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5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times
As I write this article the stock market has seen historic declines, property values are declining, unemployment is on the rise, and inflation is increasing. A lot of people are justifiably worried and glued to the TV news every chance they can get. So what can you do about all this? Actually, quite a lot. You may not be able to change what’s happening in the world, but you can absolutely change how it affects you and actually profit by it in a big way.
First of all, stop watching the news so much. There is nothing you can do to change the times we now live in. They are here. We will be in a recession for the next few years. The news of the day is irrelevant. The more you watch the news the worse you will feel. The worse you feel the less likely you will be to take proactive steps to secure your own future.
So the first thing you must do is turn off the TV. Stop filling your mind with doom and gloom. I’m not saying to ignore what is happening. I’m say that you already know we’re in a recession and you don’t need the nightly news to tell you so.
The first and last 20 minutes of your day are called “your golden 20 minutes” because that is when you are most receptive to suggestion. You are in a naturally hypnotic state during those periods. If you spend that time dwelling on bad news then you will influence your day and your dreams negatively.
This is so very important that I will say it again – stop dwelling on all the bad news. You’re just disempowering yourself.
OK. Now that that is out of the way, let me give you some ways that you can empower yourself to deal with the present economic crisis as it pertains to your own finances and family.
Five Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times
1. Take excellent care of yourself.
In psychology there is a theory called Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It states that people need 6 things in order to survive.
- Breathing
- Drinking
- Eating
- Excretion
- Sleep
- Shelter
These are the basic human needs required for your survival. Do not cut back in any of these areas. When these needs go unmet all of your energy will turn toward finding a way to acquire them. Attend to these needs daily in order to nurture your own well being and provide a strong base from which to grow and prosper.
Breathe slowly and deeply for at least 20 minutes a day. If you have any of my self hypnosis CDs that is an excellent way to systemize this process.
Eat good, nutritious foods. Give your body the proper fuel it needs maintain health and well being. If you get sick then all of your energy will get diverted to becoming well and your other goals fall by the wayside. Read my book for lots more info on this subject.
Drink plenty of water. It will clear your mind, increase your energy, and help you achieve your ideal weight. See this article for more info on this subject.
Exert your body daily. Stretching, aerobic exercise, and some light weight lifting will do wonders for your mood, outlook, and energy. In my weight loss book I lay out an exercise plan that relies primarily on walking, but the best method when it comes to the subject at hand is actually sex.
If you have a sexual partner give that person lots of love and attention and have more sex. Many people have less sex when they are depressed. Having more will stimulate your serotonin levels which will put you in a more positive frame of mind. It’s also good for your relationship, fun, and free!
Sleep peacefully. Clear your mind before you go to sleep and truly rest during the night (that means no news before bedtime!) Also, let go of any unfinished business and planning by using my super simple “must do list”. See the video here.
Shelter. Is your home your own or does it belong to your bank? The best thing you can do to reduce your stress and attain peace of mind in regards to this need is to…
2. Pay off your debt.
In the past few years it has been very fashionable to carry a lot of debt and tell yourself it’s leverage. It is not. It is slavery.
Debt = Slavery.
You will never be mentally or emotionally free to pursue your ideal future while you are still saddled with the burden of debts owed to other people. So make a plan to pay off your debt in the following order:
• credit cards
• car loan
• mortgage
• student loans
Once you are debt free, economic gyrations will have less of an effect on you and you will be able to see the hidden opportunities that they present.
3. Look for the silver lining.
More fortunes are made during economic downturns than during times of robust growth. Less people are looking for opportunity during times of economic hardship because their basic human needs are not being met.
With less competition comes greater opportunity
Instead of reacting emotionally to the news of the day and basing your actions on negativity, endeavor to create a positive, proactive mindset that perceives hidden treasures all around you. You can’t find then if you don’t look for them and you will only look for them if you believe they are there.
4. Invest for the future.
When things look their worst that’s when they are the best… for savvy investors. I bought my first house during the last economic downturn and got a great deal on it. It was a foreclosure and the bank was practically giving it away. We are entering such a climate again. If you can acquire a valuable asset when it is on sale and hold it until it is priced at a premium then you can change your life in a major way. I sold that house a couple of years ago during the last month that real estate values were increasing in California and realized a substantial profit. I then moved to the Midwest, where I grew up and where property values had never increased in the first place. Sort of like personal real estate arbitrage!
This wasn’t market timing. It was just common sense. The sale happened to coincide with my desire to move at the time and people were aggressively overbidding on already inflated asking prices. The only time you make a profit is when you sell. The amount in your 401k or your IRA or written on your other investment papers is just a guess of what someone else might be willing to pay for your positions. It is only when you sell that that potential money becomes real and you find out what you really have.
When you buy an asset that is undervalued and sell it when it is overvalued you lock in real tangible gains. People tend to do the opposite. They buy stocks and houses and other “investments” when they have been increasing in value for a while and it looks as though they will always go up. Of course, every asset class moves up and down in cycles. Waves actually. There is something called the Elliot wave theory that may be of interest to the more technically minded of you.
Suffice it to say that what goes up must come down. It tends to come down about half as much as it went up. Two steps forward and one step back as it were. But people buy emotionally and then sell when there is blood in the streets and everyone is panicked that the given asset class will never recover.
Do the opposite.
When everyone gives up on the stock market and is pumping gold, look for stock bargains in strong companies that have become undervalued. I was a proponent of gold when everyone though the good times would never end. Now that everyone is certain we are in for economic troubles for the foreseeable future I will look elsewhere for investment opportunities. When people are convinced that real estate will never recover and that sentiment is on the front page of every newspaper for awhile, head down to your local bank and take a look at the bargains. There will be plenty of them.
In order to position yourself now to take advantage of these opportunities in the future…
5. Acquire the skills necessary to excel in any economic climate.
It’s easy to prosper when money and credit are flowing freely. It’s in times like these that only the strong survive. The single most important skill that I have used to profit in all of my endeavors throughout the years is the ability to influence and persuade.
Imagine how your life would change if you knew how to communicate what you want in such a way that other people will gladly give it to you. Whatever you want in life, whether it’s to get out of debt, recession proof your job or business, or acquire the extra money you’ll need to take advantage of all the investment opportunities yet to come, you can get it when you learn to approach other people the right way.
You must act with integrity in order for this to work long term though. It’s not manipulation. It’s more subtle than that. It’s applying hypnotic techniques to the communication process to create win-win outcomes for everyone. As Zig Ziglar says “You can get anything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want”.
I want to help you secure a bright future for you and your family by showing you exactly how to do this. When you learn effective persuasion and influence techniques the sky’s the limit in any economic climate.
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Comments
9 Responses to “5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times”
- Grace on October 16th, 2008 5:22 pm (Edit) Yay! You’re back! Good to see everything has been sorted out w/your website. I think there was a nasty internet bug going around when your site went down, as we ended up having some serious issues on our end as well.Thank you for the advice in this entry. It is very important for us to stop dwelling on what has already come to pass, and instead, be proactive about making positive changes for our future.
I will be sure to have my hubby sit with me and watch your “to-do list” video. That is something we could definitely work on.Oh…and on the subject of “exercise”….have you been speaking with my husband? I could SWEAR he told you to say that, knowing I’d be reading this
~Grace - Joyce Higgins on October 18th, 2008 8:11 am (Edit) Great to see you back. We tend to think alike. I’ve been telling my children and grandchildren we are already in a recession and may actually be headed for a depression. Hope not. My mother told me about the last one. It was bad unless you lived on a farm and even then it wasn’t that good.So how many people out there know how to plant a garden? My husband told me he may have to do that if it gets worse. Oh how I hate gardening. But a person does what must be done to survive. That and trust in the Lord.
Your advice is really good and I’m passing it on to my relatives.
Hope to see you soon on one of your speaking tours. On a cruise, I hope. I saw you in April of 2007 on a Trans-Atlantic cruise and really enjoyed your shows.
Joyce - Sherin – Investinternals on October 18th, 2008 8:51 am (Edit) Very good and excellent article. This is very useful as well as the writing style is classic. Appreciated.
Sherin
- Bankruptcy and Debt Carnival 7 on October 20th, 2008 11:56 am (Edit) [...] Seth presents 5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, “As I write this article the stock market has seen [...]
- Carnival of Debt Reduction on October 20th, 2008 11:57 am (Edit) [...] Seth presents 5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times at Joshua Seth Blog. He adds: As I write this article the stock market has seen historic declines, [...]
- The First Ever Carnival of Consumer Credit — Arrive Financial on October 20th, 2008 7:07 pm (Edit) [...] Seth presents 5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times posted at Joshua Seth Blog. The author says: “As I write this article the stock market has [...]
- financial wellness project » carnival of financial resources #2 (the late halloween edition!) on November 1st, 2008 4:08 am (Edit) [...] seth shares his advice on 5 steps to prosper during hard economic times. “You may not be able to change what’s happening in the world, but you can absolutely [...]
- Personal Development Posts | Personal Hack on November 16th, 2008 11:11 pm (Edit) [...] Seth presents 5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, “As I write this article the stock market has seen [...]
- –› Your 9 Step Economic Action Plan on February 18th, 2009 5:47 pm (Edit) [...] 5 Steps To Prosper In Hard Economic Times [...]
Skydiving As A Metaphor For Life
What a week I’ve just had! Skydiving in Santa Barbara, sliding through the canal in Panama, sipping cervezas in Columbia, cavorting on the beach in Costa Rica, and now about to board an airplane home in Aruba.
As I think back over the years and wonder at how I got to live this life of non-stop travel and adventure I am reminded of two of my favorite phrases “The world is your oyster” and “Carpe diem” (seize the day). I truly believe you can be, have and do anything you want in life once you clearly identify what that is and give yourself permission to have it.
As a philosophy major in college I thought a strange thought one day: what if heaven and hell exist only in our own minds and our lives manifest those perceptions? What if we can chose our own realities and really live instead of merely just survive?
To pilfer another famous line “life is what happens while we’re busy making plans”. So what if we stop worrying about the future and start enjoying today to the fullest. What would happen? Well, I’ll tell you what has happened for me. I know who I am so I know what I want and I reach out my hand and I take it (and if it doesn’t yet exist then I make it). No “what if”. No going to sleep early when there’s a party right outside my door. No putting off till tomorrow what could be done right here, right now, today.
Yesterday a wonderful performer collapsed to the floor right next to me. He’s a very funny man, full of life and energy despite getting on in years, and then suddenly, in mid-sentance he passed out. A moment later he was fine, but what if that had been it. He’d been telling me about all the things he wanted to do in his life and hadn’t. Will he do them now? Would you?
None of us knows how long we have to enjoy this gift of life. Make every day count. Stop worrying about the news, and politics, and the price of tea in China and start noticing the flavor of the food you eat, the quality of the company you keep, and the memories you make along the way.
I feel like I’ve lived five lifetimes already and I’m just getting started. Throwing myself out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet while screaming at the top of my lungs on my birthday was as good a way as any to shock my system into full awareness that I am alive. I can tell you the air smelled sweeter and ground felt firmer when I landed.
Here’s the video. Carpe diem!
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Patti Squire |
Submitted on 2008/12/16 at 11:03am Hey Joshua, Congratulations! I was a professional skydiver for many years and watching your video brought back such sweet memories! Patti |
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Minnesota entertainment |
Submitted on 2008/12/16 at 12:06pm What a great video! Looks like it was a blast!!! David Farr |
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Beverly Seidel/Gunnison Colorado
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Submitted on 2008/12/16 at 9:44pm Joshua, My husband, daughter and her boyfriend joined me skydiving this year for my 50th birthday. I wanted to mark the age/moment with something wild-n-crazy, and we did. You video reminded me of how I felt when it was done – awesome. Keep up the thrills…. |
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Carnival of Positive Thinking |
Submitted on 2008/12/21 at 8:48am [...] Seth presents Skydiving As A Metaphor For Life posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, “As I think back over the years and wonder at how I got [...]
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Get Inspired by this Set of Writings |
Submitted on 2008/12/21 at 8:03pm [...] Seth presents Skydiving As A Metaphor For Life posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, “As I think back over the years and wonder at how I got [...] |
Getting Lost in Istanbul
Cruise Ship Speaker Joshua Seth - Getting Lost in Istanbul
As soon as I looked out of my cabin window this morning I knew that this port would finally provide the taste of old Europe that I’d yet to find on this voyage. Mosques and minarets dotted the landscape and bright red flags with the Muslin moon and star snapped briskly in the sea breeze. It was about 90 degrees already and it was only 8am.
The first stop of the day was at the Hippodrome, the site of chariot races in old Constantanople that attracted crowds of 100,000 people. The Egyptian obelisk that still stands at it’s center is over 3,500 years old and I suddenly realized that I’d never before seen anything older than a few hundreds years that wasn’t locked up behind glass in a museum. This massive sculpture was standing right out in the open, just steps away from the equally impressive Blue Mosque.
Men are forbidden to enter mosques with their knees exposed in Turkey and this is why I was now sweltering uncomfortably in my jeans as the temperature topped 100 degrees. It was worth it though, as again I’d never seen anything like it, not just in terms of size and age but in detailed adornment too. I took a great many pictures of the same domes and columns, trying to stitch together some semblance of the scope of the place.
Afterwards I went to a rug making demonstration which was actually quite a bit more interesting than I’d anticipated, and not just because the place was air conditioned! Mustachioed men kept throwing rugs out onto the floor, one after another, bam bam bam, for about 45 minutes, saying as each one unrolled “This rug took 4 years to make. It’s silk on silk. All hand woven”. Bam! “This one took 5 years to make. It has over 600 stitches per square inch and is over 100 years old.” Bam! And they’d throw another one on top of that until there were dozens of carpets piled all over each other, covering the floor completely.
Finally I entered the Grand Bazaar, home to over 7,000 shops and easily twice that many merchants trying to aggressively coerce passersby into sampling their wares. I used various accents and attitudes with the vendors and had a great time pretending to be from different parts of the world. I even posed as a Turk several times and tried to outsell the shop’s vendor, enticing the tourists it with Borat like enthusiasm. It was great fun. Eventually I just dropped my Turkish accent and did a flat out Borat impersonation. I’m sure the Turks don’t know who Borat is but they loved it just the same and invited me back behind the counter for green apple tea and Turkish delights.
I got lost in the bazaar for hours and picked up a few oddities, like a bookmark made of woven Turkish carpet and a bunch of “evil eyes”. When it was time to go back to the ship, it took me nearly half an hour to figure a way out of the bazaar and back to the street where I’d started! I’d gotten entirely turned around in the never-ending maze of merchants and only managed to find my way back again because I’d noticed the particular design on the ceiling where I’d entered.
It was an exciting adventure! I highly recommend getting lost every once in a while. It’s a great way to find yourself 
Cruise To Italy
I just got back from performing on a series of cruises to Italy so here’s everything you need to know about the Italian ports of call (just in case you ever take a cruise there):
* Venice – It’s beautiful, it’s small, it’s sinking, and contrary to popular belief it’s not stinking. Water smells nice actually, still I wouldn’t drink it.
* Naples – birthplace of pizza, the mafia, and Sophia Loren. That’s everything you need to know, now get out of town and go see Pompeii or Capri. Did I mention they have great pizza though!
* Pisa – Skip it. Just photoshop yourself into a picture where you look like you’re holding up the leaning tower. No need to actually go there.
* Florence – It’s a big indoor / outdoor sculpture museum. You can walk around all day taking pictures of famous statues. I walked around all day taking pictures of tourists standing in line waiting to see the statues inside of the buildings instead of just looking at the statues on display in every intersection and square. They also have the best gelato in all of Italy!
* Rome - One of the most amazing cities in the history of the world. Deserves more than a day. Put it on your “must see before I die” list.
10 Weeks in the Caribbean
I’ve just returned from a 10 week tour in the Caribbean and I’ve got to tell you, it was amazing!
A lot of people talk about living the life of their dreams but very few actually go out and do it. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able not only to live my dream life but to surpass those dreams in every respect.
I thank my friends, my family, my agents and bookers, and every single audience member for helping to make this dream a reality. No one does it alone and in this blog I intend to give back to all of you by sharing tips, insights, and experiences that I pick up along the way.
All my best,
Joshua Seth
NOTE: this was the first blog post / article on this website on July 14, 2007.
NOTE: Commetns are now closed. Here is what was posted…
Jenny Wong-Rinyai
I was at one of your shows & the weight loss seminar on the Caribbean Princess the week of Nov 25th. Awesome!!!! My husband and I bought your “Beat Stress now” and “Banish insomnia” CDs while onboard. I just wanted to say, even though we did not get a chance to listen to them 21 days straight…I listen to when I can/have time and they are amazing. I have slept so well and not let stress take hold of my life.
I just have to work on the weight issue…though I am not overly overweight I wanted to change my eating habits. Your seminar proved successful. I just have to keep at it and not feel guilty if I stray sometimes here and there.
Thanks a million!!!!!
Jenny
Mother’s Day Surprise
Q: What’s the best mother’s day present you can give your mom?
A: How about surprising her by moving across the country and buying a house within driving distance of her.
Warning: don’t do this to your mom unless you’re sure she can handle the shock without having a heart attack!
Life, Love, and Martians…
I just watched the movie “Martian Child” on the flight down to St. Thomas this morning. I was going to write an article about aspartame (it’s bad for you. don’t consume it. that’ll have to do for now.) but I ended up getting sucked into this movie instead.
It’s about a kid who thinks he’s from outer space and feels like he’s going to float away. But it’s ultimately about our own human need for connection with one another. When those connections are lost (or broken) we lose a part of what holds us down to earth. A part of what make us feel whole and human. If you’ve ever lost a loved one or been through a divorce I’m sure you know what I mean.
Conversely, when we experience that spark of recognition with the intimate nature of another we suddenly feel reassured in the knowledge that we are not alone. In a way I think this is what love is.
I know that I am in love with a woman from another country and have been from the moment I first laid eyes on her. She may as well be from Mars because her cultural references, her language, nearly everything about her is foreign to me (and I to her). But all of that fades away when I look into her eyes and know that we are one.
She will always have a home with me. And I will never be alone as long as she is in the world. And isn’t that what we’re all really looking for anyway? When you boil away all the distractions. We want to feel loved. To be accepted. And loved and accepted so completely, so unconditionally that nothing else matters. Nothing we say or do can ever change that. A love so powerful that it transcends our very existence. Extends beyond time and space and our day to day reality of being alive.
I have found that in my own life. I found it by giving it and paying whatever consequences were necessary. And by giving love in that way I became capable of seeing it all around me. Capable of seeing that we are all one, yearning to be one with one another, even as we fight and kill one another all around the world.
Such is the poignant duality of man.
I guess that’s why I cry at sappy movies about dysfunctional families now.
But what the hell… I’m alive!
NOTE: Comments are now closed. Here is what was posted…
kathy erken
Hey Joshua;
That is a profound article. Very unexpected and surprisingly beautiful. It’s not very often we share our feelings with everyone and I am so happy for you! Kathy
Steph
I second Kathy’s motion!
Thanks for the great post, Joshua, and for sharing.
It’s amazing how your whole perception changes when you have a spiritual connection with someone – when you’re in love.
About 4 years ago, I decided to finally take care of looming credit card debt ($14,000 worth) by waitressing at a strip club. I justified that decision in many ways – and it was working for me.
About 3 months in, I met my love. It suddenly and steadily got harder for me to go to work. My eyes were opened to love and the stark contrast was unavoidable.
You’re right – nothing else matters in this life but love and acceptance.
Alheli
Hello! Joshua, I appreciate your sharing your feelings because I can relate with you. please keep sending me your blog.
Alheli
10 Ways To Create Lasting Love
Since I’m getting married next month and it’s about time to write my vows anyway, I thought I’d put together a top 10 list of what it takes to make love last as a couple.
I don’t pretend to be an expert in this area (my mother is the marriage and family therapist in the family) but Suzy and I have been together for almost 7 years now and in that time I’ve learned a thing or two about keeping love, passion, and romance alive in our relationship.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list on the subject. If history proves anything it is that all of mankind has a lot to learn about love and human relations. These are the things that have worked for me and my fiance.
Please feel free to add your own insights to the list in the comment section below.
10 Ways To Create Lasting Love In Your Relationship
1. Listen fully (give the other person your full attention and respect)
2. Compromise (always seek for both partners to win)
3. Make decisions out of love (not fear)
4. Share everything (no secrets, no off-limit areas)
5. Give thanks every day for having love in your life
6. Clearly assign areas of authority (who does what)
7. Ask “how can I be a better husband / wife?”
8. Match and mirror (be the reflection of their inner self)
9. Love them just the way they are (the only thing you should seek to improve about your partner is your perception of them)
10. Find ways to say and show “I love you” every day
1. Listen fully (give the other person your full attention and respect)
The highest compliment we can pay another person is to give them our undivided attention. When women say “my husband / boyfriend doesn’t listen” we men tend to rattle off a point by point list of everything they just said to prove them wrong. Real listening is about hearing not just the words but the spaces between them, the person saying them, and the emotional intention behind them.
2. Compromise (always seek for both partners to win)
I know people who have a “my way or the high way” attitude. That doesn’t work in business and it doesn’t work in relationships either. Love means making sure that both parties win. Loving yourself means never playing the victim and loving the other person means never victimizing them. A little compromise can go a long way to making sure that both parties can feel fulfilled in every situation.
3. Make decisions out of love (not fear)
“What if” thinking has no place in a loving relationship. Rather think “what else” or “what can be” which opens up possibilities and opportunities unfettered by fear. Life should be an exciting adventure and love is the light that can lead the way.
4. Share everything (no secrets, no off-limit areas)
In some cultures the men do not share many areas of their lives with their spouses. For instance business, politics, and finances are kept separate and the women are locked out. If marriage is about two lives becoming one then there should be no off limit areas. Share everything and welcome your spouse as a true partner in life.
5. Give thanks every day for having love in your life
Appreciation is the water that makes love grow. Give thanks for having your loved one in your life and make that attitude manifest in everything you do. Don’t hide it in a silent prayer. Shout it from the rooftops “I am so lucky to have found the man/woman of my dreams!”
6. Clearly assign areas of authority (who does what)
Whether you believe in traditional gender roles or not, make sure you clearly delineate who is in charge of what in your relationship. It will make it easier to live, laugh, and love together and save you much grief later on.
7. Ask “how can I be a better husband / wife?”
The eternal question that men always wonder is “what do women want?”. Here’s an idea: how about simply asking them. When is the last time you asked our spouse how you can be a better husband, wife, or lover? I’ll bet they’ll have a few good ideas at the ready. And you’ll get the chance to bring more pleasure to your partner as well.
8. Match and mirror (be the reflection of their inner self)
As a hypnotist I know how to subliminally create rapport, This is a very powerful way to become a refection of your lover’s inner self. For instance, Suzy is from Lebanon and English is her third language. Instead of correcting her English (like every other American seems inclined to do) I parrot it back to her. She says “sounds like” when she means “looks like” so I adopt that language pattern. She uses hand gestures that are unusual in America so I use them when I am with her too. By matching and mirroring her language and behaviors I become a subconscious extension of her inner self. Witty repartee is not true communication. It’s the connection that counts.
9. Love them just the way they are (the only thing you should seek to improve about your partner is your perception of them)
We cannot ever change another person. The best we can hope to be is the living representation of whatever behavior or ideal we wish to see. Lead by example. Love your partner enough to find pleasure in their imperfections and seek to change only yourself.
10. Find ways to say and show “I love you” every day
It’s not enough to know it. You must seek out ways to show it. Let them know how much you love them each and every day.
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dan |
Submitted on 2009/07/22 at 2:21pm good advice man, took a long time for me to realize even half of those. have fun getting married!
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Margaret Wisler |
Submitted on 2009/07/22 at 5:05pm After a4 yrs. my first marriage failed due to us both being too young and imature to start with. I will be married 35 yrs. to Jim, and what a blessing these years have been. He helped me raise 3 wonderful children and we now enjoy 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Must of your advice we have practiced through the years and still learn and grow daily now e are both almost 70 yrs. old. We wish the same for you and Suzy and all the folks who have read your wonderful article.
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Grace |
Submitted on 2009/07/22 at 9:42pm I wish more people would put their pride aside and take the kind of advice you offer. It only makes sense that people in love would want to do their personal best. Sadly, too many people marry for the wrong reasons, and think that they are going to be able to mold someone into something they never were. I agree with everything you’ve written. I would also like to add that it is important for a husband to make his wife his priority, and a wife to make her husband her priority. I’ve seen too many people cleave unto the wrong persons or things when they should be commiting themselves to their spouse. My favourite bit of advice that you’ve offere is #9. I’ve never liked the attitude that some people have when it comes to marriage. Too many people think “the M word” will sour a relationship because the one they supposedly love magically turns into a monster right at “I do.” I also think a good sense of humor goes a long way…or at least a sense of humor that compliments eachother. My hubby and I have been married for just over 8 wonderful years (and we have 4 beautiful children so far), and we know we have the rest of forever to enjoy it that much more CONGRATS to you and your bride! There had better be pictures of the big day to share with us
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Terri Metules |
Submitted on 2009/07/26 at 5:44pm Can we clone you? These words are great and I’d like to share these with my readers! Many of them live with mistaken love, and have no idea what Suzy and you have. Nor would they know what it feels like to live with mutual respect. My blessings to both of you and for setting an example for those who may not know there is a path to creating lasting love. PS we’re still under development. I’ll drop you an email when we’re up and running! |
The Process of Persuasion
The first philosopher of note to break down the process of persuasion was Aristotle.
He determined that there are three components necessary to effective persuasion:
• Logos – which is the application of a logical argument
• Ethos – which is basically the integrity of the messenger
• Pathos – which is the emotional connection that that drives the action
So logos is logic, ethos is ethics, and pathos is emotion.
There are many ways to apply this formula, but as my coaching clients and I are speakers who do back of the room sales I look at it this way:
In order to inspire your customer to take action you must deliver a logical reason for him to do so. Since people don’t buy based on logic though, it is necessary to infuse your sales message with an emotional appeal. And in order for them to even consider your message in the first place you must be perceived as a person of integrity from whom they would want to buy.
To make a sale you must inspire your potential customer to take action. He must decide to do this on his own, you can’t push him into it and expect the decision to stick. That’s where buyers remorse comes from.
To make a legitimate sale that lasts long after you are gone all that is necessary is to create conditions that make it easy for your prospect to naturally say yes to your proposal in the first place.
Why should they buy?
That is where the logic in your pitch comes in.
Why should they buy from you?
That is where your own integrity comes into play.
Why should they buy now?
That is where your emotional connection with them builds up desire until you give them the release valve of a buying action.
These three elements must be present in any sales presentation you make in order to consistently make sales. Simple? Yes. Everything worth knowing is. Like Othello, it only takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master.
Integrity is something we must work at maintaining every day. Empathy for our customers is something we must value and convey. And a logical reason to buy now must always be constructed in such a way that the message matches your chosen market.
The Importance of Persuasion and Influence
The quality of your life is determined by your ability to influence and persuade.
Now think about that sentence for a moment. Where would you be today without your ability to persuade others to your point of view and influence them to take the actions you desire?
Would you have ever gotten a date? Doubtful (unless you were lucky enough to attract the opposite sex like flies to honey). Would you have ever made a single sale in your business? Not unless your customers are in the habit of walking in waving their cash at you. How about your ability to persuade yourself? Isn’t that just as important?
Whether it’s to lose weight, workout, study and apply ourselves in life, all require persuasive thought before any action is taken. The good news is that the principles of persuasion can be learned and once you’ve mastered them they can literally change every aspect of your business and personal life.
Yes, persuasive communication is a learnable skill.
It’s not manipulation, which is what obnoxious children do when they see a colorful box of sugar coated cr*p that mommy doesn’t want to get them at the supermarket. They adopt extreme behavior and bully their parents into complying with their wishes.
No, persuasion is much more subtle and elegant than that. At it’s best it creates an action that the recipient of your communication decides to take on their own, without any knowledge that they’ve been led down the garden path of your desired outcome.
When done right it’s powerful, effective, and invisible. It’s as good or as bad as the person using it. And it’s an increasingly important skill to master in today’s economy where every sale counts.
