How Can I Possibly Be Gaining Weight?

By James B. LaValle, RPh, MS, ND, CCN

These days, when two incomes barely make ends meet, you may be leading the kind of hectic life where coffee is all you make time to “eat” during the day. Unfair as it is, this black coffee stress diet can lead to weight gain. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent “stress bloat.”

One reason behind stress-related weight gain has been well-documented in major nutritional and endocrinology journals. You see, elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol (associated with long-term chronic stress) have potentially nasty consequences. These run the gamut from increased belly fat to insulin resistance and, in time, even Type II diabetes and heart disease.

Even when you can’t remove the causes of stress in your life, you may be able change the way your body responds to them and avoid those consequences. So subtract high-glycemic carbs from your diet and add more protein and lots of vegetables. Remember to exercise, and try meditation. And then consider taking nutritional supplements shown to help keep cortisol levels in check – Relora and Rhodiola, for example.

[Ed. Note: Stress may be a fact of life - but it doesn't have to ruin your health. By modifying your diet, medications, lifestyle, and exercise habits, and with nutritional supplementation, your health is largely in your control. James B. LaValle, RPh, ND, CCN. - founder of the LaValle Metabolic Institute and a nationally recognized expert on natural therapies - has come up with a simple program for staying healthy. James is also the author of 13 books on healthy lifestyles and integrative care, including Cracking the Metabolic Code. Pick up your copy here.]

Marketing Lessons From Politics
by Terry L. Brock

"Mankind will never see an end of trouble until... lovers of wisdom come to hold political power, or the holders of power... become lovers of wisdom."
- Plato

... Personally, I find much of the political process annoying (at best). Yet, in the midst of the abysmal pre-election morass (and I mean that in the nicest way!), you and I can learn a lot to grow our businesses.

Politicians have to win votes to survive. You and I have to win the hearts and minds of our customers to get their votes (dollars). This is where Relationship Marketing is so important. Relationship Marketing – or what I call “R-Commerce” – focuses on more than just making a quick sale. It’s all about building a solid, long-term relationship with your customers by learning where they are coming from and what their needs are.

The principles of Relationship Marketing apply to both politics and what you and I do in our businesses. Here are some areas where I see similarities between the two.

It Is Not About Just Using the Web – It Is About Embracing Web 2.0.

You have to engage the customer. Merely shoving a bunch of information at people (think 1960s television, radio, newspaper ads) doesn’t cut it anymore. Politicians actively embrace the Net to raise funds. They allow supporters (and detractors) to comment on blogs, websites, etc. YouTube is an active part of the political process. Embrace these tools for your own business and reap the benefits.

Learn What Is Important to Your Customers and Play to Their Needs.

Politicians will stress the economy in economically challenged states. They slant their messages to the areas of “pain” for voters in any particular geographic area. Are they only pandering to those folks? Well, a case could be made for that. But it is important for them to address the issues that are relevant to the people.

You might know a lot of ways your widgets can help your prospective customers. However, the only ways that matter are the ones buyers think matter. An old phrase is still so true: What is important is what important people think is important. Buyers are the important people for you and me. Focus on their pain and be the pain-reliever.

Build Relationships on Two Levels: Retail and Wholesale.

Politicians build relationships at the retail level. They know certain people and call them directly. They make it a point to meet other people in person. But they also embrace the masses at the wholesale level through rallies, fund-raising dinners, the media, and more.

As businesspeople, we have to do that as well. Have some relationships that are very close. And other relationships that are made through the media. On the retail level, it means pressing the flesh. It means you have to be there. Yes, e-mail is great. Yes, telephone calls are great. And, yes, Skype video over the Net is fabulous. However, none of that takes the place of sitting down with someone and sharing one-on-one over some drinks.

Think of how you could use this same principle to get to know – and bond with – your customers. This is Relationship Marketing at its best.

Have a Compelling Message.

You have to stand out from the crowd. Without offending, you must have a unique message your customers can’t get elsewhere. A politician who sounds too radical or too much like everyone else is doomed. Yes, it is a difficult tightrope to walk. But successful politicians (the ones who win the race) – and successful businesspeople – have a clear, compelling message.

Public Speaking Is Critical.

Barack Obama is a good example of a great public speaker. Think, too, of Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, and Winston Churchill.

In business, public speaking is a vital tool for extending your brand and building trust. When people see you speak in public, they will either want to embrace you and your message or discard you. In most cases, audiences want to support the speaker. People like saying they heard a particular person live and in person. However, if you come across as unsure and violate some of their core beliefs, you can alienate them.

Build Your Base of Supporters.

All politicians stress the message that their mission is not about them. It is about something bigger. “I can’t do it alone,” you’ll hear them say. Realistically speaking, every candidate is after power. However, they can’t say that. They have to communicate the impression that they are seeking election to serve their voters.

Realistically speaking, you are in business to make money. But marketers who focus on a bigger goal (“Helping you become financially independent” or “Making the world a safer, greener place”) garner more long-term support from their customers.

Michael Masterson has long demonstrated for us how to “think like the buyer.” That means understanding the buyer’s needs and problems. When you make it your mission to fulfill those needs and solve those problems, the money will flow to you.

Pollsters (and Tracking) Are Vital.

Politicians watch the polls to find out which issues matter to voters. You can find out what matters to your customers by using tools like Google Analytics, and WebTrends.

Know who is coming to your website. Know what they are looking for. Be aware of what is happening with the numbers that are vital to your business. Identify those key metrics and ratios and monitor them closely. Blogging and YouTube are two excellent tools for this. Wendy Montes de Oca’s article on polling shows what you can do to capitalize on this major trend.

Make Sure They Vote.

It is one thing for people to say they support a candidate. It is quite another for them to make the effort to actually vote and let their voices be heard.

Instead of voters, you’re looking for buyers. You want to make it easy for people to buy from you. Make your website easy to navigate. Make your retail store a joy to visit. Make it easy for clients to purchase your services. Promises won’t do it. You want to get your customers to vote for you – and continue voting for you – with their dollars. This is where Relationship Marketing really pays off.

As I said, the principles of Relationship Marketing apply just as well in the world of politics as they do in our own businesses. However, there is one very big difference. For us, “Election Day” is every day. And our campaign to win votes (customer dollars) starts all over again the next day. By making a strong commitment to continually make your business better and improve your campaign, you will always come out on top.

[Ed. Note: You can learn a lot about marketing from watching politicians. You can also discover valuable tricks of the trade from some of the top marketers in the business. Terry Brock is a marketing coach and professional speaker who helps achievers succeed in business through profitable R-Commerce - Relationship Marketing. You can read his blog and watch his ground-breaking videos by going to www.TerryBrock.com and clicking on the "Blog" button.]

Feedback: The Positive Thinking Uproar, Part 2

Positive thinking alone just isn’t enough to change your station in life. That’s what Michael Masterson said in his recent article “Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work.” This topic has caused quite a ruckus among your fellow readers. We printed a few of their comments last time. Here’s more:

“I just finished reading your article ‘Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work.’ Thank you! Finally, I am redeemed! I grew up in a family with two really negative parents. My siblings and I all have varying degrees of negative attitudes ranging from ‘not-too-terribly-negative’ right down to yours ‘the-glass-is-always-half-empty’ truly. I don’t want to be one of those people who blame where they are in life on their parents, but…

“I have spent a lifetime drowning in mediocrity (and I am in my 40s), all the while devouring positive-thinking books. I think I’ve read them all, or at least all the so-called ‘important’ ones. And the routine has always been the same: Read the book. Get excited about the possibilities. And about an hour later, return to my accustomed way of thinking

“I’m not saying that anyone should resign themselves to being negative. Putting a positive perspective on things is always preferable, but it has to be rooted in reality. The explanation you gave for how and why people think positive is right on the money. Furthermore, the only credible way we have of believing in the validity of something is to look at the scientific studies. And you are so right, there are a lot of published studies on the power of visualization. Of all the techniques I’ve come across, this one is by far the most studied AND the most promising.

“Thank you for enlightening people and legitimizing my opinion.”

V.C.

Studio City, CA

“I like the ETR newsletter. Great food for thought. I’ve got a few comments about the article titled ‘Why Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work.’

“I’ve studied and participated in positive thinking techniques for several years now, and have never come away thinking that proponents only teach people to stand in front of a mirror and repeat mantras as a (or the) way of changing their lives. Moreover, I have been taught to utilize visualization as one of the ways to overcome the negative thoughts that stop me from believing I should take action. I have learned through positive thinking that education without action is entertainment. I’m going to suggest that your bias against self-improvement programs that carry a label of positive thinking has stopped you from looking at them deeply enough to find that they agree with the behavioral therapy techniques you sell.”

David Milliken

Wilksville, OH

“Thanks for the perspective regarding positive thinking.

“In my work with a women’s college soccer team, I have to help the vast majority of players overcome the way they currently think about their performance so that they can improve. They many times have a negative self-concept regarding their on-field performance, and I have put many methods to the test to help them change their thinking.

“I do believe that positive thinking ALONE will not change performance thinking (and therefore create performance improvement) but that there needs to be a basis of preparation and real accomplishment to build from.

“I am looking for some clarification, though. Isn’t visualization another form of positive thinking? You haven’t really done anything yet. You are creating a positive performance in your mind and ‘running the tape’ over and over.

“Also, isn’t using Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and, to a certain extent, Matt Furey as examples of ‘visualizers’ doing what you said proponents of positive thinking do? Taking an already positive thinker and using them as an example?”

R. Hanson

Puyallup, WA

“ETR is a daily ritual with me, so I feel okay about writing regarding the article by Michael about positive thinking. And he’s right, to a degree. I’m not sure he’s read The Secret or watched The Secret Movie, because his assumption that positive thinking is all there is to it is flawed.

“James Arthur Ray, one of the presenters in the movie, said on a national talk show shortly after the movie came, out ‘If all you’re going to do is think that you’re rich and then sit back and wait for it to happen, you’ll starve to death.’

“What The Secret does offer is a combination of positive thinking plus visualization plus focused action. If you’re not willing to visualize and then act on what you’re visualizing, then, yes, positive thinking isn’t worth a hoot.

“By the way, Joe Vitale (another presenter in The Secret Movie and one of the best copywriters on the planet) has not ‘always been successful.’ In fact, he’s very candid about having been homeless and then living in poverty for years. And he’s a strong proponent of positive thinking coupled with visualization and quick action.

“Keep up the good work, folks. And Michael, thanks for the mental exercise.”

Rev. Bill Haynes

Petersburg, WV

It's Good to Know: Man-Made Thunderbolts

A group of French and German engineers are one step closer to creating lightning on command. The team fired pulses from an extremely powerful laser into clouds above New Mexico recently [in 2008]. The pulses caused an increase in the electrical activity in clouds that precedes a lightning strike.

The activity was too weak to create actual thunderbolts, but the scientists believe faster, more powerful laser pulses will do the trick. They hope to use this technology to "disarm" thunderstorms by draining their power before they reach sensitive sites, such as rocket launch pads housing satellites.

(Source: New Scientist)

Word to the Wise: Morass

A "morass" (muh-RAS) - from the Dutch for "marsh" - is a bog, an area of low, soft, soggy ground. We also use the word to refer to something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms.

Example (as used by Terry Brock today): "In the midst of the abysmal pre-election morass, you and I can learn a lot to grow our businesses."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2369, 05-30-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.