_____ FEATURED ARTICLE _____________________


             That's Where I Was Aiming!
	              Part II


In the last issue, we argued the non-existence of "luck" and 
encouraged you to get rid of the concept of "luck" altogether.

Now that you've had a little time to internalize this, how have 
you done?  Are you ready to make it happen?  Have you 
envisioned the possibilities in your business when you 
eliminate luck?

What will happen?

Well, first of all you're going to spend a lot more time 
preparing.  You're going to accept responsibility.  You're 
going to look for the possible areas where problems could occur 
and figure out creative, innovative solutions to those 
potential problems.  You'll eliminate that hopeless, hapless 
feeling that maybe today's going to be your lucky day, blaming 
things on luck.  

The winners in life accept absolute, total responsibility for 
there own success.  And, when good things happen to them, as 
they often do, successful people know the reason.  It's because 
they were in the right place at the right time and knew what to 
do with that fact.  They had spent the time preparing, and when 
those opportunities were there, their preparation was 
sufficient to capitalize on those opportunities.

George Bernard Shaw once said, "Luck is the residue of design." 
I believe he knew what he was talking about.  Mr. Shaw also 
insisted, "People are always blaming their circumstances for 
what they are.  I don't believe in circumstances.  The people 
who get on in this world are the people who get up, look for 
the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they 
make them."  

You see it's not simply the will to win, it's the will to 
prepare to win.  Perfect practice, not simply practice.

Why?

Practice makes a behavior permanent.  Perfect practice makes 
the behavior perfect.  So, invest in time to prepare.  Study 
your prospects and customers.  Read.  Read some more.  Alter 
those old unproductive habits.  And, remember that you're going 
to get what you're aiming for, not based on luck, but based on 
your preparation. 

In the spring of 1980, a woman stood in an auditorium, so 
packed with people, many lined the wall.  The women approached 
the podium and said, "My mother was a deaf mute, I've never 
know my father, my first job was as a cotton picker.  I stand 
before you this day as the treasurer of the United States of 
America.  My name is Ave Taylor Morton."

No one has to stay the way they are if they don't want to and 
it isn't luck. 

Prepare, have expectancy, see the opportunities that surround 
you.  Accept responsibility for your own success, avoid 
references to lucky charms, lucky streaks, and lucky breaks and 
you will make it happen. That should be your attitude. 

Finally, here's the story that prompted the title of this 
article...

Some years ago, there was a televised basketball game between 
Florida State and Virginia Tech.  This game made history.  One 
second left on the clock, the score was tied 77-77. Florida 
State had the ball, took a shot and missed.  Les Henson grabbed 
the rebound and seeing one second on the stop clock, took the 
ball from under Florida's basket and threw it across the court -
89 feet, three inches.  "Swish!" the ball went through his 
team's basket.  The auditorium erupted in pandemonium, the 
coach was on the floor almost incoherent.  The players were 
jumping on the coach, everyone yelling and screaming.

Then a television interviewer approached Les Henson and said, 
"Les, do you know what you have done? That's the longest shot 
in the history of collegiate basketball, 89 feet, 3 inches.  
What a lucky shot"! Les started at him in disbelief and said, 
"Luck?  That's where I was aiming."  

Now, you might say he just said that.  It really was just a 
lucky shot, right?  I mean, standing under the other teams 
basket and throwing it full court almost 90 ft...come on!

However, the following week in Sports Illustrated there was an 
article about Les Henson and that very shot.  It explained that 
after regular practice with the team, Les would stay late and 
practice what he called full and half court shots.  Les knew 
from watching televised games of college and pro teams, that 
sometimes a player, finding almost no time left on the clock, 
makes a wild shot and just throws the ball, hoping for a lucky 
hit.

Well Les decided not to spend his time counting on luck.  He 
chose to spend his time practicing.  And, practice he did, 
standing at the half court line and then under the basket, 
aiming for the hoop across court.

Then, on that day against Florida, the practice paid off.  
Les's name has gone down in the sports history books, but more 
importantly, he offers you, as a professional, those powerful 
words, "That's where I was aiming!"

So, when someone sees you with a big grin on your face (having 
dismissed luck and having prepared for your success) and that 
person says, "O' boy, are you lucky!"  Smile politely and 
reply, "Nope, that's where I was aiming"! 

------
About the Authors:
Successful entrepreneurs Heidi and Dave Perry are founders of
HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com.  Receive free issues
of their popular HomeBizBytes newsletter:
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb
-----
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_____ KIND THINGS YOU HAVE SAID ____________

Note from Heidi & Dave: 
Thanks for your kind words and congrats!...

   Hi Heidi,

   Congratulations on the number one spot at Yahoo :-)
   I'm 31 for home business,
   13 for business opportunities
   and 2 for home business opportunities

   Hopefully, Yahoo keeps this policy for a while :-)

   Neil Shearing
   Internet Success Blueprint
   http://www.scamfreezone.com/t.cgi?a=175328&e=/bizop/

   -----
   
   Hello, Heidi and Dave

   I just want to say, Congratulations!
   That is terrific news that HomeBusinessOnline.com 
   is #1 in both Yahoo and Google for home business!

   Take care,
   Carl Devendorf
   http://www.moneymakingtips.com



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