Self Improvement Newsletter- Issue # 499

Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 499, April 1-2, 2008

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* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter * Issue # 499, Week of April 1-2, 2008 Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com In this issue: -- Quotes of the Week -- Personal Growth Products and Services -- Article: What to Do When You Lose Your Job - By Charles A. Breeding -- Article: The Spontaneous Healing of Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits [Excerpt] - By Gregg Braden -- Book Review: Color Me Butterfly: A true story of courage, hope, and transformation - By L. Y. Marlow -- Brief News of the World -- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter Current Subscribers - 265,581 subscribers Removal instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter. ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Quotes of the Week *** ------------------------------------------------------------ You can't pick cherries with your back to the tree. - J. P. Morgan, 1837-1913, American Financier/Philanthropist/Art Collector In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. - Galileo Galilei, 1564-1642, Italian Physicist and Astronomer The better part of one's life consists of his friendships. - Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Personal Growth Products and Services *** ------------------------------------------------------------ * FREE Tele-seminar: How to Double Your Sales This Year Discover the power of the "Attractor Sales System" and Stop Chasing Business. Join Joe Nunziata, bestselling author of "Spiritual Selling" and put the power of the universe to work for your business. Register for this great call and receive a FREE E-Course. Go to http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/impactphone.html to register. * Madonna and Forbes Magazine Agree * There is a power in the Universe and anyone can tap into it to Attract Love, Money, and Overcome all Obstacles. Madonna features this in her videos and Forbes Magazine just wrote about it. Learn about it here: http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/fingerhealing.html * Free Meditation/Self-Hypnosis Resources * Are you looking for a fun site with quality content about topics ranging from the meaning of life to handling customer service stress? Please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/feelcalm.html * FREE Achievement Test! Uncover the Keys to Achieving Your Full Potential * Do you possess the personality traits, the motivation and the passion to be successful? Take Nightingale Conant's free test and see if you have the skills of America's high achievers. It only takes 5 minutes, and... it's FREE! http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/liveinthetwo.html

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Continue=> http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/greattastenopain.html * Looking for Natural Remedies for ADD/ADHD in Your Child or Self? * Prescribed like candy to millions of children and adults diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, Ritalin, Adderall and other potent drugs come with serious side effects. These medicines are powerful and habit forming. In this FREE report, learn natural and healthy solutions for ADD and healthy brain development and functions. Click on the link below and get your revolutionary report... http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/alsearsmd1.html Are you aware that when you begin to tap into your limitless supply of potential, your whole life improves? Success, and the capacity to achieve success is more easily attained, and you begin to accomplish greater results in all aspects of your life, with less effort. iPEC's Life Potentials Training helps you TAP INTO YOUR POTENTIAL! Sign up for an info session to learn more at http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/lifepotentials3.html or call 1-866-72COACH today! * Anthony Robbins "Sacred Blessings" New Release * "Sacred Blessings" consists of music inspired by the world's great faiths... "Sacred Blessings" begins with an introduction by Anthony Robbins explaining how inspirational he and his wife Sage have found the music on the album to be. "Sacred Blessings" musically unites all the faiths, beginning with a Hindu mantra "Devi Prayer" and ending with a Christian hymn "I Love You Lord." Sacred Blessings feat. Deva Premal, Mitten and Craig Pruess. http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/sacredblessings.html ** How to Add a Description of Your Website Here ** If you want to share information about your website, your business or your book in our newsletter, please go to the following webpage and fill out the form. Visit our website at http://www.selfgrowth.com/form-ad-newsletter.html ---------------------------------------------------- *** Article: What to Do When You Lose Your Job - By Charles A. Breeding *** ---------------------------------------------------- You might not believe this, but I've worked for six companies in the last six years. Some of you might respond, "You can't keep a job, huh, Charlie?" You might be right, and that's why I'm self-employed now. Honestly, it's not something that I'm proud of, and I somewhat rationalize two things: I worked in technology where it's very common to have upheaval and lots of change, especially in tech sales; and two, three of the six were "horses shot out from under me." Startups sometimes capsize. I worked in the "e-Learning" field, which is a young, immature, and tumultuous industry. Enough rationalization... If you're asking yourself, "How has this guy earned the right to talk about this subject?" now you have a sense because in each instance, I had a new job within 90 days of being let go or leaving. And the last time I transitioned, I had three job offers within two weeks of one another! In addition, in 1999-2000, I worked for then Interim Career Consulting, which is now Spherion Human Capital Consulting ($4 billion/year), whose main forte was executive career transition services. Let me share what my experiences can do to assist you during this scary time. Cleverly Disguised Opportunity It's April 25, 2006, and while driving back from sales calls in Norfolk, Virginia, my boss calls me on my cell phone and says, "Charlie, the company is re-positioning itself to focus back on Commercial business (I worked FedGov/DoD), and reducing its footprint in the Federal Government market. I'm sorry, but today is your last day... and you have two weeks of severance." While I'm shocked (8 months with this company) and a bit angry, I tell myself, "This is a Cleverly Disguised Opportunity" to make more money, work for a company whose products I believe in more, and for a boss that I can respect and follow. Two hours later, I pull into my driveway of our home, and I'm immediately met by Jeremy, our 13-year-old, and Sarah, then 5 years old, who tells me, "Daddy, Daddy, it's our lucky day! We found a four-leaf clover." I replied, "Yes, indeed IT IS MY LUCKY DAY TODAY!" How many times in your life have you had something BAD happen only to realize later that it was a blessing, meant-to-be, and thank goodness it did happen? Now, when you are in the first few days of learning that you lost your job, this may seem like so much PMA, or Positive Mental Attitude. But heed this: Your thoughts determine your feelings, so control your feelings by dwelling on the right things. Tell yourself that this is a cleverly disguised opportunity. As Dale Carnegie said, too, "Count your blessings, not your troubles," especially before you slip off into slumber, falling asleep. You'll wake up in a better mood and improve the quality of your sleep as well. Six Strategies for Finding a New, Better Job FAST 1. Re-evaluate and Set a Goal: The day you lose a job, don't do what most people do, which is fret, worry, and become upset and dust off their resume. Instead, take a few days OFF to re-evaluate your career and job goals. This is a perfect time to consider: Do I start my own business? Should I perform contract work vs. full-time (can be richer than full-time work)? Do I work for a small startup next or a big company? Next, set a goal. If it's say, May 15th, your goal might be, "By August 30th, I will have three job offers of $xxxxx amount or more... and a difficult decision to make." Live by this rule: "It's EASY to make GOOD decisions when you have NO BAD options!"

2. Resume: Know that today, resumes are rarely actually read by a person in large companies; rather they are scanned. So for example, in my last job search, I had 87 versions of my resume! Why? Because I purposely sought to match the keywords in the job requirement with my resume editing. Your cover letter is equally very important; again, match it up as well as you can ethically with the job requirements of the position you're seeking. 3. Research says that the number ONE way people find a new job is... networking! Here are my real points: finding a job is a full-time job. What that means to you is that from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., you're doing nothing but your job search. No errands, no goof-off time. How do you network? Ask friends, colleagues, or yes, even cold-call a manager at a company you might want to work and say, "I'm calling you today NOT for a job, but for an Informational Interview. I'm currently in transition, and I have about 5-7 questions that I'd like to ask you over lunch... and I'm buying." You'd be amazed how if you do 2-3 of these a week, you'll experience unusual "coincidences" that lead you to a new position quickly. By the way, there is no such thing as coincidence, since the root word is coincide, which in mathematical terms means two angles which meet up precisely. Network, network, network ... start off by simply saying, "Can you help me?" and you'll be amazed how many people will assist you in your search. 4. Focus and Target: Keep this in mind: your next employer didn't choose you; you chose them. It is very important to determine exactly the size of company you want to work, the type of work, the boss you'd like to have, and truly visualize the ideal company. This way, you're shooting with a rifle, not a shotgun. Let me give you an example: If you recall, I worked in the learning or e-learning field. One of the magazines in the industry is Chief Learning Officer magazine, and on their website they make available The Sourcebook. It contains the phone number, contact name, and website for companies (I went to their website and emailed the CEO or VP, Sales); it was a goldmine to me. It took me five weeks, but I got through over 75 pages of listings. Go to your local library and talk to the librarian about "sourcebooks" in your industry or area of interest. You'll be amazed what you find there, and although this is step# 4, you need to do this at the front-end of your job search, returning every month or so to find more helpful resources. 5. Recruiters: I have a love-hate relationship with recruiters, but mostly love. Like any profession, there are good ones and there are just greedy ones. Know that some recruiters are "retained search" and can't really assist you, unless your qualifications match up well to their client's requirements. Where do you find them? Look in your phone book, or while you're at the library, there's a resource book I believe that contains recruiters' names. What you want, however, are recruiters with your industry as their focus, so ask some of your former colleagues for recruiters' names (they'll happily share it, wanting to help you land at your next job). Out of my last six jobs, only one came from a recruiter, but remember, it's easy to make good decisions when you have no bad options -- and recruiters can provide you viable options. Be kind to them, and treat their time as precious ... because it is. Be coachable. 6. Job Sites: Job sites like Monster.com and others are very useful, but what my experience has been is that you can consume a LOT of time going through job postings. Use the site's Search Tools to automatically inform you (daily or weekly) of job postings that meet your criteria. Google is indispensable as well, as you should research your interested new employer before you interview with them. Preparation is absolutely key. 7. Recall that one of your options is to start your own business. Most people do not know that in 1986, Congress created IRS laws that highly reward the home-based business -- whether that is MLM or Multi-level Marketing, of which I'm a fan in some instances along with Robert Kiyosaki ("Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Cash Flow Quatrants"), or providing a service or product. I've personally coached many people in transition to self-employment. If you'd like to discuss your ideas, email me at info@breedingtrust.com or call me if you're coachable at the phone number listed on http://www.breedingtrust.com In summary, embrace the fact that job-search is a full-time job -- one that takes research, an intelligent, well-formed resume, and lots of networking to people you know and people you don't know... yet. About the Author: Charlie Breeding is President of Performance Improvement Institute, an Internet Information provider, publisher, and professional speaking, coaching, consulting, and training firm. Mr. Breeding is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and has worked in the Performance Improvement area for over 23 years -- fifteen years with Dale Carnegie Training, and two years with FranklinCovey. His clients include colleges/universities, non-for-profits, small, medium-sized, and large organizations such as AT&T, Chrysler, and Lucent Technologies. For organizations, more information can be obtained at http://www.thePEPcoach.com and for individuals, go to http://www.breedingtrust.com Check out the Experts page for Charlie Breeding, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Inspiration: http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/charlie_breeding.html ---------------------------------------------------- *** Article: The Spontaneous Healing of Belief: Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits [Excerpt] - By Gregg Braden *** ----------------------------------------------------

We live our lives based in what we believe. When we think about the truth of this statement, we immediately recognize a startling reality: Beyond anything else that we may actually do in our lives, the beliefs that precede our actions are the foundation of all that we cherish, dream, become, and accomplish. From the morning rituals that we go through to greet the world each day, to the inventions that we use to make our lives better, to the technology that destroys life through war -- our personal routines, community customs, religious ceremonies, and entire civilizations are based on our beliefs. Not only do our beliefs provide the structure for the way we live our lives, now the same areas of study that have discounted our inner experiences in the past are showing us that the way we feel about the world around us is a force that extends into that world. In this way, science is catching up with our most cherished spiritual and indigenous traditions, which have always told us that our world is nothing more than a reflection of what we accept in our beliefs. We live our lives based on what we believe about our world, ourselves, our capabilities, and our limits. With access to such a power already within us, to say that our beliefs are important to life is an understatement. Our beliefs are life! They are where it begins and how it sustains itself. From our immune response and the hormones that regulate and balance our bodies... to our ability to heal bones, organs, and skin -- and even conceive life -- the role of human belief is rapidly taking center stage in the new frontiers of quantum biology and physics. *** If our beliefs hold so much power, and if we live our lives based on what we believe, then the obvious question is: Where do our beliefs come from? The answer may surprise you. With few exceptions, they originate with what science, history, religion, culture, and family tell us. In other words, the essence of our capabilities and limits may well be based in what other people tell us. That realization leads to the next question that we must ask ourselves: If our lives are based on what we believe, then what if those beliefs are wrong? What if we're living our lives shrouded in the false limitations and incorrect assumptions that other people have formed over generations, centuries, or even millennia? Historically, for example, we've been taught that we are insignificant specks of life passing through a brief moment in time, limited by the "laws" of space, atoms, and DNA. This view suggests that we'll have little effect on anything during our stay in this world, and when we're gone, the universe will never even notice our absence. While the words of this description may sound a bit harsh, the general idea isn't so far from what many of us today have been conditioned to hold true. It's precisely these beliefs that often leave us feeling small and helpless in the face of life's greatest challenges. What if we're more than this? Could it be that we're really very powerful beings in disguise? What if we're delegates of miraculous potential, born into this world with capabilities beyond our wildest dreams -- ones that we've simply forgotten under the conditions that have shocked us into the dreamlike state of being powerless? How would our lives change, for instance, if we discovered that we're born with the power to reverse disease? Or what if we could choose the peace in our world, the abundance in our lives, and how long we live? What if we found that the universe itself is directly affected by a power that we've hidden from ourselves for so long that we've forgotten it's even ours? Such a radical discovery would change everything. It would alter what we believe about ourselves, the universe, and our role within it. It's also precisely what the leading-edge discoveries of our day are showing us. For centuries, there have been people who refused to accept the limitations that have traditionally defined what it means to live in this world. They refused to believe that we just appear through a mysterious birth that defies explanation. They rejected the idea that such a miraculous emergence could be for the purpose of living in suffering, pain, and loneliness until we leave this world just as mysteriously as we arrived. To answer their yearning for a greater truth, they had to venture beyond the boundaries of their conditioning. They isolated themselves -- from friends, family, and community -- and let go, really let go, of what they had been taught about the world. And when they did, something precious and beautiful happened in their lives: They discovered a new freedom for themselves that opened the door of possibilities for others. It all began by their asking the question that was just as bold in their time as it is in ours: What if our beliefs are wrong? As we'll see in the story of the yogi that follows, it's in our absolute surrender to such a possibility that we discover the freedom that tells us who we really are. My personal belief, however, is that we don't have to live in a cold, damp cave in the middle of nowhere to find it. I also feel that personal liberation begins with the individual commitment to know who we are in the universe. When we make such a commitment, everything from the way we think of ourselves to the way we love will change. They must, because we are changed in the presence of these deeper understandings. It all comes back to what we believe. While it may sound too simple to be true, I'm convinced that the universe works precisely in this way. Check out the Experts page for Gregg Braden: http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/gregg_braden.html About the Author: New York Times best-selling author Gregg Braden is internationally renowned as a pioneer in bridging science and spirituality. Following a successful career as a Computer Geologist for Phillips Petroleum during the 1970's energy crisis, he worked as a Senior Computer Systems Designer for Martin Marietta Defense Systems during the last years of the Cold War, in 1991 he became the first Technical Operations Manager for Cisco Systems where he led the development of the global support team assuring the reliability of today's internet. For more than 20 years, Gregg has searched high mountain villages, remote monasteries, and forgotten texts to uncover their timeless secrets. To date, his work has led to such paradigm-shattering books as: "The Isaiah Effect," "The God Code," and "The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles and Belief." Gregg's work is published in 16 languages and 26 countries and shows us beyond any reasonable doubt that the key to our future lies in the wisdom of our past. ***** For more information on Gregg's book, "The Spontaneous Healing of Belief," visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/healingofbelief.html (Note: This page may not be up until Wednesday.) The list price of this book is $24.95. To purchase it from Amazon.com for $16.47, a 34% discount, go here < http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1401916899/selfimprovemeonlA/ > . ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Book Review: Color Me Butterfly: A true story of courage, hope, and transformation - By L. Y. Marlow *** ------------------------------------------------------------ "Color Me Butterfly" by L. Y. Marlow covers four generations of abuse, hurt, and pain. It displays the strength of women when they have nowhere else to turn. These women pressed through decades of domestic violence. We first see Eloise, from a small town in North Carolina, as she meets a wonderful man, (so she thought) Isaac, who moves her to Philadelphia. She later tries to understand how she found herself in Philadelphia, with five children and Isaac never home. His abuse grew drastically, and he began to do unthinkable things to her and the children. But Eloise stayed... for the children. Her daughter, Mattie, grew to resent her father. She vowed to get out of the house as soon as possible and never let a man touch her the way her father did. She fell for Roy and was pregnant before she graduated high school. They were married only a few weeks, and Roy already showed that he was just like Isaac. Mattie tried to leave several times but decided to stay with him. Again, for their children. Mattie's daughter, Lydia (author of the book), grew up knowing that the men in her life were abusive. Stuck in this generational curse, she found herself pregnant by a man so similar to the men that she wanted to stay away from. She named her daughter Treasure and did everything she could to make sure the generations of abuse stopped with her. Marlow brings to light many stigmas in the African American community, such as domestic violence, mental illness, and the issue of color. You find yourself hoping for better and wanting to see the women succeed. Each woman's story was so intense, and you then realize that this is true. This is really someone's family history. Marlow does a great job with capturing the feelings of each character. In the end, you feel a part of their family. It is a great book club read. --Donnica Copeland, APOOO BookClub ***** Get your copy of "Color Me Butterfly" today and receive HUNDREDS of dollars in gifts, products, and services from dozens of leading visionaries! Go to http://colormebutterflypromo.com/ The list price of this book is $14.95. To purchase it from Amazon.com for $10.17, a 32% discount, go here < http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0978732057/selfimprovemeonlA /> . ------------------------------------------------------------ *** Brief News of the World *** ------------------------------------------------------------ Positive: * Rare parrot chicks born in New Zealand * A species of flightless parrot edged back from extinction with the hatching of five new chicks in New Zealand in recent weeks and two more on the way, officials said Monday. The latest births of owl-like kakapos in southern New Zealand brought the population of the rare bird to just 91, said Emma Neill, a senior official of a Department of Conservation program to save the parrot. (Click here < http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080331/ap_on_sc/new_zealand_parrots;_ylt=AlPscACB8HWHPkyMyEKzVHas0NUE > for complete news story)

* Metropolitan Opera Honors Zeffirelli: The Metropolitan Opera Honors Franco Zeffirelli For His Lavish Productions * Franco Zeffirelli, who has directed film, theater and opera worldwide, is being honored this weekend for the dozen lavish productions he created for the Metropolitan Opera. Three are being performed this season, including "La Boheme," which was opening Saturday night on the stage where the Italian made his Met directorial debut in 1964 with a production of Verdi's "Falstaff." (Click here < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/29/ap/entertainment/main3979310.shtml > for complete news story)

* Custom wheelchairs keep disabled pets moving: More owners helping their furry friends whose hind legs don't work * When Gary Mikus learned that an incurable nerve disease was starting to paralyze the hind legs of his German shepherd, he immediately dismissed the idea of putting the dog to sleep. Then he spotted an ad in a pet food store: "Eddie's Wheels For Pets. Help for Handicapped Pets." Now the dog named Bear, which has been Mikus' constant companion for a decade, has a lot of living left to do -- much of it in his new pet wheelchair. (Click here < http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23792467/ > for complete news story) ** For more positive news, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html Other: * Major Cities Go Dark for Earth Hour * From the Sydney Opera House to Rome's Colosseum to the Sears Tower's famous antennas in Chicago and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, floodlit icons of civilization went dark for Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign to highlight the threat of climate change. The environmental group WWF urged governments, businesses and households to turn back to candle power for at least 60 minutes starting at 8 p.m. Saturday wherever they were. (Click here < http://news.aol.com/story/_a/major-cities-go-dark-for-earth-hour/20080329114009990001 > for complete news story) * US cardiologists target stress as key foe * US cardiologists are targeting stress and anxiety as key factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases, according to studies made public at a scientific conference here. People who cut their stress levels and keep them under control face a 60-percent lower chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke than constant worriers, said a report unveiled Saturday at the 57th annual conference of the American College of Cardiology. (Click here < http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080330/hl_afp/ushealthheart;_ylt=Appa6phj6GNBc8VoM4SqO57VJRIF > for complete news story) * Much Is Changed For New Baseball Season: Torre In LA, Girardi In Pinstripes: Much Different As Teams Open Baseball Season * Joe Torre will be in Dodger blue. Joe Girardi will be the manager as Yankee Stadium hosts its final opener. Johan Santana will be pitching for the New York Mets, Torii Hunter will be playing center field for the Los Angeles Angels. Much is different when most major league teams start their seasons Monday. But much was the same. (Click here < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/31/ap/sportsline/main3981397.shtml > for complete news story)

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