Three things to NEVER skimp on
Posted on December 26, 2009
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My Internet business has afforded me many luxuries in life.
I work when I want.
I work on my back porch in the beautiful Florida weather, and I get to walk my kids to school in the morning and pick them up each day at 3:30.
I get more time with them than most fathers get with their kids… And I am grateful.
We don’t live “high on the hog” as my father would say…
Despite our success, we don’t drive fancy cars or live in a huge mansion.
There are, however, three areas where I spare no cost.
The first is my kids, and the experiences I am able to provide them. We travel frequently. We go to the beach alot. Them have access to the best schools, teachers, and technology.
Even before I started my business – When we were still living paycheck to paycheck – I still put my kids first.
It’s really important to me.
The second place I “splurge” is my mental and physical health. I take regular breaks from work to ride my bike, ride my skateboard, swim laps, and do Yoga.
I meditate. I take afternoon naps:-)
I get regular massages and regular pedicures, too. So as you can see, my success has enabled me to treat myself well, which helps me be a better husband and father… And keeps me feeling energized and motivated so I can get more done and spend less time doing it.
The third area where I indulge myself is in my travel. Anytime I have to fly, I fly first class.
Let’s face it: Flying SUCKS. Flying First Class even sucks… But it sucks alot less. With the extra leg room and wider, plusher seats you actually have a chance to sleep, or work.
Erik
Favor: Help me bring ‘em home!
Posted on December 15, 2009
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I have an important favor to ask of you for the holidays.
My friend Ernie spends each December begging, borrowing, and stealing to raise money to bring active military personnel (who can’t afford tickets) home for the holidays, to be with their families.
Whether you agree with the “war” or not, I think we can all agree that this is the time of year to be with those you love.
And Ernie gets hundreds of emails like this, which breaks my heart:
Ernie,
God bless you and all you do!
I have a wonderful son who is in the Marines, stationed right now at Twenty Nine Palms, CA. We are trying to get him home to Northern Michigan for the holidays, but the airfares are running $1000-$1200 for the flight, even with 3 connections and layovers.
This has made it impossible for him to come home. I have been a single mom since 1994 of five wonderful children, so ’set aside money’ just does not exist.
Would it be a possibility for your charity to assist us?
And if so, when should I check to see, or should I just look everyday?
I appreciate your time in reading this and letting me know. God bless you and thank you for all the good times, memories and love you have brought to so many with your efforts.
With all my respect,
Cindy L. Proud Marine Mom!
I want to give Ernie my support, so here’s the deal:
For every dollar you donate to help bring a soldier home to spend the holidays with their loved ones, I will MATCH your donation with my own money.
Can we raise enough money to bring home 50 hard working active military personnel for the holidays?
Your donation is 100% tax-deductible. Even $5 bucks helps…
Click here to donate:
http://www.lbeh.org/?help
With gratitude,
Erik
Important thoughts on goals and dreams:)
Posted on November 11, 2009
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It’s important that you set goals for yourself.
Not just business-related…
But personal goals too: Things to work towards, things you have always wanted to do for yourself and your loved ones.
Want to know mine?
Here are three of my “big ticket” personal goals that I look forward to accomplishing in the next two years:
1. Eat at Masa.
Masa is a gourmet sushi restaurant in New York City. The restaurant was opened by Chef Masa Takayama in 2004 and is considered one of the most expensive restaurants in the world. The menu is Omakase (Chef’s choice) only and a dinner costs roughly $500 per person, not including tip, tax or drinks…
There is only one seating each for dinner and lunch. Reservations are taken three weeks in advance. Chef Masa prepares the menu himself, often including seasonal ingredients. He uses many exotic ingredients, such as truffles and Kobe beef. Most of the fish is flown in from Japan. Chef Masa can be seen working behind the bar and will sometimes serve the food as well.
2. Take my wife to the Maldives Rangali Island Resort.
The award-winning Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort is set on two private islands among miles of idyllic white-sand beach and pristine reef. Wendy and I will arrive at the hotel in style in a seaplane over the lagoon, then dine in the world’s first all-glass, undersea restaurant:
Twice voted ‘Best Hotel in the World’ the Maldives hotel boasts 21 fabulous spa water villas with private treatment rooms. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, right?
3. Spend a month in Italy with my family.
Wendy has always wanted to visit Italy, and so this is a must. I think we will probably go in the summer, maybe even next summer! We will rent a beautiful, old farmhouse or villa, and spend the month swimming, hiking, and drinking wine:)
I can’t wait.
So? What are your goals?
I would love to know: Post a comment and share them!
Erik
Introducing… Beatrice!
Posted on September 27, 2009
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Hey guys…
I just hired a wicked-awesome assistant named Beatrice. She is an organizational NINJA, which is sure going to help me out a ton…
And even better: She is totally new when it comes to eBusiness and is really helping me understand how to better explain what I do so I can help more people who are starting at ground zero.
You guys are going to get to know her a lot better as she helps me manage my emails, schedule calls, and get better at getting back to you.
Here is a quick video we recorded today:
Cheers,
Erik
Happy Labor Day… Pick Your Pears!
Posted on September 7, 2009
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I got a great email from my “WAMA” (I call my mother-in-law “WAMA” or my “Washington Mom” because, well… She lives in Washington)
Anyways, here is what she sent. Happy Labor Day, folks…
It’s time to pick your pears. It’s Labor Day. It’s time to pick your pears. This admonishment has come down from several generations of grandmothers in our family.
It’s the end of summer and the Bartlet pears may still be small and hard without a hint of the sunny blush which portends their lush crispness but it is time to pick them now. You pick them all and put them in a box and each day you squeeze them with just enough pressure to determine if they have reached the peak of ripeness. Once they are ready, you must eat them right away or risk losing the moment to a subsequent tasteless mush.
What does this have to do with you?
You must recognize when it is time to act…when it is time to pick your pears. If you stall around, thinking it is not yet the right moment, you risk losing your best opportunity. So even if all is not ready yet, you must put things in motion, set the stage, and you will be positioned to harvest your fruit at its peak and realize your optimal reward.
The four levels of learning
Posted on August 31, 2009
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Hey guys!
I was chatting with my friend Randy the other day, and he said something interesting to me tht I thought I would share…
Randy is the manager at The Cigar Bar, which is one of my “satellite offices” here in South Florida… One of the places where I work when I get tired of my home office.
Anyways, Randy told me he explains to his employees the “four levels of learning” and they go like this:
1. Unconcious Incompetience. This is the first stage of learning… You basically don’t know anything… And you don’t even realize how little you know.
2. Concious Incompetience. This is where it dawns on you how little you really know, and how much you have to learn. You still suck at what you are tryint to do, but now you realize it. This is like, a wake up call for most people.
3. Concious Competience. Now you know the job… But you really have to focus, and pay attention to do it well.
4. Unconcious Competience. The fourth stage of learning. Now you know the job so well you can do it in your sleep.
Anyways, I found this interesting.
Erik
Erik Stafford Named StomperNet Faculty!
Posted on August 25, 2009
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StomperNet, the leading Internet Marketing training and educational company, has announced the addition of eBusiness veteran Erik Stafford as StomperNet faculty.
Erik comes from an advertising and design background and has won numerous awards over the past fifteen years, including several AAF-ADDY Awards. He has worked with a wide range of companies around the globe.
Most recently Erik has worked “behind the scenes” on several high-profile internet launches, providing his creative expertise to increase responsiveness and conversions.
Erik is an expert in direct response branding, direct response design (online and offline) and after leaving the grind of working for clients, he’s become an in-demand coach, consultant and speaker. His work has been responsible for millions in sales.
Brad Fallon, StomperNet’s CEO announced the addition of Erik Stafford via email newsletter, saying via Ross Goldberg that “(Erik is the best)… when it comes to helping newbies, guiding them into a business model that works, and teaching the basics of internet business in a way that can be understood.”
Erik added, “I am so pleased to be involved with a company that has such high standards for success, and I look forward to helping Stompers achieve their goals!”
Interesting exchange with my 5 year old
Posted on August 7, 2009
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Hey guys…
The other day I was running some errands, cruising around in the JEEP with my 5 year old son Evan…
And out of the blue, he leans over and says to me:
“Sometimes I have dreams about hurting people.”
…
……
Seriously!
……
…
I was speechless for a minute… I didn’t know what to say!
So after a minute of careful deliberation, I said to him, “Evan, I wish you were having dreams about HELPING people instead… not hurting them.”
And the funniest thing happened.
He sighed, and said “Dad, you just don’t get it…
“I don’t want to hurt GOOD people, just ‘bad guys’ that hurt animals, or other people. Like Batman, or Superman…
I want to help good people, and the animals… and hurt bad guys.”
It was a serious revelation for me.
In a split second I went from being REALLY concerned about my son to being REALLY proud of him.
Anyways, I am not sure why I am sharing this with you, or what it has to do with marketing or business…
Or even what the moral of this story is…
Maybe it’s to not automatically assume people understand what I mean when I say something to them?
And not to automatically think I understand where someone else is coming from without digging a little deeper?
Let me know your thoughts.
Erik
What would most help you succeed?
Posted on July 13, 2009
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I am spending some time this week taking notes on what has really worked well for me over the past year…
And creating some awesome, free training videos for my subscribers.
I want to make sure to build stuff that’s ACTUALLY going to help people, and not more of the “same old same old” that everyone else sends out…
Would you take a minute to post a comment and let me what you are most interested in?
I sure would appreciate it!
To your success,
Erik
Stupid bet… powerful lessons (short, fun video)
Posted on June 16, 2009
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Hey guys:
Check this out…
My pal Alan stayed a bit longer than he should have at the bar…
And found himself stranded on a desert island to satisfy a bet he barely remembers.
Ever have a day like that?
This guy really know his stuff — but I think he might have bitten off more than he can chew this time.
Check out this video and you tell me:
http://www.erik-recommends.com/thrive
There’s no need to opt in or anything to watch this fun, informative video.
But make sure you do fill out the Early Notification form on the page with the video.
Why?
Because you’ll get a pile of valuable freebies! (Including straight talk from a living legend who has sold over 4 BILLION with his marketing!)
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned in for THAT.
Just go here and join the fun:
http://www.erik-recommends.com/thrive
Cheers,
Erik
