Focus TipT - Get Control of Your Business and Watch Your Bottom Line Grow

Focus Tip™ - Get Control of Your Business and Watch Your Bottom Line Grow

Author: Chrisitne Harvey, Co-Founder, WomenForWealth.com

 

Methods of success and failure in business have fascinated me more than anything in my consulting business over the years, with clients as big as Gillette and Sony, or as small as an individual entrepreneur.

 

The single most important thing is this - Whether the company is large or small, whether it is in the US or Europe or Asia, the success or failure lies largely in ‘Management Control.’ This is even more true for the entrepreneur!

 

Here’s what I mean by ‘Management Control’….

 

It’s simply knowing what your target is, then making sure it is completed!!!

 

Here are some examples. Targets can vary widely, depending on the department. For entrepreneurs, they cover the gambit, since they wear hats for most of the departments themselves!

 

So, a sales or network marketing target could be: ‘10 new prospect calls per day.’

A production target could be: ‘Quotes for CD reproduction from 5 suppliers by Friday.’

A property management target could be: ‘Financial reports received by the 10^th of each month.’

A rehab target could be: ‘Pool fence in by the 12^th of this month.’

 

You get the picture. That’s the target part.

 

Now what about the ‘control’ part of ‘Management Control?’ This is where most people fall down, be they managers or entrepreneurs. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU. The reason most people fall down here is that they don’t keep a record of the target in order to check to see if it’s done – this applies to themselves and others accomplishing it.

 

So, what’s wrong with that, you might ask? Don’t people do the best they can? Why should I chase them if I’m their boss? Won’t that de-motivate them? Isn’t that micromanagement?

 

Let’s look at it this way… I was once interviewed in Asia by a journalist after a lecture I gave to a management group. The journalist said, ‘Mrs. Harvey, why so you put all this emphasis on management control. Isn’t it enough for people to just do their best without being monitored for results?”

 

Here’s what I asked her in return… “What if you were aiming to win an Olympic race? Do you think you would go out on the track every day and just ‘do your best?’ No you would find out what distance you should run and the time you had to beat in order to win the race.”

 

“Oh, I see,” she said. “I never thought of it like that!”

 

You see, the problem in business of not meeting targets, is that it pushes everything else back. So if you don’t get the 10 prospect calls done, you won’t get the 3 sales you expect – thus your income is down - which affects your bottom line. If you don’t get the 5 supplier quotes for the CD’s, you don’t get the CD’s ordered on time and your customers are let down and your reputation is affected - which affects your bottom line. If you don’t receive the financial reports by the 10^th, you delay knowing where you stand financially and can’t fix potential problems - this impacts your bottom line. If the pool fence isn’t done by the 12^th, your rehab schedule slips and you miss out on new tenants - which affects your bottom line.

 

So what can you do to keep track of expected results? The answer is simple – just record it as you would an appointment, or an action you want to take in the future. Use a system that’s familiar to you, be it a computerized calendar or a daily planner.

 

A few years ago I had the privilege of producing a film with the US Military in Europe called The Heart and Soul of Leadership. In it, I compared corporate management to military leadership. One of the great things I heard from a sergeant in the Air Force was a system they had of giving themselves heads up on a pending deadline. They simply made notations in their agendas of pending reports or actions due. So, if a report was due on Friday, they simply noted ‘xyz report due Friday’ on their Tuesday page, highlighted in yellow, giving them advance notice to chase it and be sure it would be done. They also noted it on their Friday page.

 

Simple things work best! YOU DON’T NEED A COMPLICATED SYSTEM!!! But, you DO NEED A SYSTEM.

 

3 SECOND FOCUS TIP  If YOU WANT TO IMPACT YOUR BOTTOM LINE, consider these simple questions, and decide what action to take:

 

1. What will your system be? Will it be simple like the Air Force one I quoted above? If so, get your daily planner out, or buy a suitable one. Or get your computerized calendar ready.

 

2. What will you track? – The answer is simple – track every action that affects the bottom line, or is personally important to you.

Now, get that system going today while it’s fresh in your mind. The RESULTS WILL AMAZE YOU!

 

Then write and let us know your results!!! We LOVE to hear from readers.

ChristineHarvey@WomenForWealth.com

LizUible@WomenForWealth.com

 

For over 80 FREE articles on business, personal and community empowerment, go to www.WomenForWealth.com or better yet, become a member and get even more support! Tell your friends and colleagues too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Key to Getting Results Through People

from Christine Harvey

When I was in Japan, I had the privilege of meeting a woman who had been advisor to five Prime Ministers. Since I was writing ‘In Pursuit of Profit’ at the time, I asked her this question: “What advice would you give people who really want to get results in business?”

The answer she gave me was so simple, but so powerful, that I’ve never forgotten it. In fact, I always go back to it whenever I need to get results through people.

Here’s her answer: “What I’ve discovered in life is this - never write to people if you can speak with them by phone, and never speak by phone, if you can see them in person.”

That’s food for thought, isn’t it. Simple but powerful.

30 Second Results Tip: Stop now and ask yourself what roadblock you seem to have in any particular project or goal. Now ask yourself this? What action can I take through talking to someone personally – either by phone or in person - rather than writing? In today’s world where email has become the rule rather than the exception, person touch has been lost. Let’s take advantage of the advice of the advisor to five Prime Ministers, and go back to the person touch for results. Pick up that phone, or make that appointment, and see the magic that materializes!

If you decide to try this today and you get surprising results, please comment. We would like to quote YOUR success in a future Business Tip to help others in their journey to results.

Until then, best of success in YOUR adventures in life!

PS Our Co-Founder, Liz Uible, has just updated our website. It’s really gorgeous, with easy to find free articles and business tips like these. If you have a friend you would like to encourage in life, business or real estate, send them there for inspiration. And let us know what you like too! (Classy job Liz!!!)

How the Art of Positive Reinforcement Will Pay You 10-Fold

Want magic in your life today? You've heard how giving money will come back to you 10-fold - well what about giving positive feedback to people, and see what comes back?

I'll never forget a networking meeting I attended in London in which the leader asked this question - how can you get rid of stress in 1 minute? Her answer was to give another person a compliment. We then had one minute to compliment the stranger next to us - and presto - it worked like magic. We all felt lighter and happier.

Thereafter in my training courses, I experimented with enlarging this concept.

"Show people the best in themselves, and they will follow you anywhere," was my adage. It became a leadership doctrine that I was brought in to teach the military and corporations around the world.

Here's my question to you today:
How hard is it to hold a mirror up to someone with your words of positive reinforcement, and reflect their potential? Or as my business partner Liz Uible would say - "Show someone a promising future ahead based on their unique strengths."

It's not hard at all - simply listen to people talk about their achievements or challenges, and as you listen, let your heart and mind see a strength in them.

For example, if Judy was Chair of her Trade Association, you probably see leadership skills in her, or maybe organizational skills, or maybe people skills. You simply need to say, "Judy, I see wonderful leadership strengths in you." - How hard is that!!! Really - think about it. Is that something you can do with little or no effort? Can you do that in 10 seconds or less? Of course you can, and the impact on Judy is enormous! But here's the point. Few people do this. Few people know the power of assisting the world in this way.

Imagine being on the receiving end. Wouldn't you like to get this input about your unique talents and strengths? Of course you would. By hearing this, your confidence goes up. You start to see yourself in a new light.

And what about the return to you? That's easy too. People immediately see you as a leader. People have faith in you. When you show people the best in themselves, they will follow you anywhere!

New horizons will open up for you. New opportunities will materialize. Wealth creation can not be achieved alone. You need a team - whether it be supporters, or suppliers. If you want loyalty, start now to develop this ability to show people the best in themselves through Positive Reinforcement. Show them their unique strengths and talents. "Mary, I see great organizational strengths in you." This 10-second sentence will reap you rewards 10 times over. Not just in leadership, but instantly in feeling good about helping another human being. And by boosting another human being, you're boosting the world.

10 Second Focus Tip: Today listen in a new way as people talk. When you hear them talk of an achievement, or how they handled a challenge, look for the unique ability or strength they used. Then tell them. "Bob, when I hear you talk about your challenge with your teenager, I admire the dedication you have in making that relationship the best it can be." Then stand back and watch the positive reaction you get. Start today - develop this art and your life will unfold in magical new ways.

If you're a member of the Prosperity Teams™ starting this week, you'll have plenty of opportunities to practice this. But don't wait - get started now - practice with everyone you meet and everyone you speak to by phone!

Laptops in Africa

from Liz Uible
A friend just sent me this article from Yesterday's New York Times about buying computers for African school children. For $400 you get a laptop for a child and one for you! (Sounds like it might be great if all you need is the internet!)
Here's the link to the actual article, also copied below.


Buy a Laptop for a Child, Get Another Laptop Free

By STEVE LOHR
One Laptop Per Child, an ambitious project to bring computing to the developing world’s children, has considerable momentum. Years of work by engineers and scientists have paid off in a pioneering low-cost machine that is light, rugged and surprisingly versatile. The early reviews have been glowing, and mass production is set to start next month.

Orders, however, are slow. “I have to some degree underestimated the difference between shaking the hand of a head of state and having a check written,” said Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of the nonprofit project. “And yes, it has been a disappointment.”

But Mr. Negroponte, the founding director of the M.I.T. Media Laboratory, views the problem as a temporary one in the long-term pursuit of using technology as a new channel of learning and self-expression for children worldwide.

And he is reaching out to the public to try to give the laptop campaign a boost. The marketing program, to be announced today, is called “Give 1 Get 1,” in which Americans and Canadians can buy two laptops for $399.

One of the machines will be given to a child in a developing nation, and the other one will be shipped to the purchaser by Christmas. The donated computer is a tax-deductible charitable contribution. The program will run for two weeks, with orders accepted from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26.

Just what Americans will do with the slender green-and-white laptops is uncertain. Some people may donate them to local schools or youth organizations, said Walter Bender, president of the laptop project, while others will keep them for their own family or their own use.

The machines have high-resolution screens, cameras and peer-to-peer technology so the laptops can communicate wirelessly with one another. The machine runs on free, open source software. “Everything in the machine is open to the hacker, so people can poke at it, change it and make it their own,” said Mr. Bender, a computer researcher. “Part of what we’re doing here is broadening the community of users, broadening the base of ideas and contributions, and that will be tremendously valuable.”

The machine, called the XO Laptop, was not engineered with affluent children in mind. It was intended to be inexpensive, with costs eventually approaching $100 a machine, and sturdy enough to withstand harsh conditions in rural villages. It is also extremely energy efficient, with power consumption that is 10 percent or less of a conventional laptop computer.

Staff members of the laptop project were concerned that American children might try the pared-down machines and find them lacking compared to their Apple, Hewlett-Packard or Dell laptops. Then, in this era of immediate global communications, they might post their criticisms on Web sites and blogs read around the world, damaging the reputation of the XO Laptop, the project staff worried.

So the laptop project sponsored focus-group research with American children, ages 7 to 11, at the end of August. The results were reassuringly positive. The focus-group subjects liked the fact that the machine was intended specifically for children, and appreciated features like the machine-to-machine wireless communication. “Completely beastly” was the verdict of one boy. Another environmentally conscious youngster noted that the laptop “prevents global warming.”

Still, the “Give 1 Get 1” initiative is mainly about the giving. “The real reason is to get this thing started,” Mr. Negroponte said.

He said that if, for example, donations reached $40 million, that would mean 100,000 laptops could be distributed free in the developing world. The idea, he said, would be to give perhaps 5,000 machines to 20 countries to try out and get started.

“It could trigger a lot of things,” Mr. Negroponte said.

Late last year, Mr. Negroponte said he had hoped for orders for three million laptops, but those pledges have fallen short. Orders of a million each from populous Nigeria and Brazil did not materialize.

Still, the project has had successes. Peru, for example, will buy and distribute 250,000 of the laptops over the next year — many of them allocated for remote rural areas. Mexico and Uruguay, Mr. Negroponte noted, have made firm commitments. In a sponsorship program, the government of Italy has agreed to purchase 50,000 laptops for distribution in Ethiopia.

Each country will have different ideas about how to use the machines. Alan Kay, a computer researcher and adviser to the laptop project, said he expects one popular use will be to load textbooks at 25 cents or so each on the laptops, which has a high-resolution screen for easy reading.

“It’s probably going to be mundane in the early stages,” said Mr. Kay, who heads a nonprofit education group, whose learning software will be on the XO Laptop. “I’m an optimist that this will eventually work out,” Mr. Kay said.

Who is Supporting YOUR Success?

from Christine Harvey

Since Liz Uible and I met in 2005 , we've been developing systems, programs and articles for women's success.

If you've read John Grey's book 'Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus,' you know that men and women process differently. Women thrive in special environments of bouncing ideas off others and having a supportive group behind them, achieving together.

In addition, we've researched role-models and training methods that inspire women and lead to true prosperity. In the early days of our product and course development, we were fortunate to have the support of creative people like Juli Butler, Emily Cressey and Cecelia Lance. Word spread quickly about these tools and now our membership network extends from the US to South Africa and beyond.

Today we're announcing our latest powerhouse in achieving together, Prosperity Teams™. While some people lovingly refer to this as 'a mastermind on steroids,' they are actually quite different.

The new Prosperity Teams™ start next week & run for 90 days. There is a start date and an end date. People are clustered by interest area- Business, Personal, or Real Estate Success. Also, the trademarked process of POA, Powerhouse of Your Achievements, creates a bond and platform for utilizing the Professional Women's Network.

Most of all, in Prosperity Team™ members take responsibility for each other's success. This is done through a specialized structure, incorporating the creativity and support of others in 3 areas:

1) Through the POA™, Powerhouse of Your Achievements, highlighted above

2) Through Prosperity Exercises™ on goals, overcoming obstacles, and business skills

3) Through Prosperity Solutions™ - a dynamic team interplay which produces extraordinary possibilities.

Prosperity Teams™ are also different from mastermind groups in that there are component parts of each meeting. One component for example utilizes the 3 C's - contacts, credibility and creativity. As a Team member you are able to draw upon the creativity of the group to solve any obstacle you have in your way. Likewise you are able to utilize the contacts and credibility of others in your team to reach the highest of your goals fast.

You may wonder how you will fit in with a group of people you don't know. That's a viable question. One part of our unique process is the built in methodology which enables you to identify your own key successes in life to date and to let others help you identify your unique talents quickly and easily. In doing so, they quickly bond with you and visa versa so that your team platform is solidly and effectively built from the first phone meeting.

We would love to have you (and the people you care about) join in this adventure to success. The cost for this 90-day program is included in the $14.97 monthly membership- that's only $3.74 per session, less than a Starbuck's coffee, and you get propelled to your financial goal. And it's cancelable any time if satisfaction is not achieved. How's that for a guarantee!!!

To sign up to join a Prosperity Team™, click here.

WANT EVEN MORE SUPPORT? What if you have a group of friends and colleagues who you would like to propel to a whole new level? We can even help you start your own Prosperity Team™!!!.

As Connie Kadansky, member from Phoenix said, "I brought in 3 friends and colleagues because it intensifies the fun and energy of the group. More importantly, we can support each other between sessions by referring to the Prosperity Exercises even if we are on different Prosperity Teams™."

If you want to bring friends and colleagues in to support you, just have them click here or you can Email Liz@WomenForWealth.com for more information.

A Different Kind of Mastermind

from Liz Uible

I am sitting here watching the sunrise in Sedona, Arizona, where my mastermind group is currently having our retreat. (Being the only person from the East Coast, I can wake up at what feels like a perfectly reasonable hour and still beat everyone else up by a couple hours! So I can get a lot of outside work done.)

I am sitting here reflecting on how impressive this group of women really is in my life. I feel incredible gratitude for their influence and love in my life. They love me for who I am today and where I am going tomorrow. They support me in creating the financial life I plan for, and they stretch me to be more of myself than I sometimes dare. I never before had a group of female friends/colleagues who are so totally supportive and loving and helpful in making my dreams a reality. And I never imagined that I would have a group of supporters and friends like this. It is quite a gift and I am very grateful.

What we are doing in person is simply a deeper level of what we do on our weekly calls. We are going over our goals for the year and also for the long-term. We are giving contacts and support for what we are each creating, and we are stretching we each other to think bigger than we have dared before, whether financially, in relationships, in business, or other endeavors, we help each person in the group see herself as we already see her. And in doing so, we are each fed an extraordinary amount.

Christine and I really wanted to bring that bond, that mutual commitment to other successful women around the world. That is why we created Prosperity Teams™. In our weekly Prosperity Team™, which Christine and I participate in, we run a fast-paced, exciting mastermind-on-steroids… or would that be a mastermind-on-estrogen???

New groups form every month and are designed to make your goals a reality faster than you can imagine while creating a team of successful women supporting you in what you are doing. It is extraordinary! Checkout our latest article on Prosperity Teams at womenforwealth.com free articles or by following this link to learn more about our cutting-edge mastermind concept.

Is That Dollar in Your Pocket, Really Worth a Dollar?

Will your money buy anything in a year? In 5 or 10 years?

Our own Tom Harvey has been tracking the value of the dollar in your pocket and reporting on it daily*. Taking the news on the ‘Sub-Prime Meltdown’ and making the impact to your pocketbook clear. Distilling the adventure that is the current economy so we can navigate it to create real prosperity.

How can we safely profit from the big-guy’s failures? He analyzes it all and gives us the secrets the press isn’t talking about.

In last Friday’s post he wrote:

“The Stock Market went up 119 points today because President Bush announced help for some homeowners with good credit and only a little behind in paying their mortgage.

Here are the details behind the speech. The fine print said those lenders have 2,200,000 mortgages out there that are predicted to default and end up in foreclosure. President Bush’s help through the FHA is stated by the FHA to help about 80,000 households. You do the math. The President’s announcement is nothing more than political rhetoric.”

Tonight we are asking Tom to explain even more. To define terms, cut through the rhetoric we hear on the news and in the papers, and just give us the real story. All live for you. And he agreed. Just the real story**.

He will tell us:
What does all this mean to my real estate portfolio?
What does it mean for the savings and investment accounts I have?
In all this ‘market turmoil,’ how can I get the edge to create massive wealth?

Also,
What is inflation? …and what does it mean to your bank account?
…and how can you make big money on it?
…what does it mean for your investments?

What does the international currency market look like?
…and how can you protect your hard-earned assets from erosion?
…and how can you cash-in on the weak dollar?

What about the Gold and Silver Markets?
…what’s the big deal and why these seem to be going up
…how this market can protect your family’s nest egg

Where is all this market talk going and what should we be looking for in the coming months?
…learn what sign-posts to look for in the market to change strategies

Tom will explain it all tonight, Wednesday September 5^th at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. Click here to get access to this live call and access to the recording. Plus ask questions and personalize the discussion for your own situation!

This is a call we are pleased to offer at a discounted rate to our entire community, men and women, so that every person and every family who wants to protect assets and/or make a bundle, can have the information to do so. But you have to act to get this important information. Please register above.

We look forward to exploring this world together!

All the best as you grow and prosper,

Liz and Christine

**********************************************************

*Right now, the reports Tom has been writing are on EconomyGuy.com

** This is the real story as Tom sees it. Please note that this call (and this email) is for your information and education only. It will help you to understand what you see and hear happening in the media and in the economy and make decisions for yourself about your money. It is not intended in any way to be investment advice. We are not licensed to do that.

Economy Guy . Com launches

We at WomenforWealth.com are excited to announce a new blog run by our lovely husbands, Tom Harvey and Cyrus Uible, have launched a new blog about the world economy. This blog provides easy to understand news and information about the world economy, the fed actions and what it means for all of us.

And it is updated Daily!

check it out at EconomyGuy.com

A Woman Can Do ANYTHING!

from Christine Harvey

Recently a friend’s daughter asked her, “Mom, can a woman be President of America?” My friend replied, “Of course,” at which point she went to her book case and pulled down a copy of my book, Can a Girl Run for President? “Here,” she said, “this is written for grow-ups, but I’ll read it with you.” And she proceeded to read her daughter the success stories of women around the world.

That woman has the right perspective. Here’s a question for YOU. Who are the women and girls in your life who are important to you? And more importantly, how are you mentoring such that they know a girl can do anything?

A few weeks ago I was in Rwanda and had the privilege of addressing women in Parliament. We were asked how we got started in our career and I told them this story. When I was about seven, my father took me to visit a friend of his at his home. I was amazed when I walked in the front door, because there in the living room was the friend’s wife – she was surrounded with bricks, and she said to me, “I’m building a fireplace!”

Well, that day changed my life forever. I had never seen a woman building anything before. In my seven year old mind, those creations were reserved for men. At that moment I said to myself, “If a woman can build a fireplace, a woman can do anything!”

What messages are you giving YOURSELF, as well as the girls and women in your life? I heard a secretary on an elevator say, “Oh, I wouldn’t have my boss’s job for anything – there’s too much worry and responsibility.” And yet I noticed that she worried and fretted as much as he did, and made half the salary. Are the things you say, and the things you do, compatible with what you want to see in the world?

How seriously do you take yourself? Do you live into your vision? Does your wardrobe reflect the position you aim for? Are your friends moving in the same direction as you seek to move? If you are married, do you allow yourself as much downtime to rejuvenate as you expect for your spouse? Those are just some of the questions you can ask to assess how well you walk your talk in terms of gender equality.

30 Second Focus Tip: Remember that how you project yourself, will affect your progress toward your goals. It will also affect the future generation and the people around you now. Take 30 seconds now and decide what you will do. What can you change, in words or deeds, to bring yourself more in line with your REAL POTENTIAL, remembering that YOU AS A WOMAN CAN DO ANYTHING!

PS…Who do you know with great potential? A colleague, a friend, a daughter or family member? Why not tell them about our membership and these support tools for advancement? They can try out the : www.WomenforWealth.com/wbsc.htm membership today. Tell them that they can get tremendous value through emails and through phone conferences, - all without leaving their home or desk - AND if they aren't absolutely thrilled with the value, we (the Founders - Christine Harvey and Liz Uible) will stop their membership and give them a full refund. We’ll even give them a $50 credit off any of our tele-seminar training packages priced at $100 or more, if they are not fully satisfied.. How’s that for a guarantee? Why not invite them to join us and discover what’s possible for their lives? Remember, success is achieved through the people we surround ourselves with. Let’s work together on the mind set and principles of wealth building!

The Ant and Elephan Day 4: Expecting the Unexpected

from Theresa Trumpelmann, Member

Life is full of opportunities. With every sunset, there will be a new tomorrow, with choices and opportunities for us. What a great way to end each day by asking “What choices would tomorrow offer?”

As expected, and I’m sure you’ve noticed through the last week, that changing ingrained habits is easier said than done!

Let me share with you the technique of Brio, the wise old Owl, to get your elephant (subconscious) to change direction. It is an amazing strategy for building and strengthening your confidence and sense of control. There is one condition for sharing this technique, however: you need to be 100% committed to reaching your goal.

Are you willing to redefine commitment and take it to a level of maturity and action beyond anything you’ve ever known? You see, we can reach a level of commitment and discover there’s still more we can do. You can always dig deeper. Promise yourself – that when you think you’ve done all can possibly do, you’ll dig even deeper into your core. Are you ready to do whatever it takes?

Being committed to a task means, in effect, being committed to the process of commitment. If you’ve said “YES!” (not “yes”) then we can take notes…

We often not only underestimate our elephant, but we also underestimate ourselves as leaders. Take a moment to go over what we’ve learned so far. Take a step back to review, but also to appreciate what you’ve discovered last week.

Make fear your friend, not your master. You don’t know what you don’t know.

- you clarified your vision

- you discovered that your fear can stop you or move you forward

- you learned to use fear to your advantage

- you opened up to the possibility that you don’t know what you don’t know

- you decided what your goal would be and

- you prepared yourself to take the necessary steps to reach your goal

Zero in on a goal that has depth of meaning. The journey has to be worth taking.

- after identifying your goal, you defined your core reasons why it is important to you

- you learned how to reach your core reasons by asking “why” until you have depth of meaning to your answer and you cannot go further and

- you learned that if the journey does not mean anything to you, there would be no reason to pursue it – a clarified vision and an emotional investment is needed to make the commitment to achieve your goal

ACTION STEP 1
You learned that you have to find your “elephant buzz”, the emotion that ignites the vision. Inspire your team through emotion. Never underestimate the power of emotion.

Commit to cultivate positive, dominant thoughts.
Shift beliefs, attitudes and truths to align with your vision. Envision having the goal rather than merely wanting the goal.

- you’ve realised how important your thoughts and actions are to your sub-conscious

- you made a commitment to nurturing positive dominant thoughts and lead & direct your elephant through beliefs, attitudes and truths that are in sync with your goal

- you’ve discovered that there is a big difference between wanting and having something, always envision having something

ACTION STEP 2

Stay the course. Change is gradual. Remember the ‘Drops in the Bucket’ to avoid frustration. Learn to delay gratification.

Experience your future with gratitude as if it were happening right now. Show gratitude consistently.

- not only did you learn to have a visual, constant reminder of your goal, but also to be grateful (the magic ingredient)

- you experienced your vision and thank yourself and your team mate (elephant) for having reached the goal

ACTION STEP 3
Use visual reminders, tied with emotions that will align your goal with that of your elephant’s. You’ll gravitate towards your current dominant thought and you’ll come to believe this to be true.

Strengthen confidence. Frustration will lead to negative thoughts, which will fuel more negativity. This negativity can be a pattern that destroys confidence. No two thoughts can occupy the mind at the same time. Replace negativity with positive, confident thoughts.

- in our most recent lesson, we wrote about how negative patterns can erode your confidence, and without confidence you won’t be able to stay the course and realize your objective

- you learned how to break that negative cycle by reminding yourself that only one thought can occupy your mind at a time and break that thought pattern

ACTION STEP 4
Institute pattern busters. Once you recognise yourself (or your team) playing out the pattern of negativity, interrupt the pattern by saying “Thank you, but that is not part of my vision. My vision is…” Experience the vision in full detail.

With this last action step, you discovered a way to redirect your thinking with a positive twist, stopping negative thoughts in their tracks!

If you look at this list, it is astonishing how much you’ve covered over the last week!

July Rwanda Trip Repcap

Hi Friends,

Please join us for this call Thursday, August 16th. Feel free to pass this on to others!

RWANDA and it's OPPORTUNITIES, conference call Thursday Aug 16,
Call In number: (605) 990-0700 code 14-24-20#

12-Noon Pacific, 3 pm Eastern, 9 pm South Africa

Are you interested in investment opportunities with big returns? Are you interested in charitable opportunities? Just curious about why we have been to this tiny East African country (where 49% of the Parliament is female) twice in the last 4 months?

We’ve had so many people wanting answers, that we’re scheduling an open call for next Thursday. You’re welcome to join us and invite any interested friends, male or female.

Join this call if you are curious about…
… Joining our October trip, and/or
… Real Estate Opportunities,
… Business Opportunities,
… Or Charitable activities

We will cover

1.The trip successes-

• Discovering AMAZING business opportunities, and joint venture partners – both government and private sector
  
• Training government leaders, and entrepreneurs (Television coverage)
• Seeing our micro-lending recipients in action! – village women being trained in business skills
• Social events with access to fantastic people

2. Construction boom opportunities

• Housing Development opportunities
• Training of Women in Construction Trades – on site (Requested by Government)
• Real Estate Regulatory Training
• Other RE, buy, hold, flip with local partners or without

3. Business opportunities

• Quarry investment
• Brick making factory
• Training Center for Women Entrepreneurs (Women in Parliament Partners)
• Training in Customer Service
• Our retreat center (Combine with Training Center possible)
• Real Estate Agency – cater to Expats
• Restaurants, and all service industries

4. Travel, adventure and Charity Opportunities

• Trips, 3 prong – Access, passion, & menu of opportunities (incl adventure &/or charity)

5. Opportunities for assistance or partnership

• Partnership opportunities in various business and real estate ventures
• Volunteers knowledgeable and able to teach US Real Estate Regulatory Systems (This will help us as investors)
• Someone to spearhead funding for Training in various areas incl women in construction trades (Probably from funding sources such as USAID, Commerce Dept, State Dept, or worldwide non-profits)
• Partners for housing projects, knowledgeable in infrastructure including sewers, utilities, streets, and construction project management, with creative minds.
• Referrals to Women in Construction, both tradeswomen and construction company owners

We look forward to your questions and input on Thursday Aug 16,
Call In number: (605) 990-0700 code 142420#
12-Noon Pacific, 3 pm Eastern, 9 pm South Africa

Join this call if you are curious about…
… Business Opportunities,
… Real Estate Opportunities,
… Joining our October trip,
… Or Charitable activities

Issue 2 - Swiss Francs, Anyone? (Or, how is the US dollar doing?)

from Christine Harvey

Judging from the emails in response to yesterday’s issue about the US dollar decline, many of you share our concern – others are starting to keep a keen watch about what’s going on around us.

Just to finish the scenario about my Swiss Franc bond purchase, I did execute the order today through my most favored broker – but the delay cost me some interest points. Had I bought it 3 days ago when I started my enquiries, I would have had 1.18% yield/ interest. Today the yield fell to .8%. That whopping interest rate probably brings tears to your eyes!

Obviously others are starting to flee in that direction assuming that bonds are safer than stocks, driving bond prices up and interest rates down. But as I said yesterday, who really cares about the interest rate when we compare it to returns on real estate and businesses. It’s the capitol preservation I care about.

Several of you wrote today to say how you noticed how little you can buy in London or Frankfurt with your dollars. I remember the first trip to Paris that Tom and I had, when we were able to buy 10 French Francs with one of our US dollars. When the Franc converted to the Euro a few years ago, you could buy only 4.5 Francs with each dollar. For a long time, the US has been blessed with low prices on homes, goods and services. A fax machine that costs $100 here would cost $250 –$300 in/Europe. I know, because I lived there for 23 years. I see us heading in that direction, here in the US.

The sinking of the value of the dollar will be very expensive for Americans. The lifestyle will change dramatically, EVEN IF you don’t want to travel outside this country. I’m NOT saying this for gloom and doom, I only want you to watch what’s really going on. How much money is the Fed printing? That’s the M1. (How will that affect inflation and housing prices and real estate investment, and business? We’re working in un-chartered waters here.) In fact they stopped publishing the M3 last year. HUM, wonder why? Lots to investigate and learn about once you start delving into this. Then the planning starts on how to preserve your hard earned capitol, and how to plan for appreciation.

Speaking of un-chartered waters, our Hard Money Loan Broker said to us today, “anyone under 38 years old has a hard time fathoming the downturn in the market.” That’s natural, because we all process things through our perspective, and our perspective is generally made up of our experiences. So now is the time to open up our eyes to what has been and what could be and stop assuming it will be as it has always been!

On that note, I’ll turn you over to our bond expert, Tom Harvey. Pay particular attention to the amount of money that the governments are injecting right now, and ask yourself “Why is that?”….

Market Summary, by US Bond Guru, Tom Harvey…

After yesterday’s amazing stock market and money market action, today was important in the way the Central Bankers continued to pour money in. The European Central Bank (ECB) after injecting $130B yesterday, added another $84B today.

The US FED after adding $24B yesterday, added another $38B today. And Fed Chairman Bernanke said that he would pump as much money as it takes to solve the illiquidity problem.

Now that’s what I call more inflation.

The more important fact was that yesterday, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the ECB and FED and Japanese Central Bank worked TOGETHER to add liquidity. This has never happened before. Adding funds has been done on a single national basis, but not a global basis. Several other Central Banks joined in yesterday with this Big 3 Triumvirate too. This was a truly global action.

By the way, do you remember that one French bank started all this yesterday? That bank closed 3 funds totaling $3.8B, but the ECB added $130B liquidity. Kind of an overkill?? Well, no. It turns out that there are lots of European banks holding sub-prime mortgage portfolios, and their exposure is MUCH greater than that one French bank. Other European banks have also stopped trading on the sub-prime mortgage funds.

US banks started calling loans in from companies and hedge funds dealing in sub-prime mortgages a few days ago. Banks don’t want to be left holding the bag when this market implodes. These bank demands are what is causing the illiquidity in the market.

Oh, and by the way again, the SEC is auditing the big US banks and financial companies to see (1) how much sub-prime mortgage market exposure each one has, and (2) how each one values its portfolio. Logic 101 says that this means that the SEC DOESN’T KNOW what is going on in this huge sub-prime mortgage market. Hope that makes you feel uncomfortable – because it sure makes me feel uncomfortable.

You can learn more at the EconomyGuy.com blog, where Tom Harvey updates his thoughts on the world Economydaily.

Swiss Francs, Anyone? (Or, how is the US dollar doing?)

from Christine Harvey

HOW IS THE US DOLLAR DOING – AND WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

I spent the better part of two mornings this week working at turning an IRA into a Swiss Franc account. And why would I do that anyway, you might ask? The interest rate on a Swiss Acct is horrendously low, like 1.18% after fees. The Euro has 3 or 4 time better interest – you can get a whopping 4.2% interest.

But let’s stop the focus on this interest nonsense. Who cares about 2 or 3 % interest difference when we can make huge returns on real estate investments, and businesses.

Why am I looking at Swiss Francs anyway? The answer is simple.

I’m REALLY concerned about the US dollar. The Chinese are threatening to undermine it, the French stopped trading in 3 funds today because of their concern over the US mortgage market, and on and on. Just look around you. We have a war to pay for, and the way the government usually does that is to print money. With more money in circulation, your dollars are worth less and less.

When I called the brokers this week to move into Swiss Francs, they all tried to talk me into other currencies – ‘you’ll get higher interest’ they said. But my objective was not interest, it was the preservation of my capital.

And why Swiss and why not Euros, you might ask? Well actually Euros are my close second choice. It’s a gamble. But I look at it this way. The old money believes in Switzerland and Swiss Banks, and the Swiss Franc. If things get really rocky internationally, the old money will go back to the safest haven they can find – the Swiss connection. And I heard recently that the Swiss Franc is still backed by metals. If that’s true, that’s vital when the chips are down.

The Euro on the other hand has the advantage of being in line for the currency of choice, if the dollar is undermined - which could be the most traumatic economic shift of our lifetime. The Euro has big pull due to the European Union and the huge number of countries it represents. I don’t personally have faith in their stability in the long, long haul because of the interdependence they face. If one country falters, the others have to prop it up, and eventually the whole deck of cards could fall. But for the short haul they are doing pretty well. (In fact when I changed money in Rwanda 2 weeks ago, it had to go to Euros first then Rwandan Francs, and the exchange rate between the dollar and the Euro was 1.38. That’s a pretty amazing rise, when you consider it was 1 to one when the Euro was launched a few years ago.)

Well, that’s all from me for the moment, now I’m going to turn you over to our personal US Bond Advisor, Tom Harvey. I don’t know anyone who knows the bond market better than Tom, and by studying the bond market, you have a window into every aspect of the economy. So I’ve asked him to do a summary of activity, and here it is…

Market Summary, by US Bond Guru, Tom Harvey from EconomyGuy.com

Today was one of those days that should be remembered in the future. The DOW went down 387 points due to lack of confidence in the sub-prime mortgage market.

The trigger was the French Bank BNP Paribas stopping trading in 3 funds that invested in US sub-prime mortgage because the market value of the funds could not be determined. The European Community Bank added $130B to bank overnight trading to calm the market, but this had just the opposite effect. (You can tell that these central bankers are working in uncharted waters.) The US Fed added a greater than normal $24B in overnight funds.

Now that’s what I call inflation.

The US Bond market jumped up, and became a haven of security in these turbulent times. (Don’t worry, investors will forget about today around 8AM tomorrow.) The 10 year bond interest rate fell .07%, but this was only half of what it lost the last few days.

The currency market was interesting. The US Dollar strengthened slightly as people thought the US was a haven for security. (This attitude will change sometime in the future when foreigners realize that the US Dollar is not a haven for security, but just the opposite.)

Here’s the closing details:
DJ30 – 13,270 (down 2.83%)
10 year US Treasury Bond – 4.79%
US Dollar - $1.3661/Euro. About 2 cents off the record high.

The Ant and Elephant: Experiencing and Expressing Gratitude

THE ANT AND THE ELEPHANT: Day 3
from Theresa Trumpelmann, WomenforWealth.com Member

This is surely for Christine. When I think of her, I think of the word GRATITUDE.

For me, the word Gratitude goes hand in hand with JOY. You cannot have one with out the other.

We need a couple of triggers to assist us on staying focussed on our goals. It can be anything. The ant, Adir, became obsessed with seeing and collecting gold dots of pollen, reminding him of his dream to get to the oasis.

What can you come up with?
It needs to be visual, and constantly in front of your eyes. It needs to remind you strongly of your goal.

I often choose a card with my dreams, goals and affirmations on to read and re-read during the day. Sometimes I choose a visual colourful item and stick it onto my rear-view mirror in the car.
But why then do we still get distracted? We have all our reminders and aids, and see it repeatedly, but why do we still drift?

The answer lies in a pearl of wisdom: Now. Gratitude. Experience.

Experience your dream in the NOW - right now. The present tense gives definite meaning to your subconscious mind.

But you still need the MAGIC ingredient: gratitude.
If you experience and express gratitude, you'll be able to keep your "elephant" (subconscious) on track. Not only repeating a new truth, but also reinforcing it.

Write down you dream and vision, with gratitude, as if you've already achieved is right now. Remember to include your emotions and senses

Sometimes we have to slow down to go faster. Take time to re- enforce your dream. Regularly. Get good at it. We have to work "Heads Up and Heads down." Visualise and then implement.


Lesson 3: Constantly focus on performance
- Experience the goal as though it were happening right now
- how your gratitude consistently

ACTION STEP: Use visual reminders. These triggers should have emotions tied to them. It must align with your subconscious mind.



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About the above:
As many of you know, Theresa Trumpelmann is a member from South Africa who has offered to lead the whole group through a book she found useful in her leadership development and in the building of her own business. The book is The Ant and the Elephant by Vince Poscente.

Over the next 2 weeks, she will walk us through studying the book via email. This will culminate in a call in which we can all share the impact.

That call will take place on Saturday morning, August 18th at 8am Pacific/11am Eastern and 5pm South Africa time.