Over-Delivering, The Golden Rule, and more

         As stated earlier, I don't have a clue about any of my readers. What's your level of experience with computers and Internet? Do you use it for pleasure or are you looking to do business? What age group do you fall in? What about lifestyle? Family? Interests? Occupation? Are you Professional? Where do you live? Who Are You???

         So it means I'm shooting in the dark as far as content for this newsletter is concerned. That's frustrating, but I've accepted it and try to put it out of my mind. I'm not even sure if knowing those answers would make much difference.

Why mention it then, Ken?
Because.....
Have you ever tried to help someone, only to find in the long term
that it was a complete waste of time?
Some people just won't help themselves, will they?

Ever ask yourself exactly why you helped them?
Was it out of empathy... if so, that's good. Or
Was it out of sympathy... if so, that's not so good.

What do you mean by that, Ken?
Let me tell you what I mean.

Here's what Atomica gives as a definition for empathy.
"Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives."

         Pretty accurate, don't you think? And you can understand your own motives for helping someone in that situation. Wouldn't you want to help someone in whose shoes you've been? I certainly would, and if you wouldn't, then I'm sorry my friend but the future for you is very bleak.

         But you can't give help unless requested and, in my not so humble opinion, you absolutely should not give help if that person is not prepared to do something to help themselves.

And you should never help them 'out of sympathy'.
Why?
Look...
Atomica's many definitions of sympathy includes these:
"A relationship or an affinity between people or things in which whatever affects one, correspondingly affects the other."
And, relative to Physiology:
"A relation between parts or organs by which a disease or disorder in one induces an effect in the other."

Latin sympathia, from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathes,
*affected* by like feelings : sun-, syn- + pathos, emotion.

See what I mean? Do you really want to be affected by someone else's feelings? I do! But only when they're good feelings.
It's an old saying, and it's very true
"If you lie down with a dog you're likely to catch fleas".
(except with my dog, naturally!)

         Some people seem to wallow in their own misery and self-pity as a means of gaining sympathy and attention. They're so wrapped up in their own small minds that they fail to see there's someone worse off than themselves.

"I was miserable because I had no shoes,
until I saw a man who had no feet."

         Same thing applies to both general and physical unwellness. How can a person expect their situation to improve if they constantly dwell on what they don't have? How can a person expect their health to improve if they constantly dwell on how ill they are (or think they are) ?

These types of people will suck you dry... don't go there!
If you do feel compelled to go there... don't stay too long!!
And, most importantly...
don't let them take your dreams away from you.

         That just leaves us with apathy. I don't know what Atomica has to say about that and "Quite frankly, my dears, I don't give a damn."
Only joking.
(don't ask me to believe that you didn't see that one coming)

here it is: apathy
"Lack of interest or concern,
especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal;
indifference. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness."

(Lack of emotion? Who... me? Never!)

Now we've all seen it...
and I'm darn glad I don't suffer from that sucker!

FEATURED ARTICLE

Blame It On the Economy and Watch Your Profits Sink
by Stan Dubin

Recently we've been hearing that our economy is slowing down,
and that we are headed for a recession.
Some say we're already in a recession.

It makes good sense to pay attention to economic indicators.
But a weakening economy should not give you a reason for
your sinking bottom line. If it does, then you may have just
found the real cause for your bottom line:
blaming it on the economy.

Too often people believe the "reason" they are having a
particular problem is due to something that is happening
elsewhere (and usually outside of their control). This is
especially true in the business world. Here is an example:

Shoe Store A is doing very well until Shoe Store B opens up
across the street. Revenues decline at Shoe Store A as
Shoe Store B gets up and going. But, and this is a very
important but, to the degree that the owner (and staff) at
Shoe Store A attribute their decline in revenue to the
existence of Shoe Store B, TO THAT DEGREE they will be
unable to deal with it.

Shoe Store A simply needs to step back and realize they
have new competition and take concrete steps to retain their
current customers and create new ones. Perhaps they need
to streamline their marketing and advertising effort. Maybe
they actually need to do some marketing for the first time!

The reason sales are down at Shoe Store A is not Shoe Store B.
Sales are down because Shoe Store A did not effectively shift
their own gears to keep their business afloat and prosperous.

That may sound simplistic,but when an executive or business
owner places the blame elsewhere, this very act of "placing
blame elsewhere" reduces his ability to devise effective solutions.
It actually reduces his ability to think straight, because s/he is
so embroiled in what is happening somewhere else.

"Elsewhere" is not a place that you can easily control. But
you do have complete control over what happens internally
within your business. You do have control over how efficient
your staff are. You do have control over how well surveyed
your marketing messages are. And you can control the level
of care shown to your customers.

There are countless aspects of your business that you have
control over. Those are the items that should occupy your
time and focus. Complete focus. To the degree that you
assign the source of a problem to "elsewhere", to that
degree you will be incapable of handling your own scene.

Let's look at one more example of this. A dental practice
considers it has "slow periods of the year." One such period
is the end of the year. Numerous professionals believe the
end of the year simply is not as productive as other parts
of the year. And of course they have statistics to back up
this belief. Every year, December is just very slow.

Then there is the dentist who decided he wasn't going to have
a slow December again. So, back in October and November,
this dentist figured out a few things to do for December.
He reminded his patients that most insurance companies do not
allow you to carry over unused insurance from year to year.

He offered his patients incentives to come in during the
holiday season. He just plain worked on it so that his
December was not a "slow period." The result? He now no
longer believes in "slow periods" and of course he has the
statistics to back up this new belief.

You can always find statistics to match a belief. If you
believe you are going to have slow periods, you'll have them.
Why generate the insight, focus and hard work to fix
something that you know and believe is not fixable?

The same is true on a broader scale with "the economy".
If you believe "the economy" is the basis for your declining
revenues, you're in more trouble than you need to be.
Anything that is outside of your immediate control is just
that: outside of your immediate control. Put your total
focus on your internal scene and get yourself busy
improving things there.

Leave "elsewhere" alone.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan Dubin is the author of
The Small Business Success Manual.
For information on this book
and a FREE business consultation, go to:
http://www.EffectiveBusinessTools.com

'Doctor' Ken's Health Tip

         At the top of this 'epistle' I encouraged you to settle down with your favourite beverage. I wonder how many readers took a glass of water? Health experts try to encourage us to drink somewhere in the region of 6 to 8 glasses of water per day.

         Are they right? These days there are loads of things they tell us we should do, and then, 6 months later, the advice changes. Some people find this hard to swallow.
(Excuse the pun, couldn't resist that one) ~( :- ))

         Why is it that the advice changes? Cynics will say it's due to vested interest. That the health experts get back-handers from the food industry. Or that the experts don't really know what they're talking about.

         The cynics could be right about a few back-handers going to people in high places. We've all seen instances of bribery and corruption, wherever you may live. But it can only be a few isolated cases, surely?

         In the main, the 'grass roots' health experts do know what they're talking about. The more objective amongst us, those of us who put our mouth in gear after taking our brain out of neutral, we understand that research is ongoing.

         Science and technology are advancing faster now than at any time in the history of mankind. So it's reasonable that, as the research discovers new things, that the advice is likely to change in keeping with new discoveries.

         So, the question is, can we trust the health experts? I don't know. You'll have to make up your own mind. Having trained in the Health field myself, I respect the opinion of health experts... but it's only their opinion.

         What I can tell you is this:
It's a well known fact that the human body can easily survive for extended periods without food.
It's also well known, and obvious, that the human body cannot survive without air (oxygen).

         What some of us seem to forget is that the human body is unable to survive for lengthy periods without water. So, as far as trusting the health experts is concerned, I prefer to make up my own mind. Look at things logically and do what I know to be beneficial to me.

And that's where the health tip comes in.
"So glad you finally got there, Ken."
"Thank you very much".
"You're welcome"
"It's my pleasure."
"Well then, WHAT IS IT?"
"Don't shout!"

It's the most obvious, simple, beneficial and effective thing.
And it's available to all of us, whatever our financial status.
Because, the beauty of it is..........
in keeping with the best tradition of this newsletter
..........it's absolutely FREE... Gratis... and for nothing!

         We agree that air is necessary for us to breathe and exist. We agree that we can't go for too long without water. Throw the two of them together and there you have it. Trouble is, most people don't know how to breathe.

         Sound daft? I assure you, from my experience, it's absolutely true. Breathing is a natural and automatic function for all of us, bar a few genuinely sick, incapacitated folk for whom we should all send out our thoughts.

         But for the rest of us it requires no conscious effort.
Unless we want to get the best advantage out of doing it!
In what way?
By giving the process some conscious effort at least once a day.
That means sitting or lying comfortably, concentrating on our controlled breathing - and relaxing... something else that far too many people don't seem to know how to do.

         In my capacity as a foot care professional, I do my best to pass on knowledge I've gained, for the benefit of my patients and clients. This isn't part of my brief and is given without charge. Maybe that's why the vast majority of my patients have remained loyal for over 7 years.
(Ten years, up to the point of my retirement)

         One gent in his late 60s has an Asthma condition. While attending to his feet, we chat. I encourage him to relax and concentrate on his breathing. In through the nose slowly and gently, filling his lungs as much as possible - without strain.

         Exhale through the mouth slowly and gently (if possible) and again not to restrain the exhale to the point of discomfort. He does this at night, especially when his breathing is bad or feels like it's going to be bad. It's become second nature to him now.

         He tells me he feels better, relaxes more and sleeps better. The Asthma doesn't bother him as much as it used to. His water intake has also increased as a result of our chats.

         As a Reflexologist, additional to Chiropodist, I pay attention to all aspects of the feet. One day I had reason to ask if his bowel was regular. Naturally he was curious as to why I should ask. I explained that I could tell from the appearance of his bowel reflex area in the feet.

         'Amazed' is the only appropriate word to describe his reaction. He was constipated. So I told him what I find to be a good way to keep the bowel regular.

         Now, I've never had a problem with irregular bowel activity. Except possibly on the odd occasion that I'm away from home and my whole routine is out of sync. I believe bowel habits are just a matter of body discipline established when an individual is young, by potty training.

         Good grief, I've even trained my K9 pal to go to the toilet on a regular spot at regular times. And I don't mean in a public place.

         To maintain regularity, this is what I do. It works for me. One half pint glass of cold water before going to bed and two half pint glasses of cold water as soon as I get out of bed. Not only does it work, I find it acts like an electric boost. Mind you, my glass is always full (literally) and I leave it standing on a magnet.

Who knows, maybe that's got something to do with it.
Unless, of course, you're a sceptic! Or are you a cynic?
It's well known that neither sceptics nor cynics make any progress.

Dammit, I missed 2 chances at selling that man Reflexology.
I think that's what's meant by *over-delivering*.
Did I hear someone say you gotta put it out to get it back?

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish and you feed him for life."

~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer
~~~~~~~~

Sad but true. Society has become overly litigious. I feel a responsibility to protect readers and myself by stating that the above 'Health Tips' are what I have found beneficial to me personally. I am not a Doctor and any advice you may get in this issue, any other issue, or indeed from any source, should not be followed without first consulting your own qualified regular physician or suitably insured healthcare professional.

Last Week's New Product Reviewed

"Email for Newbies is Actually 2 books In One"

1. "Translating The Techie Stuff" by Tom Glander
2. "How to Write Email Professionally & Courteously"
     by Joe Robson

16 Chapters, with answers to all the most commonly
asked questions, such as ...

# What's a screen name? How do I set up a new email address?
What's that confusing window for? How do I ....?

# Web Based and Client Based Email-how do I read my email when I'm away from my PC? What's an email account? Client based email? - but I have no clients!

# Pop 3, SMTP, Account names, Protocols, Servers and other gobble -dygook that sends Newbies into orbit - and back onto snail mail!

# Email Netiquette? What's an email stripper? - sounds seedy to me!

# SPAM - how to deal with it. How can you spot it before you open it? The magical sure-fire Spam killer. Can it ever be stopped?

# Bulk email - can it really make you a million bucks? Hmmm.

# Email Headers - no, it's not an Internet soccer game!

# Attachments. How do you send a wedding photo? I need to forward a document but ... This simple technique continues to be a mystery to many - yet it's so easy. But be extra careful, or mayhem follows!

# Virus protection. So you think you're safe from those sickies who flood the Internet with viruses - hell bent on crashing your PC? Reading this is absolutely essential. And you'll learn how to protect yourself for free!

# Think that writing emails in a professional manner only applies to business emails? Then think again, because this will shock you. Can others judge you by the way you write your emails? And - wait for it - why some of the emails you send may never even get read. Sheesh!

# Why so many emails suck! And *you* may be sending them.

# The Salutation, Subject line, intro, text that's impossible to read, line breaks, signature ... Is there really so much to writing professional emails? It sounds a lot, but it's not difficult at all.

# The best and most effective way to deal with someone who upsets you. Do it wrong and you're in deep water!

And so on, through page after page of entertaining and enlightening Newbie-Speak tutorials.

"You Simply Must Read 'Email for Newbies' Before You Even *Think* About Sending Another Email"

You'll discover benefits that many seasoned email users don't even know exist!

# Tons of Screen Captures (pictures) to make your learning experience Rewarding and FUN!

In short, you'll soon be using email like a Veteran, and showing off your new skills to all your friends and colleagues.

Written in 'plain speak' to make learning easy.....and fun.....
and to *dramatically* shorten your learning curve.

PS If you think only Newbies can learn from these books,
you'd be wrong. Dead wrong!
See what one delighted guy has to say about it.
"I learned more about using email in 2 HOURS from these 2 books, than I did in 2 YEARS of trial and error".

Go on - see yourself what he's raving about at The Newbie Club

Words of Wisdom from George Zalucki

"It's ironic how the people who are the most afraid to lose, usually
have the least. And what they do have isn't much to lose anyway."

That's me done for another issue, m'dears. Hope you found something useful here today. Until the next time (hopefully next week, could be sooner) Take care and may your gods go with you.  ~( :- ))

Ken