Note: Please don't use any hotmail, yahoo, zwallet addresses nor autoresponders. These will not subscribe you. Also, by subscribing to our Pathway To Success Ezine you expressly request to receive our regular newsletter and agree to in-house and third party advertising contained therein.

Publishing dates:
'Pathway To Success' is published every other Sunday.
Next Issue is supposed on 6th April 2008.

Hot!

* 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life Today! * Finally, Over 100 of the World's Leading Self Improvement Experts have joined together to give you the complete collection of 101 insider secrets that show you how to instantly and positively improve your life! In this new book, experts including Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn and Denis Waitley will give you quick, simple and proven `success secrets. To learn more about this special offer go here: Click here!

Today's Feature Article

Uncovering the Top Ten Sales Myths
Mark Winder

In the dog-eat-dog world of entrepreneurs, there's a basic truth that is irrefutable: if you have no customers, then you have no business.

Over the years, I've come to notice that most entrepreneurs that I get to work with, tend to fall into one category: they tend to be exceptional at executing their business - they perform their services better than their competition, or they have better products than most people in the market place; but when it comes to getting customers and making sales, they tend to fall a little short.

And in talking to entrepreneurs from many different industries and businesses, I've discovered that there tend to be about ten myths that hold them back from actively selling their products and services. And once you as an entrepreneur, realise that the barrier that's preventing you from more customers is actually just a myth, then it will be THAT much easier to get those customers in the door!

Myth #1: If I build it, they will come.

I've talked to a number of entrepreneurs who share this belief. They claim to offer the best services or the best products at the most competitive prices, etc. But guess what - it doesn't matter HOW good you are at what you do, if nobody knows about it, nobody will buy it. You need to market and sell.

Myth #2: I don't have time to sell.

This one should seem to be an obvious one, but it IS one I hear. Again: no customers = no business. The bottom line is - you always have time to sell. And you should always make time to sell.

Myth #3: I have to be "pushy" to sell.

This is just plain wrong. If you don't believe me, ask yourself when the last time you bought anything from someone pushy was? In today's modern world, successful selling is the result of helping your customer to buy.

Myth #4: I have to "bend the truth" to win business.

This couldn't be more wrong. Over my years of selling and learning about selling one strict truth has prevailed: people will only buy from people they know, like and trust. Bending the truth negates any kind of trust building and your customers can generally see RIGHT through it. It's perhaps the worst thing you can do in business.

Myth #5: I don't feel comfortable "bragging" about my products and services.

Like in myth #4, customers can see right through the BS. Just be truthful and remember: if you have provided some phenomenal results for your customers, then its not bragging, its reporting. People want you to help them buy - they want to feel comfortable with the expected results of their purchase and telling them what to expect isn't bragging.

Myth #6: Sales in my company seems to be like a roller-coaster.

This one is very common amongst entrepreneurs - especially those with little or no staff. Having a strategic approach to sales can even out the feast and famine approach to sales that a lot of people experience. When you have a great strategy and good planning, the roller-coaster is a thing of the past.

Myth #7: The only way to get new business is to cold-call.

Cold calling is one of the least effective means of building business. It's mentally demoralizing and a colossal waste of time. There are a number of ways to "warm up" a call so that you have an effective and useful sales tool. And talking to a warm prospect is ALWAYS more preferable than talking to someone who wants to slam a phone in your ear.

Myth #8: I've tried "selling" but I'm just not unique enough in the marketplace to beat my competition.

While this isn't strictly a sales question per se, it is something that rears its ugly head a lot in the sales process. Just remember, Coke and Pepsi carve up a HUGE market by selling pretty much the same products. The difference is, they've each created very different marketing campaigns and subsequently they sell to different groups and types of people.

Myth #9: The only way I can beat my competition is on price.

This one is similar to the last point, but instead focuses on price. When we're on the selling side of the table, we always think that price is THE most important thing on our customer's mind. However, the fact of the matter is, while it's important, it's rarely a key decision making point. For the most part, price is actually one of the last considerations a customer makes. And generally they weigh price against value. So rather than worrying about discounting price, concern yourself with building value.

Myth #10: I need to be everything to everybody.

Although this is more of a marketing issue, when you've got your sales hat on, sometimes you need to be able to walk away from a sale. Its by FAR, more effective to sell to a pre-defined niche market, than it is to try to sell all over the place. So remember, while you should try to match your communication style to your customer's communication style, you should never try to be all things to all people. It will spread your message too thin and not resonate with anyone.

Avoiding these myths is crucial to success in any industry. Whether you're selling products or services, remember this simple rule: sales doesn't have to be difficult. You job is to simply help people buy products and services that are of use to them.

********************************
Mark Winder, the Sales Made Simple Coach, helps entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals aim higher and achieve more. Winder is the author of Mark Winder's Sales & Marketing Bootcamp and the free audio seminar, The 20 Sales Secrets of Top Entrepreneurs. http://www.bettersalesresults.com/Entrepreneur

Today's Motivational Reading

My Top Ten Rules of Success
Donald J. Trump

If you've heard me speak, you may have noticed I emphasize several things repeatedly - never give up is one, being passionate is another, keeping focused is up there, and keeping your momentum runs a close fourth. I've learned those things from experience.

Here's the complete top 10 list I give when I speak at colleges:

1. Never give up! Do not settle for remaining in your comfort zone. Remaining complacent is a good way to get nowhere.

2. Be passionate!If you love what you're doing, it will never seem like work.

3. Be focused! Ask yourself: What should I be thinking about right now? Shut out interference. In this age of multitasking, this is a valuable technique to acquire.

4. Keep your momentum! Listen, apply and move forward. Do not procrastinate.

5. See yourself as victorious! That will focus you in the right direction.

6. Be tenacious! Being stubborn can work wonders.

7. Be lucky! The old saying, The harder I work, the luckier I get is absolutely right on.

8. Believe in yourself! If you don't, no one else will either. Think of yourself as a one-man or one-woman army.

9. Ask yourself: What am I pretending not to see? There may be some great opportunities right around you, even if things aren't looking so great. Great adversity can turn into great victory.

10. Look at the solution, not the problem. And never give up! Never never never give up. This thought deserves to be said (and remembered and applied) many times. It's that important.

********************************
Donald Trump reveals . . . the Secrets of Getting Rich! Click the link below to get a free report: http://www.thecassiopeia.com/CassiRecommends88.html

Today's Subscriber Article

What Day Is It?
Robert Phillips

If you think of Wednesday as "hump day", chances are you have a job. Frequently I'm not certain what day of the week it happens to be. I'll have to check out a calendar to be sure. The clock at the bottom right corner of my PC will tell me the day if I just slide my mouse over it. I used to have a job and back then I sure as heck knew what day it was; I also knew how long until lunch and how long until it was time to call it a day.

Recently I was talking to my mother who was going to help my sister move. The trip required a plane flight and I'm allergic to physical labor so I didn't participate. Anyway, the day before my mother was leaving I asked what I thought was an innocent question about my sister: "Is she taking the day off from work tomorrow?" My mother rolled her eyes. Then announced that tomorrow was Saturday Oh, really I thought. How could I be so stupid?

You'll forget what day it is too when you learn how to make money online. Friday? Wednesday? There's not much difference to me at this point. You'll find yourself not living for the weekend anymore. You'll probably not like the weekend as much as you used to because all the people with jobs are out clogging up the roads, stores, golf courses and everything else.

And the worst part is that you'll pay more for this frustration. Isn't that backwards? Weekend golf is not nearly as enjoyable as it used to be. Why would I pay $60 or more to play a frustrating 5 hour round on Saturday when I can pay $30 to play a 3 hour round on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday? Living "off peak" is one of the many luxuries you'll enjoy when you master the skill of making money online.

****************************************
Finally! A Simple Blueprint for Using FREE Video Screen Capture Software to Quickly Create a Profitable Online Video Information Product...100% Guaranteed!
http://www.createvideoproduct.com

To listen to a new Top Show, click the picture.

To Get FREE Tips, Books, Software,
Subscribe by clicking here!

Subscribe to 'Pathway To Success' Published every other Sunday, our FREE Ezine helps Subscribers to succeed in their online home business providing them with hot marketing tips, top webmaster resources, articles, motivational reading, FREE Ads, Subscriber Corner, Web Lions Library, Bonuses and more. Check current visitor Issue. Click here!   Click for Free Sign Up! Don't forget to collect YOUR FREE Bonuses! Get Your Special Motivational and Publishing Calendar, Insider Tips PLUS More Bonuses! Note: Please do NOT use any aol, hotmail, yahoo, zwallet addresses nor autoresponders. These will NOT subscribe you. Also, by subscribing to Pathway To Success Ezine you expressly request to receive our regular newsletter and agree to in-house and third party advertising contained therein. Privacy Guarantee: Your privacy is 100% guaranteed. We never share any personal data incl email addresses with any third party, we do not even store email addresses on third party servers. Privacy Policy HOT! Now you can get the full RSS Reader bringing you all the news from Pathway To Success Ezine Portal. Click the image on the right to download.

Our self image and our habits tend to go together.
Change one and you will automatically change the other.
Dr. Maxwell Maltz

NEW! Install our new toolbar, get special business information fast and be informed the minute hot items are out, incl Articles in Subscriber Corner, new Pathway To Success Issues and much more. http://www.thecassiopeia.com/WebLions/theCassi1.html

Note: Download the above file, unzip and install. When you open a new browser window, the toolbar should be there. If not, please go to 'View', 'Toolbars' and you will see 'theCassiopeia's' - click on it and the toolbar will display.

Whenever there's a new item, an icon will blink. Click on it and it will take you straight to the information.

Important: you can have a toolbar of your own below. It's an amazing tool: easy to create, easy to use, easy to update, unobtrusive, bringing unbelievable results PLUS endless makreting and other possibilities limited only by your imagination. Definitely a tool of the future. I even created several for my own use containing the information I need and use regularly.
http://www.thecassiopeia.com/toolbar/

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

Get one of the Feature Ads in our Ezine:
http://www.thecassiopeia.com/WebmasterMall/EzineAdPrices.html

Administration

***************************************************** The articles published here may be reprinted or used freely as long as it is in its entirety incl the resource box of the author *****************************************************

If you want quality sticky content for your site, put the below piece of code to your page where you want the current Pathway To Success Issue to appear - copy and paste:

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://www.thecassiopeia.com/content1.js"></script>

Note: check what it looks like Click here

Get my RSS feed to your site - copy and paste the code into your page where you want fresh content to appear:

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE=JavaScript SRC=http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/feed/rss2js.php?src=http://www.thecassiopeia.com/xml/thecassiopeiaweb.xml&chan=yes&
num=0&desc=yes&date=yes>
</script>

Note: check what it looks like Click here

For All Information For Free Syndicated Content for Your Site Click here

<%@ page import="java.net.*"%> <%@ page import="java.io.*"%> <%@ page import="javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilderFactory"%> <%@ page import="javax.xml.parsers.ParserConfigurationException"%> <%@ page import="org.xml.sax.SAXException"%> <%@ page import="org.w3c.dom.*"%> <%@ page import="java.util.*"%> <%! // The following code was graciously provided by Armond Avanes (http://www.armondavanes.com) private String tla_ads( HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response ) throws IOException, ParserConfigurationException, SAXException { // Number of seconds before connection to XML times out // (This can be left the way it is) int CONNECTION_TIMEOUT = 10; // Local file to store XML // This file MUST be writable by web server // You should create a blank file and CHMOD it to 666 String LOCAL_XML_FILENAME = "local_95577.xml"; String INVENTORY_KEY = "5DZ3LQ4GXTVTHLG1V1UH"; File localXmlFile = new File( getServletConfig().getServletContext().getRealPath(LOCAL_XML_FILENAME ) ); if( !localXmlFile.exists() ) { return( "Text Link Ads script error: " + localXmlFile.getName() + " does not exist. Please create a blank file named " + localXmlFile.getName() + "." ); } if( !localXmlFile.canWrite() ) { return( "Text Link Ads script error: " + localXmlFile.getName() + " is not writable. Please set write permissions on " + localXmlFile.getName() + "." ); } if( localXmlFile.lastModified()<(new Date().getTime() - 3600*1000) || localXmlFile.length()<20 ) { String request_uri = (request.getRequestURI()!=null) ? request.getRequestURI() : ""; String user_agent = (request.getHeader("User-Agent")!=null) ? request.getHeader("User-Agent") : ""; URL url = new URL("http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml.php?inventory_key=" + INVENTORY_KEY + "&referer=" + response.encodeURL( request_uri ) + "&user_agent=" + response.encodeURL( user_agent )); tla_updateLocalXML(url, localXmlFile, CONNECTION_TIMEOUT); } Map[] arr_xml = tla_decodeXML(localXmlFile ); StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(); if( arr_xml!=null && arr_xml.length>0 ) { sb.append( "\n

\n" ); for( int i=0; i" ); sb.append( map.get("BeforeText") ); sb.append( " " + map.get("Text") + " " ); sb.append( map.get("AfterText") + "\n" ); } sb.append("

"); } return sb.toString(); } private void tla_updateLocalXML(URL url, File file, int time_out) throws IOException { file.setLastModified( new Date().getTime() ); String xml = file_get_contents_tla(url, time_out); if( xml!=null && !xml.trim().equals("") ) { FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(file); fw.write( xml ); fw.close(); } } private String file_get_contents_tla(URL url, int time_out) throws IOException { URLConnection urlConnection = url.openConnection(); //urlConnection.setConnectTimeout( time_out * 1000 ); //urlConnection.setReadTimeout( time_out * 1000 ); InputStream is = urlConnection.getInputStream(); StringBuffer content = new StringBuffer(); int ch; while( (ch=is.read())!=-1 ) content.append( (char)ch ); is.close(); return content.toString(); } private Map[] tla_decodeXML(File file) throws ParserConfigurationException, IOException, SAXException { Document dom = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance().newDocumentBuilder().parse( file ); Node linksRoot = dom.getFirstChild(); NodeList links = linksRoot.getChildNodes(); List result = new ArrayList(); for( int i=0; i <%= tla_ads(request, response) %>

Read what others say about Pathway To Success by clicking here!