Self Improvement Newsletter
Issue # 516, July 28-29, 2008

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* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter *
Issue # 516, Week of July 28-29, 2008
Publisher:  David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com

In this issue:

-- Quotes of the Week
-- Recommended Product of the Week
-- Article:  Financial Alchemy: Create a New Relationship with Money - By Morgana Rae
-- Article:  The Power 2 Be You! - By Sharon Capehart
-- Book Review:  How You Can Manage Your Staff More Effectively (and Pave your Way to your Next Promotion!) - By Gina Gardiner
-- Brief News of the World
-- How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe from this Newsletter

Current Subscribers - 270,048 subscribers
Removal instructions are listed at the end of the newsletter.


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*** Quotes of the Week ***
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If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it. - Erma Bombeck, 1927-1996, American Journalist/Author/Humorist

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. - Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-born American Physicist

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. - Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States

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*** Recommended Product of the Week ***
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*** Article:  Financial Alchemy: Create a New Relationship with Money - By Morgana Rae ***
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Your current financial situation is a direct reflection of your inner relationship with Money. If you don't like your finances, something needs to change in your relationship. This is where Alchemy comes in.

Alchemy is the art of transformation. With roots in ancient Egypt and classical Greece, Alchemy comes from a time when there was no distinction between science and magic. The mysteries of matter and consciousness were inextricably linked (as they are again, in today's quantum physics). These ancient studies gave birth to modern medicine, psychology, chemistry, and even Sir Isaac Newton's work on gravity.

The ultimate pursuit of Alchemy was the "Philosophers' Stone," a substance believed to turn worthless metals into gold. While Alchemists through the ages slaved in the laboratory, their metalwork concealed a spiritual process, a Philosophers' Stone which had to be kept hidden from the Church: this was the process of inner transformation. Two principles are involved here: 1) turning lead into gold was an outer demonstration of inner transformation, and 2) the seed of the solution (the gold) was hidden in the problem (the lead).

I invite you to use this article to discover your own Philosophers' Stone -- your key to wealth and inner transformation -- hidden in your relationship with Money.

Before we proceed, let's review some guidelines I adapted from Alchemist tradition:

Rule #1: As it is above, so it is below.
What shows up in your head is going to show up in your life. This article will be using fundamental Relationship Coaching skills to help you transform your relationship with Money from a dead seed into a flowering garden. A seed comes to life as a living, thriving, fruit-flowering plant...in the right environment. So, too, your own prosperity. Your potential for financial abundance is there, waiting for the necessary environment within you. Your relationship with Money is like the soil that feeds or starves your economic growth. As long as you have hidden beliefs that cause you to unconsciously repel Money, perhaps "protect" yourself from wealth, your garden will not grow.

Rule #2: There is no scarcity.
A wealthy client once explained to me how he had overcome poverty. "The amount of Money out there in play every day is limitless, beyond our comprehension. Money is everywhere," he explained. And it's available in proportion to "how big your funnel is to take it in." He had learned to tap into the Source. This relationship supported him.

Rule #3: Consciousness gives you choice.
I assert even a small change in your relationship consciousness can have a huge impact on your material life. You get what you choose, but first you need to know what you're choosing.

How do I know this? I experienced this transformation myself.

My story:
For years I was struggling as a life coach. I had trouble attracting clients who would pay the fee I wanted. I found myself avoiding discussions of Money as long as I could. The whole subject embarrassed me, and my discomfort translated into making clients uncomfortable too. I was "doing" all the right marketing things -- networking, newsletters, sample sessions -- and getting nowhere. I was not making a "grown-up" living.

What was in my way, I wondered? My coach and I took a look at my relationship with Money. What were my stories about Money? What is this entity I'm in relationship with? What's going on with this relationship?

Two discoveries popped out: Money didn't feel safe or reliable, and Money caused separation. (My family would swing between being rich and poor over and over again, and Money was a "reason" for family members not to talk to each other for decades.) If my experience of Money were given personhood, he'd look like a tall, scary, dirty biker who caused fights at parties. This is the kind of guy I'd be watching carefully, always making sure to keep a safe distance. No wonder I wasn't bringing Money into my life!

This was not the relationship with Money I wanted to have. (And it wasn't the relationship I wanted to model for my clients either.) So I created a new paradigm. I fired the biker persona and put a tall, dark, handsome, and romantic suitor in his place. He wore tails and carried a bouquet of red flowers. He wanted to woo me. Can you imagine what it would be like to be wooed by Money? I related to him in a whole new way. This was the guy I wanted to have a relationship with. He loved me. I would do anything to make him happy.

I asked my new Money what he wanted from me so he could stay with me.

Money responded, "Appreciate me. Love me. Stop treating me like a monster."

I immediately saw how I had been treating him like a monster every time I hesitated to state my fee or didn't demand payment. My behavior changed immediately. Over the next week, four people called me out of the blue to hire me as their coach. I could feel my mouth wanting to move in the familiar patterns that would talk them out of the sale. I had to literally bite my tongue and shut up and let them hire me. You don't say no to gifts from your beloved.

Whenever I received a check, signed a new client, came across some unexpected income, I graciously thanked Money for the gift. I wasn't just thanking an abstract concept of abundance -- I was thanking a person who was real to me. And this version of Money was valued and invited into my life.

From then on my business and income kept growing. Within six months I had accrued such a waiting list of clients that I had to add group coaching to my services. I didn't have to look for my new clients; they were finding me. And all I had changed was my inner dialogue with Money.

Now it's your turn:
If you want to improve your financial situation, you must first uncover the negative beliefs that shaped your relationship with Money. Get out some paper and respond to these questions. (Writing creates clarity and speeds your change.)

* What negative things have you heard about Money?
* What are some of the negative ways Money has shown up in your life and in the lives of those around you?
* What beliefs get between you and prosperity?
* Dig deeper and deeper. You may hit several blank spots before you find the deepest beliefs that have truly driven your relationship with Money.

Give Money personhood in relationship to you. If these darkest experiences of Money were a person, what would your version of this Money "person" be like?

Make Money real. Who is this Money villain? Is it male or female? Tall or short? How is Money dressed? How do you feel about this Money?

How does Money feel about you?

Can you imagine that the way you relate to this Money villain could be impacting the way Money is showing up in your life?

End that relationship, baby!

Create a new relationship with Money. What kind of Money person could you open your heart to? Is this a person who lights you up -- who you'd want a relationship with even if he weren't Money?

Negotiate with this new Money:
What does your new Money want from you to make this relationship better? What action are you going to take to demonstrate to Money that you take his request seriously? Make this new relationship real.

Money is like any other relationship; it comes where it's invited and appreciated. It rarely comes when it is chased. It can be your partner if you listen to it. The more you care for this relationship, the more Money you will attract. Here are three final tips:

1) Appreciate Money! When a penny shows up on the sidewalk, thank Money for the gift. Don't worry about denomination; appreciate everything. Think of how good you feel when you are valued for even a small gesture. It's the same for Money. Every time you practice receiving and appreciating, you train the universe to send you more. Show the universe what you value.

2) By now your capacity to receive is growing. You'll notice other stuff creeps in to limit the flow through your funnel to abundance. This stuff may look like clutter, broken appliances, old e-mails, toxic people, time wasters, or other energy drains. Clean house! Make space for what you want by having the courage to release what you don't want. You teach the universe how you want to be treated with every choice you make. And nothing gets the universe's attention like saying "No." It's your quickest ticket to miracles.

3) The most important place to make space for what you want is in your head. Clean out fear and pessimism. Plant love and trust instead. Your thoughts are your seeds, and you can grow flowers or weeds. What do you choose to grow?

Copyright 2008 by Morgana Rae and Charmed Life Coaching.

About the Author:
Morgana Rae, a master results coach and the "Money Magic Queen," is owner of Charmed Life Coaching, a successful life and business coaching company that guides clients to attract more than they chase, to market creatively and inexpensively, and to enjoy success without sacrificing their humanity. Morgana's clients range from entrepreneurs to executives from IBM, AIG Investments, Microsoft, and Miramax Films. A leading expert on wealth manifestation, Morgana is a popular speaker and frequent television and radio guest. Her Financial Alchemy books, CDs, magazine articles, and classes have impacted the lives of thousands of people worldwide. Contact Morgana at http://www.AbundanceandProsperity.com

Check out the Experts page for Morgana Rae, the Official Guide to Wealth - Creating Wealth and Building Wealth.

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*** Article:  The Power 2 Be You! - By Sharon Capehart ***
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Success is something that may seem illusive to some people. To others it may require hard work and determination without submitting to failure. What defines success for you? People who can overcome obstacles in life are usually the ones who succeed in the long run. Perseverance is the key to success. The willingness to go on despite the feeling of failure is the most important step toward success.

Successful people take action and are confident about their decisions even if they don't know what the outcome will be. They are decisive and willing to take risks.

Successful people enjoy their life no matter what circumstances they find themselves in. They accept the small things in life and give gratitude for them. They treat every day as a gift and not take it for granted. So they do all they can do for that day. They live in the present and not worry about the future.

Learning to be flexible when change comes takes precedence over trying to change the situation to adapt to you when it seems impossible to change it. Successful people take responsibility for their own actions. They don't blame anyone else. They look at change as an opportunity for something greater and try to use it as a stepping-stone to go to the next lever.

Never give up if you want to be successful. You must have the tenacity to overcome and move on to the next thing. Keep motivating yourself and focus on what is good rather than the bad that happened to you.

Other people are important to successful people. They reach out to others and show kindness. They are not loners because they know that people are important to their success.

Don't entertain self-pity. Live for today; don't look back at the past and remember that tomorrow will take care of itself. This is how successful people think and live their lives.

Successful people dream big. Their goals are big goals. They challenge themselves and focus on using their vision to keep their dreams alive.

Coaches and mentors are an asset to the successful person. They realize that "no man is an island." They are not afraid to ask for help.

People who want to be successful are open to learning new things. They don't mind making the huge step outside of their comfort zone. They think long-term and seek knowledge through books, tapes, coaching, and from other people that they meet.

Do not procrastinate. Procrastination is the worst enemy of success. Being indecisive and not wanting to act quickly is absolutely unacceptable to the successful person.

Here are some quick tips to the path of your success:

1. Write your vision down. Know exactly what you want in life.

2. Set many long-term goals. Don't worry if they seem too much for you to achieve.

3. Make immediate plans to take action. Create a sense of urgency.

4. Take a look at your vision board every day to remind yourself what is important and why you need to accomplish what you set forth to do.

5. Take at least three steps each day to accomplish your short-term goals. Your short-term goals usually get you closer to your long-term goals.

6. Discipline is one of the attributes of success. Don't let negative people get in your space.

7. Respect and value time.

8. Be focused and live in the present.

9. Finish the entire task that you start. Do not leave unfinished business. It takes longer to complete.

10. Persistent and Perseverance are the two "P's" that will get you to your successful destination.

11. Give yourself a reward each time you complete a task toward getting closer to your success.

12. Keep dreaming and you will finally wake up to find it there.

Cheers to your success. It can happen to you too. Don't think it belongs to the other person. It is yours depending on how bad you want it.

About the Author:
Sharon Capehart, Empress of Empowerment, is an author, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur. Sharon will help you build a solid foundation of confidence, cultivate a success-oriented mindset, and walk with you on your journey to a life filled with passion, excitement, and personal power. She is the author of "The Power 2 Be You!," creator of "A Woman's Path to Success," as well as publisher of the FREE Power Up! e-zine. For more information, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/products/positivelywomen.html

Check out the Experts page for Sharon Capehart.

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*** Book Review:  How You Can Manage Your Staff More Effectively (and Pave your Way to your Next Promotion!) - By Gina Gardiner ***
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"How You Can Manage Your Staff More Effectively (and Pave your Way to your Next Promotion!)" is designed to help managers avoid irritating and costly mistakes when they manage and develop their team of staff.

It is written for aspiring leaders and managers who are ambitious and want to get ahead. You can dip into it if you are facing specific issues or use the comprehensive approach to underpin ongoing and sustained individual and team development. It has relevance for experienced managers who want to share good practice and for aspiring leaders who want to develop and deepen their leadership skills.

The book offers tried and tested principles, strategies, and ideas which have been proven to work.

Check out the Experts page for Gina Gardiner, the Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to Team Building.

*****
The list price of this book is $29.63. To purchase it from Amazon.com, go here.

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*** Brief News of the World ***
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Positive:

* 4 panda cubs born at Chinese breeding center *

Four giant panda cubs were born within 14 hours at a breeding center in southwest China, a mini baby boom for the rare animals, a state news agency reported Sunday. The births began Saturday at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center when 9-year-old Qiyuan, or Magic Luck, gave birth to female twins at 5:24 p.m. and 6:16 p.m., Xinhua News Agency reported, citing center expert Yang Feifei. (Click here for complete news story)

* Bloomberg, Gates Join to Fight Smoking: NYC Mayor and Microsoft Founder Will Donate $375 Million to Discourage Smoking in Low and Middle-Income Countries *

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are pooling their piles of money to pour $375 million into a global effort to cut smoking. The billionaire philanthropists, who have a combined worth of more than $70 billion, said Wednesday that the money will help efforts in developing countries where tobacco use is highest. There are more than 1 billion smokers worldwide. (Click here for complete news story)

* Gossage, Dick Williams Inducted into Hall of Fame: 'Goose' Gossage and Dick Williams among 6 enshrined in Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown *

Even after his induction was complete and the crowd had wandered off, Rich "Goose" Gossage was still trying to come to grips with his new status as a Hall of Famer. "I still have to pinch myself to realize that I've had the type of career I've had," said Gossage, after becoming just the fifth reliever enshrined at Cooperstown. "My whole career is kind of a storybook. If I had to write a script, I wouldn't change a thing," said Gossage, who spent 22 years as one of baseball's most menacing and dominating relief pitchers. (Click here for complete news story)

** For more positive news, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/news.html

Other:

* U.S., China lead way in tapping wind power *

From Dallas, Texas to Dabancheng, China, energy companies are staking fortunes on harnessing wind power. Several Texan transmission companies announced Monday they were forming a consortium to invest in the $5 billion cost of building new power lines to take advantage of the state's vast wind power. The consortium, comprised of existing transmission operators, includes Dallas-based Oncor, the state's largest power delivery company, Electric Transmission Texas (ETT) and units of American Electric Power Co. among others. (Click here for complete news story)

* New Game Plan Targets Pre-Diabetics: Nearly 57 Million Americans Are Dangerously Close to Developing Diabetes *

Nearly 24 million Americans are afflicted with diabetes, up more than 3 million in approximately two years. That adds up to more than $170 billion in yearly healthcare costs. But for the first time, doctors have a game plan for how to help the 57 million Americans who are dangerously close to developing the disease, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon Lapook. New guidelines emphasize diet, exercise and weight-loss medication. (Click here for complete news story)

* Ex-Google team take on Web giant *

Anna Patterson's last Internet search engine was so impressive that industry leader Google Inc. bought the technology in 2004 to upgrade its own system. She believes her latest invention is even more valuable -- only this time it's not for sale. Patterson instead intends to upstage Google, which she quit in 2006 to develop a more comprehensive and efficient way to scour the Internet. The end result is Cuil, pronounced "cool." Backed by $33 million in venture capital, the search engine plans to begin processing requests for the first time Monday. (Click here for complete news story)

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