Mindconnection eNL, 2002-10-08
In this issue:
- Featured product
- Pro-reader environment: how to keep it coming
- Math teaser
- Brainpower tip
- Finance tip
- Health tip
- Fitness tip
- Thought for the day
1. Featured product
Remember Stephen R. Covey's book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People?" Well, we have a course about the Eleven Habits of Highly Defective People. This takes a somewhat humorous approach, but provides very good lessons.
Here is the link to it: https://www.mindconnection.com/product/CRS-ELEVENHABITS.html
2. Pro-reader environment: how to keep it coming
You may have noticed this eNL doesn't come with banners and ads, though we do write about our own products. Long-time readers know this eNL is a one-person operation. It's not part of some big conglomerate that funds eNLs--which is why you aren't peppered with all kinds of ads, banner, and pop-ups. And also why we aren't selling your name to other parties. We give up a lot of "quick money" to have this pro-reader environment.
The eNL depends on word of mouth to grow and on product sales in our store for its continued publication. That's where you come in: Each issue provides you with you useful, interesting and sometimes entertaining facts to help you work, play, and live better. Can you take just a minute to help me out in return?
If you think this eNL is a worthwhile read, just send the following link to a friend, along with a note that you find it helpful or whatever: https://www.mindconnection.com/library/enl/index.htm. If you don't think it's a worthwhile read, we'll send someone to your house to tie you down and bludgeon you until you do. Well, OK, I'm joking there. But, do recommend this to a friend.
3. Math Teaser
What is the lowest possible positive number that satisfies the following requirements:
Divide it by 7, and you get a remainder of 4
Divide it by 8, and you get a remainder of 5
Divide it by 9, and you get a remainder of 6.
Can you solve this? If so, let me know by noon, Friday the 11th of this month!
4. Brainpower tip
Here's an enjoyable exercise that helps in building your overall knowledge store, while also exercising your brain in ways that stimulate growth. Simply pick up a book about a subject you know nothing about, and read it. How do you select such a book? Here are some ways you can try--you may have your own ideas:
Pick a word at random from a magazine or newspaper. For example, flip it open and select the first noun that shows up at the top of the left-hand page. Flip it to another page, and repeat. Now, you have two words. Use them together in a search your library's computer system and pick a title that looks interesting.
Go directly to your library's book racks. Pick a section--history, for example--where you have read little or nothing in a long time, if ever. Select a book from the top shelf. When you return that book, select another one from the second shelf, and so on.
Check the non-fiction best-seller list each month, and buy one book. After you've read it, donate it to your library and take the tax deduction.
Start your own book-trading club with a friend or two. Keep a log of who has what book, but meet for dinner once a month and have each person bring two books to trade. Just rotate the selections around.
I have used all of these methods at one time or another. Speaking of time, that is one objection some folks have to this kind of activity. "I don't have time." Well, you can solve that by taking the Mindconnection time-management course. Click here to see more about it:
https://www.mindconnection.com/product/CRS-TIME-MGT.html
5. Finance tips
You may not have this particular problem, but perhaps someone you know does. So, you can pass this information on to them and be a hero.
Many people are swimming in debt. They make the minimum payments. No matter what they do, they can't get off this merry-go-round. But, there is a way. What I'll share with you here is the really, really short version.
Assess your expenditures. Do you rent movies, eat out, etc.? A debt-ridden woman I counseled said she needed these things and wasn't going to give them up. Well, she was using the wrong time-scale. Declare a one-month moratorium on packaged convenience foods, entertainment, and other non-essential spending. Let your cupboards go bare. Just don't buy any more than you have to, to survive. When the month is up, you'll have a bit more money. Use that for completing the next step, which you should begin at the same time as this one.
Assess your debts. Decide that you'll pay off the smallest one first. This frees up cashflow to apply to the other debts, because you can get rid of this one payment. Maybe you are making installment payments on a new refrigerator or stereo. Those are small payments--maybe $50 a month. Once you get rid of just one small payment each month, you have some leverage for the next step.
Refinance or renegotiate some debts. When you refinance your home, you will get two months with no mortgage payment. Use those two months to pay off a debt somewhere. Remember, the goal is to pay debts off, not down. This releases you from creditors completely. If you refinance with great attention to detail, you should be able to reduce your monthly payments and total loan time, simultaneously. Don't take cash out to pay down other debts, but if you can get out an amount to pay off or nearly pay off your smallest loan or two then do so. Don't fall into the trap of giving up equity in your home (and increasing your loan amount) to reduce short-term debts except as noted here already.
Renegotiating means you meet with a creditor and explain you are on tough times. Ask for some leniency--perhaps a month off from making payments, but a longer payment period. This will allow you to pay off your smallest debt sooner and help prevent defaulting on your loan. When negotiating, start with the lender most likely to cut you slack. Then, approach the next lender and use the charity of the previous negotiation as a bargaining chip. "I hope you are as forward-thinking as Mr. Jones, who is giving me a one-month shift in my debt so I can use the cashflow to prevent a loan default." If you get every lender to give you that month (this is not a forgiven month, just a postponed one), you should be able to wipe out your smallest debt completely and make a big dent in the next one.
If you have credit card debts, pay off those cards with a home equity loan. But, don't do that until you destroy the cards or you'll be back where you started and lose your home at the same time.
The underlying secret in these tips is you take actions that increase your cash flow (income minus expenses) so you can apply the increased funds in a cascading fashion to pay off debts. If you do this backwards--try to pay off the largest debt first--you won't increase your cashflow and your situation will remain the same until such time as you pay off that largest debt.
6. Health tip
Pay off your debts.
OK, here's another tip. I was chagrined to hear from a man who is taking vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A is fat-soluble and toxic in small quantities. If you take a multivitamin, check to see the IUs and RDAs of individual vitamins--especially A--are reasonable. Too much vitamin A results in massive kidney damage. If you eat organ meats, don't supplement A at all. If you are concerned about a vitamin A deficiency, eat squash or take a cold-processed multivitamin. If you take a beta-carotene supplement, your body will make vitamin A from it and you'll avoid the toxicity issue.
For free supplement advice and deep discounts on supplements, visit www.supplecity.com
7. Fitness tip
If you live in the northern hemisphere, fall is here. For most of us, this season provides plenty of opportunity to rake leaves. This exercise is wonderful for the back, and it exercises the heart and lungs. Rake vigorously, though. Hold the rake at a steep angle and bend the tines a bit so they are digging into the grass. This maximizes the physical benefit to you, and it gets the dead matter out of the lawn so new growth can occur.
8. Thought for the Day
When is the last time you got upset? Probably not long ago, right? Many times, we get upset because we don't stop to think about the situation. We give others control of our feelings and moods. Sure, sometimes you really should be upset. But other times, it's simply hurting you to do so. Stop to consider the difference, and when being upset is not in your best interests, just remind yourself that either the other person (or that blasted computer or that crazy traffic or that moron at the IRS) isn't worthy of your personal feelings or that you really don't want to hurt the other person with your negativity. Turn adversity into opportunity--what can I learn from this/get from this, or how can I use this situation to benefit the other person--and you'll be happier. For example, when a customer complains to a business owner, that owner can be upset at the customer or take action that makes the customer sing praises about excellent customer service.
Wishing you the best,
Mark Lamendola
Mindconnection
Authorship
The views expressed in this e-newsletter are generally not shared by criminals, zombies, or brainwashed individuals.Except where noted, this e-newsletter is entirely the work of Mark Lamendola. Anything presented as fact can be independently verified. Often, sources are given; but where not given, they are readily available to anyone who makes the effort.
Mark provides information from either research or his own areas of established expertise. Sometimes, what appears to be a personal opinion is the only possibility when applying sound logic--reason it out before judging! (That said, some personal opinions do appear on occasion).
The purpose of this publication is to inform and empower its readers (and save you money!).
Personal note from Mark: I value each and every one of you, and I hope that shows in the diligent effort I put into writing this e-newsletter. Thank you for being a faithful reader.
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