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Mindconnection eNL, 2003-04-22

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In this issue:

1. Brainpower tip
2. Time tip
3. Security tip
4. Finance tip
5. Career tip
6. Health tip/Fitness tip
7. Recommended product line: translators
8. Personal announcement: Award recipient
9. Thought for the day

1. Brainpower tip

How many times do you slog through e-mail or do filing when you are at your peak times, but then try to tackle difficult work when you are tired? If you are like most people, this is your normal approach. When I tell this to audiences at my seminars, they laugh. When I ask them for a show of hands as to how many people do this, few hands go up. When I ask them for a show of hands as to how many people think "the other guy" does this, a few more hands go up. When I probe further, everyone begins to see they do this bad habit without realizing it.

The reason people do this is pressure. It seems more important to reduce that stack of 100 incoming e-mails right away than it does to handle something important. When faced with something difficult, we tend to put it off--as though doing so will make it go away.

What happens here is we squander our peak brainpower on stupid stuff, and we then try to apply our tired minds to the difficult tasks.

Keep a log of your major tasks throughout the day, and note the energy levels you had when you started them. You'll see the value of this tip very quickly. And you'll be better off than 99% of the population. The common refrain "size doesn't matter, it's how you use it" misses the mark a bit. Size does matter, whether IQ or whatever else you are thinking about. But, size won't have the effect it should unless you apply it properly. When it comes to brainpower, timing is very, very important. Our mental abilities fluctuate throughout the day. Eating right reduces the degree of fluctuation (and also creates an "all boats rise" effect), but that is a topic for a different eNL. Or, you can just visit www.supplecity.com to find out the truth in that area.

2. Time tip

The three elements of management are:

1. Planning
2. Measurement
3. Control

Time management has four elements:

1. Planning of your time and efforts
2. Measurement of your time and efforts
3. Control of your time and efforts
4. P, M, and C of outside factors that affect your time and efforts

If you think about each of these elements as you go about your daily business, you will find you magically have more time.

3. Security tip

Do you have deadbolt locks on all your doors? If not, why not? Have a locksmith install these, and ask for extra reinforcement. Many folks install the locks themselves, and save a few bucks. That's not a wise way to save money. The locksmith will know what to recommend to reinforce your door jamb, and will also set the lock so it slides correctly. In fact, there's a ton of stuff the locksmith knows about "tricks of the trade" to make that lock more effective.

Why worry about door locks? Two good reasons come to mind. For one thing, they discourage burglars--a good thing when you are gone. Secondly, if someone wants to break into your home while you are in it a good deadlock makes that door a bad target. That leaves breaking a window, which is noisy enough to wake you and give you time to get out your Smith & Wesson insurance policy. No lock or security system will provide enough of a delay for the police to arrive to protect you, but a good setup will allow you time to protect yourself and any loved ones or guests in your home. 

4. Finance tip

You can cut your grocery bill in half and your medical bills to probably zero, if you simply refuse to put highly processed foods in your shopping cart at the store. Fill up on items from the produce section, and buy individual spices. Do not buy pre-made sauces, gravies, or seasonings. Most of these are loaded with sugar, which causes adult onset diabetes and other diseases. Nearly all of them contain hydrogenated oil. Eating that is like taking a colon cancer pill. So, you can save a lot of money (and pain) by sticking to the basics. The less altered it is from its natural state, the less money you will spend at the store that day--and at the hospital later.

5. Career tip

Are you networking? In these layoff-intense times, don't think of your career as being with any particular company. It is within you, and it thrives only when you share ideas, information, and contacts with other people. Those folks need to be at, above, and below your peer level. They need to be inside your industry and outside it. They need to be inside your job function (e.g., sales) and outside it (e.g., engineering).

What to look for in a network contact: A person who accomplishes things and has high standards.

What not to do: Network only with your personal clones. If you end up in a situation where you need help (e.g., layoff), you will be asking your competition for help. Another downside is it's hard to do favors for folks who do what you do. You need to network with folks you are like you, but do most of your networking with folks who are not like you.

6. Health tip/Fitness tip

Here's a personal tidbit. I was born with an immune system deficiency that haunts me to this day. I have extremely low gamma globulin. When I was little, I was constantly sick. Yet, I have not been sick since 1971. If I don't get sick, why do people with a full complement of the body's immune system components get sick? The answer is because they choose behaviors that make them sick. You can find a wealth of free health and fitness information at www.supplecity.com.

And, yes, I do "take vitamins." But, I am very selective in what I take. All of my supplements are processed to retain the micronutrients that most "vitamin pills" lack.

7. Recommended product line: translators

A couple of years ago, Mindconnection became the #1 online reseller of Ectaco brand electronic translators, passing Amazon.com. That led to the launch of www.easytranslators.com, which is a mecca for people who need good prices and solid service. We add a great deal of value--including paying the factory restocking charges on returned items for you.

These translators are really neat gadgets, because they allow you to communicate in another language without spending several weeks trying to learn it. We sell a ton of them, and because of our volume we get price breaks from the factory. That means we can pass the savings on to our customers. Take a look at these, and see about getting one as a gift for someone who's planning a summer vacation abroad. Or, get one or two for yourself. You'll really be glad you did.

8. Personal announcement: Award recipient

I am pleased to announce that the IEEE flew me to New Orleans to receive the IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Member Award. This was quite an honor, considering there are only 10 regions in the world. I am truly delighted.

9. Thought for the Day

What goals have you set out for the next few days? If you don't have any goals for the next few days, what is it that compels you to rise each day and treat the day as an opportunity? You need a goal to reach for each day. Decide what it is and go for it. 

Wishing you the best,

Mark Lamendola
Mindconnection

Authorship

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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