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A Better Life: ItsYourFuture!

Be Happy Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper
=================================================================
Vol. 2, No. 23 December 1st., 2000 ISSN 1442-5211

CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE
----------------------

1. Our Sponsor

2. Welcome - From the Publisher

3. Our Motto

4. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE

Inspiration:

-An Old English Prayer
-The Age Of Beauty

Humor:

-Administratidium
-Signs Hanging In The Kitchen

Romance: On Your Mark, Get Set...

5. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION

Glen's "Food Fit for the Fit" Recipe: 3-in-1 Soup

6. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS

The Technology May Change, But Human Nature Remains The Same

7. Our Companion Ezine

8. Classified Ads.

9. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

10. Contact Information

=================================================================
1. Our Sponsor:
=================================================================

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=================================================================
2. Welcome from the Publisher
=================================================================

Hi all!

This week I've been honored to be invited to take part in the
Clicz Forum, one of the leading discuusion groups on the Web.
The topic was one dear to my heart...

"Whether, in a high-tech age when dot-coms are rushing to
automate as much as customer contact as possible, there's still
an important place for "high touch"-- old-fashioned one-to-one
sales."

You can read my not-so-humble thoughts on the subject as this
week's Feature Article in the Prosper section. I hope it gives
you some food for thought, and some encouragemnet to act!

Until next time,

John

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3. Our Motto
=================================================================

Our Motto is- "Be Happy, Be Healthy, Live Long and Prosper."
>From this Motto, we can define the three areas in which we intend
to assist our readers.

=================================================================
4. BE HAPPY: the MIND-ATTITUDE
=================================================================

Quote:
"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time, it is
regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable."
- Sydney Harris

Inspiration: An Old English Prayer
-----------------------------------

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love & be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

Inspiration: The Age Of Beauty
------------------------------

The most beautiful face I've ever known, belongs to my
eighty-seven-year-old grandmother. Each time I see her, I am
struck anew by the depth of her loveliness. The joy in her
journey, her struggles with sorrow, the threadsof wisdom she's
bent down and picked up along the way, are present in each line
of time upon her face.

How could anything - ever - be more beautiful?

We're taught to dread wrinkles and sags and softening of the skin
- the inevitable proof of the time we've spent here on earth.
Yet, the more time we put in, the more reason we find to
celebrate each passing year. Character is forged, integrity
strengthened and gratitude becomes a feeling so deep the word no
longer conveys a strong enough meaning.

I don't see an aging, forty-something face when I look in the
mirror. I see a person growing 'into' her face, finally beginning
the process of filling it out. At long last, she's figured out
what her convictions are and has built up enough strength to live
them.

The best of youth is gone. The best of here is now, and the best
of aging is yet to come.

Fresh and new, the face of youth is a blank canvas. It is through
the physical brushstrokes of aging that a masterpiece is created.

� 2000 Terri McPherson
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
[email protected]

Humor: Administratidium
-----------------------

Investigators at a major research institution have discovered the
heaviest element known to science. This startling new discovery
has been tentatively named Administratium [Ad]. This new element
has no protons or electrons,thus having an atomic number of 0. It
does, however, have 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice-
neutrons and 111 assistant vice-neutrons, giving it an atomic
mass of 312.

These 312 particles are held together by a force called morons,
which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles
called peons. Because it has no electrons, Administratium is
inert. However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction
with which it comes into contact. According to the discoverers, a
minute amount of Administratium causes one reaction to take over
four days to complete when it would normally take less than a
second.

Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three
years; it does not decay butinstead undergoes a reorganization in
which a portion of the assistant neutrons, vice-neutrons, and
assistant vice-neutrons exchange places. In fact, an
Administratium sample's mass will actually increase over time,
since with each reorganization some of the morons inevitably
become neutrons, forming new isotopes. This characteristic of
moron promotion leads some scientists to speculate that
Administratium is spontaneously formed whenever morons reach a
certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is
referred to as the "Critical Morass."

Don't worry, you'll know it when you see it!

Humor: Signs Hanging In The Kitchen
-----------------------------------

"If a messy kitchen is a happy kitchen then my kitchen is
delirious."

"If we are what we eat then I am easy, fast, and cheap!"

"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand."

"Don't complain about the coffee- you might be old and weak one
day yourself."

"Help keep the kitchen clean -- eat out."

"Countless number of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone
on to lead normal lives."

Romance:On Your Mark, Get Set...
--------------------------------

There are stock car races and thoroughbred races, I prefer leaf
races.

One of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon is a picnic
near a gurgling brook. After the wine, cheese, bagels and
strawberries I'm ready to head off to the races.

Athena and I each search for the perfect leaf - one that is light
enough to float briskly along with the current and yet tough
enough to survive the ravages of whirlpools and being tossed
against boulders. If there are no leaves to be found sticks can
be substituted.

If you plan in advance you can spend a couple of dollars at the
toy store and buy rubber ducks or toy boats to race. Not only are
these races wonderful for a couple, they are fun for the whole
family.

We might race 3, 5 or more times. We keep track of how many wins
we each have and the overall loser gets to buy ice cream, hot
chocolate or some other treat for the winner.

So for that next date, consider a day at the races.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Webb is author of The RoMANtic's Guide: Hundreds of
Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love, available from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786884347/itsyourfuture
For more of Michael's FREE tips, visit http://www.TheRomantic.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

You can keep up-to-date with the help we are providing, by
checking out the Report at http://LifeInAfrica.com/report.htm
at any time.

Readers who would like to contribute directly to LiA via credit
card (minimum $10), check, or international bank transfer, can
email Christina Jordan at [email protected] for special
ABL:IYF! instructions. Please send a copy of the email to me
(John)at [email protected] Please let me know if you
would like your generosity publicly acknowledged in the Ezine.

=================================================================
5. BE HEALTHY, LIVE LONG: the BODY-HEALTH/FITNESS/NUTRITION
=================================================================

Quote:
"Some physicians I have met refuse to accept the evidence that
nutrition, exercise and lifestyle are our main ddefences against
disease. From the look of them I suspect they do so because they
want everyone to be condemned to the same mediocre health they
suffer themselves."
- Dr Michael Colgan PhD.

How "Health Seekers" Use The Internet
-------------------------------------

Most net-savvy Americans - 55 percent - say they use the Internet
to gather medical information, but only about 10 percent
actually communicate with their doctors, buy prescriptions or
conduct other transactions online, according to a survey released
last Monday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. This
finding parallels the Internet experience of website trying to
sell autos. The customers search for information on the Internet,
but go to a dealer to make the purchase. That tells me that
customers are pretty clear on what they want to do. Some of the
Internet dotcoms who've flushed millions and millions of dollars
down the toilet didn't know, didn't care, and are finding out the
hard way!

Can Anger Predict Heart Disease Risk?
-------------------------------------

Research has established that people who are highly prone to anger
are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than
those who are not. Discovery Health has an excellent quiz for you
to take, with some suggestions on how to keep your cool. Why not
take it for a spin, or tell someone who needs to know?!

http://www.discoveryhealth.com/DH/ihtIH/WSDSC000/8271/24665.html

"Food Fit for the Fit" Recipe: 3-in-1 Soup
-------------------------------------------
with Glen Esse

1. Pumpkin Soup
---------------

Ingredients;

1 packet of chicken noodle soup mix
1 packet of french onion soup mix
2 1/2 litres of water
1 small pumpkin- enough chopped & peeled to fill the pot,
but still be covered by the liquid

Throw everything in at once; let simmer for 1/2 an hour,
stirring occasioally.

Remove pot from heat. You'll need to blend it all until you
have a good, smooth consistency. This can be done in a
blender, a food processor, or you can force it through a
sieve. I prefer my trusty Bamix, mixing it in the pot. You
may need to add a small amount of water or skim milk, if it's
too thick.

You now have pumpkin soup ready to serve. Add a small dollop
of light sour cream and a sprig of fresh parsley to each
plate.

This amount of soup serves about 6 people. If your house is
like mine, with one hungry beast and one fussy eater, you'll
have lots of soup left over. What to do with that?
Tomorrow you have Tomato Soup!

2. Tomato Soup
--------------

To one litre of the pumpkin soup, add the following while
heating;

1 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon raw sugar
1 1/2-2 cups of water

Be sure to stir it all in while it warms up- it doesn't need
to be re-cooked, just simmered for five minutes.

This can be served with a dollop of sour cream, fresh cream
or light natural yoghurt, and a sprinkle of dried or fresh-
chopped basil.

Once again, it was just the two of us. Now it gets
interesting. We still have lots of soup left! (Even though
this is may be the 3rd. or 4th. day, the soup keeps really
well, covered in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen.
OR, you can use it as a base for the next episode of our
3-in-1 soup- Minestrone!

3. Minestrone Soup
------------------

Heat soup through, adding one small can of 3-bean
mix. Then add one cup of cooked noodles or small
pasta- if you have something like spaghetti or
fettucine, just chop it up. Also add 1/2 to 3/4 cup
of chopped leg ham.

Add to this any firm cooked vegetables- like carrots,
cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato, potato, or green beans,
chopping it up into small pieces. You can improvise, and
throw in just about ANYTHING! Remember, NEVER put onions in
minestrone soup- they take away the delicate flavour. Finally,
add one heaped teaspoon of dried or fresh basil. Simmer for
five minutes, until it's all well heated. Serve with grated
parmesan.

This time!, I'll think I'll give the leftovers to my neighbour!
Enjoy!

=================================================================
6. PROSPER: MONEY-CAREER/BUSINESS/INVESTING/HOME BUSINESS
=================================================================

Quote:
"While unfilled niches are rare, poorly filled niches are
exceedingly common. I've come to expect so much from the
Internet, that I'm often frustrated by what is NOT available
online."
- Dr. Ralph Wilson

The Technology May Change, But Human Nature Remains The Same
------------------------------------------------------------
by John Payne

Let me repeat that..

"The technology may change, but human nature remains the same!"

In this wonderful Internet Age, we are all struggling, and
succeeding to different degrees, to keep up with the technology.
It's a never-ending battle. Web Technology. When it's good, it's
often poorly executed, and when it's bad- it's fatal. Frankly,
much of the time, the technology gets in the way of the sales and
communication process. Unfortunately, it seems that many people
responsible for website design understand the technology
available and what they want, more than they understand their
fellow man- their potential customers, and what THEY want.

Whoever got the idea to ask for your name and email addresses
before you can enter a site? Try that outside the front door of
the local McDonalds!

Whoever got the idea for fancy Flash presentations that take 3
minutes of your time to show off how good the graphics
designer was? Try telling people that they have to watch a video
presentation before they can enter Wal Mart!

Why can't more than half of Web shoppers find the product they
want on a site? Would that be acceptable at the local sports
store, or in a mail-order catalog?

Why do more than half of Web shoppers abandon their purchase
after they've selected goods and placed them in their shopping
trolley? Wouldn't that send your local supermarket broke?

This is truly a fascinating time to be a Marketer, and to watch
what is being done in the name of Marketing. Look at any
successful business in the 'dirt world', and you'll find that
it is being rewarded for responding to the needs of its
customers, and making more than enough profit to pay its bills.
Then look at what has passed for popular success on the Web, and
you find that it has to do with how exciting the concept is, how
many eyeballs it atracts, how innovative the 'business model',
or how revolutionary the technology used is. Nary a word about
about the customer satisfaction or profit that are necessary in
the real world.

I note with pleasure that some wiser heads are now writing about
the "New New Economy", and noting that it's looking more like the
Old Economy all the time. This trend will help give credit to
those businesses that have been truly successful on the Web (and
there are plenty of them), and set up a realistic expectation for
those that come onto the Web in the future.

Take away the technology, and to succeed in Web Marketing, you
still need to deliver the basic requirements of Marketing;
-A good Product
-At the right Price
-At the right Time
-At the right Place
It also helps mightily, if you have a good rapport with your
customer.

Which brings me back to the subject of this Forum...

"Whether, in a high-tech age when dot-coms are rushing to
automate as much as customer contact as possible, there's still
an important place for "high touch"-- old-fashioned one-to-one
sales."

MY answer, is a qualified 'Yes', and my belief that 'one-to-one
sales' isn't 'old-fashioned' at all! Have a look at all the
'new-fashioned' sites that tried to sell autos. They were dismal
failures. People used them for information, then went right on
down to their local dealerership to haggle and buy from real
people. No matter how good a job the programmers did of
automating customer contact, the customers didn't feel confident
enough to complete the transaction on the website. Some
businesses are so "high-touch", that wise marketers would choose
to use a website only as an information, branding and lead-
generation tool, with real people following up the leads.

Sure, you're right, the auto example is an extreme case. And,
no, you can't afford to have a real-live salesperson selling that
$9.99 CD online. I understand. Even in the real world, we have
vending machines, so we don't need a human holding our hand in
every sales transaction. It varies with the nature of the product.

No matter how much money and technology some Web businesses
throw at automating customer contact, they're doomed to failure.
You can only successfully automate something you UNDERSTAND.
Unfortunately, many of our dotcom whizz-kids have never had to
make a living from real customers in the real world, so they
just don't 'get it'. What online businesses DO need to do, is to
understand what the customers' needs are in the sales process,
and fulfil them.

What is really needed, is a caring, thoughtful fulfilling of
customers' needs and expectations at every step in their
experience with a Web business site. The better all the small
steps are performed, the less need there will be for real-time
human intervention (and the higher will be the conversion rate).
This means;

-a professional, friendly tone to the complete website
-information about who you are- the company, the founder, the
staff. Let your customer know that there are real people there
-sensible ads that don't mislead and set up unreal expectations
-relevant descriptions from customer searches of Directories
and Search Engines
-quick-loading webpages
-easy-to-understand page layout, with clear information
-easy-to-understand navigation
-a Privacy Policy to allay fears on privacy
-a Returns Policy and strong Guarantee to allay fears of making
the wrong choice
-a clear description of your products or services, and clear
pricing options
-secure credit card and information handling to further allay
fears on privacy
-a friendly, easy-to-use shopping cart
-a sincere Thank You, and information about what will happen
next

If all of these things are done, there will be little need for
one-on-one selling on MOST sites. You will already have done the
job. Through understanding your customer and providing excellent
serivice, NOT by spending more on technology!

Of course, offering some 'one-to-one' contact is a real plus
for any business, and necessary for those that are more
"high-touch". There are now a number of programs, some even
free, that allow a customer to contact a live operator at your
site. Check out LiveHelper.com and HumanClick.com Making it easy
for your customer to contact your business site by phone, fax and
email should be fundamental.

I read once that the definition of fanatacism was "Redoubling
your efforts when you've forgotten your original aim". Solving a
lack of customer rapport by throwing more technology at the
problem, comes perilously close to the definition.
=================================================================
7. Our Companion Ezine:
=================================================================

===================== WEB MARKETING EZINE =====================
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=============== THE HUMAN FACE OF WEB MARKETING ===============

=================================================================
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=================================================================
9. Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Copyright Notice
=================================================================

PRIVACY POLICY: Your privacy is important to us. We will not,
under any circumstances, divulge your details to a third party,
without your approval.

DISCLAIMER: A Better Life:ItsYourFuture! Ezine is intended
to increase your knowledge of the opinions and options in the
fields that we cover. Its contents should not be used to replace
professional advice. If you use this information without the
approval of a qualified professional, no responsibility can be
taken. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of
A Better Life:ItsYourFuture!

A Better Life:ItsYourFuture! may only be redistributed in its
unedited form. You are welcome to forward it to as many people
as you wish, with our thanks. Written permission must be obtained
to reprint or quote original material published in the Ezine.

=================================================================
10. Subscription and Contact Information
=================================================================

TO SUBSCRIBE: mailto: [email protected]

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: mailto:[email protected]

SEND A MESSAGE: [email protected]

ARCHIVE: http://www.egroups.com/list/ItsYourFuture
=================================================================
This ezine is a member of Ezine PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION.
Join Free At: http://www.EzinePublisher.org
=================================================================

=================================================================
ItsYourFuture is published By John Payne AAMI AIMM
At October 15th, 2000- 1335 subscribers, 48 countries
=================================================================