Nick's Tips . NET – Advice for Entrepreneurs

Beaches Of Hesitation…

Posted by Nick on September 14, 2010 at 04:13 am

‎Just want to leave you with a simple quote today. Something to ponder on:

“On the beaches of hesitation bleached the bones of countless millions who, on the threshold of victory, sat down to wait……and waiting….they died!” (from Nick Skolsky)

The Little-Known Secret to Happiness and Success

Posted by Nick on June 7, 2010 at 15:52 pm

I really like Ted Nicholas. He really has a way with words. I enjoy reading his emails, and I was really hooked when I purchased his “Billion Dollar Marketing Secrets” book. I chose the physical copy.

I decided to post a recent email that I received from him that focuses on happiness. Ted shares some of his morning routines that add more happiness to his day and life.
Here’s the email from Ted. Enjoy!
-

Dear Success Margin Subscriber,

My God. Is this an important newsletter!

How many people do you know who are highly
successful?

I’d be surprised if you know more than a handful in
your entire life.

But suppose I asked you a different question.

How many people do you know who are both truly
happy and successful?

I’d wager a lot that you’d be hard pressed to name
even one or two people who are blessed with both
of these rare qualities.

I’ve known many, many, self-made millionaires.
Indeed, I’ve mentored many of them. And I know
numerous heirs to a large fortune.

Whether inherited or earned, it’s indeed rare to find
even a single person in a lifetime who has unlocked
both the secrets of happiness and success.

Let’s look at what does and does not provide
happiness.

For sure happiness is not about money. As
mentioned, lots or even most wealthy people are not
at all happy.

Indeed, contrary to common thought, instead of
enjoying life, many rich people are extremely
miserable and depressed.

It’s not even about health. You can be physically
very healthy. But mentally you can still suffer from
sadness and depression.

Happiness is not about how big your house or yacht
may be. Or toys, fame, influential friends, or even
business success.

I’m a happiness freak!

As a small boy I concluded I didn’t want to be as
miserable as the adults around me seemed. So I
decided to study the topic.

In a lifetime pursuit of personal happiness I’ve
invested lots of time and money in books. Seminars.
Group therapy. And studying various philosophers
and religions.

None of these pursuits, while helpful, fully
answered the crying human need we all have for
happiness.

** What is the answer to happiness? **

The good news, I believe, is surprisingly simple.

I like what President Abraham Lincoln, who
suffered so much in his life and overcame it all,
said. He made the most intelligent comment I’ve
ever seen on the subject of happiness.

Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”

By contrast, most people suffer from stress and are
in a constant state of worry and anxiety. A big
contributing factor to unhappiness is to observe
others and copy them. Simply do what most humans
do. Get up in a hurry. Never examine your life.
Instead stay stressed all day long until you flop into
bed at night.

** The key to happiness **

I find that the closest any of us can come to being
happy each and every day of your life rests on a
simple important principle.

How you start your day.

It’s all about how, upon awakening, you spend the
first 20 minutes.

Here is what I do each and every day. (Before I
shower or have breakfast.)

1. When I awaken the first thing I do is verbally
acknowledge what a priceless gift this day of life
really is. We both know in our heart of hearts this
day, or any day, is promised to no one.

Our life is finite. It could end at any moment. I
simply thank my higher power for this special day.

(I won’t get into long a religious discussion here. I
believe it suffices to say this. I believe there is a
higher power out there, however you wish to define
it for yourself.)

2. I count my blessings each and every day. Both
the great big massive ones. And smaller ones too.

Big blessings for me include my health and that of
my loved ones. My children and grandchildren. My
friends. My clients. My career. My readers. My
freedoms. Books I’ve written. My business ideas.

Somewhat smaller blessings include my toys. My
houses in three countries. My travels. My
acquisitions. My sports, tennis, swimming, walking
and weightlifting. Books I love to read, etc.

3. I say several personal affirmations out loud. If
you’d like a free copy of what I use, click here:

http://snipurl.com/x70r6 (opens in new window)

After the first 20 minutes I’m now mentally ready
to take on the challenge and opportunities of this
special day.

I believe that I’m a truly happy person. And the
more I follow the above procedure the more
successful and happy I seem to become.

I strongly recommend you try my 20-minute
program. Be sure you let me know your results.

Your correspondent,

Ted Nicholas

P.S. We’ve been overwhelmed by subscriptions
and comments about our newest e-zine, Nick the
Contrarian. The third issue is entitled “Wanted – An
Honest Politician.” The fourth issue is “Real Money
- A Key to Freedom.”

Click here for your free trial subscription:

http://www.nickthecontrarian.com

Check this out. You’ll be amazed and very possibly
delighted. Of course you may cancel any time you
wish.
-
“This article appears courtesy of THE SUCCESS
MARGIN, the Internet’s most valuable success and
marketing e-zine. For a complimentary
subscription, visit http://www.tednicholas.com/

On Reading!

Posted by Nick on April 28, 2010 at 19:30 pm

I think that reading consists of two phases: First, building breadth by reading many books on many subjects. Second, the depth phase, when one reads few books several times! The first phase builds information, the second knowledge! The third phase is chosen only by the courageous, and has little to do with reading, and that is action! This phase builds wisdom! All three steps can be implemented simultaneously!!

I Am Habit!

Posted by Nick on November 21, 2009 at 03:12 am

Recently I came across the following poem. It talks about the progressive or destructive powers of our habits. Looking back into my still young life, I have constantly observed how habits have played an important part in the way I have lived, worked, related to others, and even my financial and emotional states. This poem reminds me of a job I had in the summer of ’05 where I was selling educational materials and books door-to-door to families in North Carolina. It was  a hard job, as you can perhaps imagine.

For one week before myself and another 3,000 some college students embarked on this adventure, we went through an intensive one week training which started at 6A.M. and ended at 10P.M.  It was hardcore. Like nothing I had seen before.  During the entire training period one thing that was hammered to us constantly was forming good habits. This one week training period was essentially a preview of what to expect in the “real world”, or “in the field” as it was commonly referred.

We would start off with springing out of bed at the very moment the alarm went off. I remember we around eight people in our hotel room, and each would compete about who would get into the shower first. Do you want to know how fast it took a student from the moment he heard the buzz of the morning alarm to the moment he got into the bathroom? Get This: Often, less than two seconds.  That is fast, isn’t it?  A student would open his eyes, get up on his feet, run across the room often jumping over the other roommates, and get into the bathroom before the second or third alarm buzz went off.  Dear reader, that is FAST!  By the end of the week most of us beat the alarm by a few minutes.

But this wasn’t the hardest part. Once you got into the shower, there was no time to look in the mirror and make yourself look handsome.  In order to get a kick in the butt and stay alert for the rest of the day, the shower had to be COLD. Just cold water, not even a drip of warm water.  And if you took longer than 30-40 seconds in the shower, there were seven or so excited and fully awake students pounding on the bathroom door, reminding you to jet out of there.

That was only part of the habit building process. There were another 14 hours or so left from the day.

Now, what did this training do to us? Well, in my humble opinion it is one of the best training I have ever received in my life. It taught us what discipline and hard work were, and most importantly how discipline can empower you when you know how to use it correctly. I learned about the power of forming good habits, and how forming a good habit is a lot easier than undoing a bad one. And the students who learned how to use this training correctly made a lot of money in those three summer months.  For us who had the mental strength to finish the summer, the end of the summer job was equivalent to conquering the world. I mean, the feeling was incredible.

It wasn’t uncommon for many first-year students to have earned over $15,000 in those three months. Some had even earned over $30,000 in three months. Not too shabby for a college student who otherwise tries to make ends meet. I mean, you had to have some money left for beer at the end of the week.

But besides the money, the sense of confidence and the ability to get things done was amazing.  I remember coming back to school and my friends looking at me differently. Maybe it was because I was looking at things differently.

I saw problems and challenges. And I ate challenges for breakfast. All because the power of the good habits I had formed.

Even now, years after that summer job selling books door-to-door, those habits are still with me. No, I don’t spring out of bed like a crazy chicken, unless I want to, but I still got to have my morning shower. Sure, you may think that is crazy and pointless. So did I at first. It’s not easy to get out of the comfort zone, and sub nice, long, hot showers with quick cold ones. But the benefits of how you will feel for the rest of the day I am not able to describe with words.

Now, I have created my own version of those morning showers. After the regular warm shower, I conclude with about 15 seconds of entirely cold water. I completely turn off the hot water, and turn up the cold water. Only for about 5-10 seconds. That’s it!  It gives you a kick in the rear. You are ready to tackle even those activities you have been putting off for a looong time.  It feels amazing. Try it for yourself!

Now here is the poem called:   I Am Habit!

I recommend you print it out and tape it somewhere you can see it on a daily basis.

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might just as well turn
over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and
correctly.

I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with
me.

Show me exactly how you want something done, and
after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision
of a machine.

Plus, the intelligence of man.

You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes
no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the
world at your feet.

Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?

I am a *HABIT* !!!