SUBJECT: Self Improvement Newsletter Issue # 1, September 13, 1998

This is Issue # 1, Sunday, September 13th, 1998 of the Self Improvement Weekly Newsletter, the FREE newsletter for Personal Growth, Self Improvement and Self Help.

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Publishers: David and Michelle Riklan - Self Improvement Online, Inc. (http://www.selfgrowth.com) (732) 617-1030
editors@selfgrowth.com

In this issue:

-> Quotes of the Week
-> The Power of Written Goals
-> Tip of the Week
-> Recommended book of the Week
-> Brief News of the World
-> How to subscribe to this newsletter

*** QUOTES OF THE WEEK ***
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-Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought. Napolean Hill

-Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing. Denis Waitley

-It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude. Zig Ziglar

For a collection of some of our favorite quotes, see our web page at
http://www.selfgrowth.com/quote.html


*** GOAL SETTING: THE POWER OF WRITTEN GOALS ***
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In 1953, researchers at Yale University polled the graduating class and found that 3% of the graduates had a set of clearly defined written goals.

Twenty years later, in 1973, these researchers went back and visited the class of '53 and found that the 3% of the graduates with these written goals had amassed a net worth that was greater than the other 97% combined.

This is powerful indication that goal setting is critical for success.

We see goal setting as a process. We are constantly formulating goals and evaluating these goals. As in any process, you must always begin with the first steps. We recommend that you begin your goal setting with brainstorming and idea generation.

Steps for successful brainstorming and idea generation.
1 Get a pen, plenty of paper, and a comfortable place to write.
2 Begin by answering the question: "What would I try to acquire in life if I was absolutely certain that I would get it?"
3 Continue by answering the following question: "What would I try to accomplish in my life if I was certain that I would achieve it."
4 Finish by answering this question: "How do I want to be remembered?"
5 When answering these questions, think in terms of your home life, your family life, your career, your health, your social life, your physique, your hobbies, your community, your world and just about anything else that comes to mind.


Guidelines to answering the questions above:
1 Save your criticism and evaluation for later. Write whatever comes to your mind.
2 Nothing you write is too silly or too ridiculous.
3 Write all of your thoughts, no matter how painful, how absurd, or how embarrassing.
4 Remember that this list is for you.
5 You don't have to answer these questions all at once. Take your time and let the thoughts flow, with as much detail as possible.

Once you have completed this first step of goal setting, you are ready for the next step. The next steps for goal setting will be coming in future issues.


*** TIP OF THE WEEK***
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Many Self Help Guru's (ie. Anthony Robbins), Yoga Instructors and Stress Management consultants promote correct breathing and breathing exercises as an important way to improve your health.

Here is a quick breathing exercise that takes only a couple of minutes.

Breathe in deeply through your nose. When you breathe in make sure to first fill your belly with air, then your middle chest, and then your upper chest. Let the air out slowly through your nose then open your mouth to breathe out the rest of the stale air. Repeat slowly several times.

Deep breathing allows you to better fill your body with oxygen and to enhance mental clarity and focus. It eases anxiety and stress.

When you find yourself feeling tense or stressed, try a few rounds of deep breathing techniques.

*** RECOMMENDED BOOK OF THE WEEK ***
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Our recommended book of the week is "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", written by Steve Covey. In this Best-Seller, Covey presents an integrated, well thought out approach for solving personal and professional problems. His focus on the fundamentals enable us to develop our own step by step plan for success, and to take control of our lives. If you haven't seen the principles before, the quick summary is as follows:

Habit One Be Proactive
Habit Two Begin with the End in Mind
Habit Three Put First Things First
Habit Four Think Win-Win
Habit Five Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
Habit Six Synergize
Habit Seven Sharpen the Saw


To purchase the book, you can go to Amazon.com.
To go directly to a review, and to purchase the book, go to
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0671708635/selfimprovemeonlA/


*** BRIEF NEWS OF THE WORLD ***
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-Kenneth Starr released the Starr Report on President Clinton, and President Clinton's team provided an initial rebuttal.
-President Clinton offered another public apology.
-Former Communist bureaucrats named to top economic posts in Russia.
-Patrick Rafter retained his title by beating Mark Philippoussis in the Men's finals of the US Open.
-Lindsay Davenport took the US Open Women's title from Martina Hingis.
-A Justice Department probe of Clinton's nominee leaves the U.S. temporarily without a U.N. ambassador.
-Sammy Sosa tied Mark McGuire's record, reaching 62 home runs.
-The Dow Closed up for the week at 7795.50.


DISCLAIMER The contents herein are solely the opinions of Self Improvement Online editors, and should not be considered as a form of therapy nor advice. There is no guarantee of validity or accuracy. Self Improvement Online, Inc. assumes no responsibility for injury and specifically disclaims any warranty, express or implied for any products or services mentioned.

COPYRIGHT (C) 1998 by Self Improvement Online, Inc.
Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this newsletter
only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged.

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