and anxiety will be brought under control and eliminated. I am a person of persistence and faith.”

In addition to this statement, you will need to choose matching thoughts and actions. This statement will program your mind to remove and reject fear-based thoughts.

Lori Prokop Happiness and Peace of Mind Strategy #2

Work on fears one at a time. With a pen and piece of paper, write out all the fears you have. Make as complete and honest a list as possible. Look over your list and determine the fear that disturbs you the most. Decide to resolve that fear alone, first.

Most people’s strength, energy and persistence are powerful enough to resolve one fear at a time. Resolving all fears or multiple fears at one time can be more than a person could energetically handle.

When you overcome one fear and then the next, you will experience an increased sense of accomplishment, confidence and personal power you can use to defeat all the fears on your list.

Lori Prokop Happiness and Peace of Mind Strategy #3

Increase your faith and persistence power. Faith and persistence can be the result of a long-practiced mental and spiritual process.

Often, those who need faith and persistence the most need it now. They don’t have time for years of spiritual development. To develop faith and persistence quickly and powerfully, I suggest learning and mastering your inner Life Guidance System.

What is your Life Guidance System?

It is a chart of 21 emotional levels which each person uses, with or without awareness, to create and react to situations in his or her life.

At the bottom of the chart is fear which creates 1% of what you do want and 99% of what you don’t want. In the middle of the chart is anger which creates 30% of what you do want and 70% of what you don’t want.

A little higher is contentment which creates 75% of what you do want and 25% of what you don’t want. At the top of your inner Life Guidance System is love and gratitude which manifests 100% of what you do want and 0% of what you don’t want.

You create your life experiences from your chosen emotional levels. As you choose higher and higher emotions, you will be amazed how much easier, more peaceful and more successful your life becomes.

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Our fax is 416.352.5872.

A new perfume for older women

Ladies of a certain age: do your men come home from the gym not just hot but hot to trot?

Researchers may have discovered the reason: A mystery chemical isolated from the sweat of young women seems to act as a romance booster. When the researchers added the compound, Pheromone 10:13, to a perfume and gave it to older women, it made their partners more affectionate. "In
diaries kept by the women for 6 weeks, 41 per cent of pheromone users reported more petting, kissing and affection with partners," reports this week's edition of New Scientist magazine.

Pheromones are airborne chemicals secreted from the body and recognized by their smell. Humans and animals emit pheromones. Joan Friebely of Harvard University and Susan Rako, a doctor from Newton, Massachusetts, studied the behaviour of 44 post-menopausal women. Half were given a
perfume with the compound while the remainder used a fragrance with a placebo or dummy chemical. Only 14 per cent of women using the perfume with the placebo reported an increase in affection from their partners.
Pennsylvania biologist Winnifred Cutler is keeping the mystery pheromone a secret until the patent is granted.

Self-hypnosis Used to Calm Asthma Attacks

An asthma attack has both physical and psychological components. The anxiety that often accompanies an attack reinforces the physiological processes underlying the asthmatic response. Teaching the asthmatic patient how to use self-hypnosis to control the anxiety can be effective and may also reduce the need for medication.

A 12-year-old asthmatic patient learned self-hypnosis by following instructions that she imagine walking on a beach and lying down near the ocean to relax. She received, according to the report published in BMC Pediatrics by Ran D. Anbar, M.D., of the Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, a post-hypnotic suggestion that when she touched her finger to her nose, she would enter a state of profound relaxation.

After two 45 minute sessions, she was able to use the finger relaxation technique to calm herself. She had been using nebulized levalbuterol at least four times a day, but within two weeks of her training, she was using hypnosis instead half the time, and by three months she had completely discontinued use of the medication.

Juggling Improves Mind-Body Link

Some people have too much on their plate, but if your problem is only having too many balls in the air, you might try juggling. According to Michael Gelb, author of More Balls than Hands: Juggling Your Way to Success by Learning to Love Your Mistakes (Prentice Hall Press), practicing juggling calms your mind as it balances your body. He claims that visualizing success while juggling takes advantage of the special mind-body connection created by this particular form of relaxed concentration. While other approaches to success may get tangled up in too much thinking, juggling requires letting go of thinking.
It naturally creates what they call in Zen, "beginner's mind," which is totally present in the moment of "now," where visualizations can make their mark.