A Plum In The Syrup

Page 1

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

Page 2

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.

Page 3

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.

Page 4

A Plum In The Syrup

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Prologue ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 6 P. 11 P. 15 P. 20 P. 24 P. 31 P. 35 P. 39 P. 43 P. 50 P. 54 P. 58 P. 64 P. 72 P. 75 P. 79 P. 83 P. 91 P. 95 P. 101

1 Evolution Is The Key To Your Success . 2 No Excuses . . . . . . . .

3 The Nature Of Things 4 Niche Yourself .

5 Identify A Trend And Get In Its Way . 6 Create A Trend . . . . .

7 Your Most precious Asset

8 It's Better To Receive Then To Give 9 Believe In Yourself . 10 Caustic Brain Farts . . .

11 Stay Tuned In To Life's Lessons 12 Focus On The Needs Of Others

13 Do Not Make Other People's Problems Your Problem 14 Do Not Subjugate Yourself To Failure 15 Keep It Real 16 To Be, Act As If . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17 A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 5

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

Page 6

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 7

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 8

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 9

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 10

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 11

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 12

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 13

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 14

A Plum In The Syrup

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 bring to others and your value is a direct reflection of your skill set. The more valuable your skill set, the better your chances of high achievement.

become must you ,more have to :phrase word simple more.

This is a truth which transcends everything else if accumulation the includes success of definition your 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

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.

Page 15

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 16

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
Page 17

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.
Page 18

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.

Page 19

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

There .value personal your expanding of importance really is no other way around it; if you want more you .more become must

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

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

Page 20

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 21

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.

Page 22

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?

Page 23

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 be. It's part of your master plan. Now this is not to say that you're supposed to accept mediocrity

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 with familiar you're know I .easily so come to seems this type of person; success seems to fall right into 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

Page 24

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.

Page 25

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

Page 26

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

Page 27

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 28

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
Page 29

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

Page 30

A Plum In The Syrup

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 happy all of the time. If you do if you try to please and appease everyone you will be doomed to failure. The most efficient path to success is to niche yourself and strive to be the best at what it is you do.

time the of all people the of all not.

The true path to success in life is to serve others. The .be you'll successful more the ,serve you people more But, you have to serve those people well. Whether 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

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 appease everyone you will be doomed to failure. yourself niche to is success to path efficient most The 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

Page 31

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
Page 32

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
Page 33

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.

Page 34

A Plum In The Syrup

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 should be based on your passion and talents, so should any trend you'd want to service.

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 And .home earth planet the call who people of billions the tastes, preferences, wants and needs of the 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.

Page 35

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
Page 36

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
Page 37

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.

Page 38

A Plum In The Syrup

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

the most beneficial aspect of creating a trend is it means you'll be the first in a category and you'll be the first in your buyer's mind. And that is a pretty darn good place to be.

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 everywhere and for all intents and purposes, it's free. of inventor the ridicule much how imagine only can I bottled water had to put up with when he (or she) .action into idea their putting about went

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

Page 39

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
Page 40

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

Page 41

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.

Page 42

A Plum In The Syrup

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. No, time is not your most valuable asset. It is true; your personal time is extraordinarily valuable, but

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.

I want you to take a moment and ponder the many take you When .with blessed been youve assets stock of all that you have, what would you say is your ?others all tops that one the asset greatest single

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.
Page 43

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
Page 44

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

Page 45

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
Page 46

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

Page 47

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.
Page 48

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

Page 49

A Plum In The Syrup

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 yourself? You have to first help yourself which puts you in a position to provide others with assistance.

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?

Altruism is one the greatest gestures we can perform at another out help to ability the that think do I .life in his or her time of need is a cornerstone of what for win a is Philanthropy .beings human as us defines 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).
Page 50

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
Page 51

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.
Page 52

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

Page 53

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Having a firm, committed belief in yourself is the foundation of achieving everything you aspire to in life. Think about it, when you have a can-do attitude youre giving yourself the power and energy to accomplish anything.

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 one day I just quit cold turkey; I cancelled both of my off sworn have and subscriptions newspaper

watching TV news coverage.

I just couldnt take all of the negativity anymore. If the was it crime senseless some about wasnt story major 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
Page 54

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.

Page 55

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.

Page 56

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

Page 57

A Plum In The Syrup

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 psyche and the way in which the subconscious mind works than we did only a few decades ago. We now know that what we pick up from the day we're born either good or bad will stay with us for life.

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 their children. Maybe where I am a bit unique is I'd he day the from him with conversations these started was born.

I tell my son that the accumulation of wealth is a that ,no ,OK it's that know to him want I .pursuit noble it's more than OK, it's great in fact, to be wealthy. I do mindset a with up grow to him want not

counterproductive to being successful and wealthy. generation my with problem the of part big a think I 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

Page 58

A Plum In The Syrup

,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
Page 59

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 60

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 61

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 62

A Plum In The Syrup

"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.

Page 63

A Plum In The Syrup

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. If you try to blindly navigate those challenges by trying to figure out everything on your own, you'll be setting yourself up for a long, painful struggle.

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.

Life is constantly providing valuable lessons. Its up to those absorbing and receiving to open remain to you lessons. All you need to do is keep your internal .everything about curious remain and up antenna With that as a starting point youll be amazed at what .you teach can life everyday

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

Page 64

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 65

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 66

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 67

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 68

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 69

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

Page 70

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

Page 71

A Plum In The Syrup

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 other people to get what it is that they want in life. This statement is a basic truth which virtually all entrepreneurs live by in their pursuit of success.

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.

There are basically only two things which motivate attain either to do they things the do People .people pleasure or to avoid pain. The decisions people make all are live to how or buy to what ,go to where on 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.
Page 72

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

Page 73

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

Page 74

A Plum In The Syrup

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 and listen to your gut. Your gut feelings will always tell you whether or not you're putting yourself in peril by taking on problems which aren't your own.

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 solve their problems versus taking on those problems matters different completely two are own your as entirely.

Not too long ago I'd carved out a niche for myself in My .investor foreclosure a as market estate real the 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.

Page 75

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 76

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 77

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 78

A Plum In The Syrup

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 more likely that you'll fail at something than succeed at it why even bother taking a chance? If failure hurts and you're most likely to fail, what's the point?

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 rich. If things were to always work out well, anybody would've market stock the in invested ever has who gotten wealthy doing so, 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

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

Page 79

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 80

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 81

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 82

A Plum In The Syrup

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 their proper perspective. Keeping things real in this day and age is a challenge in and of itself. The intent of this chapter is to help you keep things in their proper perspective.

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 sitcom. The scene was where Meathead and Gloria they that Edith and Archie to news the breaking are would not be having any children. Archie and Edith looking were they because disappointed visibly are forward to being grandparents.

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.

Page 83

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 84

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

Page 85

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 86

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 87

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 88

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
Page 89

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 90

A Plum In The Syrup

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 the best. If youre not, pretend 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 company from a couple of small offices in Brooklyn. It 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

Page 91

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 92

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

Page 93

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 94

A Plum In The Syrup

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 matters but the way you play the hand that will make all the difference.

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

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 mediocrity. ever will us of

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

Page 95

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 96

A Plum In The Syrup

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.
Page 97

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 98

A Plum In The Syrup

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
Page 99

A Plum In The Syrup

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

Page 100

A Plum In The Syrup

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.

Page 101