July 9, 2008

Friend or Stranger - Who Would You Trust?

In This Issue:

Feature Article: "Friend or Stranger - Who Would You Trust?"

Quick Tips: "Beware of False Economies"

Fast Facts: "What Are The World's Fastest Growing Religions?"

* FEATURE ARTICLE *

“Friend or Stranger - Who Would You Trust?”

Who would you trust to give you the right business or career advice?

1. A family member or friend who knows you, loves you, cares about you and only wants what's best for you... but knows NOTHING about what you're trying to achieve?

OR

2. Someone who doesn't know you, doesn't love you, doesn't care about you and has no opinion about what's best for you... but is an EXPERT in what you're trying to achieve?

Let me guess... you think this is a trick question and therefore choose No.2?

But that's being logical! Who do you REALLY tend to trust?

Who do you trust on an EMOTIONAL level? Who do you find yourself wanting to PLEASE and, perhaps on a sub-conscious level, receive APPROVAL from?

Is it an expert who doesn't even know you... or is it that family member or friend?

I believe that most of us seek approval, and therefore tend to take advice from, those we love, such as family and friends. Unfortunately, that can be a MAJOR mistake if they really aren't qualified to advise us.

This is especially the case when we're trying to forge new paths and achieve things that our family or friends wouldn't dream of doing. And precisely because they've never dreamed of doing it, let alone done it, they can end up giving us downright BAD advice.

Further, some well-meaning loved ones can actually be quite fervent in telling us what we can't or shouldn't do - for example, that we shouldn't quit a secure, well-paying job to start a business.

Why are such friends or family so eager to ram their uninformed opinions down our own throats? Because telling US what we can't or shouldn't do helps THEM justify (mainly to themselves) why they have never pursued goals like ours.

Beware people who freely give you advice when they aren't qualified to give it - you may be walking into their own self-justification session!

Of course, no matter how logical it is to prefer the advice of experts over that of loved ones, I don't believe it's easy. Not if our emotional desire to obtain the approval of friends and family is strong.

But if we can at least recognise when we are receiving unqualified advice from family or friends, we have a greater ability to discount it for what it is: the opinions of people who may mean well, but really don't know what they're talking about!

And at that point, it's a good idea to consult with someone who IS experienced and knowledgeable, and get THEIR informed advice.

Back To Top

* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“No-Cost Advertising For Your Business...”

I have a free gift for you - the opportunity to run an ad in my new Internet marketing newsletter AT NO COST.

All you need to do is subscribe to my FREE Internet marketing newsletter below, submit your ad in the space provided, and - as long as the ad meets a few basic criteria - I'll run it in an upcoming issue.

==> Internet Marketing Newsletter

And yes, it CAN be an affiliate offer.

So what's this new Internet marketing newsletter all about?

Well, it's essentially a MUST HAVE for anyone passionate about Internet marketing. Each issue contains genuine news, comment, research, tips, tools and more to help make your Internet marketing activities more profitable.

If you're serious about Internet marketing, you'll want this newsletter in your marketing arsenal. And that, combined with the opportunity to promote your products or services for free, is why I think you'll get a lot out of subscribing. (If you like, check out the sample issue when you subscribe).

But I won't be offering free advertising forever, so take advantage of it now:

==> Internet Marketing Newsletter

* QUICK TIPS *

“Beware of False Economies”

Ever driven to the other side of town to find the cheapest gas station... only to discover that the fuel, wear and tear on your car and the TIME taken to drive all that way... actually cost you the same or more than the saving in fuel costs?

That's a false economy - where the initial or perceived savings derived from taking a certain course of action, are far outweighed by the eventual or long term costs.

Sometimes these costs aren't obvious because they're not monetary. And yet they can be much more damaging. For example, I knew a couple who used to write down how much they spent on each and every thing. Like the cost of every last candy bar they bought.

The TIME it took to write all this down and the STRESS of feeling compelled to record each item of expenditure led to significant friction in their relationship.

"Did you write down how much you spent on that cup of coffee?"

"You didn't add in the cost of that tip, did you?"

"Can you remember how much that train ticket cost?"

And so on.

I'm not saying you shouldn't budget or spend money wisely... or even that you shouldn't write down what you spend... but if you are likely to waste valuable time and/or become stressed doing so, you may be better off taking a different approach.

For example, instead of recording and spending the minimum... why not save the maximum with an automatic savings plan? That is, where you automatically save a certain amount of money each week or month, and everything left over is what you have to spend?

Maybe I'm simplifying, but you get the idea, right? Think about the overall COSTS involved in making a saving... and THEN decide whether it's worth it... or whether it's actually a false economy.

Back To Top

* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“Why Many Financial Planners Will Never Be Rich”

There's a reason why many financial planners are not, and never will be, rich. To discover why - and why YOU are the best person to determine the best wealth building strategy for you - click here:

==> Why Many Financial Planners Will Never Be Rich

* FAST FACTS *

“What Are The World's Fastest Growing Religions?”

According to Foreign Policy the world's fastest growing religions are:

1. Islam - followers: 1.3 billion, growth: 1.84 percent p.a.

2. The Bahai Faith - followers: 7.7 million, growth: 1.70 percent p.a.

3. Sikhism - followers: 25.8 million, growth: 1.62 percent p.a.

4. Jainism - followers: 5.9 million, growth: 1.57 percent p.a.

5. Hinduism - followers: 870 million, growth: 1.52 percent p.a.

6. Christianity - followers: 2.2 billion, growth: 1.38 percent p.a.

(Source: Foreign Policy, "The List: The World’s Fastest-Growing Religions", May 2007, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835)

Back To Top