Newsletter 12/30/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hey everyone,

It’s almost that time. It’s almost time to say good bye to good ole 2007 and embrace 2008 with open arms and a positive outlook. I realize that this a time of celebration and that things are pretty much going in circles right now but I would encourage you to use this also as a time reflection. What the future holds is largely dependent on what lessons you learned from your past. Welcome back to all my regulars and welcome aboard to my new readers. As always, if you are new and want to catch up or if you just missed an edition, you can always go back and read them by going to either…


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


******************* Success University *******************
Here we go !!! It’s time to start the New Year and you need to start it right. I hope all of you have included in your list of resolutions to make 2008 a phenomenal year for you financially. Also, I hope that you have set some serious goals in the Personal Development department. Now, wouldn’t it be sweet if you had a place to go where all those areas could be covered and covered by the best??? Success University has teamed up with over fifty of the World’s foremost authorities on all areas of Personal Development. You will have access to a curriculum put together by the likes of Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Les Brown, Denis Waitley, and many, many more. These are people that ARE where YOU want to be in life and for less than the price of a value meal you can take an ALL ACCESS, UNRESTRICTED, FULL FEATURED 14 day Trial Membership. Get in there, get your feet wet and see what We are all about. Then, 14 days later if you don’t feel that Success University is a fit for you then simply call and cancel. You owe nothing and we part as friends. And, the best part is that the FULL $2 is donated to an International children’s charity that we are partnered with. Do your self a favor and check it out…..

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Ok, it’s after Christmas and it’s started again just like it always has. For as long as I’ve been working with people in network marketing, whether in my own personal organization or helping others in my group, right after Christmas the first thing everybody comes to me with is “Every time I try to talk to somebody about joining my business they say they are broke and can’t afford it”. HORSE HOCKEY !!!

This is called an objection of convenience. And, as we all know, objections are just a cry for more information. People that are sincerely not interested will tell you that they are not interested. Objections are simply a way of a person telling you that you have not covered all their questions and concerns. It’s not that they can’t afford it right now. It’s that they want to be convinced of why working the money for your business into their budget is a wise thing to do.

I LOVE it when someone tries to use the NO MONEY or IT COSTS TOO MUCH routine on me. I have a literal ARSENAL of weapons to use in that scenario and if you try to tell me one of those things I’m coming out with guns blazing !!! Too many people let situations like this intimidate and discourage them. I just look at them as a challenge and a battle of wits and I just LOVE a good challenge.

You see, we all make decisions every day concerning what we want and what we are willing to do to get it. People today are so caught up in the IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION mindset that sacrifice is a word that is losing it’s place in our society. But, on a daily basis people make purchasing and business decisions based on what they are willing to give up to get it. The only problem is that they are willing to give up things to get what they want RIGHT NOW but not to achieve their goals for the future because that would cause them to be UNCOMFORTABLE right now.

Just let somebody tell ME that they can’t afford my business and watch me work. Some of you who know me personally know exactly what I’m talking about. The first thing I’ll do is analyze their lifestyle. Do they eat out all the time? Do they consistently buy their kids EVERYTHING they ask for? Are they driving outlandishly expensive cars to try and keep up with the Jones’s? Do they have a TV the size of my refrigerator? How about a swimming pool in the back yard and a boat in the driveway. That was one of my personal favorites. Yes, these are actual circumstances of real people I have dealt with that tried to tell me that they couldn’t afford $50 a month to change their financial future.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Jeff, what about people that really don’t have any money?” I have got you covered there too. My grandmother used to say “You know, there’s a really good place to go when you don’t have any money…… TOO WORK !!!” Think about it using my business of Success University as an example. Excluding people living under a bridge and frequenting soup kitchens, who can’t come up $50 a month ??? I mean give me a break ! That’s just a little over ten hours or work at minimum wage AFTER TAXES. That’s less than three hours a week. Can you say PART TIME JOB ?!!

Ok, I guess I’ve hammered on this long enough but I think you get my point. If someone honestly cares about there future and is willing to get off their butt and put forth a little extra effort there is no such thing as someone that can’t afford your business. I can take anybody to my site right now and show them how to spend 30 min. A MONTH and make enough money to be in my business for FREE !!!

http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html

Tell them that if they are not interested then that’s totally fine but you tell them FOR ME that if MONEY is the best they can do for a reason to not go into business for themselves and with you then you have a solution to their problem. It’s a little thing I like to call EFFORT !!!


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“If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.”

- Henry Ford
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I would like to share something with all of you that I have recently incorporated into my life. I am quite sure that the vast majority of you have been exposed to the high levels of stress and chaos that can be a familiar part of being in business for yourself. But, what a lot of you might not know is that this can affect your health in ways your never thought of. I mean, everyone has heard that stress is bad for your and can cause things like high blood pressure but did you know that it can actually affect things like how long your hair keeps it’s color, how long your teeth stay in your head, how efficiently your body digests the food you eat, your sex drive and stamina, the condition of your skin and your immune system, just to name a few ???

I’m talking about day to day relaxation techniques. Not just the ones that you use to relax after the fact but, also, the ones you can use to prevent stress in the first place. It has been working wonders for me and how I deal with the stressors that I have. Now, some of you “I’m a MAN’S MAN” kind of guys might not like the thought of doing some of this stuff but all I can tell you is GET OVER YOURSELF !!!

The first thing I have done is to make sure that I take a long walk of one mile every morning be fore I do ANYTHING else. Now, this has nothing to do with my workout. If it’s cardio day I still do my cardio in what ever fashion I had planned but this is a RELAXING walk. It’s the perverbial “Stop and smell the roses” kind of walk. It gives your mind time to get geared up for the day while allowing you to remind yourself that before there were planes to catch, before there were meetings to attend and before there were calls to be made….. THERE WAS LIFE !!!

The next thing is your work environment in general. When you walk into my office you would swear you are in a spa instead of a place where I spend my day chasing my tail. First, I have some very soothing music playing in the background on my laptop. I shopped around until I found the music that best connected with me and, surprisingly enough, I found it at good ole Wal-mart. I’m sure you’ve seen the display close to the candles. It’s entitled Feng Shui. It is an excellent sub-conscious distracter and I keep it playing constantly.

Next, I have a small, table-top waterfall going. It may sound crazy but the sound of that water gently splashing really blends with the music to create an atmosphere like you just can’t imagine. Yep, you guessed it… I found it right there next to the candles too. Hey, who needs to go to a department store to get good stuff. Frugality is one of basic concepts of wealth.

One final touch to my office of tranquility is the aroma therapy candles. Your external sensory organs are very closely tied to your mindset and largely control your emotions. If you don’t believe me, try walking by a bakery where they are making fresh donuts if you are a donut fan and attempt to not let it affect your mood. You get excited. Ask a race fan if they don’t get excited at the track partly from the smell of burning tires and exhaust fumes. I’m serious. The right smell can make your day.

Ok, now comes the good part. What do you do after you are winding down for the day? I can tell you what I do. I grab a good book and head for the tub !!! And, that’s not where the story ends. Oh, No. Have you ever enjoyed a good foot soak with Epsom salts in the water? Well, modern technology has taken that to the next level. I’m talking about effervescence balls. You ladies probably know what I’m talking about and you guys are probably raising one eyebrow but, I’m telling you, these are the best things since sliced bread !!! You spend about a half hour or so in a hot tub with one of these little wonders in the water and you are going to sleep like a baby and wake up in the morning totally refreshed.

I would have never thought in a thousand years how much of a difference in my day could be made with doing things as simple as these but I’ll never have it any other way. Let’s face it, when you are relaxed and not all stressed out you are more productive, you make less mistakes and you are a LOT nicer to be around. Ask the people around me !!! LOL


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“To be at one with God is to be at peace ... peace is to be found only within, and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all. Peace lies not in the external world. It lies within one's own soul.”

- Ralph Waldo Trine
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Well, it’s about time for my hot soak !!! Seriously though, it is really easy to get caught up in working toward your goals and cheat yourself out of the simple pleasures in life, not to mention the added stress you bring on yourself which is not only counterproductive but unhealthy. I’m going to go read a few pages from the Good Book now and set my mind to thinking about the coming events. Stay focused, stay determined and stay the course. It’s going to be a GREAT year !!! See you in 2008. Until our Heavenly Father grants us this time together again, just remember to……..



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 12/23/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hey Everybody,

Is everyone ready for tomorrow ??? I know I am. I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family that are all very gifted in the cooking department. That’s not so good for my waistline but my taste buds are absolutely ecstatic !!! For all my returning readers, a very warm welcome to you and for all my new additions to my mailing list, a very warm welcome aboard to all of you. If you are new and want to read back editions or just missed one and want to catch up, you can by just going to either…


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


***************** Success University ******************
Have you heard the news ? Success University has COMPLETELY re-vamped it’s entire website platform. That’s right. Now, the already phenomenal business opportunity is even better than before. With the more streamlined layout and higher level of functionality you will have it even easier as you promote Success University to the World. Success University is turning three years old in January and is looking forward to making YOU it’s next success story !!! Make 2008 YOUR year !!! Check it out at:

http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
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Well, with only a few days remaining in 2007 many of you will begin to look to January to establish your annual NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS. January symbolizes a new beginning. It symbolizes a chance to reflect on the previous year, decide where our lives need improvement and RESOLVE to make those improvements. The problem is, this time honored tradition has become more of a meaningless ritual than a serious effort to make effective and PERMANENT changes in our lives.

I challenge you to make this year different. I challenge you to take this tradition TO THE NEXT LEVEL ! Make this the year that marks a new beginning for you and not a new beginning that you will have to start all over again next year. Dig way down deep inside and find the strength, find the courage and find the diligence to make this years resolutions stick. You can do it but only if you believe you can. If you go into it with a “Well, I’ll try to keep my resolutions this year” attitude I can all but guarantee your failure.

I am going to make some simple suggestions that, if you APPLY THEM, you will greatly increase the likelihood of your resolutions taking root in your life and becoming permanent instead of a running joke at the office three months from now. It, like many other things I teach you, all comes down to MINDSET !!! That is one common factor in anything you do in life and very much so in this particular case. So, take note of these suggestions, APPLY THEM and make 2008 the year that marked the beginning of a new and prosperous life for you and those you love……


NOTE: Replace the word RESOLUTION with the word GOAL and you can easily see how these same methods can be applied to your personal and business life throughout the year.

1) Make sure the resolution is YOUR resolution. Too many people try to live their lives in a way that will keep others happy and this is a self-defeating strategy. If you are not working toward something because YOU wanted to you are almost certain to fail

2) Clearly define what the resolution is. Picture in your mind EXACTLY what your life will be like upon the adherence to this resolution. You cannot simply resolve to lose weight. You must specify what you will weigh and upon what date will you weigh that much. You cannot be vague or you will get vague results.

3) Determine what your motivation is. You have to be very clear in your mind WHY you wish to adhere to this resolution. In life you are constantly either moving away from pain or moving toward pleasure. Develop your personal motivator and focus on it.

4) Create a plan of action. Treat your resolution like you would treat your business. You wouldn’t open a business without a business plan, would you? Outline EXACTLY what you are going to do to achieve the desired results.

5) Evaluate your progress DAILY. If you don’t maintain constant focus on where you are going it is very easy to get off course. Make it the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night before you go to bed.

6) Believe in yourself. Self doubt is the leading cause of failure, no matter what you do in life. If you are not COMPLETELY convinced in your mind and in your heart that you can do what you are setting out to do then YOU just became your own worst enemy. How can you possibly expect to accomplish anything while harboring feelings of weakness and uncertainty?

7) You must establish accountability. Tell everybody you know EXACTLY what you are doing, EXACTLY why you are doing it and EXACTLY when it is going to be done. You can easily fail at something if you have only yourself to answer to but when you have people that you know and care about and who care about you making the journey with you that changes EVERYTHING !!! Besides, accountability partners are an excellent source of positive energy and act as a support group if you begin to weaken.


I hope you find these methods useful and are able to effectively apply them not only to your New Years Resolutions but, also, to your day to day life. Just remember what Henry Ford said in one of my favorite quotes, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right”.


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“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, learn about them, or even seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.”

- Denis Waitley
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Christmas time is a wonderful time of year. Coming right after Thanksgiving, it is filled with Love and Kindness that can be felt throughout the world. Everyone reaches deep inside and pours out all that they are to make everyone else around them happy and hopeful. Generosity abounds and Mankind seems to take a break from the usual chaos of the World and embrace Peace and Concern for all Humanity.

I just have one issue with this. Why can’t we be like this ALL YEAR LONG ??? Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus loves us all year long. Why, for a brief few weeks, do we become these Ambassadors of good will and then in January everything returns to the way it was. Why do we spend such a brief moment in time showing everyone how kind, caring and generous we can be and then spend the rest of the year being Self-indulged and Self-centered? Do we love our children and celebrate that love ONLY on their birthdays? Of course not. And we should treat the Christmas Spirit no differently.

Now, obviously everyone is not this way but I would submit to you to take a brief moment and search yourself. Do you treat everyone the rest of the year the way you treat them at Christmas time? Do you help out the less fortunate all year round or just at Christmas time? Do you have the same mindset all year long or do you have one for Christmas and one for your day to day life. Just imagine for a moment, if you will, a World where EVERYDAY was Christmas !!! How wonderful would that be ???


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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”

- Calvin Coolidge
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Wow, Christmas is just a few hours away. I love to think back to my childhood and the family Christmas gatherings. Many of the loved ones that I shared them with are long since gone to be with Jesus but I will always have the memories of the times spent with them. It was a simpler time and one that, even though I enjoy all the benefits of modern times just as you do, that I SINCERELY MISS !!! As each and every one of you gather with those that you love, make each moment a special one. Treat every second that you are together as though it were a one time affair. I am just as guilty as the next person of getting TOO COMFORTABLE in my surroundings and sometimes I too need to stop and dwell a bit on just how special the people in my life are and how much they really mean to me. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I hope that it is every bit as wonderful for you as you have imagined it is going to be. I love each and every one of you as my Brothers and Sisters. I wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Until we are once again granted the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company again, just remember to……..



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 12/16/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hey Everyone,

It’s a pleasure to be back with all of you this week. Welcome back to all my regular readers and welcome home to all my new readers. It’s our time together by the fireplace. It’s our chance to channel our thoughts and feelings in such a way that we can improve our businesses, our lives and our futures together. It has been an incredible week for me and I’m sure it has been for you too. As always, if you are new or have missed an edition and want to go back and read it you can by simply going to either….



http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (lower left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com



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I’m going to put a little different spin on my usual training in this week’s edition. I’m going to touch on a widely neglected but extremely important area that is CRUCIAL to your success !!! I’m going to talk to you today about your body. Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter how much money you make and how happy you become if you “check out” way before you should.

It is my guess that the one area of all our lives that suffer the most from our pursuit of success in our business endeavors is the area of physical fitness. I am a strong advocate of physical fitness and work everyday at improving my health. But, I DO understand that it can be quite a challenge to fit it in. However, in my opinion, if something has to be left out of my daily schedule it’s going to be something besides my fitness training.

I get up every morning and take my dog for a one mile walk around my neighborhood. It takes discipline and focus but YOU CAN DO IT !!! I don’t want to hear about NOT ENOUGH TIME. Exercise is something that is best done in the morning and the only thing you have to do to make time for it is to change the setting on you alarm clock. Your body needs AT LEAST twenty minutes of cardio and it needs it AT LEAST three times a week. See your doctor about what type and how much is suitable for your particular circumstances.

The other obvious area that is in the same category is what you eat. This is an area that is very easy to falter in but with even the most basic information you can make dramatic changes in your health and the way you feel. I am going to share that basic information with you and IF YOU WILL APPLY IT you too can start to put your body back on the path to good health. What follows are ten basic things to change about the way you eat.


1) Eat six small meals a day, one every two to three hours. This will stabilize your blood sugar levels and cause a more efficient burning of fat and calories.

2) Eat a portion of Protein and Carbohydrates with each meal and DO NOT ELIMINATE FAT from your diet. Your body needs a certain amount of fat for various functions. Just avoid Saturated and Trans Fats.

3) Add a portion of vegetables to at least two of the six meals. This is necessary to ensure that you ingest an adequate amount of essential Vitamins and Minerals.

4) A portion is the size of your palm for flat meats such as pork chops and the size of your clenched fist for carbohydrates and vegetables.

5) Consume one tablespoon of UNSATURATED oil daily or three portions of salmon per week. These fats are necessary to provide your body with all the essential fatty acids it needs.

6) Drink at least ten cups of water a day. Many people don’t know this but a lack of water in the body will actually SLOW DOWN the fat burning process because water is needed for the chemical reaction.

7) Use Meal Replacement Shakes if necessary to make sure that you get your six meals in if a real meal is not possible. Missing a meal slows the metabolism as the body interprets this as a lack of available food.

8) Plan your meals in advance. This will make staying on track much easier and will decrease the chance of missed meals due to unavailability of food. It will also help in the Time Management department.

9) Plan your grocery list. You will probably have a good idea of what you will eat on a regular basis so always make sure you have the basics for preparing those meals.

10) Listen to me !!! This is an important one !!! Once a week take a FREE DAY and eat what you want. It will have a negligible impact on your program and treating yourself increases motivation and diligence.


It may seem like a lot to do at first but once it becomes a part of your life it will become second nature. But, then again, even if it was a nuisance it’s certainly better than the alternative. Wouldn’t you agree ??? Take care of your body. Do it for yourself but, more importantly, do it for the ones you love. I’m sure they would love to have you around as long as possible.



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“When you gain control of your body you will gain control of your life.”

- Bill Phillips, International Trainer and Coach
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Have you ever known of ANYONE who’s last words as they lay dying on their death bed were “My only regret is that I didn’t spend more time at work away from my family”? Me neither !!! I often comment on the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season but there is another hustle and bustle lying just beneath the surface. It is the hustle and bustle of the WORK-A-HOLIC.

You see, the work-a-holic has a condition that is difficult to treat because he is under the illusion that he is doing himself and his family a service by all of his devotion and commitment. Now, before you start throwing rocks at me and yelling “Hypocrite” allow me to clarify. I’m not talking about the person who diligently performs all his daily tasks before calling it a night. I’m not talking about the person who goes into the office on his day off or misses a fishing trip with his buddies to make an important deadline. I’m talking about the person who LIVES for his business and spends what ever time may be left over with his family IF he can work it into his schedule !!!

The problem is that it’s easy to cross that line without realizing it. I fight that dragon every day of my life. I doubt that there are many of you that have more going on than I do at any given moment but you have to develop a plan to make sure that you maintain control over it instead of letting it maintain control over you. Trust me, it takes MUCH less time to destroy a family or a life than it does to create and properly develop one.

I was working in my office today (see what I mean? Today is Sunday) and I got so wrapped up in what I was doing that I literally came to a screeching halt. I had to go for a drive to relax my mind and give it pause to go back to a healthy state so that when my son came home later I was able to enjoy my time with him. It’s not just about time. If you don’t give yourself some separation from your work your time with those you love will still suffer from a Quality standpoint.

I stopped at an old bridge in town and parked my truck so I could walk down to the water’s edge. I stood there with the cold wind on my face just watching the water go by. It really made me think. I realized how easy it was to become so involved in what you are doing that so many of life’s simple pleasures can slip right by unnoticed just like that water was slipping by under the bridge, unnoticed by the passers by. How many of life’s simple pleasures have you let slip by because you just needed to work a little bit longer?

“Don’t spend so much time making a living that you fail to make a life !!!”

- Anonymous

Devotion and Commitment are wonderful and vital traits to have but you have to be careful. Even race car engines have to be treated properly. They are built for performance as I am sure you are on top of your game in your business as well but just ask a race driver sometime what happens when you RED LINE !!!! Be Prosperous, be Successful and Be A Winner but just don’t forget where your True Loyalty lies. Don’t ever forget that it’s not your business that you work for but rather yourself and your family. If you don’t take care of the latter the other just DOESN’T MATTER !!!


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“The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.”

- Pope John Paul II
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Well, the clock hasn’t cut me any more slack this week than it ever does. Seems like I just sat down a few moments ago. But, tomorrow is a new day and a new week. I need to make preparations to be ready to take it HEAD-ON !!! Remember that TIME MANAGEMENT is one of the main keys to your success. It may seem like an unnecessary task to you sometimes but I guarantee you that you save ten times more time than you use up planning your next days activities. I challenge you to find any successful person that would disagree with me on that one. So, that having been said, I wish you all a wonderful week and a wonderful life. Until the Good Lord favors us with the opportunity to do this again just always remember to…….



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 12/09/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES


Hey Everybody,

Are all of you ready for Christmas ??? It’s right around the corner !!! It’s almost like the whole world is in Fast Forward. The days seem to pass right by us. It just doesn’t feel like it could be Sunday night again already. That’s ok though. I’m glad it’s time for us to be together again. Welcome back to all my regulars and welcome home to all my new readers. As always, if you have missed an edition or are new and want to read the previous ones, you can by going to either…,



http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/html (lower left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com



******************** Success University **********************
It’s almost Christmas and guess what comes right after that? That’s right, New Years. The New Year is a time of new beginnings and making appropriate, necessary changes in our lives. New Years resolutions abound and many promises are made to ourselves about the changes we intend on making. If you are going to make QUALITY changes in your life you need to learn from the best. Success University has put together a curriculum based on the materials and teachings of over 50 of the World’s TOP speakers, trainers and coaches. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day you can have them in your corner helping you to take your life to new heights and insuring your prosperity. What better way to start off the New Year than with the #1 ranked Personal Development University online today helping you get there !!!

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As all of you know, I try to help you with your businesses by providing you with as many QUALITY and REPUTABLE sources and I can covering areas such as advertising, e-mail, traffic, etc. One of the most important things you can do in your business is Network !!! Forming new and beneficial relationships with people that are either where you want to be or are HEADED to where you want to be is a crucial part of growing your business.

Well, I have found yet another weapon to add to my arsenal !!! And, bear in mind folks, I don’t have any affiliation with any of these resources. I don’t make a single dime by telling you about them. I pass this information along to you as a courtesy and as a benefit of being one of my readers. The new resource I want to tell you about is a web site called http://www.meetup.com . This place is a veritable GOLD MINE of relationships and networking !!! The way it works is simple. You can approach it from two different angles.

First, you can simply pick a category (Personal Growth), put in your zip code and put in your distance criteria then BAM !!! You get a list of ALL groups in that area that are already having meetings concerning the subject you chose. Imagine finding out that there was a meeting JUST FOR BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS being held at the local library right down the street from you and you didn’t even know about it. Talk about missed opportunities. The use of the site in this manner is completely FREE !!!

Secondly, YOU can start your own meetings. That’s right. For just a little over $10 dollars a month you can start and manage your very own group. Remember, I don’t make anything on this. I’m just telling you because I use it myself to have meetings in my own local area. For that small fee you have complete use of the site to manage your group; everything from sending out e-mails to posting information about your meetings. This is a powerful way to find other like-minded people in your area, especially important, influential ones.

I hope you will go check it out. I was very happy to find it. I will continue to point you in the right direction any time the opportunity presents itself. Likewise, if you happen to locate a really good, reliable, reputable resource and would be so kind as to send me the information on it, I would greatly appreciate it and I am sure the rest of the readers would as well. Just one thing, NO AFFILIATE PROGRAMS !!! I want this to just be straight forward resources that I can tell my readers about. I don’t want my newsletter to become a forum for cross marketing.



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“I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way.”

- Franklin P. Jones
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Ok, I’ve got my steel toed boots on and I’m getting ready to step on some toes !!! If, by any chance, you are guilty as charged after readying this and you get your little feelings hurt…… GOOD !!! If you are currently using what I am about to describe to promote your business I would like to cordially invite you to UNSUBSCRIBE from my newsletter because YOU are part of the problem with the internet and home based businesses in general !!! I am talking about DIS-crediting other businesses to promote yours.

I’m sure you’ve received one of these e-mails. “SCAM ALERT !!! Let me show you why company XYZ and many others like them are taking your money and giving you the shaft !!!” If you are new to internet marketing or home based business you may not know exactly how this works. Believe me, you’re going to know now.

Company “A” (won’t tell you what I say that stands for) wants to really boost their business so they decide the best way to do this is to BRING DOWN THE COMPETITION. So, they portray themselves as some sort of Knight in shining armor that are ready to run to your rescue and save you from company “B” (their toughest competition) and others like them.

The way they do this is quite simple. First, they go online and search for any tiny morsel that they can get their hands on that may seem credible to use against company “B”. You know, how the CEO got caught shoplifting a piece of bubble gum when he was 5. Then they use their best resource, their own imagination. They make reference to SUPPOSED newspaper articles and any other form of media they can think of to make up some REAL GOODIES about company “B” (conveniently leaving out the information you would need to confirm this without researching it yourself). Then, to top it off, they take testimonials from VICTIMS of company “B” (their business partners, who conveniently leave off their last names) to set this little charade in concrete.

Now, here you come along. You have been looking for an opportunity to start your own business so you have filled out an information request or two…… THOUSAND !!! Company “A” gets your contact information and puts you on their mailing list. You, in turn, get this wonderful e-mail from these incredibly caring people whose only wish in life is to make sure you don’t get taken for a ride in your search for a business opportunity. They tell you all these tales of HORROR about how easy of a target you are and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah ………..

THEN….. Well, what have we here ??? You may not believe this but these wonderful people that just went to all kinds of extremes to PROTECT YOU from mean ole’ nasty company “B” just happens to CONVENIENTLY have a COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE business opportunity that you should really take a look at. You say to yourself, “My goodness, anyone who would go to all this trouble to look out for a perfect stranger MUST be of good morale character. Maybe I should look into their business opportunity”.

People, if you want to know something about a company go to the appropriate places to get your information. If company “B” really STUCK that many people then the proper channels are going to know about it. Contact the BBB, call the company’s local Chamber of Commerce (if they are legit, they will provide location information) or actually take the time to research any derogatory information about the company but DO NOT take the word of some half-baked GOOD SAMARITAN that came looking for you to WARN you about another company !!!

If anyone reading this has stooped to these unscrupulous, almost POLITICIAN style tactics to promote their business….. I HOPE YOU GO BANKRUPT TOMORROW !!!

Note: If anyone found my little RANT unacceptable, I apologize for the tone but NOT the content !!! I spend every day of my life working with people and trying to help them regain faith not only in themselves but in the business world in general and when IDIOTS like these people I spoke of are out there conducting business the way they are it serves only to deepen the wounds for those who are making an honest go of it !!



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“It is possible that the scrupulously honest man may not grow rich so fast as the unscrupulous and dishonest one; but the success will be of a truer kind, earned without fraud or injustice. And even though a man should for a time be unsuccessful, still he must be honest: better lose all and save character. For character is itself a fortune…”

- Samuel Smiles

“I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an Honest Man."

- George Washington
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As I stare out the office window in front of me watching it rain I can’t help but think about what it feels like in the business world sometimes. We try to predict the rainy days and we try to prepare for them but sometimes you just get caught out without an umbrella. But, just as your hair will eventually dry, your business will eventually be back on the up-swing. However, it’s up to you how long that takes. Are you going to sit around and wait for it to happen or are you going to put forth the effort and GRAB A TOWEL ? It’s been a pleasure, as always. Until our Loving Heavenly Father grants us the opportunity to do this again, just remember to……..




JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 12/02/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hey Everybody,

It’s that time again; time to gather together, collect our thoughts and put the upcoming week’s game plan together. I love Sundays because it is such a great time to reflect on the previous week and decide what we can do to improve on it in the week upcoming. Every week is a learning experience and should be treated as such. It’s such a pleasure to have both my new readers and my readers from weeks past here with me. As you know, if you have missed and edition or are new and want to read previous editions you can go to either:


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com (bottom left corner of the page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


******************* Success University ********************
Christmas is a time for giving and I believe that you should give something of value. I am a firm believer in the GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING !!! I have decided that I am going to give some of you a very nice gift. I am going to give you the gift of SELF DEVELOPMENT. Now, pay attention here. For the next 72 hours and the next 72 hours ONLY, anyone who goes to my site and signs up with Success University will receive a $50 REBATE directly from me upon being with the company for 90 days. (you must email me to let me know you signed up so I can match you against my mailing list.) That is how strongly I believe that I can show you the path to prosperity; the same path I follow everyday. But, remember, you only have 72 hours to take advantage of this special offer so head on over an get your 14 day FREE trial membership going now !!! http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
*********************************************************


Can any of you think of a more commercialized time of the year than the Christmas Holiday? I can’t. I am just amazed at the ad campaigns that are flying around, both on the conventional mediums such as radio and television and, also, the internet. But, the simple truth of the matter is that good sales copy is what sells products and services. Just having a great product or service isn’t enough. You have to be able to put it in mind of the prospective customer that they will benefit from having or using it.

You may notice that from time to time I will talk about people wasting money on advertising by using unreliable sources. Well, there is another time that advertising dollars get wasted. It is when you purchase an ad and use substandard ad copy. If you can’t create a desire in your prospective customer to have what you have to offer them, it doesn’t matter who you use to place your ad or where you place it. That having been said, I decided to pass along the following ad copy writing tips.

1. Create a COMPELLING headline !!! You just get one shot at getting the potential customer to read the rest of your ad copy. If you don’t arouse their interest IMMEDIATELY you may lose them coming out of the gate.

2. Stay away from using CAPS and BOLD CAPS if at all possible. It interrupts the flow of your message, makes it difficult to read and is very distracting to the reader. Use bold and/or underlined to emphasize your really important points.

3. Write your copy in an enticing fashion. Keep them wanting to continue through the rest of the ad by keeping them on the edge of their seat. Try looking at a good sales letter that has sold you in the past and use it as a template. (be sure not to infringe on copyright laws by stealing their exact words or phrases)

4. Be sure and keep a good flow. There is nothing wrong with long ad copy. You just need to make sure that it flows like a story because the purpose of every line of ad copy in your ad is to get the reader to want to read the next line.

5. Avoid writing ad copy that is just screaming with hype !!! People will shy away from hype so fast it will make your head spin. They are sick and tired of it and it is the ULTIMATE AD KILLER !!!!!!

6. Be sure and include any testimonials you may have from satisfied customers. They give you added credibility and will make a HUGE difference in your sales. If you don’t have any testimonials already, you might consider offering your product or service free to a few people in return for their testimonials.

7. Proper editing is CRUCIAL !!! Take the time to read your ad carefully and correct ALL errors. Not only does it cost you sales because they may be clueless as to what that sentence meant but, also, it really weighs heavily on how you project yourself as a professional.

8. Get a few impartial people (friends, relatives, etc.) to proof read your ad. Have them tell you what they thought about when they read the ad. Were they able to follow your train of thought? Were they left with unnecessary questions at the end? DID THEY WANT TO BUY after reading it???

9. Keep your sentences and paragraphs as short as possible. There is no easier way in the world to lose a customer than to make them have to read and re-read a sentence two or three times to make sense out of it because it was so long that it took on a life of it’s own. Make the paragraphs long enough to be informative but not torturous to read.

10. Features TELL but benefits SELL !!! For example, the potential customer doesn’t care how long it will last if it isn’t going to give them what they want while it’s lasting. Tell them what benefits they will receive from it BECAUSE it lasts so long.

11. Make the ad personal. Use words like “You” and “Your” in your ads. It helps the potential customer to see themselves using your product or service in their own day to day life. It’s like when the car salesman wants you to sit in the car so you can visualize yourself driving it.

12. Always include your contact information. When doing so, avoid P.O. boxes. It makes it look like you’re trying to hide. Giving them your contact information gives them a sense of your reliability, trustworthiness and willingness to stand behind what you advertise.

13. Offer FREE BONUSES. It doesn’t have to be anything mind blowing. It just portrays you as a giver and not a taker. The size of the bonus is irrelevant. It’s just human nature. People love free stuff and they love the people that give it to them.


I would recommend that you put this information somewhere handy and the next time you decide to submit an ad come back to it and use it as a reference. I am quite sure you will have a decided advantage over the competition if you do.


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“Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning.

- Thomas Alva Edison
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I would like to pose a question to you. Where do you think the most wealth in the world comes from? Think about it for a minute. Think really hard and be creative in your thinking. You could quite possibly refer to this as a TRICK QUESTION, even though I don’t think of it that way.

I think that there is only one possible answer to this question. The place that produces them most wealth of any place on the planet is the hospital maternity ward. You see, everything we have, everything we see and everything that we strive to attain is the result of a new idea or a new way of thinking. With every birth, the world gains a new chance at the next Alexander Graham Bell, the next Martin Luther King or the next Bill Gates. Every birth gives us another shot at progress and improving our lives, as well as the lives of others. Without new thinking there can be no progress and without progress there can be NO TOMORROW !!!

We are all born with the ability to be great. We all come with the same basic operating system. The only thing missing is the proper software. The key to our world having unbounded potential is in the proper cultivation of our minds. There is NOTHING that we cannot accomplish in our very own lifetime if we just take what we have and push it to the limit. It is so very sad that we utilize such a small percentage of our mental capabilities but we have no one to blame but ourselves. Our mind is like a muscle. The only reason it doesn’t’ grow is a poor exercise program. Properly stimulated, our minds hold the keys to the future and the secrets to all things. Our minds have a power so great that they make an atomic bomb seem like a firecracker !!!

I issue a challenge to each and every one of you. I challenge you to exercise your minds. I challenge you to push yourself to limits you never dreamed of and to strive for things that you never imagined possible. Cross that line between perceived reality and the boundless reaches of the human mind. I further challenge you to make sure to give your children every opportunity possible to do the same in their lives. Teach them to live in a world of opportunity, not obstacles. Teach them that the only places they can’t go and the only things they can’t do are the ones that they decide they can’t. You have the power to teach them the ways of right thinking. Don’t be derelict in your duties. Everyone is given the same bag of cement and bucket of water. You can either build a stumbling block or a stepping stone. Which one are you going to build ???


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“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”

- Robert M. Hutchins
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Wow, could the time possibly go by any faster? It seems like only moments ago that I sat down to write. I just get so lost in myself during this time. I can only hope that it is as beneficial to you as it is fulfilling to me. Not a week goes by that I don’t learn something new in the course of writing this newsletter. I hope that all of you have high goals and aspirations for the week. I know I do. Just remember, when you wake up in the morning don’t think about how you would like for the day to go. Claim it and take it !!! Until next week when God brings us together again by the fire, above and beyond everything else……



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 11/25/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES


Hello Everybody,

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your kind calls and emails wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving. I wish the same for each and every one of you. It is a time of the year that seems to bring out the best in people, sometimes even people that would otherwise not exactly be the essence of right thinking. Welcome to both my regular readers and, also, my newcomers to the newsletter. It’s nice to have all of you join me by the fire. As always, if you have missed an issue or if you are new and want to read my previous editions, just go to either:


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


********************** Success University *********************
Wow !!! That’s all I can say. Every day this phenomenal company grows by leaps and bounds. The good news for all of you is that it still has not reached momentum. What’s that? You say you don’t know what momentum is? Well, allow me to educate you. There are four phases that ANY network marketing company goes through, irregardless of the nature of their business. Those phases are Formulation, Concentration, Momentum and Stabilization. Momentum is the phase where everything just TAKES OFF!!! It is the phase where over night millionaires are made. Success University is just a few months away from momentum. I just have one question for you…….. WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN IT HAPPENS ???

http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
*************************************************************


I have spent a lot of my life traveling and, let me tell you, after a few hundred miles it can get tough to keep yourself entertained. You can only listen to so much music, so much talk radio and play so many travel games in your head before you need a break. Sometimes I just shut everything off, set the cruise and actually take in the scenery. A part of that scenery is billboards.

I was driving across Arkansas a few weeks ago just checking out the billboards. I like to do this because it amazes me the different ways that they come up with to convey the idea behind their product or service. Being in marketing myself, I’m always on the look out for new and innovative ways to promote my own business. Then I came across one that just really grabbed my attention. It was simply a picture of a field of corn and these three words……. PLAN, PLANT, PROSPER.

You know, that applies to a lot more than growing corn. It applies to you and your business. Think about it. In my mind these are the three key elements to running a successful business. And sadly, I think that the vast majority of business owners out there don’t apply them. The reason I say that is because I handle the support for the team in my business and the proof is in the calls and emails that I deal with on a daily basis. If they were implementing these three elements, most of them would not have needed my help.

Let’s examine these elements for a moment:

PLAN - This is the most important and most neglected of the three. Look around you. Look at the highways, the buildings, anything you can see that started as an idea. Do you think the people that built the school that your kids go to just showed up one day with a load of 2 x 4’s and a bucket of nails then just started nailing things together? Of course not. Months and months of planning and research went into those things. The same is true of your business. I don’t know how many people I get emails from on a daily basis that have spent hundreds of dollars and literally months of time on various forms of advertising THEN email me wanting to know what to use to promote their business because they are going broke slinging money at everything that comes along. If they had researched and planned they would have saved a lot of time and certainly a lot of money.

PLANT - The next thing is that even when people do get a plan together they fail miserably when it comes time to put it into action. I have never been able to figure it out. I have known people that are on every training call and read all the materials but just can’t seem to get their motor running. In all likelihood, it is a form of FEAR OF FAILURE but that is something that they should have dealt with in the planning stages. It does no good to have a PERFECT plan if you won’t go when the light turns green. The only way you ever get results at anything in life is to take action. Great battle plans never won a war but going out there and implementing them did. Just ask Patton or McArthur.

PROSPER - Here is where a lot of people REALLY drop the ball !!! Listen, I’m going to get right in your face with this one. You can have the best business in the world, the best compensation plan in the world, be the best at what you do and if you don’t have the brains to take your earnings and use it to further your business by investing and increasing your marketing efforts because you are too busy KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES’S……. YOU WILL FAIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “Fake it till you make it” DOES NOT mean that Little Johnny just must have a bigger four wheeler than the neighbor’s kid. It doesn’t mean that you need to blow money on a new car because the one you have now doesn’t fold your laundry for you. You need to stay focused and use wisdom. The sad fact is that MOST lottery winners are broke five years later. People, that is ABSOLUTE INSANITY !!!! And it’s no different with your business. I you begin turning a profit and go on a spending spree and fall on your face, to be honest with you….. YOU DESERVE IT !!! You are not ready to go out blowing cash until you have reached a point that, if you needed to, you could live on the interests from your investments alone. Enjoy your life and enjoy your success but not until AFTER you can afford to and AFTER you have your business growing at a rate that can outrun your spending habits !!!

So, take a moment and evaluate your own situation. Do you have a plan? Is that plan well thought out and based on adequate research? Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to go do what you planned to do? And, when the fruits of your labors begin coming in (and they will if you properly utilized the first two elements) are you prepared to exercise restraint and wisdom in the use of those fruits? Will you use your fruits to plant more seeds? It’s up to you………..


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“He does not posses wealth that allows it to possess him.”
- Benjamin Franklin
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What is it about growing up that causes us to lose our ability to dream? When exactly does that happen? Think back to when you were a kid. If somebody asked you what you were going to be when you grew up you didn’t even hesitate. You would spout off something like, “I’m gonna be a doctor” or “I’m gonna be a policeman”. You never let it cross your mind that there was a possibility that you were not going to become that person.

Then you grew up. You began to cater to concepts like failure, doubt and impossibilities. This has been the breakdown in the course of life for far too many people. It has shattered hopes and taken away dreams. So, why do we let it happen to us? Why do we accept those terms for our lives? Why do we spend our childhood living in the land of Possibility only to end up living in the land of Pessimism?

Because most people have a misguided idea of what reality is. Most people think that their present reality is JUST THE WAY IT IS. They don’t understand that they create their reality. Winston Churchill said, “We create our Universe as we go along”. He understood that the power we all had as children still exists in our adult lives. He understood that if you could suppress the idea that life is the hand you get dealt and that you control your future with right thinking, you really could make dreams come true.

I challenge you to do something you probably haven’t done in a long, long time. I challenge you to do something that, if you do with all your heart and all your childlike nature, will make dramatic changes in your life. I challenge you to take time to dream. When you go to bed tonight and the next night and the next night and just dream. Forget about everything else. Visualize your life as you want it to be. No obstacles or restrictions exist. Picture every detail just as you would have it be. Picture yourself doing the job you want to do. Picture yourself living in the house you want in the location you want. Picture every aspect of your life in it’s most perfect form. NO RESTRICTIONS, NO LIMITATIONS AND NO OBSTACLES !!! You know……… Just like it was when you were a kid. You just might be surprised at the results. Hey, what have you got to lose, right?


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“I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
- Henry David Thoreau
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Well, I suppose I should close now and get ready for tomorrow. Mondays always excite me. It’s like a fresh start. It’s a chance to spend another week pursuing my dreams and helping you pursue yours. Working in personal development and coaching people on getting where they want to be in life is a career that has rewards that will never be equaled with a paycheck. To see a smile where there was none or a look of relief and new found hope where before there was only fear and uncertainty gives me things a dollar never will. I hope that your lives are equally fulfilling and that each day has new hope and new promise for you. Until the Good Lord grants us this opportunity again, always remember to…….



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 11/18/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hello Everyone,

My goodness !!! Where has the week gone? It always amazes me how the passing of time almost seems to speed up during this time of year. There is such a hustle and bustle. But, it is a wonderful time of the year and it’s worth every moment of the chaos. Welcome back to my usual friends here and welcome aboard to all my new ones. As always, if you missed an edition or are new and want to read the previous ones that I’ve written simply go to either:


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom, left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


******************* Success University ******************
Wow folks, I have got to tell you that these new Empower Magazines that Success University is using to promote our company are absolutely PHENOMENAL !!! Talk about third party credibility !!! And, with a $50,000 ANNUAL INCOME GUARANTEE how can you go wrong? If you haven’t been to my site and checked out Success University you are just cheating yourself out of a wealth of information and the opportunity to change your whole family’s financial tree. Even if there were no compensation plan, the changes you could make in your life from what you learn through the curriculum are EXTRAORDINARY! Do yourself a favor. Go to my site, watch the movie, read the material then give me a call. You’ll be glad you did !!!

http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
*******************************************************


Ok, let’s talk about Networking today. As we all know, Networking is an absolute ESSENTIAL part of conducting business. In order to get where you want to be you need to make all the right connections to help you get there. There are many different reasons for those connections; financial backing, information, mentoring, etc. But, there is one catch. In order for Networking to do you any good you have to go about it properly. You can go to a Networking event and meet 100 of the most powerful people on the planet but if you don’t handle the situation properly then you have gained nothing. What follows are some basic rules to go by. If you will gain understanding of these rules and actually USE them, I feel confident that you will find yourself becoming a CONNECTION MAGNET. While you read these keep one question in mind…..


“Would I want to develop a close business relationship with me?”


1. BE FRIENDLY: Being friendly makes it easier for people to like and trust you. And people tend to be more likely to do business with people that they like and trust.

2. PROJECT SELF CONFIDENCE: Projecting self confidence can come in many forms including your attitude, your dress and the way you walk. Self confidence creates an improved first impression.

3. MAKE EYE CONTACT: Making eye contact is a display of honesty and respect. Most people that won’t look you in the eye when they talk to you aren’t comfortable with what they are saying.

4. PROJECT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE: People without positive attitudes show it in many ways, usually completely unconsciously. It comes out in everything from their speech to their demeanor.

5. ALWAYS BE PREPARED: Even when you are not anticipating an encounter, always be prepared for one to take place. Always have that little Networking program running in the back of your head.

6. DON’T FOCUS ON YOUR MOTIVE: Many times a great connection is lost because someone was too overbearing in what they were after. Seek their friendship and acceptance. The rest will come on it’s own.

7. TAKE A GENUINE INTEREST: Another sure fire way to blow a potentially great connection it to have a nasty case of “It’s all about me!!!” Take an interest in them first. They will appreciate it.

8. FIND COMMON GROUND: A great way to relieve the tension of a new association with someone is to find out what you have in common. This leads to quality conversations and friendship.

9. POLICE YOUR ACTIONS: Always remember that even though your are building a friendship that ultimately this is business. So, take care and watch your actions. THEY WILL !!! Always First Class…

10. BE A GIVER: Once again, don’t make this all about you. Don’t jump straight into a new business relationship pursuing your own agenda. Give first and create Perceived Value for yourself.

11. HAVE EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS: When you are talking to someone it is vitally important that you can communicate effectively. Deals can be blown with simple mis-communications.

12. KEEP A RESPECTABLE REPUTATION: It’s fine if you don’t care what other people think about you. But, trust me, the people you want to connect with WILL care what other people think about you !!!

13. BE YOURSELF: This could easily be the most important point of all. People can smell a phony a mile away !!! Besides, like attracts like. Do you want phonies for business associates? I know I don’t !!!


I hope these points of interest have cast a little light on the whole Networking concept for you. The main thing is USING THEM !!! Knowledge without actions is worthless. You have to apply what you learn.


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“I present myself to you in a form suitable to the relationship I wish to achieve with you.”

- Luigi Pirandello
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I’m quite sure all of you have heard of the importance of constantly improving your knowledge of your business and everything associated with it., thus making yourself more of an asset to both yourself and others. I heard a cute story about that very thing and I wanted to share it with you.


After an Engineer retired, his company called him back to solve what seemed to be an impossible problem. They had tried everything, but had not been able to repair a multimillion dollar machine. The engineer returned to the plant and spent a day studying the problem. At the end of the day he marked a small “x” with chalk on a particular component of the machine and said, “Replace this and it’ll be repaired.” The machine worked perfectly after the part was replaced. A few days later the company received a bill from the engineer for $10,001. Thinking the price was a little steep, they asked that his charges be itemized. The engineer wrote back: $1.00 for the chalk mark. $10,000 for knowing where to put it !!!


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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- Nelson Mandela
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As Thanksgiving Day draws near, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about our troops overseas. I have an extra special place in my heart for those guys and gals because I know what’s it like to be thousands of miles from home for the holidays. I gave 6 years of my life serving this country. I’m a veteran of the Grenada invasion, I did one tour of duty in Korea and I am an official member of the American Legion. I proudly fly our country’s colors from my front porch and I thank God for the opportunity to serve and for the freedom we enjoy as others continue to serve.

As I opened my newest copy of the American Legion magazine I began to think back to those years. You can never understand the true meaning of comradery until you have worn that uniform. Unfortunately today, we live in a time when the world seeks to destroy itself with issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, religious hatred and the like. But, let me tell you this; when a soldier puts on that uniform and climbs into a fighting position with another fellow soldier, the last thing on anyone’s mind is what color you are, what sex you are, what your sexual preference is or what church you go to !!! They are your brother or sister and you are theirs. And it’s that same love, respect and level of comradery that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

I think as we go through the holiday season that, above and beyond everything else, we should be thankful for those young men and women because let’s face it folks… If it wasn’t for them you might not be living in a country with the freedoms that we all too frequently take for granted. You might not be able to go to the church you want to. You might not be able to choose who you want for leaders. You might not be able to enjoy all the prosperity that comes with capitalism. As the saying goes, “Freedom isn’t FREE !!!” It comes with a hefty price tag and right now those wonderful individuals are over there making payments EVERY DAY !!! May God bless them all and may God bless these United States of America…….


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“God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever lead us to victory, please continue your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts.”

- George S. Patton
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Well, as we reach the end of another Sunday evening together we go to into a state or preparation for the coming week. Tomorrow we will, each to their own understanding, go forth and do the best we can to make our lives and the lives of those around us just a little bit better. Every day is a new opportunity to go places you’ve never been, do things you’ve never done and become someone you’ve never been. We all have an equal shot at making our lives what ever we want them to be. I have no advantage over you. You have no advantage over your neighbor. The world is in perfect balance. So, when you get up in the morning, decide what it is you want from that day and then GO GET IT !!! Until The Good Lord affords us this opportunity again next week just remember to………



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 11/11/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES


Hey Everybody,

Well, it has been yet another wonder filled week in the world of Entrepreneurship. I hope it has been as good to you as it has been to me. Every day brings a new piece of the Prosperity Pie to the table. It’s all there for the taking. You just have to claim it, believe it and receive it. You can laugh at that if you choose but the things that are happening in my life are NOT my imagination. Welcome back to all my loyal readers and welcome home to those of you just joining us. As always, if you are new and want to catch up or just missed an edition, you can go to :


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


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Ladies and gentlemen, if you are not already a member of Success University you have NO IDEA what you are missing !!! I think the fact that just a year ago I was a blue collar worker trying to get by and now, one year later, I am a team leader in the company and PERMANENTLY RETIRED from the workforce should speak for itself. Where else in the world can you have access to the curriculum of great authors, speakers and trainers such as Les Brown, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Brian Tracy and more for less than $2 a day AND be able to generate an AWESOME income in the process. Imagine, making life altering changes to your own life, exposing others to the opportunity to do the same AND get paid to do it; Not to mention the fact that you can TEST DRIVE the company for $2 for 2 full weeks of FULL, UNRESTRICTED ACCESS to the training, the classes and compensation plan with the entire $2 going to an international children’s charity. How much more of a NO BRAINER could this be ??? Do yourself a favor and check it out at:

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Ok, I want to talk about a technique that very few people seem to use in their business for some reason and I’m not sure if it’s because they just don’t know about it, don’t know how to do it or just never thought about implementing it into their business. I’m talking about Joint Ventures. Now, there are different aspects of a Joint Venture and I will cover them one a time here.

First of all, who is a good candidate for a Joint Venture? Well, here is what to look for. First, you want someone that is in a business or organization that, based on their position there, are likely to have an extensive contact list; for example, doctors, lawyers, organization leaders, independent contractors, company and corporate ceo’s, realtors, investors, etc. I think you get the idea. Now, they don’t necessarily have to be quite that high up the food chain but you always want to think big !!! The sad fact is that most of you are probably one good connection away from having direct contact with a prime candidate and don’t even know it. It happened to me just a while back. I found out by complete accident through casual conversation that a close friend of mine was long time friends with the President of a local bank! Don’t you think for a minute that I’m not ON TOP OF THAT !!! Maybe you belong to a health club. Open your ears while you’re lounging in the sauna. You may be sitting right next to the new star player in your company.

Note: It will also help if the potential Joint Venture prospect is of a similar mindset as that of the company that you represent; for example, if you represent a company that provides a nutritional product then it would strengthen your chances it the Joint Venture prospect was into health and nutrition. Consequently, a lot of people on their contact list will probably fit the same profile.

Next, anyone who is a likely candidate for a Joint Venture is most likely EXTREMELY BUSY but that is what you want. Busy people make things happen. That’s why it cracks me up when people give up on a prospect for their business when the prospect’s only objection is “I don’t have enough time.” When I meet someone who tells me that I tell them “I’ve been looking for you for six months !!!” You see, a successful person that is TOO BUSY to take part in your business is PRIME PICKINGS for a Joint Venture. They have something you want (Lots of contacts) and you have something they want (time to build their business for them if they just refer those contacts). It’s a WIN-WIN situation and that is what a Joint Venture is all about.

Also, you want to provide them with an incentive to work with you. This is where the good ole “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mentality comes into play. And, BY ALL MEANS, give before you ask to receive. Don’t just try to get them into your business by offering to do all the work for them and that is it. They are already successful which means they have other things going on such as other businesses. Send them some business and make sure they know you sent it. Show them that you are not just ALL ABOUT YOU !!! Become an asset in their eyes. Put a sincere effort into being someone that they benefit from associating with. Maybe they have a garage. Start getting your oil changed there and send all your friends. The world revolves on RELATIONSHIPS !!! Make yours count.


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“You can have anything you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.”
- Zig Ziglar
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As some of you know, I am a personal coach. I work with people to open their eyes to what the real issues in their lives are and then teach them methods to make the appropriate changes. One of the MAIN things I teach them is the Law of Attraction. It is a phenomenal tool and it works EVERY TIME for EVERY PERSON !!! Because I use it consciously, it shows up literally daily in my life. Today was a perfect example of that and also ties into the holiday season.

I went for a ride on my Harley today because I needed some time to think and I always do my best thinking with all that power under me and the wind in my face. It’s exhilarating in a way I can’t begin to explain. Anyway, it started out simple. And, believe me when I tell you, some really big things in life can come from the most seemingly insignificant things.

When I left home I put what had to be a pound of loose change in my pocket. I have a tendency to be in a hurry most of the time and so instead of paying with exact change I turn my pants pocket into a piggy bank. As I was leaving, my predominant thought was that of getting rid of that change. Since I was on no particular mission as to where I was riding, I went to Wal-mart, thinking that I needed some envelopes and that would be a good thing to spend the change on.

Also, bear in mind that for the last several weeks the predominant thought in my mind had been what I wanted to do for the holidays in the way of charity. I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey, a popular radio talk show host, and many times people would call in with a hard luck story and Dave would get swamped with calls and emails of people volunteering to help. Dave would always be quick to point out that if you really wanted to help you didn’t need to listen to a radio show to find someone but that rather you probably didn’t need to look any further than your own neighborhood and I have found that to be exactly the case.

As I approached the entrance I noticed this little ole white haired lady sitting at a card table with a young boy that was obviously suffering from certain challenges in life. I slowed my stride so that I could read the poster board sign she had made. It said that she was collecting money so that she could give a Christmas party for disabled children in the local group homes. Well, my hand went for my pocket faster than if I was getting out a business card for a prospect. I told that lady that I needed her help getting rid of a big pocket full of change and would certainly appreciate her helping me with that. Needless to say, she smiled and very graciously thanked me. I then handed her my business card, told her I worked in personal development and invited her to sign up for my free newsletter. I went on in the store, decided I didn’t really need the envelopes and so I went back out and continued my ride.

I road for a good 2 hours just thinking about things but it was supposed to rain so I decided to head home. Strangely though, every time I came to my turn to go home, something made me pass it by. I rationalized that it was just me not wanting to stop riding just yet and continued on. As I approached the end of town where the Wal-mart is located I decided to cruise the lot then turn for home. As I went through, that little old lady was getting ready to pack it in for the day. I stopped and parked and, as I watched her, this HUGE light bulb in my head came on. The Law of Attraction, never having failed me, had done it’s job once again. I walked over to the lady and asked her if she was a part of an organization that helped these children and that is when she informed me that the she did this all on her own and had been doing it for 17 years !!! It was then that I was CERTAIN that I had found my charity for the holidays.

Do you get it? Do you see what I see? This whole day and every event that took place in it brought me to this woman. From something as seemingly insignificant as a need to get rid of a pocket full of change to an unexplainable urge to NOT GO HOME YET, came the opportunity to help someone in need and, thus, the answer to my request. People, don’t be blind to the power of your mind. It creates your very world around you. My large desire was to find a good charity to help for Christmas. The Universe then took a smaller desire, manipulated my day and made BOTH come true!!! How incredible is that??? The Law of Attraction is at work in your life whether you believe it or not and whether you want it to be or not. Why not use it and make a difference, not only in your own life but in the life of others? Think about it……


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“Think truly, and thy thoughts shall the world’s famine feed.”
- Horatio Bonar (1808-1889)
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Well, everyone, as I close this edition and prepare for another week of joy, happiness, excitement and new adventures I hope that you will join me in a similar fashion. It’s out there… waiting for all of you. If you already have it then you can appreciate what I am saying. If you don’t then all I can tell you is that true opportunity, true success and true happiness does NOT come knocking at your door !!! They are things that you must ATTRACT into your life with your thoughts. Believe me….. Ed McMahon is NOT coming down the street in a van with your address written on a sticky note !!! But true opportunity, true success and true happiness are all there waiting for you to claim them in your life. Until our Gracious Heavenly Father affords us the opportunity to do this again next week, just remember…….



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1

Newsletter 11/04/07

FROM THE DESK, MIND AND HEART OF JEFF HODGES



Hey Guys and Gals,

Well, we’ve made it yet another week in this world of exceptional opportunities and unending possibilities. I trust that all is well with each and every one of you. Welcome back to my usual friends and welcome aboard to all my new ones. As always, if you have missed an edition or are new and just joining us, you can access previous editions by going to either:


http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com/links.html (bottom left corner of page)


OR


http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com


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Well gang, I want to cover what appears to be a chink in some peoples armor, and that is blowing your advertising dollars on bogus advertising and marketing. A week doesn’t go by that I don’t get a call or an email from someone that is spending sometimes hundreds of dollars on their advertising and marketing only to succeed in nothing more than spending more money than they are making. I have actually had people quit my business because they had exhausted there budget on gimmicks and traps. It is an easy trap to fall into, especially if you are new to being in business for yourself and, more importantly, if you are new to being in business on the internet. Now, this is not about which is the best method to advertise and market. This is about making sure that whatever method you choose that you don’t get taken for THE RIDE !!!

Here’s the deal. Years ago we lived in a time when people had morals, character and actually cared about their customers. Welcome to the 21st century !!! Now, we have a breeding ground for scams and rip offs known as THE INTERNET. It is the perfect place to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals who, do to their inexperience, usually can’t even tell they’ve been ripped off !!!

Please, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying to not do business on the internet. I’m simply saying to be careful of WHO you do business with. There is a wide variety of things that you can do to protect yourself but the most effective method is to remember this. If it sounds like they are trying to sell you oceanfront property in Arizona then they probably are !!!

That having been said, I would like to make some recommendations. First of all, look for evidence that they are a real company. I personally won’t do business with anybody that doesn’t have a verifiable brick and mortar address and phone number. If they are so secretive that they don’t want me to be able to contact them or find them on a map they are not going to see one thin dime of my money.

Secondly, ask questions around your company. Maybe someone has heard things about them whether good or bad. Or, even better, maybe they have actually used them and can tell you what they think of the product or service that they were provided. If there is a company out there that is using less than desirable methods of conducting business, news usually travels pretty fast. Also, before even choosing the company that you want to use you might consider going straight to one of the leaders in your company and asking for a referral. They probably have particular places that they conduct business with on a regular basis.

Thirdly, (and this is one of my biggest pet peeves !!!) NEVER do business with an advertising company that GUARANTEES any particular success rate. That is absolute HORSE HOCKEY !!! How, in the name of all that is intelligent, can they tell you how many people are going to buy your product or sign up for your opportunity ??? That’s INSANE but you would be floored at how many of them make those very claims.

Lastly, be very careful of Bulk E-mail companies and companies that sell GUARANTEED TRAFFIC to your site. The email companies almost NEVER provide any kind of proof that they even mailed your ad. As far as the guaranteed traffic people, there is this neat little tool called an IP ADDRESS GENERATOR. In other words, you buy 20,000 visitors (for example) and they give you a control panel site, back office or whatever they want to call it for you to supposedly SEE the ip addresses of all your VISITORS. This back office tracks the ip addresses of all your visitors that supposedly visited your site. The only problem is that they DON’T EXIST !!! The company was just hitting your site repeatedly with a different ip address each time. FOR THE RECORD, there are plenty of honorable traffic companies out there. The one I recommend is http://www.massivehits.us . The lady that runs that company is Michelle Raybourn. She is very nice and I have been doing business with her for a while now.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of good companies out there to do business with while advertising and promoting your business. You just have to pick through all the chunks of coal to find the diamonds.


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I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an "Honest Man."
- George Washington
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I read a poem once that has really stuck with me throughout the years. It has made me spend many hours thinking about my life. You see, sometimes we get so caught up in life and the pursuit of success that it’s kind of like living inside the eye of a hurricane. To you everything looks fine but all around you is turmoil, chaos and destruction.

Everything in life has a potential for a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE effect on your life. Success is no different. You get so focused on MAKING IT that you lose site of the very life that you are trying to make it FOR. You miss out on important things that, at the moment may not seem important but they are things that will never happen again and some day you’ll regret missing them. You treat people poorly because you stress over your business and take it out on them. You allow things to go in a direction that you don’t even realize they are going in until it’s TOO LATE !!!

Don’t get me wrong !!! Nobody is more for being successful than me. It’s just that I grew up really poor and even I had issues with dealing with success when I first started pursuing it. Success, PROPERLY MANAGED, is a phenomenal thing but it has an equally DEVASTATING effect on your life if you obsess over it and allow it to come between you and the REALLY important things in life. It’s like a medication that, if taken in the proper dosage, will do wonderful things for you but take the wrong amount and it can KILL YOU !!!

I would like for you to read this poem and then I want you to do some real soul searching. Sometimes it only takes a tiny nudge on the shoulder to make you see that you are off course and to put you back on it…….


“I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning…… to the end.”

“He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.”

“For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.”

“For it matters not, how much we own, the cars….. The house…….
What matters is how we live and love…. And how we spend our dash.”

“So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.”

“If we could just slow down long enough to consider what’s true and real…
And always try to understand the way other people feel.”

“And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more.
And love the people in our lives….. Like we’ve never loved before.”

“If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.”

“So, when your eulogy is being read…. With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say….. About how you spent your dash?”

- Linda Ellis


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“The man is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.”

- Bessie Stanley
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Well, I always hate this part because this newsletter has become such an extension of myself.. Such a RELEASE… A way for me to reach out to all of you on a personal level and that is important to me. I always end with the thought in my mind, “If I could only know that I touched just one person in a productive way….” I truly enjoy this method of joining the end of one week with the beginning of another. It rejuvenates me. It clears my mind and strengthens my Spirit. I hope that all of you enjoy being here as much as I do. Until the Good Lord affords us the opportunity to do this again, just remember……



JUST SAY “NO” TO NEGATIVITY !!!



Sincerely,



Jeff Hodges


JeffreyHodges@thedreameffect.com
http://www.thedreameffect.com
http://www.letmemakeyousuccessful.com
http://www.jeffhodges.subuilder.com
http://www.jeffhodges.blogspot.com
615-230-7997
270-320-1324
Skype ID : jeffhodges1