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Write Yourself a Check
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In This Issue: Issue 370 - - August 21, 2007  <= /TD>
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• &nb= sp; Welcome! And what's = new...
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•   3. Bored and Underpaid?
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• &nb= sp; 1. Write Yourself a Check=
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•   4. Humor -- Open Mou= th; Insert Foot
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•   2. 48 Days Online R= adio
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•   5. Helpful Tips
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= Wel= come! And what's new... =
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= Dear = Kevin,

I=92ve mentioned the ingenious squirrels that have free reign in our yard. = Many, many of you have sent me your own ideas about how to curb their inva= sion =96 or how to at least keep them away from our bird feeders.

One of the ideas was to mix red pepper in with the sunflowers as an absolut= e guarantee to keep the squirrels away. I thought that sounded plausible s= o I bought the special pepper and included a heavy portion in the feeders. = The next morning I looked out to see the normal gathering of squirrels eat= ing with delight. Three of them came up, knocked on the door, and asked if= I had any salsa.

Okay, their continuing ability to outwit me deserves my admiration =96 I= =92m still looking for a way to harness their assertiveness and innovation.= If nothing else, their creativity inspires me to resist any complacency i= n my own life.

********************************************

=93Probably the number one clue that creativity and transformational = thinking are happening is laughter. Laughter and fun free the mind from ba= rriers and restrictions.=94 Joyce Wycoff


*To view this newsletter on our website in full html, please go to http://www.48days.com/newsletter/access.php

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= 1. Write Yourself a Check=20 <= /TD>
= Comedic actor Jim Carrey grew up in a family so poor that fo= r a time they lived in their Volkswagen van on a relative=92s lawn. But Ca= rrey believed in his future even when it may have seemed likely he would fo= llow his parents in poverty. From a young age, Carrey knew he had a greater= calling to follow; when he was a mere 10 years old, he even mailed his res= ume to The Carol Burnett Show. And that sense of hope continued as Jim got= older. The story is told that one night in 1990 when Jim Carrey was a stru= ggling young comic trying to make his way in Los Angeles, he drove his old = beat-up Toyota to the top of a hill. While sitting there, broke, looking d= own over the city and dreaming of his future, he wrote himself a check for = $10 million, put in the notation line 'for acting services rendered' and da= ted it for Thanksgiving 1995. He stuck that check in his wallet - and the r= est, as they say, is history.

By 1995, Jim had seen the tremendous success of Ace Ventura, Pet Detecti= ve, The Mask and my personal favorite, Liar, Liar. His per film = fee at that point had escalated to $20 million.

Was writing that check just a meaningless trick or did it really set the st= age in some way for his eventual success? When I had the IRS knocking at m= y door and we were losing our house, I kept a $100 bill in my wallet. No ma= tter how broke we were, I knew I had that $100 in my pocket. I am convinced= that little tactic helped me stay optimistic when everything else seemed h= opeless. As a reminder of that I have freely given that $100 away many time= s to others who were struggling for hope. What are you doing to direct your= thinking toward the future you want?

Are you calmly accepting your current circumstances as the best that=92s av= ailable? Does your family background really limit your opportunities now? = Does dropping out of college mean you=92re locked into low paying jobs = =96 or could you pursue your dream anyway and join the ranks of some other = college drop-outs like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Maya Angelou (yes, she= =92s received several honorary doctorates, but never completed college)? C= ould you trick your mind into expecting success even with the obstacles you= think you have?

Don=92t wait on luck, winning the lottery or for that rich uncle to die. J= ust decide what you want your future to be =96 and then get b= usy creating it. Maybe you need to write yourself a check =96 put a date o= n it for when you plan on cashing in.

I dream for a living. -- Steven Spielberg

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Principles from 48 Days to the Work You Love =
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3D"http://48days.c.= =
= 2. 48 Days Online Radio=20 <= /TD>
= This Tuesday night at 7:00 PM CDT Tim Knox and I will contin= ue our new format for the 48 Days Online Radio Show. We have been experime= nting with some better technology to improve the sound quality =96 and this= week we should be back up to what we were having from the radio station. = Many of you have commented on the ease of submitting questions on this new = format.

Tim and I will continue to address current issues in work and business. =

Tonight we will be addressing:
1. Weekend Entrepreneurs =96 how to make more on the weekend than in a wee= k=92s paycheck.
2. The 5 Fatal Flaws in Interviewing
3. How to use a Trademark or Copyright.

And you can submit questions either in advance or during the show.

You=92ll find the details right here for the 48 Days Radio Show.

Join us Tuesday night, August 21st at 7:00 PM CDT for this new format.

"Many resist change--perhaps even fear it--but the best ones know
= change brings opportunities, and they seize them."
- Unknown

= = =
48 Days Online Radio =
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= 3. Bored and Underpaid?=20 <= /TD>
= The traditional workplace continues to deteriorate as worker= s and employers realize their multiple options. A new survey by Salary.com= reports that U.S. workers waste about 20 percent of their working day. I= =92m not even surprised anymore when I have people tell me how much time th= ey=92re wasting at work. Just this week a young man told me he probably sp= ends 2 hours a day working and the rest of the time just pretending he=92s = working.

It should be no surprise that personal Internet use tops the list of time-w= asting activities. Since nearly everyone=92s job involves being on the com= puter, how can a person be criticized when he or she is glued to the screen= ? But that time on the computer may just as likely be spent running an eBa= y business, communicating with old high school friends, or scanning for a n= ew job.

The main reasons given for wasting time were boredom, a lack of challenging= work and not having enough to do. In a related note, we all know employee= s can sue for discrimination or sexual harassment, but did you know they ca= n now also sue for negligent evaluation or deprivation = of career opportunity?

Is it any surprise that employers are rushing to pay for results rather = than time and to use independent contractors rather than employees?
There is little right or wrong here =96 just realize that for whichever sid= e of this issue you=92re on =96 there are opportunities that are forever ch= anging the old work models. Don=92t get caught in thinking things will sta= y the same. If you are an employee rest assured your job will change. If = you are an employer, be creative about ways to pay for productivity.

= = =
Read more: =
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= 4. Humor -- Open Mouth; Insert Foot=20 <= /TD>
= A lawyer had successfully handled a difficult law case for a= wealthy friend. Following the happy outcome of the case, the friend and c= lient called on the lawyer, expressed his appreciation of his work and hand= ed him a handsome Moroccan leather wallet.

The lawyer looked at the wallet in astonishment and handed it back with a s= harp reminder that a wallet could not possible compensate him for his servi= ces. "My fee for that work," snapped the attorney, "is five hundred dollar= s."

The client opened the wallet, removed a one-thousand dollar bill, replaced = it with a five-hundred dollar bill and handed it back to the lawyer with a = smile.

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= 5. Helpful Tips=20 <= /TD>
= Are you a Mother Theresa?
The most popular product in the 48 Days arsenal continues to be the Computerized Perso= nality Report. Before you begin seeking a better job or self-employmen= t, you need to be sure you are pursuing opportunities that match your perso= nality style and will fulfill and reward you for a lifetime! Computerized Personalit= y Report.

Chuck Bowen Personal Financial Coaching
Chuck is a longtime friend and one of the most successful coaches I know. H= e is on our 48 Days Coaching Connection advisory board, and is one of Dave Ramsey's coaches to his oth= er financial coaches! Chuck has a thriving radio show in his home town of = San Antonio, TX. Chuck is offering his financial coaching services to all 4= 8 Days subscribers. Here=92s a special bonus =96 if you contact Chuck w= ithin the next 48 hours and mention 48 Days, you will get a 30-minute plann= ing/mentoring session...completely free. You may call Chuck at his offi= ces at 866-992-4825 =96 also, even it you don=92t need a personal coaching = session, visit his site now at www.chu= ckbowen.net and sign up for his newsletter. It=92s one I look forward = to each week.

Talk to a real person -- Have you ever been frustrated by the fact = that you can=92t reach a real live person at a company? Well, here=92s a g= uy, Paul English, who has created a database of hundreds of companies' cont= act information with techniques for how to get through to a real human. Wa= nt to ask why your bill is messed up at Verizon or find out about returning= your Valentine=92s gift at Victoria=92s Secret? Check out Get Human

DUKG Christian T-Shirts
We=92re in a day of image and stating what you stand for. Do You Know God i= s a Christian apparel company with a purpose, intent on reaching youth in t= oday=92s culture. You can find them at www= .dukg.com. They=92ve created unique t-shirt designs for youth and young= adults that present messages about what God means to them, and combine the= m with a perspective that is relevant for this 21st century - focused on me= dia and information. See their one-of-a-kind perspective at www.dukg.com, or call them at 256-651-2933. Enter = =9148days=92 into the promotion code field and receive $5 off each s= hirt you purchase!

360 Identity
If you are a regular reader you know I love to create new products. And an= important part of having those products do well in the marketplace is havi= ng a professional look =96 graphics that get your attention. Bryce Davis a= t 360 Identity is the man behind = the stunning look of our brand new 48 Days seminar package. The team at 36= 0 Identity took my initial ideas and created the entire set of new 48 Days = products. If you=92ve got a business and would like an attention-getting l= ook -- Check out 360 Identity. Sh= oot Bryce a note with your ideas for creating the look for your product or = service. His prices are very reasonable - and I can't say enough about the = quality of his work. Looking professional helps to solidify your credibilit= y as well. Just to go 360 Identity to see exactly what I=92m talking about.

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