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Our mission is to empower individuals who wish to lose weight and/or improve their health with knowledge and internal, sustainable motivation to transform into the person they deserve to be. We do this by providing articles, tools, products, and services from industry leaders that share easy to understand information and guidance. Our core values are honesty and integrity so that we may offer value by giving our customers a comfortable and convenient place to find everything needed to achieve their fitness and lifestyle goals.

Lose Fat, Not Faith e-Zine
Volume II Issue 4
April 8, 2005

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1552-6151

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Table of Contents

1. What's New
2. Quotes
3. Coach's Corner
4. Nutrition: Pineapples — The Healing Fruit of the Tropics
5. Training: Want to Keep Lost Body Fat and Inches Off? Join the Resistance!
6. Health News
7. Motivation: Accepting New Ideas
8. Entrepreneur's Workshop
9. Closing Thoughts

What's New

Article: Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss Part 1 (by Susan Peach)

Article: Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss Part 2 (by Susan Peach)

Article: Winning at Post-Partum Weight Loss Part 3 (by Susan Peach)

Article: Qualities Of A Fitness Professional: What Makes A Great Personal Trainer and How To Spot An Unqualified One! (by Kyle Battis)

Article: Put Your Mind and Body on Autopilot for "Automatic Weight Loss" with Positive Habits (by Dan Robey)

Article: "Bodybuilding Sins" That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts Part 2 (by Jesse Cannone and Steve Hefferon)

Audios: Interview Jon Benson, author of Fit Over 40, Interview with long-time bodybuilder Lon Baldridge, reading from Lose Fat, Not Faith by Jeremy Likness (Click here to access these audios online)

If you are interested in paraben-free skin care, you don't want to miss your opportunity to order a 5-day supply of our entire skin care product line. This package contains all nine of the facial care products, including: daily cleanser, toner, rice bran polisher, masque, perfecting essence, serum intensive, eye nourisher, daytime emulsion and nighttime renewal. Click here and add item #320.

Attention! Aspiring entrepreneurs: This is a no-nonsense genuine opportunity for suitable individuals who are serious about building their own substantial business. Our mission is to identify and train those who are suitably qualified. Successful applicants will be trained in a unique business concept that has led to this public company being named as the #3 growth company on the stock exchange (NASDAQ) for the past 12 months. Independent studies have shown that its products are listed as the #1 product in their category. Click here to learn more and leave your contact information — serious applicants only, please.

Quotes

You must get good at one of two things: sowing in the spring or begging in the fall.

God has the tough end of the deal. What if instead of planting the seed you had to make the tree? That would keep you up late at night, trying to figure that one out.

Plant, don't chant.

One of my good friends always says, "Things don't just happen; things happen just."

The soil says, "Don't bring me your need, bring me your seed."

These quotes are by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine, go to www.jimrohn.com. Excerpted from The Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn. Copyright © 1994-2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

Coach's Corner

You are feeling very sleepy. Listen to what I say ...

What are your thoughts about hypnosis? Some people have experience with using hypnosis as a method to overcome obstacles or break through addictions. Yet others have the image of a smooth-talking wizard lulling people into trances and forcing them to perform acts against their will. What is the real truth behind hypnosis and hypnotheraphy?

I had experience with self-hypnosis myself when I began my fitness journey. I spoke with Scott Nelson, a former transformation champion, who shared with me the power of visualization. I bought a self-hypnosis kit and found that I could break through many personal barriers. The most vivid example is with pull-ups. I had hit a plateau and could not for the life of me do more than eleven pull-ups. I brought myself into a state of self-hypnosis, and visualized performing twenty pull-ups with perfect form. The next day, I stepped to the bar and started doing repetitions. While I did not hit 20, I did break through my personal record and knocked out 18! It is not that I received strength, but I got out of my own way and realized my true potential.

This month, I'd like to clear the fog and eliminate some of the myths about hypnosis. To do so, I conducted an interview with Roberta Temes, Ph.D. "Dr. Roberta," as she is known throughout the world, has a wealth of experience. Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis, Dr. Roberta has the unique ability to communicate the complexities of hypnosis in a way that is easily understandable as well as highly effective.

Dr. Roberta has helped thousands of people resolve sleep and weight-loss issues through education and hypnotic suggestion. She has worked with some of the world's most prestigious sleep labs and weight-loss professionals to ensure that her work is always on the cutting edge. She currently lectures at medical schools, graduate programs, and health spas around the world. She is a contributor to the Hypnosis Network, a site that provides information about hypnosis as well as several audio programs.

JL: What began your interest in weight loss and helping others achieve it?

I became interested in weight loss when I saw so many psychotherapy clients, as well as friends, neighbors, and family members, struggle to lose weight and then re-gain it. I figured out that there must be a way to keep it off. I was right, of course. There is a way to maintain a weight loss and that is to change habits - not many, just a few. I knew that hypnosis is the most effective way to change habits so I began simply by asking weight-loss clients to change one habit a week. I reinforced the change using hypnosis and at the end of one month there were 4 new habits in place and there was no weight gain. This success continued and I was convinced that hypnosis is the way to go for weight loss.

JL: How has your view of successful weight loss management changed through the years?

The more I focus on hypnosis and habit-change the less I advocate psychotherapy for weight loss. Emotional eating is more a myth created by psychotherapists than a reality. Fear of being thin is another such myth. People eat because food tastes so good and is readily accessible. Changing the habit of overeating and creating the habit of careful food selection is now my priority. Both habits, thankfully, respond well to hypnotic suggestion.

JL: When did you learn about hypnosis?

I became interested in hypnosis decades ago when my young daughter needed some intricate oral surgery and wanted to cooperate with her doctors, but couldn't override her reflexive response to their oral intrusion - clamping shut her mouth. One of my colleagues at the mental health center where I was then working as a psychotherapist suggested I permit him to hypnotize her. The very next day Karen and I sat on John's couch while he softly spoke to her for about ten minutes. It all seemed so silly to me. But, the next day, when we showed up at the hospital, doctors actually accused me of drugging my child. They could not believe that Karen could suddenly become so cooperative and unafraid. That's when I decided to learn everything I could about hypnosis. Little did I know it would take over my professional life; I practice hypnosis, write about hypnosis, lecture about hypnosis, and make hypnosis CDs.

JL: Share with us what exactly hypnosis is and means — can you control people and make them do things they don't want to do?

Hypnosis is a cooperative mental endeavor. I function as a coach to guide my client toward his/her goal. Unlike in the movies, hypnosis is not an adversarial relationship. The hypnotic suggestions I offer to a client are specific, persuasive statements that will help that client achieve success.

JL: When did you begin using hypnosis as a tool to manage weight loss?

From the day, decades ago, when I began using hypnosis in my practice, people have come to me to lose weight. I've always understood that the urge to overeat is often inborn and difficult to override without some kind of extra help. Willpower is not necessary when hypnosis is that extra help. Hypnosis really works!

JL: Why do you feel hypnosis is so powerful for weight loss?

Food is good. Food is plentiful. We all need something to counteract the lure of excessive food. Hypnosis is a good technique to combat that lure because it creates powerful unconscious scripts that the client can always access. Words said to you during hypnosis remain within your grasp.

JL: If someone uses hypnosis as a tool for weight loss, will they have to keep using this as tool for the rest of their life?

Most hypnotic suggestions stay with the person and do not need regular reinforcement. But, that said, it is good to know that a technique as simple as words, and not pharmaceuticals, is always available and can be used whenever necessary. Clients play my weight loss CD often at first, and then perhaps only before leaving for a restaurant, or heading out to Thanksgiving dinner.

JL: Why do you feel obesity and overweight is such an epidemic today?

There is no shortage of food in our country today. There is a shortage of time, though. So, fast food, which tastes good with all its fat and salt, becomes so appealing.

JL: How can people who are successfully managing their weight approach others they are concerned about?

If you're concerned about the health of someone who is obese, simply give them a gift of a weight loss CD and say nothing. When they are ready they will play it and prosper. Until then, please remember that overweight people are not stupid and they are not blind. If it were easy for them to eat less, they would. Respectfulness is in order, here.

JL: What do you feel the connection between weight loss and health is?

People who are overweight have significant health risks if they have genes for diabetes, stroke, and heart conditions. Perhaps someday the the human genome project will permit us to know who can be overweight and not suffer consequences. Until then it's too risky to take a chance.

JL: Do you feel food is true addiction, like alcohol or cigarettes? If so, are there other places or hypnosis programs overweight people should use to supplement their goal?

What we know so far is that certain people have a pancreas that creates very strong 'eat now' commands, which are extremely hard to ignore. Changing eating habits to follow an individualized program created by a nurtitionist or dietician seems to be the only way to combat those urges. Hypnosis makes it easy to follow such an individualized program.

JL: How does hypnosis differ from goal-setting and affirmations?

The hypnotic process creates an altered state of consciousness called a hypnotic trance. When in that trance state the client can absorb an affirmation and can agree to and visualize achieving a goal. Without hypnosis the goal and the affirmations are only words; with hypnosis they become realities.

JL: What is the difference between hypnosis in an office with a hypnotherapist, and self-hypnosis in someone's home?

You're invited to come to my office. You'll wait weeks for an appointment, battle traffic on the day of your visit, and pay a hefty fee. If you feel you need reinforcement days or weeks or months later you'll need to do the above all over again.

If you decide to use my CD you'll settle into your cozy chair, in the privacy of your home, at a time of your convenience. The one-time cost is less than that of an office visit, and you can play the CD as often as you wish. The effectiveness is the same whether you listen in your home or come to my office.

JL: Are there any side effects to self-hypnosis that users should be concerned with?

The only side effect to hypnosis is that some people become extremely relaxed after their session and their mellow feeling may interfere with their plans if they are scheduled to run a marathon or compete in an agressive business situation. Such feelings are not universal and do not last more than one or two hours, maximum.

JL: Is there anyone who won't benefit from hypnosis? If not, why?

People who have a history of psychotic disorders are not good candidates for hypnosis. Once they achieve their delicate balance and are in good mental health, it's not a good idea to alter their brains, even with as sweet an experience as hypnosis.

There you have it — the "scoop" on hypnosis. You can check out the CD that Dr. Roberta is referring to by following this link.

Yours in Him,

Nutrition: Pineapples — The Healing Fruit of the Tropics (by Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc.)

For a natural and tasty way to improve your health and boost your healing capacity, add fresh pineapple and pineapple juice to your diet. Pineapples are nutritionally packed members of the bromeliad family. This delightful tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain and the antioxidant vitamin C, both of which plays a major role in the body's healing process.

Bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory with analgesic properties, encourages healing, promotes well-being and has many other health benefits. Bromelain is very effective in treating bruises, sprains and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect can also help relieve osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and reduce postoperative swelling. Additionally, bromelain can relieve indigestion. The enzyme contained in fresh pineapple helps break down the amino acid bonds in proteins, which promotes good digestion.

Pineapples also provide an ample supply of vitamin C, a commonly known antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing. The body uses vitamin C to help metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of skin, cartilage and bones. Vitamin C also decreases the severity of colds and infections.

Furthermore, due to its high vitamin C content, pineapples are good for your oral health as well. Recent studies have found that vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Besides increasing the ability of connective tissue to repair itself, vitamin C also increases the body's ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease. Periodontal disease, which destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

So if you are searching for a natural way to enhance your body's healing mechanisms, promote overall good health and tantalize your taste buds, pineapples are the way to go. Choose the fresh fruit because it has the most healing properties. Unfortunately, most of the bromelain in canned pineapple is destroyed due to the heat used in the canning process.

When choosing a fresh pineapple, do not judge ripeness solely based upon color. There are several varieties on the market that range from green to golden yellow. The most important factor in determining ripeness is smell, let your nose help you decide. Ripe pineapples give off a sweet, fresh tropical smell. Avoid pineapples that give off an unpleasant odor or have any soft spots or areas of dark discoloration. Once home, let the pineapple sit on your counter at room temperature until ready to use. This will preserve its sweet and tangy flavor.

To prepare pineapple, you need to peel it, remove the eyes (the thorny protrusions within the puffy squares of the skin) and the fibrous center. One way to do this is to remove the top of the pineapple with a sharp knife. Then cut the pineapple lengthwise into 4 wedges (quarter it) and place each pineapple wedge horizontally on a cutting board. Carefully cut the fruit from the outer skin, and cut out the eyes and fibrous center core.

Another way is to cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, place the pineapple vertically (upright) on a cutting board and carefully slice off the outer skin. With a sharp paring knife or the end if a vegetable peeler, remove the eyes. Don't cut too deep, just enough to lift out the section that contains the eye. Then, slice the pineapple crosswise and remove the fibrous core individually with a cookie cutter.

Once the fruit is prepared, it can be diced and eaten fresh, added to salads and entrees for an exotic flavor, or made into tasty tropical drinks and smoothies.

To get you started, try Monique N. Gilbert's delicious, nutritious, cholesterol-free smoothie recipe. It's high in bromelain, vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin (vitamin B-2), iron, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and soy isoflavones.

Pina-Banana Orange Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup fresh pineapple
• 1/2 cup soymilk
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon canned pumpkin
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

Place all of the above ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy. Makes about 2-3/4 cups (2 servings)

Copyright © Monique N. Gilbert — All Rights Reserved

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. is a Health, Nutrition, Weight-Loss & Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author of Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. She has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight-loss and stress management since 1989. http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com/

Training: Want to Keep Lost Body Fat and Inches Off? Join the Resistance! (by LaRue E. Cook)

Youve been walking, jogging, or doing one of many other aerobic exercises to lose body fat and inches. Your routine, along with dieting has been somewhat successful, but you're afraid that if you slow down or fall off your strict diet plan, you'll regain what you've lost! Does this all sound a little familiar to you?

So what's next? Losing body fat and inches is just the first step! Keeping it off is a whole different battle! While much time and attention is spent on losing, all too often what's lost doesn't stay lost. The truth is that successfully losing body fat and inches requires, for most people, a three-pronged approach. These three-prongs include aerobic exercise, proper diet and resistance training.

A well-planned and appropriate cardiovascular routine is vitally important, and will go a long way to not only help you reduce body fat, but also improve your cardiovascular system.

Proper diet (and here, I'm talking about a well-balanced, calorie appropriate food intake) has an equally important place in this equation.

Resistance training, also known as weight lifting is the important third prong that is missing from many reduction efforts, and will help you do something to change your body's composition. In other words, it'll help by building calorie burning lean tissue or muscle. During my 11 plus years of helping people reach their health and fitness goals, countless numbers of them have come to me with one goal in mind, reducing body fat and losing inches. Some of them have come to me having experienced some success through proper diet, aerobic exercise, or a combination of these two important prongs. Many of those who have found some success, have later found themselves dealing with the same body fat (or more), as they slowly reduce their dedication to the aerobic workouts that helped get them there.

So to help them get off this roller coaster ride I make sure that we add the third prong — resistance training. Clients are often surprised when I explain to them that aerobic exercise is great for burning calories, but that it's primarily about burning calories NOW, in the present while you're performing the exercise. Your heart pumps faster (which is great exercise for your cardiovascular system), and you burn a lot more calories than at rest. But, this doesn't do much to help you continue to burn more calories throughout the rest of your day — once you stop exercising. It hasn't really increased your lean tissue, which helps increase your "future" calorie-burning potential.

Resistance exercise or training (which is literally having your muscles exert force against any resistance) is primarily about creating a body that will burn more calories in the FUTURE, meaning even when you're not exercising! It builds lean tissue (muscle) that burns more calories for you even at rest.

Here's an analogy that I like to use with my clients. Let's say you have a car and that for some reason you want to consistently burn more fuel (I know that this is not an environmentally or economically sound concept, but use your imagination here). You would have a couple of options. The first option would be to drive the car faster. The faster speed uses more fuel. This is very similar to doing your aerobic exercise for the purpose of burning calories. While it's true that you'll burn more fuel than normal, it'll primarily only be while your driving fast. Once you stop driving fast (e.g. doing aerobic exercise), the amount of fuel being used (calories being burned), slowly returns back to "normal," in other words, the fuel efficiency you were receiving before you started driving fast. Not the result you were looking for if your intent was to consistently burn more fuel.

So, let's look at your second option. This would be to increase the size of the car's engine. The larger engine will burn more fuel consistently, even at slower speeds. You won't have to necessarily drive the car fast all the time to burn the additional fuel! The larger engine will demand more fuel at any speed.

Think of your body's muscles as the engine. They are the primary metabolic tissue that drives your body and uses up the fuel (calories) in your body. As you routinely perform resistance exercises, you'll create a bigger engine (meaning more lean tissue, not necessarily huge muscles — for those of you out there worried about big muscles) . This larger engine will burn more calories even when you're not driving the car faster (exercising).

So, while you're working on reducing body fat and inches through your diet and aerobic exercise, don't forget to "join the resistance!" Not only will you feel stronger, but, you'll like what you see in the mirror!

As with all forms of exercise, you should consult with your physician or healthcare professional, before undertaking any of the fitness training discussed in this article. Any application of the techniques, ideas, and suggestions in this article is at the reader's sole discretion and risk. Copyright © LaRue E. Cook 2003-2004, All Rights Reserved.

LaRue E. Cook is a certified personal trainer, tournament tennis player, and fitness author with over 11 years training experience. He has trained a wide of health and fitness clients, including women and men looking to lose inches and reduce body fat, competitive athletes participating in a variety of sports, the elderly, children, and persons just starting out on the road to health and fitness. Send your comments or questions to LaRue at: tennis4lec@yahoo.com or www.tennisfitness.net.

Health News

Calcium supplementation increases bone mineral mass and stature in adolescent boys

A study published on March 8 2005 online in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that calcium supplementation in adolescent boys increased skeletal growth and bone mineralization. Twice per day for 13 months the adolescent boys were given either a placebo or 500 milligrams of calcium as calcium carbonate.

Bone mineral content, bone area, lean and fat mass, height, and weight were measured before, during and following the treatment period. They were also grouped according to activity level.

Both groups experienced increases in height, weight, lean and fat mass and most bone measurements over the course of the study. However, the group receiving calcium was found to have a significant increase in height, lean mass and bone mineral content of the whole body, lumbar spine and hip compared to the boys who received a placebo. Physical activity level increased the effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral content only in an area of the upper leg bone.

Calcium supplementation early in life may improve bone mineral content and stature and help reduce future osteoporotic fractures.

Higher vitamin E levels reduce prostate cancer risk

In a Brief Communication published in the March 2, 2005 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers analyzed data from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, which found an association between supplementation with vitamin E and lower risk of prostate cancer among 29,133 men.

For the current study, the researchers selected 100 participants who had developed prostate cancer during the ATBC study follow-up, and matched them with 200 subjects who did not have the disease.

Based on blood samples taken at the beginning of the study, men with serum levels of alpha-tocopherol within the top one-third of participants had a 51 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those whose levels were in the lowest third. Those with higher gamma- tocopherol levels were similarly protected, with a 43 percent reduction in risk.

In addition, the reduction in cancer risk was even greater in those taking vitamin E supplements, providing evidence that alpha-tocopherol supplements were beneficial and did not negatively impact gamma-tocopherol status.

Vitamin E supplements are safe and beneficial

The press has not been kind to vitamin supplements lately, especially vitamin E. Headlines generated from a study published in the March 16 Journal of the American Medical Association, have once again called into question the safety of vitamin E supplements.

The company that I partner with recognizes that dietary supplements, including vitamin E, are for optimizing health and not curing disease. This study, however, used a study population of older patients who already had vascular disease, diabetes, and other strong risk factors. The majority were also taking a variety of medications for different health conditions. Concluding that a vitamin is useless or dangerous because it didn't cure a chronically ill population entirely misses the point of long-term nutritional supplementation.

Another important point to consider is that the study participants were taking high dosages of vitamin E as an individual supplement. Most research has supported our view that balance and synergy are extremely important for optimal benefit and safety from nutritional supplementation. This is especially important in populations exposed to high levels of oxidative stress, such as smokers and chronically ill patients.

Vitamin E has many potential long-term benefits for healthy people, including reducing harmful inflammation and preventing oxidative damage to body cells. The best way to take advantage of the benefits of vitamin E is to eat a varied, healthy diet and take a high-quality balanced supplement that includes a broad spectrum of antioxidants along with vitamin E.

For more information regarding the latest study and the benefits of vitamin E supplementation, see the following links:

http://www.crnusa.org/HOPETOO.html

http://www.crnusa.org/vitamineissafe.html

Motivation: Accepting New Ideas (by Tony McGlinn)

Much of the time when a new idea comes to us, we handle that idea and move on, without ever becoming consciously aware of the process. During the times when we are consciously aware of the process of handling a new idea, we often reject that idea without understanding why we rejected it, or sometimes without even understanding that we did reject it.

How can this be?

To understand this, let's briefly review a few of the mechanics of how our minds work. When a new idea comes to us, it comes into our conscious mind. It can be as a result of our own thinking, or it can be from an outside source. Immediately, and sometimes before the new idea is even properly formed, our subconscious mind starts to evaluate that idea.

Now this evaluation is happening in our subconscious mind. That means that we are not consciously aware of it, but it is happening anyway.

So how does our subconscious mind evaluate an idea, sometimes before the idea is complete, and without us being aware that this is going on. To understand this we need to understand a characteristics of our subconscious mind.

Our subconscious mind has no ability to reason. If that is so, how can it evaluate a new idea. Well one way is to ask itself, does this new idea fit with what I already "know". If it does, then the new idea will not be immediately rejected. If it doesn't then the subconscious mind will send a message to the conscious mind to say that this new idea doesn't fit. Usually at this point, the conscious mind will believe what the subconscious mind is saying to it, and reject the idea.

There are a number of problems with this. What if the information that the subconscious mind is evaluating the new idea against, is wrong?

A common example of this is when a new idea comes into our conscious mind, and our subconscious mind starts to evaluate it. The subconscious mind says, "I already know that". Now that "I know that" message is sent to the conscious mind, and what happens then?

Often the conscious mind stops considering the new idea at that point, and moves on to something new. But did the subconscious mind really "know" that? Maybe sometimes, but often the new idea is not even properly formed yet, so how could the subconscious mind be sure that it "knew" that.

Unfortunately when the conscious mind gets the "I know that" message, it usually stops receiving or processing the new idea, and that means the opportunity to learn something new is lost.

Why would our subconscious mind act in a way that stops us from learning? To answer that, and to understand in detail how this process works, you will have to attend my "Power of the Mind" training, or perhaps wait for another article in the future, but I do have space to briefly discuss what we can do about it.

How can we interrupt our subconscious mind so that it does not stop us learning from new ideas, when we are exposed to them. I suggest that there are two easy ways.

Firstly, when we hear our subconscious mind saying "That doesn't fit", or "That can't be right", or something similar, we can simply say to our subconscious mind "Thank-you for that information". This means that we have decided not to act on the message that our subconscious mind was sending. Our conscious mind is then free to continue considering, reasoning and thinking about the new idea.

The second thing we can do is ask our conscious mind to think about the new idea in a way it may have not done before. Usually our conscious mind thinks "Is this idea right?", or "Is this idea wrong?" Instead of those questions we could ask "Could this idea change or improve my life in some way?"

This allows us to look at a new idea in a completely fresh way, without being influenced by all the things that we have learnt before, or that we already "know".

It was Will Rogers who said many years ago that "it's not what people don't know that hurts them. It's what they do know that just ain't so."

Tony McGlinn runs personal development programs, writes and is a personal coach and consultant. You can visit him and subscribe to his newsletter at http://www.mypowerfulmind.com

Entrepreneur's Workshop

A Brief History of Network Marketing (by Kamal Mustajab)

Network marketing today is a multi-billion dollar business. It is now a major method of doing business with more and more companies adopting this business model. Today, it has grown into one of the driving forces of the 21st century economy. Network marketing is now regarded by many business leaders as the business of the future. However, It was not so long ago this marketing method was misunderstood as a get-rich-quick scheme, or pyramid scams. It is all too common for network marketers worldwide for having to answer the legality and soundness of their business. Who actually pioneered this business? When did network marketing or multilevel marketing as it is popularly known actually starts? After poring through some books and the Internet regarding this subject I hereby present to you a brief history of this fantastic and wonderful business which requires a lot less financial capital than a traditional brick-n-mortar business but may eventually yield enormous, long lasting income.

Nutrilite Products Inc.

In 1945, Carl Rehnborg was known to be the first person to introduce a compensation plan to market his nutiritional products. His company was originally called the Califonia Vitamin Company but later renamed as Nutrilite Products Inc. Using a multi-tired plan, it allowed any Nutrilite distributor to get a 3 percent commission from a downline on top of the regular commissions from his own sales. With this system, Nutrilite achieved stunning success compared to the old "direct-selling" method.

Amway Corporation

In 1959, two good friends - Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel - started a new company called Amway Corporation selling biodegradable all-purpose cleaner. Using an improved compensation plan, the tiny enterprise achieved remarkable success with a sales force of independent distributors from all over the United States. DeVos and Van Andel had earlier made a fortune from working as distributors with Nutrilite. After breaking away from Nutrilite they were convinced they could do better on their own marketing their own products. Today, Amway is one of (and still is) the leading network marketing companies in the world.

Phases of Network Marketing

Over the following years, network marketing has evolved and diversified into a wide range of products and services as more companies adopted this marketing method. Richard Poe in his book, Wave4 (Network Marketing in the 21st Century) summarizes network marketing into the following phases:

1945 - 1979 --- The Underground Phase
1979 - 1989 --- The Proliferation Phase
1990 - 1999 --- The Mass Market Phase
2000 and beyond ---The Universal Phase

"If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em"

It is interesting to note that many of the major network marketing companies started only as direct-selling companies. After discovering the awesome power of network marketing through the success of Amway and others, these direct-selling companies are somewhat 'forced' to adopt the network marketing plan. They have finally decided, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.". Richard Poe wrote, "In 1990, 75 percent of the Direct Selling Association's member companies worked on straight commmission. But by the end of that decade, the number had shrunk to less than 23 percent. MLM plans are now used by more than 77 percent of the DSA's member companies."

This article may be freely distributed or reprinted and you have my full permission to copy this article on your website or to give it away in your newsletter as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Source:- http://www.kbmweb.com

Click here for more about the network marketing company we partner with.

Closing Thoughts

We humans are an interesting species. We are often so afraid of change, that instead of keeping an open-mind, we will go out of our way to expend time and energy to construct a validation of our existing beliefs. I have watched people argue for days over a product that costs $99 — when I know for a fact that one hour of your day is worth far more than that. It's easier to justify not making a decision, than to have the heart to make a decision even if it is to not move forward. The extent to which people will go is evident in the number of websites that have grown in popularity that are written exclusively for skeptics.

Did you get burned by a business venture? Go out and find a website about survivors of so-called scams, and you can all share in a major pity-party together. Did you find that your latest personal development book didn't really make a difference? There is a site for skeptics where you can reassure yourself that those things really don't work. Can't afford to invest in quality products for your health? No worries, you can find a website that tells you these products are nothing but scams perpetuated by greedy individuals looking to steal your hard-earned dollar.

Of course, these sites cater to 95% of the population, by pointing the finger at the other 5%. It's easy to say "That's not normal." But I would ask you this ... do you really want to be normal? Normal in today's society is overweight, obese, and broke. I have made it my commitment to study those who are "not normal." Those who lead fit, healthy lifestyles in abundance. What I found is that there is one key element that is the same for every single on of them: they look at what can happen, not what might not.

So, as you continue your journey this month, why not try something different. Instead of turning on the news to hear the bad things that happened, why not invest some time in personal development to contemplate the good things that can happen. Why not make a commitment to keep the glass half full in April?

Have a great month!

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