Think & Create

By Melanie Segala

As bad as too much sugar is for you, its cousin is even worse. I’m speaking, of course, about high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the sugary goo that’s been added to soft drinks, salad dressings, cakes, cookies, and cereals for over 30 years. The darling of food manufacturers everywhere, HFCS made its debut as the ideal solution for extending the shelf life and reducing the cost of producing commercially sweetened foods.

While it might have been a magic bullet for manufacturers and retailers, it’s been a bullet of a very different kind for consumers. According to nutrition expert Jonny Bowden, writing in Total Health Breakthroughs, HFCS comes with a veritable laundry list of associated health risks, including raising triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, reducing insulin sensitivity, and causing dangerous intra-abdominal fat (the kind that’s a precursor to heart disease).

Not enough to make you think twice? Here’s another frightening twist: mercury contamination!

Mercury can damage the heart, kidneys, nervous system, and immune system. In pregnant women, mercury can cross the placenta and affect the neurological development of the fetus. (Is it any wonder we’re seeing so many cases of autism and ADHD?)

The latest news regarding the dangers of HFCS came to light in late January when several news outlets published the results of two eye-opening studies. In the first study, it was reported that, in 2005, an FDA scientist tested 20 commercial products containing HFCS and found that nine were positive for mercury. If that wasn’t bad enough, the FDA, asleep on the job as usual, did not release these dangerous findings to the public until recently.

In the second study, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), a non-profit watchdog group, analyzed 55 commercial products containing HFCS that were purchased in the fall of 2008. They found that nearly 1 in 3 of the foods and beverages it tested contained mercury.

At this point you might be wondering what a toxic heavy metal has to do with high-fructose corn syrup. Was it an accident or shoddy manufacturing practices that caused mercury to be found in these foods? No. In creating the corn syrup, a mercury reagent is typically used with a caustic soda to separate corn starch from the kernel. In the process, the mercury cells can contaminate the caustic soda, which is then transferred to the corn syrup.

A spokesperson for the Corn Refiners Association claims that the industry has not used mercury reagents in the manufacturing of HFCS for several years and the study is therefore outdated. But can that really be true if the products tested in the second study were purchased off the shelf by IATP in 2008?

And even so, that feeble excuse cannot reverse the damage done to countless Americans who unknowingly ingested mercury-contaminated food for 30 or more years, clogged their arteries, and possibly affected the neurological development of their unborn children.

What’s the takeaway advice here? It’s obvious. Get high-fructose corn syrup out of your diet. The health dangers are just too alarming to ignore. Don’t wait for the FDA or food manufacturers to do the right thing. If their track record is any indication, the wait will be a long one.

By Brian Tracy

Know the Right People

One of the greatest forms of financial leverage is contacts. Knowing the right people and being known by them can open doors for you that can save you years of hard work. The quality and quantity of your contacts and your relationships will have more to do with your success than perhaps any other factor.

Here are three things you can do to expand your list of contacts. First, make a list of the 25 people you feel it would be most useful for you to get to know. Develop a strategy to get to meet everyone of them over the next 12 months. Then make a list of 25 more.

List the people in charge of the major corporations that would be useful for you to know. List the mayor, list the congressmen, list the senator. List the important people that it would be helpful for you to know and then make a plan to meet them.

Network at Every Opportunity

Second is for you to network at every opportunity. Join business and trade associations. Attend meetings. Get involved. Volunteer for service on a key committee. This action alone can cut years off your career.

Once, when I was working with the Chamber of Commerce, I came to the attention of a senior executive who hired me away from the company I was working for a year later at triple the salary. Meeting people is very important. Network at every opportunity.

Get Involved in the Community

The third way is to get involved in community service organizations. The best people in every community, the people you should know and who should know you, are usually involved in public service in some way. Start with the United Way in your own city, or get involved in any charity that you care about or that you’re interested in. You’ll be amazed at the quality of people that you’ll meet doing voluntary service.

Unlock Your Creativity

Another form of leverage is creativity. Remember, one new idea is all you need to start a fortune. Everyone has the ability to come up with creative ideas and solutions if they look for them. All great fortunes begin with an idea.

Create Good Work Habits

A powerful form of leverage that can help you is good work habits. Good work habits make an extraordinary difference. In a recent study, 104 chief executive officers all agreed that the ability to set priorities and then to get the job done fast were the two qualities that most readily led to promotion and increases in pay. Good work habits will bring you to the attention of the important people in your life as fast or faster than anything else you can do. In the final analysis, you always get paid for your results. If you develop a reputation for being the person who gets the job done fast, that alone can put you onto the fast track in your career.

Your Action Assignment

Now, here are two things you can do to leverage your financial potential:

First, get involved in the business, trade, civic and social organizations in your community. Once you become a member, off er to help and serve on committees. This will bring you to the attention of people who can help you faster than any other way.

Second, develop excellent work habits. Be punctual. Plan your work and work your plan. Always concentrate your conscious energies on high priority tasks and make sure that you are doing things that are important to your boss and to your company.

Virtually anybody can succeed with their home business, yet the majority fails. Why? Here’s three main reasons.

Not Really Getting Started

Often people sign up for some programme or another and think that is all there is to it, and that the money will come rolling it – WRONG!

As with anything, getting started is the hardest part, requiring planning and organization. Get this part right and the momentum you create will push your business forward in leaps and bounds. Any reputable programme will have all the information you require to get your home business off to a flying start.

Half Hearted Approach

Many people fall into this category. “Oh well, I gave it a try a while ago, but it didn’t not work out for me, did not really expect it to work anyway.” These people are just looking for an excuse to fail. This is an attitude that we acquire as we grow up, as child failure was not part of our vocabulary.

Take learning to ride a bicycle. You probably fell off more than once, and it did hurt, but that did not stop you did it? you’d get back on it until you mastered the skill.

It’s the same with your home business as you will have falls. It is all part of the learnig curve. You will learn a lot more from these slight setbacks.

Belief

This is probably the most common category, and also the biggest difference between successful people and the vast majority of people – no matter what walk of life they come from.

Everyone has dreams and ideas.

The differenceis that successful people have the belief and conviction to make thei ideas happen, doing whatever is needed to fulfill their dreams.

If you do not really believe in your home business, you cannot convince anyone else. Believe in your business and other people will believe; and your business will thrive.

Getting Started

This can seem a pretty daunting task and this is where most people fail, but dont worry. Even if you know absolutely nothing about home business, all reputable programmes will supply you with help, information and support that you require to ensure that your business is a success

Once you have made the decision to start your own home business, keep focused on what motivated you to start in the first place. This will provide the drive to push your home business forward.

A final thought – What if you were to take the action required today? What might your lfestyle be like in a year?

By Noah St. John

I had just gotten off the stage at a major marketing conference when the founder of a nationally known software company (you’ve seen their commercials on TV) came up and said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Noah, one thing you just said on stage changed my life. I never realized that I’ve been living my life with one foot on the brake. And if I just get my foot off the brake, I’ll be much more successful.”

He told me that his company had been “stuck” at $4 million a year for the previous four years. (My first thought was: “Gee, a lot of people would like to be ‘stuck’ at $4 million!”) He asked if I would coach him on how to stop holding himself back from success. Since I’ve been doing that for companies and individuals since 1997, I said “Sure.”

What I coached him in is what I call it The Secret Code of Success. I call it a “Secret Code” because even the people using it don’t know what they’re doing!

It’s like asking Tiger Woods to explain how he got so mentally tough or Bill Gates to tell you how he made so much money. These highly successful people do certain things that they’re totally unaware of, because they are unconsciously competent at allowing themselves to succeed. They might be able to tell you some of the steps they took to get there – but because they’re unconsciously competent at letting themselves succeed, there will always be something missing in their explanation.

Let me explain what I mean by “unconsciously competent.”

To become unconsciously competent at any skill, you go through four levels:

Unconscious incompetence - when you don’t know that you don’t know how to do it

Conscious incompetence – when you know that you don’t know how to do it

Conscious competence – when you know that you know how to do it

Unconscious competence – when you do it without any conscious thought

Happy, wealthy people – whom I call the Naturals – are highly successful for the precise reason that they are unconsciously competent at allowing themselves to succeed.

Which brings us back to our software entrepreneur. When I walked him through what the Naturals are doing (without being consciously aware of it), he began to understand why, even though he’d spent a lot of time and money taking “how to succeed” programs, he couldn’t move forward.

Here are the three essential steps he took to get his foot off the brake:

1. Show appreciation for those who have made a difference in your life.

Human beings are starving for attention, appreciation, and acknowledgement. Research has shown that people will do more for acknowledgement than for money, because appreciation is the true currency of human interaction.

There are dozens of ways to acknowledge the people in your life, but what it really comes down to is your willingness to do so. That’s because everyone is wearing an invisible sign that says “Please make me feel important.” The problem is, you’re wearing that sign too!

If you become that one person in a million who is willing to make others feel important first, you’ll see an amazing turnaround in your relationships… just like our entrepreneur did.

2. Become aware of the ways you’re holding yourself back at the same time as you’re pushing yourself forward.

When I’m on stage and explain that most people are driving down the road of life with one foot on the brake, many in my audience tell me it never occurred to them that they could be stopping themselves at the same time as they’re driving forward.

This happens because the Why-To’s of Success are conscious, but the Why-Not-To’s of Success are subconscious. Everyone has reasons to want to succeed. (Those are the Why-To’s.) At the same time, most of us have hidden reasons for holding ourselves back. (Those are the Why-Not-To’s.) What made this concept truly life-changing for our entrepreneur (and for thousands of others who’ve learned The Code) was understanding that:

Because they’re subconscious, your Why-Not-To’s of Success are hidden even from you. No one gets up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll hold myself back from success today!”

The Naturals of Success have eliminated their Why-Not-To’s of Success. But because they’ve never had their own foot on the brake, they can’t possibly tell someone else how to get it off. That’s why there’s always something missing when they try to explain their “secrets of success.”

3. Realize the benefit of regular mentoring to achieve your goals.

While the rest of us often feel adrift and alone, the Naturals either always had, or unconsciously created, Systems of Support that allowed them to reach their goals faster, easier, and with less effort.

Having that kind of support made all the difference in the Naturals’ lives, and it can make a big difference in your life, too. One way to get the support you need to succeed is to find a mentor or coach who:

Understands and believes in you

Doesn’t make you feel wrong for wanting what you want

Gives you solid, doable action steps to reach your goals

Before our software entrepreneur heard me speak on stage, his company had been “stuck” at $4 million a year for the previous four years. But because he knew he was capable of much more, it was just as frustrating for him as it would be for someone making much less.

With just 90 days of coaching in The Code, he learned how to take his foot off the brake. His company’s revenues exploded from $4 million to $40 million in less than a year.

And now, every time I see his commercials on TV, I smile. Because his success is just one more example of what can happen when you take your foot off the brake.

By Kelley Herring

The foods you eat can make you overweight and prone to disease. But they can also help you stay lean and trim… and keep serious health problems at bay.

Here are two modifications you can make to your diet to help prevent cancer.

Balance Your Blood Sugar

One of the most important elements in preventing cancer is keeping your blood sugar stable. High-glycemic foods fuel cancer’s fire by elevating insulin. But that’s not all. Sugar also depresses your immune system, giving cancer cells the opportunity to multiply and divide while the body’s defenses are down.

Protect yourself by sticking with low-glycemic foods.

Boost Omega-3 Fats

In the U.S., 80 percent of the fats we consume are omega-6s – and omega-6 fats (found in vegetable oils like corn oil and soybean oil) promote inflammation and turn on genes that fuel cancer. Omega-3s, on the other hand, supply the antidote. Not only are these healthy fats (found in coldwater fish like wild salmon and sardines, as well as flaxseed, walnuts, and chia) potent anti-inflammatories, they up-regulate the genes that guard against cancer.

Aim for at least 1 gram of omega-3s daily in the form of a high-quality fish oil supplement (like Carlson’s) or a serving of wild salmon.

Step 1: Research the property. Get its size, amenities, how much is owned against it and what it is the opening bid.

Step 2: Compare the sales prices of similar properties in the area so that you have a good idea of what the property is worth. Compare sales of properties with the same number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.

Step 3: Get financing. Typically, homes at auctions require a 5-10% deposit or one thousand down and the balance of the deposit within a week or your lose your one thousand. Check on the financing terms and conditions.

Step 4: Know your price limit. Auctions work on creating an atmosphere of agitation and excitedness. Don’t get swept up in the moment. Know how much you are willing to spend and stick to it.

Step 5: Be prepared to walk away. Don’t feel as if you have to buy something. if the deal isnt right for you, then its not a deal.

By Brian Tracy

Listening is the Key

Listening builds self-esteem. It has been said that, “Rapt attention is the highest form of flattery.” When you listen intently to another person and it is clear that you genuinely care about what that other person is saying, his or her self-esteem goes up. His or her feeling of personal value increases. He or she feels more worthwhile and important as a human being. You can actually make another person feel terrific about himself or herself by listening in a warm, genuine, caring way to everything he or she has to say.

Pay Close Attention

When a man and a woman go out for the first time, they spend an inordinate amount of time talking and listening to each other. They look into each other’s eyes and hang on every word. They are each fascinated by the personality of the other. The more each listens to the other, the more positive and happy each of them feel and the stronger becomes the bonds of affection between them.

Focus 100% On the Other Person

The opposite of listening is ignoring. You always listen to that which you most value. You always ignore that which you devalue. The fastest way to turn a person off, to hurt their feelings and make them feel slighted and angry is to simply ignore what they are saying or interrupt them in the middle of a thought. Ignoring or interrupting is the equivalent of an emotional slap in the face. Men especially have to be careful about their natural desire to make a remark or an observation in the middle of a conversation. This can often cause the sales conversation to come to a grinding halt.

Action Exercises

First, take every opportunity to make the other person feel important by listening attentively to what he or she says.

Second, avoid interrupting the other person by slowing down and pausing for a few moments after he or she has stopped speaking.

Identify them

How can you retain your best employees if you do not know who they are? 

An easy way to do this would be to take a piece of paper and then write the names of perhaps twenty employees (at all levels) whose service is indispensable to the organization.After that, be proactive and do everything you can to keep them.

Most organizations take the easy way out by only taking action when a good employee puts in his/her resignation letter. These employees are only then told of how good they are and how valuable their services are to the organization. To make these employees retract their resignations, they are bribed with promotions and pay rises. Some may stay but if their concerns and grievances are not addressed, then it is most certain that they will put in their resignation letters within the next year.

Listen to the voice of your employees

Conduct organizational surveys so that the pulse of the organization can be monitored at all times. Get feedback on what is right and what is wrong in the organization from an employees point of view.

Don’t assume that you know.

Heed the results of exit interviews with departing employees as they provide valuable information you an use to improve the organizational working environment.

Appreciate and recognize your best employees

Time and time again, research has shown that people crave and yearn for recognition. People like to feel that someone appreciates the work they do. It is common therefore to walk through an office and see employees displaying items of recognition like a thank you card from a manager, a latter of appreciation from a customer, or an award.

In situations like these, sincere recognition can mean a lot more to staff than just financial incentives. A genuine pat on the back, given at the right moment, for the right reasons, and in front of the right people, can boost staff morale and commitment in many ways.

Never, ever  show appreciation only when people have put in their resignations. It’s then too late.

Ensure that your management team treats your best employees well

In a poll carried out by Gallop Organization, it was revealed that “what most employees want, more than anything else, is a good boss.” This was the most influential factor affecting both employee retention and performance. 

Curt Coffman, lead researcher at Gallup says that, “If you have a turnover problem, look first at your managers.” He adds, “People leave managers, not companies!”

It would be critical therefore that companies take a cold hard look at themselves and ask the question, “Are we doing enough to retain our best employees?”

Any organization is only as good as its best employees.

By  Brian Tracy

Perhaps the most outwardly identifiable quality of a high performing man or woman is “action orientation.”

Take Time to Think and Plan
Highly productive people take the time to think, plan and set priorities. They then launch quickly and strongly toward their goals and objectives. They work steadily, smoothly and continuously and seem to go through enormous amounts of work in the same time period that the average person spends socializing, wasting time and working on low value activities.

Getting into “Flow”
When you work on high value tasks at a high and continuous level of activity, you can actually enter into an amaz ing mental state called “flow.” Almost everyone has experienced this at some time. Really successful people are those who get themselves into this state far more often than the average.

In the state of “flow,” which is the highest human state of performance and productivity, something almost mirac ulous happens to your mind and emotions. You feel elated and clear. Everything you do seems effortless and accurate. You feel happy and energetic. You experience a tremendous sense of calm and personal effectiveness.

Become More Alert and Aware
In the state of “flow,” identified and talked about over the centuries, you actually function on a higher plane of clarity, creativity and competence. You are more sensitive and aware. Your insight and intuition functions with incredible precision. You see the interconnectedness of people and circumstances around you. You often come up with brilliant ideas and insights that enable you to move ahead even more rapidly.

Develop a Sense of Urgency
One of the ways you can trigger this state of flow is by developing a “sense of urgency.” This is an inner drive and desire to get on with the job quickly and get it done fast. This inner drive is an impatience that motivates you to get going and to keep going. A sense of urgency feels very much like racing against yourself.

Create a “Bias for Action”
With this ingrained sense of urgency, you develop a “bias for action.” You take action rather than talking continually about what you are going to do. You focus on specific steps you can take immediately. By employing this technique you concentrate on the things you can do right now to get the results you want and achieve the goals you desire.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, select one major task confronting you and launch into it immediately. Don’t hesitate. Move fast.

Second, start doing this every morning, first thing, until it becomes a habit.

QUESTION: I spend many hours a week counselling or meeting my people on a one to one basis on many matters I must admit that keeping focused on the discussion is often tough especially when dealing with “difficult people” who for some reasons either get on my nerves or they are having feeling of helplessness.

When this happens, I am aware of my outward signs and behaviours that tell the other person that I am not with them. I am asking for your advise because this problem of mine is increasingly affecting my productivity and relationship with people.

ANSWER: Having “presence” seems to be the name of your issue. The way out is to develop your tolerance level for uncomfortable situations as well as in managing other peoples behaviours as well as yours!

We all have our individual responses – fight, bite our tongue, fidgit with the pen and the list is endless. Indeed, increasing one’s tolerance is by nature is unbearable as the pull of the old factors are so strong.  However, there are some steps that you can take.

First, identify the trigger for your reaction in specific situations – is it their tone of voice, the subject matter or what? Once you have identified this, the second thing to do is to identify your reaction of your reactive habits. Do you feel angry, frustrated, or what?

When this is done, the next step is to find an alternative response. You will likely see them again in the moment and have something ready in your mind to break the trance, like pausing to give yourself time to think.

Lastly, stay on track and be mindful of the goal you want to achieve.

The Bottom Line: Increasing your “tolerance muscle” through practice and more practise can enhance your strength and stamina to stop the same old action and reaction.