This is in addition to our Diamond Club MasterMind.

They told me they wanted more of me—specifically to master mind with me and have me personally mentor them to create breakthroughs—in their lives and in their businesses.

That’s all very flattering.

But . . . I’ve facilitated a year-long master mind before, and frankly, it was pretty demanding. When I work with people this closely, I put a LOT into it.

However I stand in the service of others. And if that’s what people want, I will make it happen.

So starting next month, I will personally lead, facilitate and manage a master mind of no more than 5 business owners.

If you think this might be for you, then I urge you to take a look right now . . .
See for yourself here . . .

If it’s a fit, you can make your application with no obligation.

And don’t delay. The last time I did something like this, it filled up in less than 48 hours.

PS: This year we’re going to build a social network for Authentic Entrepreneurs. I also plan to write a book and launch several other exciting projects. As part of my Inner Circle Master Mind, I will let you behind the curtain as we create these programs. I will share what works and what doesn’t—and you will learn a lot.Be part of the journey, maybe even partner with me as we MasterMind our way to the next level in our respective businesses. It’ll be fun.

Fun, growth, wealth and prosperity—what a concept!
See for yourself here . . .

The just updated invitation page at www.SuccessNet.org/retreat explains a lot about the many reasons you should consider attending and what a difference it will make in your life and business.

And there’s over $30,000 worth of bonuses included with the program.

But Dawn and I thought it might be fun to share what WON’T happen next month here at Firethorn.

1. There will be no sweat lodge. There might be some benefit to that, but I can guarantee that is not part of the program.
2. We will not walk on fire. I did that in 1984 when Tony Robbins was only 24 years old. It was very cool (no pun intended) but again, not here, not this time.
3. No channeling. At least not from Dawn and me—and I doubt from anyone else.
4. We will not allow whining. No whiners invited and no whining will be allowed.
5. No small thinking. Part of our retreat is to get you to think bigger.
6. Levitation? Nope. But you can float in the pool.
7. No hype. We don’t believe in it. We don’t like it and we don’t do it.
8. No cold, nasty weather. We have ordered the best temperature and sunshine for late February. It will be gorgeous.
9. We will not be practicing therapy. We WILL ask tough questions and we will help you to think more clearly, but we are not shrinks and don’t try to be.
10. No fasting. Unless you REALLY want to. Our plan is to have you eat well, eat often and enjoy the benefits of our personal chef.

I’m sure there are more things that won’t happen on February 19 & 20. But there will be a LOT happening for YOU. See for yourself the promises we’ve made and will keep.
www.SuccessNet.org/retreat

PS: Most people can point to only a handful of defining experiences in their life. This could very well be one of the positive ones for you. We hope to see you there, but you will need to act fast. There are only four slots and one is already taken.
www.SuccessNet.org/retreat

Pluses

1. Sunny, warm weather in winter—and no snow!
2. Longer days because of the lower latitude—and getting dark later because of being on the western end of the eastern time zone.
3. This house! Bigger and better and at a 50% discount. More on that later.
4. More choices on health insurance—and less expensive.
5. Having a guest house for people to stay with us.
6. New friends.
7. Living on a golf course in Silverthorn.
8. A country club without a country club attitude.
9. No state income tax.
10. Our lanai, pool, spa and waterfall.

Minuses

1. Being so far away from friends and family—especially our granddaughter, Marielle.
2. Not being on a first-name basis with the governor and lieutenant governor—at least not yet.
3. Dealing with the envy that people have of us moving here—even before we retired.
4. More expensive insurance on house and car (hurricanes, I’m guessing).
5. No mountains to look at.
6. Sailing on Lake Champlain.
7. Those beautiful, dark Brazilian Cherry floors at South Pointe.
8. Our Hot Springs Vanguard Spa.
9. Having to learn all the systems and mechanicals for this big house.
10. Address changes, car registration, new FL licenses, etc.

Carrie Wilkerson blasted onto the Internet marketing scene just two years ago and quickly skyrocketed to a 7-figure business.

Join me tonight as I interview “The Barefoot Executive”.

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Call Details
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Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time: 8:00pm Eastern
To attend and ask Carrie questions, use this link
http://SuccessNetSummit.com

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Marketing Matrix
================
Free for Members, only $3.95 for those not yet members.

The Marketing Matrix was designed by Jack Bolowskie and a Marketing Mastermind Group comprised of business owners, marketing experts and business coaches.

The Matrix helps you organize, plan and develop consistent action steps to better market your products and services and increase your business.

It’s a simple tool for developing and improving the Multiple Streams of Income that feed your business. For each product or service you offer, there are a series of questions. Your responses to these questions become your action steps.

The Matrix will help you focus on the actions that improve the position of one or more products. Take special note of the tactics that benefit more than one income stream.

Your commitment to taking those action steps CONSISTENTLY will increase your business.

Remember, the more you focus on effective actions that benefit your income streams, the more your business will grow.
Click here . . .

I have two reasons for sharing this experience with you. First, to try and stimulate your thinking about what people really want and how you might fill that desire—even when your potential customer doesn’t even KNOW they want it.

And second, because it’s a good example of how valuable press releases can be.

A few weeks back, I sent out a few press releases about our upcoming SuccessNet Summit in Dallas. One result from those press releases was a feature article about me and SuccessNet in our local paper, The Burlington Free Press. In fourteen years, this is the first article they’ve ever done on our company.

Now this isn’t exactly Newsweek Magazine, but it is the biggest newspaper in Vermont. And the article was the largest in the paper that day, very favorable and with no less than four pictures. Great press for sure.

But they never would have interviewed me or run the article had they not received our press release. You can see the article online here.

From this exposure, we’ve already gotten scores of new subscribers and members. And so far, I’ve been invited to speak and facilitate at three events.

Press releases are inexpensive and easy to do. And as you can see, they do pay off sometimes. So don’t neglect them as part of your overall marketing strategy.

Now for the rest of the story. With such a positive article, we thought it would be nice to have it matted and framed, so we were going to take it to a frame shop to have it done.

But before we got to do that, two different companies contacted us offering to provide this service. Apparently these businesses watch for nice articles in various publications and contact the subjects to see if they would like a professional display of the article.

We chose a company called “That’s Great News” who was even willing to create it and send it to us for our approval before paying for it. We negotiated a little on the price and the result was a very impressive display that’s guaranteed not to fade. It will be a nice addition to our “wall of fame”. You have one started for your company, don’t you?

Now you may have heard of this kind of service but we had not. I thought it was a great example of how someone saw a need and filled it. I’m guessing that there are many people who have the thought of getting their article framed but never get around to it.

These folks made it super easy for us. They did a great job and probably did it better than our local frame shop would have done and for very little money.

Many people try to sell others what they need. I say sell people what they want, and give them what they need.

Action Steps:
Find a want. Find a niche. Fill one that isn’t being filled or do it better than someone else is doing it, and you have a business.

Don’t miss opportunities to send out press releases. You never know when they will result in articles, interviews and new business.

But there are some unique challenges work-at-home-people face.

For many, they’re used to the interaction found in a more typical office setting. The home office can lack the energy and vibrancy of a team atmosphere.

When working alone, it can be hard for some to stay focused and maintain the structure and order the larger office usually has.

I hear from many readers who find it easy to start doing some household chore only to find themselves spending more time than anticipated and eating up valuable and productive time from their intended projects. They’re busy but oftentimes busy with the wrong things.

It can also be lonely. If you’re used to working with a team, working solo can sometimes be a difficult adjustment.

Family and friends can be a problem, too. It’s easy for them to see you as being more available than you really are. Those who would never think of dropping in on you at “the office” often don’t see any problem with stopping by your HOME office.

That said, I still would never go back to the W-2 world, nor would I want to report to my own corporate office every day.

When working from home, it’s even more important to do work you love and have strong and clearly defined goals. This will help you to stay focused and motivated.

I was doing OK with these challenges in the first few years of our business. And I was earning more money than I ever had before.

I was comfortable behind my computer screen. But I knew that there was a lot more potential and that SuccessNet could be positively influencing many more people than it was. I needed to think bigger.

And to do that, I needed to get outside the firewall and interact with people—even when it wasn’t always comfortable to do so.

And then Dawn and I attended our first conference. It was a small seminar setting. But it made us realize how small our THINKING had been and how much was being left on the table.

From that, we decided to expand our attendance of conferences. We usually go together, but occasionally I’ve gone alone.

The important thing was to attend. The people we’ve met–the relationships and alliances we’ve formed—have been both enjoyable and highly profitable.

Our business is bigger and more fulfilling and is impacting more people than it would have otherwise.

And that’s why we held our first SuccessNet Summit last September in Vermont. And we’re holding our second annual Summit in November in Dallas.

We know how powerful it can be for people to come together, share ideas, form alliances and expand their thinking.

I can’t wait to introduce you to some amazing people who will be happy to share their experience and knowledge with you.

And we’re excited to meet you in person, if we haven’t done so—or see you again, if we have.

Now more than ever, you need to position yourself to achieve substantial success.

I cannot promise that being with us in Dallas will be the event that changes you and your business forever, but I know it will have an impact in some way. And for some of those attending, it will forever change the way they think about and conduct their business.

It’s coming up soon—just a little over a month away.

And the early bird discounts are still in effect, so you can save a lot.

Plus, we negotiated a super deal on your hotel rooms—suites actually—only $89.

If you’re a SuccessNet Member, you can buy one ticket and get another ticket for a friend or associate for free. If not, the extra ticket is still only $97.

Join us.

Make the decision to flip the switch, turn the lights on and open the doors to a whole new future.

It’s all explained here . . .

Now is the time for you to make a decision in your favor.

PS: Our free “Meet the Experts” series continues this Thursday at 8 PM Eastern Time. Access info is on the Summit page.

His name is Rick Raddatz, and he’s built a very profitable and respected business (Xiosoft)—creating cool tools for entrepreneurs.

Before that, he hung out with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft as the lead product engineer of special services.

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Meet the Experts Details
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Date: Thursday, September 24th
Time: 8:00 PM Eastern

To attend and to ask Rick questions, go to this page.

Now for our “Tools” article . . .

Think tools are just for carpenters and plumbers?

Think again!

Everyone has a toolbox of some sort.

We each use tools that will help us survive as we move through our lives. Often unconsciously, we fill our own personal toolboxes with the tools that help us acquire what we need, build what we want, overcome our obstacles and find our way.

Lawyers have certain tools that help them research, analyze and express an argument clearly. Moms use tools that help them stay on track, focused and balanced. CEO’s use specific tools—as do entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, YOU have a toolbox, too. Are your tools useful and up-to-date? Do they help you to just survive or do they help you to thrive? When was the last time you picked up a new tool?

One of the hallmarks of a successful person is a toolbox full of relevant, practical and handy tools. Successful people consciously fill their toolbox with tools that fit the specific job.

We all know what it’s like to attempt a job without the right tools. It’s frustrating at best and downright futile at worst.

Be sure you get the tools you need to build the life and business you want. Consciously fill your personal toolbox for success.

What are the tools of YOUR trade? What do you need to do your job—to succeed in your life and career? What systems allow you to leverage yourself? What equipment do you need? What references, information or relationships will you need to achieve your goals?

The tools we’re referring to are anything that helps us accomplish our intended outcomes. And the tools we can immediately think of that help us do this are:

• computer
• phone
• programs
• library
• pen
• calculator
• checklists
• email
• car
• personal network
• organizations
• associations
• mastermind team
• teleconferences

Some questions to ask ourselves:

• How can we utilize our tools better?
• What new tools do we need to acquire?
• Which tools can we replace or eliminate?

Check out some of the tools we have for you in The Resource Center.

PS: And remember to join us on Thursday to meet a master tool maker.
Click here.

There will be gifts as well . . . so be sure you make it.
Click here for access to the Teleseminar.

They have their “personal” life and their “business” or “professional” life. I think there’s just life.

Do we have different roles? Of course we do.

But trying to be one way in your business and another way the rest of the time takes a lot of energy and lacks a certain amount of authenticity.

We are not our business, but to a large extent, our business is us. And who we are and who we’re being shows up in our business in a very significant way. It governs the success of our business.

Former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold said, “The longest journey is the journey inward.” I agree and I think the pay-off to going inward is substantial.

Many people spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to understand their business, but not all that much on comprehending themselves and how they operate within—and relate to—their business.

You see, the more we understand ourselves—the more we grasp how our issues, development, attitudes and paradigms affect our business—the better equipped we are to create the success we all desire.

I recently read Lynn Scheurell’s new eBook Emerging Soul-Driven Entrepreneurial Archetypes: A Self-Assessment. And I found it highly insightful in recognizing the business archetypes (or energy patterns) that underlie and guide our decisions and behaviors in business.

Clarity leads to power, and being aware of these archetypes and what they can teach you will enable you to access a whole new level of power in our business.

Because Lynn is a friend and because I’ve been working closely with her over the last few months, I was able to get this assessment and eBook for our members at no cost.

And I also got a special discounted price for our subscribers who are not yet members.

Going through the assessment and seeing what business archetypes are most influential can help you have a thriving and abundant enterprise—one that truly expresses who you are.

To find out more, go here . . .
If you’re a member, use this link to get your 100% discount code.
(You will need to be logged in to see the code).If you’re not a member yet, you can get this valuable resource at the special price (30% off) we have negotiated for you.

Or, become a member today and get Lynn’s eBook at no cost—along with scores of other no cost resources—right here . . .

PS: SuccessNet exists to help you and your business grow. And trying to grow a business without growing personally can impede your business success. This eBook and assessment is yet one more resource we are happy to recommend to help you grow—both personally and professionally.

District Governor 5450 Steve Cantrell formally presented Angier’s Paul Harris Award at their Annual Dinner in Birmingham, England last month.

DG Cantrell advised the assembled guests from around the world that, “Over the past five years, Michael Angier has been the most-read contributor to the Programs section of the Rotary E-Club One website”.

Cantrell went on to say Mr. Angier’s articles, “. . . generate more responses from Rotarians visiting for make-ups than any other author featured on our site.”

The club paid tribute to Angier’s, “ . . . commitment to others which exemplifies ‘Service Above Self’ and declared him to be a most worthy person to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.”

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. It is awarded to individuals when a club believes the recipient’s life exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation.

Michael Angier is an internationally published author and founded SuccessNet in 1995. SuccessNet has over 97,000 subscribers from around the globe and has become one of the largest and most trusted online resources for personal and professional development. Listed as one of the top three most-visited personal development and business success sites on the web, SuccessNet provides practical information, resources and ideas for small business growth. The company is dedicated to helping people and businesses grow and prosper.

Get your free “10 Keys to Personal Effectiveness” at http://SuccessNet.org

Photos of Michael Angier and company logo are available here.