Tag Archive | "Retirement"

Global Retirement Freedom


One of the biggest benefits of retirement is freedom to do what you love and go where you choose.  

When you know how to write to sell, you can earn income doing what you love from the place you love most. You gain global retirement freedom… even though you really do not retire.

Since the 1960s our publications have recommended being a citizen of the world and having a fulfilling six point lifestyle posture which includes:

#1: Living in one country you love.

#2: Banking in a second country that is safe and preferably that you really enjoy.

#3: Investing in more than one country you would like to explore or feel good about.

#4: Earning through a pinnacle career that serves a community that is important to you and fulfills your destiny.

#5: Using a company incorporated in a fifth country that best fits your circumstances.

#6: Enjoying a second residence in a place where you love and want to be at times.

Most people never complete all six points and that is okay.  Just completing three (#1 – #2 – #4) of the points provides income, enormous tax and asset protection at the lowest possible cost.

Having lived in and out of the USA for 45 years, Merri and I believe that being global is vital from an investing and business point of view as well as enlivening one’s lifestyle.  We always expected that our main residence would be Ecuador.

A 90 year old mom, six grandchildren and clues to our destiny path (see Andean Shamans and Truth for this story) shifted the center of our destiny path to Small Town USA.

Yet we still have global freedom because we earn globally and have readers all over the world.

When you know how to write to sell, you can live anywhere you choose and still earn.   You can choose where the sun shines best for you and still have a pinnacle career.

A New York Times article entitled “Making a Move Abroad, and Working There, Too”  by Kerry Hannon explains why this growing trend exists. Here is an excerpt (bolds are mine):   When Patrice Wynne shuttered her independent bookstore, Gaia, in Berkeley, Calif., and retired, she knew three things. She wanted to move to a place where she could slow down the tempo of her life, and it was cheaper to live, but where she could continue to work in some fashion.

“I promised myself — I’m not going to slip into going to cocktail parties and playing tennis,” Ms. Wynne, 61, said. “I wanted engagement.”

Engagement is a key to a pinnacle career.  Our “Write to Sell” course looks at three steps for starting a pinnacle career.

Pinnacle Career Step #1: Defining the community you wish to serve.  This can be a community based on geography or on like minded souls who are spread around the world.

Pinnacle Career Step #2: Refining the community.  If you understand the root of the service you provide, then you’ll see how to give the greatest value to your customers.

Pinnacle Career Step #3:  Engagement.  This can be in person (as in Patricia Wynne’s shop), via the mail, via email, Facebook, Twitter, ebooks, tours, seminars or whatever best way  you choose to engage your customer.

The excerpts continues:  And that’s what she got. Three years ago, along a cobblestone street in the center of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, she opened Abrazos, a 650-square-foot retail shop selling colorful Mexican-themed fabric aprons, kitchen and cooking accessories, handbags and clothing, all sewn by a dozen local seamstresses.

Simply retiring abroad has become old news, as people seek cheaper places to live and to slash health care costs while enjoying more temperate climes. But now enjoying a “working retirement,” like Ms. Wynne’s, appears to be gaining traction with expats, as it has in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an increasing number of retirees, who can expect to live longer, healthier lives, are choosing to work in retirement, at least part-time, typically for fear of outliving their money or to keep active and engaged.

We live in a fortunate era. Throughout most of history life expectancies and requirements of work meant that the most experienced sector of the work force were no longer physically able to continue.  This created the concept of retirement.  In our high tech environment, a huge population which would have had to retire in days’ past… have a chance to create their most important pinnacle career.

This applies to all the Boomers and many now experienced Gen Xrs.   They can have a global income with their own micro business abroad, in their current home or in Smalltown USA.

The excerpt continues: “ It seems that the factors that are driving continued work later in life, including part-time work, would be the same for Americans at home and abroad,” said Kevin Cahill, an economist with the Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College. “So I think it’s fair to say that, if the employment opportunities exist, we shouldn’t be surprised to see similar trends with respect to part-time employment for U.S. retirees living abroad.”

In many countries, though, you are required to have a work permit for certain jobs and prove there are not citizens there who could fill the position, she added. In Panama, for example, you can’t work as a doctor or nurse unless you are a Panamanian citizen.

Many expats, like Ms. Wynne, start their own businesses like restaurants, shops, real estate agencies, art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts and small hotels.

Another tip we offer in our “Write to Sell” course is to create unique products with high margins.

Restaurants, shops, real estate agencies, art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts and small hotels are options however most of these have a lot of competition.   When there is competition, your service or product becomes a commodity. The only way to sell commodities is via price.  If your product or service is a commodity, then the market, rather than you, rules your margins.

Keys to success in this era are to be small, profitable through uniqueness and focus, and adaptable.

We live in a wonderful era with technology that gives us freedom to earn as we do what we love while living where we desire.

We can gain this global freedom when we know how to write to sell.

Gary

Details on our Write to Sell ONLINE course

Join us June 14, 15, 16  or August 31- Sept 1-2  at our Writer’s Camp where we teach how to write to sell.

Writer’s Camps

Attend our summer Writer’s Camp in Blue Ridge Mountains.   Start immediately with our online course Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher FREE right away. ($299 value).

writers camp

Delegates  talking over books at last year’s summer Writer’s Camp.

Our Writer’s Camps help learn writing to sell… the business of writing and how to publish.

Our summer and autumn writer’s camps in North Carolina fill up quickly. Our winter writer’s camp was totally filled.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please indicate which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

My wife, Merri, and I have possibly the smallest… yet one of the highest earning… self publishing company in the world.

Our high earnings come from writing, self publishing secrets we learned and refined over the past 45 years of writing to sell.  These secrets have worked so well they have earned extra millions for Merri and me and we share them at our writer’s camps..

Our goal at the camps are to help you “Get Started”… but to “Start Small” and maybe like us stay that way… small… tightly focus but highly profitable.

There I said it flying in the face of society hammering us to “Think Big”. This is the era where small is beautiful in a very big way.

At the camps we dive into this idea of smallness for profit.

I am stuck with this horrible fear of being broke. You know unfilled promises… tight finances… money worries…even costly groceries and bill collector stuff. I had all that decades ago and even though 40 years have passed it’s not forgotten.

I hate this for anybody. No money. No future prospects. Worry about the kids. Not knowing how to retire… or where to turn.

45 years ago I started writing because I was broke.  These problems over 40 years ago affected me for life.  In fact I am so hung up on this that that Merri and I (we are so thankful that we can) give away money to help create jobs… we have now donated close to a million dollars in our quest to reduce joblessness.

Merri and I are writers and self publishers. We have earned as much as $20,000 for a single day’s work… and have earned consistently year in and year out… while we do what we love… because of a few secrets.

We want to share these secrets with you so you can make six and even seven figure income each year in a matter that suits you.

There is more good news than the money.  The secrets we share make working fun. You are your own boss. You gain respect so your ideas are listened to.

Most important you can be self fulfilled as you make the world a better place by writing.

Merri and I invite you to share a writer’s camp we’ll conduct in 2013?   This will be a retreat high in the Blue Ridge for a select few that can help you create you own publications for profit.

Believe me… we will be relentless about three facts… serve well… be gratified… make good profits.

The retreat will be conducted in the seclusion of a forest.  We’ll meet in June  or August… but we want the work on your publication to begin right away…. tomorrow even.  I’ll explain how you can begin right away in a moment.

At the camp we teach super thinking as well as how to write and publish.  This secret “little system” creates a crack in the creative process… so you’ll not have just one idea for a business but many.  You may be flooded with ideas!  In fact a big part of the workshop narrows you down to deciding what to write first.

Merri and I are living proof.  We can’t open the darn paper without getting a new idea.

First, let me repeat…Start Small!

The camp by the way is called “Self Fulfilled – How to Write and Self Publishing”.   I am thinking of renaming it “Start Small but Earn Millions”.

Writers who earn the most are writers, like Merri and myself, who also publish.   We always make an annual six figure income but some years we net seven figures…over a million dollars. That’s because we figured out that the lion’s share of income earned from writing goes to the publisher. The publishing part of writing can be outrageously profitable.

One case study we’ll look at in the course reviews the book. “Who Moved My Cheese.” It’s so small! I love it!  The publisher had to push just to make it look like a book, yet 17 million copies in the first two years of release. No one is laughing. If the normal price is $19.95 a book, that’s $339,155 million in sales. If the author received a normal 12% royalty (on the wholesale price) he made a cool $20,346,500 (and much more as the book has continued to sell for years).

Pretty good, huh?

The $20 million plus will pay for quite a few groceries. Almost anyone would love to have this much income until they realize that this leaves the publisher with the other $300 million to spread around.

The neat thing about being a small, self publisher is that virtually all this money (the other 88%) is yours! (Sometimes the 12% too.) In other words, it could be all yours.

Merri and I began publishing with no money and little background. We started small! As already mentioned, I was bust and had no background in writing. I did not finish college.

Before we share the exact schedule of this exciting camp, let me outline a few of the benefits that self publishing has brought to Merri and me.

If you accept our invitation, we will hammer, even bombard you with the absolute, vital importance of starting small. We live in the era of epublishing that makes small “big”.   This plays perfectly into the hands of small businesses and copywriters as we just happened to have a perfect advantage right now in the marketplace.

Let’s begin to understand this with that old rule… follow the money. Our self publishing business has brought us millions. We own four houses, a farmhouse, six cabins and over 1,000 acres of land. Plus more money than we can spend, in the bank… safe, secure bonds and shares… no mortgages… no credit card bills and zero debt!

Now let’s get to the important stuff.  Our life is less stressed (not stress free – every business has stress) but Self Publishing can be a low stress business… no commuting… choose your own hours… immersed in your own passions with like minded souls. Work at home. How refreshing!

gary-scott-image

Here I am at our Florida home… at work?

You can have fun every day doing what you love as you accomplish goals that are important… to you… and are a service to your community.

Merri and I, for example, love helping people get jobs.  So we used self publishing to create a foundation (Land of the Sun Foundation) to help the indigenous learn how to get work. The foundation has donated nearly a million dollars in Ecuador to create jobs.

What do you love? Why not make the kinds of money I’ve just mentioned publishing your passion and do something good for the world at the same time?

Your passion and self publishing create…magic, wealth, happiness.

Three other things you gain.

#1: Respect. If you are not a recluse like Merri and me, you’ll find yourself the center of attention at social events and with your friends and in business because publishing is highly respected.

#2: Power. Everyone wants publishers to distribute good information about them. And everyone fears publishers a bit. The pen IS mightier than the sword!

#3: Protection. Writers are protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You do not need a license to publish. There is no government watchdog nor do you have bureaucratic red tape involved in publishing. Publishers enjoy almost more freedom than any other occupation because of the Freedom of the Press. This is so powerful because the first amendment is actually a part of the Bill of Rights. Just in case you missed this in school (as most students did including me) here are the exact words of this amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You become the press and you are set free. You cannot get more protection than that.

Shall we get back to the money and lifestyle? What can self publishing do financially for you?

Merri and I love nature so our home in Florida is set amidst and orange grove… just far enough from busy parts of the state that we enjoy wonderful peace and quiet. This makes a perfect place to study.  This is a winter shot from the front yard of our Florida home looking over our orange grove and lake…  that we bought with cash from our self published writing.

gary-scott-home

This is only where we live in the winter.

The Blue Ridge is our summer home.  That name is a slight misnomer for a large part of the year.  Correctly named in the winter, these mountains would be called “White Ridge”. The white comes from snow which begins with S as does South which is where we head around November…to Florida or Ecuador .

While it’s freezing in the North Carolina mountains, we worry about sunburn sometimes.

The Ecuador hotel, by the way, is one of the most satisfying parts of our self publishing business. We bought it from bankruptcy because a dozen wonderful people (with babies and kids and worries about education, medical bills and yes groceries) were about to lose their jobs.

Mostly right now… due to a elderly mom and many wonderful new grand kids we spend winters at our in Florida and visit family in Oregon and England.  So for your convenience (and ours) the next two writers camp will be conducted near our Ashe County North Carolina farm.

Why attend this camp?  Self publishing can easily fulfill all of your material needs.  More importantly it throws you together with fantastically interesting people from all walks of life.   You all share a common goal… to write… to sell… to earn.  This create magic for all.

You can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle.  Married, single, rich, poor, in good and bad health, educated and not, travelers and those who want to just stay at home. This is who self publishing works for… those who want a gradual part time improvement in life and those who want to make big enhancements now.

This workshop appeals to anyone who would like to write or publish or both.  We will look at how published products can include compilations, catalogues, CDS, interviews. Plus we’ll look at how to develop treks, tours, visits, products and services.

For example, you’ll see below how one delegate who attended the workshop used her publication to sell real estate.

This course is for individuals and couples. We include those who want their own publishing system together as a family business.

Self employed, retired, professionals and those who are employed who want to add extra income or who want to change their life entirely will benefit. Previous course delegates have included investors, chiropractors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, other professionals and those who already own their own business and of course retirees.

This workshop is not theory. Merri and I share our real time experiences. We start at the beginning over 40 years ago but mainly look at how we earn hundreds of thousands and even millions a year in our exciting lifestyle…right now.

Let’s get our noses to the grindstone. The workshop provides a Path called the seven Ps. They provide a simple, small and easy path for starting your own publishing business.

The workshop has one focused, refined and relentless goal. To prepare you to start your first publication the day after the workshop ends!

May I add that this workshop has done a pretty good job already?  Here are a few examples of small self publishing businesses that started after attending this workshop.

Barry Weinhold who attended our Writers Camp wrote:   My first book sold over 200,000 copies in print. After attending your course I have published another book at Amazon.com.
Thanks for helping get the word out.   The First free download of Book One had about 900 downloads and we have sold about 90 books since then. I did get some great reviews on Book One. Now book two is ready.

weinhold book

You can order Barry’s second book ($2.99) on Amazon.com by clicking here. “Breaking Family Patterns: How To Change Your Family Patterns!

Nicki Goff  who attended our writer’s camp wrote shortly after that she completed her first book “Easy Quinoa Recipes” with 13 quinoa recipes.

She had 10,000 downloads of the book in five days and obtained dozens of good reviews!

She wrote:  Hi, Gary,  Book sales are actually going well, and I’m having a lot of fun with this. I’m so grateful to you and Merri  for pushing me to get some action going!

The free promos really get things going, and seem to reignite sales.

Two more in the works – both on gardening topics.  Best wishes for 2013 to you and Merri.   Love, Nicki

What a joy seeing how helping and connecting people helps all create their own special success.  How beautiful to see friends turn their passions into profit!

You can get 13 more great quinoa recipes in Nicki Goff’s book at the links below.

quinoa-book

You can order Nicki’s first book at Amazon.com.

Nicki learned at the camp that getting these downloads is step three in a seven step process. We (and others) have been helping Nicki and our delegates walk through these steps so they can earn income through writing and publishing again and again.

Nicki is now well on her way to wonderful self publishing success.   She just completed her fourth book, “Under Cover Gardening”

The Writer’s Camp helps people of all ages from their teens to their 80s!

The father of the family of four wrote:  Hi Gary and Merri:  Just thought y’all would like to know that today Doss published his first book.  It is called College Confidential and it is currently listed at number 42 on amazon. com.  He would not have done it but for our experience this summer at your Writer’s Camp.

So, here is thanking you both very much.

Bill Winter

This book is written by a student, for students, College Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Success written by Doss Winter is filled with practical tips and insider information addressing everything from Academics to getting your Zzzzs.

doss winter

Order College Confidential at Amazon.com here.

The writer’s camp refines both Merri’s and my 40 years of experience into its most essential points. All of us will have to work intensely to cram everything into three days.

This workshop is being conducted by Merri and me. We will be hosting the event near our North Carolina farm.   These camps are intimate which allows us to personally work with each delegate to assure that all who attend can create their own publication.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyascott/8029808357/

Day one, at 9 a.m. sharp, we get to work.

What will you write?  Some of you know what you want to do…that’s great.  We’ll work on that.  Some of you just feel that you can succeed in this field…we’ll hone that and work on that.  We’ll create our own niches.

Your product? Your goals?  This is why we are inviting you to enroll in the camp now. This is a long term program and we’ll help you create your own product now that we can work on at the camp.

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into the 7 Ps of self publishing. Passion, Problem, Person, profitably priced Product, pathways to Prospects, Promise and Presentation.

Then we get down to brass tacks by placing the ideas you have fractured under the first magnifying glasses of Passion, Problem and Person. This is the beginning of your first perfect product so you can become your own perfect client.

I’ll talk about how your passions, your current knowledge bring you to your own niche create the stories.  We’ll look at the all powerful “Golden Rule of Simplicity…Your Passions Represent Markets”.

Merri and I will both show you how to follow your passion to the market and use your passion to find “Prospecting Pathways” and “Presentation Templates” that are the drivers of your business.

Merri’s publishing skills and history, by the way, far exceed mine. She began her own import business selling products form Italy , Germany and Mexico through her own advertisements she wrote in the New Yorker, Sunday NY Times, Smithsonian, House & Garden, House Beautiful, and other magazines. Then with her ad agency edited and published hundreds of books, brought a bankrupt magazine to award winning status as executive editor to Gulf Shore Life (which later sold to the Robb Reports for $22+ million dollars), has edited over 1400 writers and was even offered the top editor (the only female) at the National Enquirer working directly with Generoso Pope (which she politely turned down).  She lectured at Magazine Conferences throughout the South to help others bring their own publishing ventures to awarding winning and financial success.

We’ll then return to and chip away at your fractured writing and publishing ideas to refine the most valuable asset you have in your business armory… your imagination.

Finally around 5 pm, we’ll stop working as one large group. However, that is not the end of the educational, evolutionary process that will by now be whirling away. You’ll have enough momentum and information to refine your publication.  That’s what you’ll be assigned to do.

We won’t want you to work too late though.  We still have a lot to do in the next two days.

Day two, I already know what will happen. You’ll all be sitting around with others buzzing over your ideas. I’ll have to force you back to group work at 9 a.m. because you’ll have such a head of steam you won’t want to stop talking. However, I hope that you have followed Merri’s and my example and had a good night’s sleep. Experience suggests that some of you in your excitement, will have worked through the night. You might not get to sleep now because today we’re going to accomplish three days work in a day!

We’ll start with a review of your assignments. No red marks or stars by the way… just feedback and a gentle coaxing toward the ways to create winning writing and self publishing ventures.

Then we’ll get into how to turn your thoughts/desires/energies into reality with:

#1: Stories with authenticity, meaning and roots.

#2: Stories true to the heart.

#3: Stories with conflict.

#4: Stories with passion.

The “why” of these four qualities is fascinating and so impossibly important, yet simple, that knowing it is worth the entire investment you make in the workshop. Here it is quick, down and dirty… knowledge worth millions.

There are three main demographic subgroups in the Western World. One is dying out. One controls everything but the third is rapidly rising… growing so fast that it can take down even a big organization like Starbucks (which it did in England) if ignored. Yet this third group (whom you will write and publish for) is at least partially ignored by every large corporation in the world. They all make the same cheesy error and this huge mistake creates fracturing opportunities for you… which will be the tiny, but immensely profitable small publisher.

We go on to our next Story Review about small niches that Merri and I have fractured. How we beat a publisher that’s 1,500 times larger in this niche.

We’ll break for lunch. Then at 2 pm it’s back to work:

In the afternoon, Merri and I look at how to match your passion to the National Psyche by studying the NY Times & USA Today best seller lists. We’ll see how new indie epublishers are creating top selling books and provide magical clues that lead to successful products, stories and marketing.

We’ll work on epublishing…how it is virtually free of expense to start/continue/succeed.  Only things necessary:  inspiration, desire, hard work and follow through…actual cost?  Zero.

Then we’ll review how to use Twitter to develop viral marketing and… what’s next!

Getting your reports, books or simply ideas on the epublishing parade…that’s through Kindle, Book Nook, Apple, etc.

The excitement that builds by this time of the camp often interferes with the dream process.  Ideas for reports, publishing ideas, businesses, stories, new lifestyles and bigger profits come rushing forth even though you are trying for sheep.

Regardless, on Day 3, – as before, we’ll start at 9 a.m. sharp and remain intensely focused until mid afternoon.

Before Merri and I wrap up the entire process, we’ll outline our how we’ll continue to assist you for the rest of the year.

Let’s end this with a summary:  Merri and I will begin to help you develop your publishing, writing idea the minute you enroll.  Our goal is to help you create your own product so you can fine tune it in July.  The workshop will help you come up with new ideas… but we want you to start one now. Merri and I will be glad to help you with it.

Okay, how about your cash investment? The cost of the workshop.

As I said earlier, Merri and I have been self publishing for 40 years. This invitation provides access to information we share with only a very limited group.

The cost of the camp is  $799 or $999 for a couple. Travel, your accommodations and other meals are your responsibility.

Registration is severely limited due to the personal attention we provide.   We expect to be full.

Here is how to register immediately.

Click below:

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We’ll send you an email giving you details and your preparatory assignments for the camp, travel, etc.

We’ll set up our line of communications as well as deliver our online Self Publishing course.

We’ll send you what you need to get started. We’re going to be learning from the first minute, and we want you to be ready.

Get started and work with us and the online course until the camp begins.

Best regards,

Gary

P.S. This is a chance to experience the dream life of a writer and self publisher.

We are going to work hard the entire time from now until the camp but the effects of this retreat won’t end on day 3. They’ll just begin.

One of the finest benefits you gain will be new like-minded friends. Our previous workshop delegates have stuck together…formed support groups and helped each other develop, grow and profit. This is called an “old boys network” in some places. Every major university and educational system has one…this invisible power because “who you know”, not just “what you know” works. We’ll encourage this so your alumni group can enhance your efforts whenever required.

May I share three final examples of how big, your little self publishing business can become from our workshop?

A long time friend, who had just retired from a 30 year career in the oil industry joined our program. His passion was to learn more about health and looking at the deep, more spiritual aspects of life since he had ended a financially successful career. He has gone on to publishing the leading healthy living magazine where he lives.

Not only does he publish 20,000 copies of a 48-64 page magazine on healthy living every month, he has been able to meet and work with leading health and spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dwyer and even the Dali Llama. What a thrill.

Michelle Toole, an at home mother, made a fateful decision… to attend our self publishing course.

Michelle was disabled when she took the “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher” camp.

She took what she learned from our publishing courses and created her own successful global micro website.

Michelle wrote:  “I have some great news, my web site  http://healthy-holistic-living.com is now getting on average 2,000 visitors a day! Yup my little one man show web site now gets close to 60,000 visitors each month!  The power of the internet is amazing as well as the opportunities.  We have said it before but it deserves saying again the internet is truly the great equalizer.

“My web site is at a point now that it is growing without much effort and produces a nice passive income allowing me to continue working on my second site http://home-remedies-and-natural-cures.com and to get my third site up and running.  I am also working on various joint ventures with other web sites focusing on helping others start their own web business. I am doing monthly webinars helping disabled individuals start their own business on the Internet and will be starting a coaching club in the new year.  The opportunities are only limited by one’s imagination.

“Again I can not thank you and Merri enough, I look forward to many great adventures and new experiences in the coming years!”

Another successful self publisher who attended our workshop wrote :

“MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING from all of the valuable input I received. Out in the boonies, 2 + hours from the airport in Charlotte , North Carolina it was not your typical setting for a business seminar.

“It was presented by a fascinating guy with an interesting career history. Gary Scott and his wife, Merri, split their time between their idyllic farm in North Carolina and their property in the mountains of Ecuador . I first heard about Gary through my interest in Ecuador .

“By his own admission, Gary is often ‘a bit ahead of the curve’ which is part of what makes his material interesting. You sense the authenticity of what he is saying but it has not caught on in the mainstream media or pop-culture.

“The input is that is already affecting my life was not just from the instructor, but from other participants. The small group, less than twenty, seemed to be intimately bonded as soon as the seminar started. People from all walks of life and all parts of the country gained insights from the information that was geared to create a ‘life of your choosing more so than just a successful business. A very simple but powerful concept. Why do we want the money in the first place?

“The lifestyle aspect of the course was taught by example. We, as a group, were temporarily inserted directly into the lifestyle led by Gary and Merri. No better way to learn than by doing.

“The course content suited my needs very nicely. It addressed issues pertinent to FilmTrips and my marketing company, MJ Media. New life has been injected into several FilmTrips projects that had been languishing on a back burner for quite some time. Gary talks about being open to ‘connect the dots’ and take advantage of distortions or discrepancies between economies and countries. I am in a very good position to do that. Telephone and Internet technology has certainly arrived to help make it happen. I will keep you posted!”

In the workshop we learn how to use the “Business Evolutionary Process.” Start with a small idea. Let the idea build enthusiasm. Let the enthusiasm lead you to an education. Let the education create action. The action will bring, deeper ideas…so you can start small and grow.

This is what so many others who have accepted Merri’s and my invitation have done and are doing now….as are we. A never ending process for all.

We hope you will join this growth process with us. If you do, this letter…the invitation and the workshop will be fateful and fun.  Register today!

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

Delegates from our last camp wrote:  My daughter and I had a fantastic time at the Writer’s Camp this past weekend.  We both felt we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on “how to make money with our writing skills”!  Thank you.
 
Yours and Merri’s expertise on transmitting knowledge to others is phenomenal.  The warm, personal feel of being with you both along with the great people in the class was great!
 
Thank you again for all the added information gained in all areas of life and what I consider gourmet meals served to us all.
 
Donna/Jeanna

Another wrote: Have just returned from the writing seminar conducted at your farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, I thought I’d give you my take on what I experienced. To suggest that the location, hosts, seminar content, and accommodations were adequate would be an understatement.

This was my introductory visit to the northwestern corner of North Carolina and it appears, from looking at the map, that this area could be considered the “foothills” of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Remote? You bet! But a beautiful place for retreating when life or weather calls for relocation.

Corresponding as we have for the past two years was simply a forerunner to our one on two meeting and I am so pleased that we found this opportunity.  You are both most personable with dynamic and pleasing personalities. I was extremely comfortable the entire weekend and thank you for making that possible.

The seminar itself opened a whole new world that I hope to explore in the coming months. I drove away from your farm with a well inflated right rear tire and a wealth of information that could catapult me into a whole new profession should I opt to go that route. I still have a number of professional business ideas that I intend to pursue, however, the concepts and ideas conveyed in your seminar will serve to enhance whatever I undertake going forward.

But if there was one underlying common denominator that I recognized, it was the fact that you are both so well qualified to present in this field of communication. Probably my most prolific observation was how well read and knowledgeable you are. The breadth and depth of knowledge on so many diverse yet associated subjects kept my unswerving attention. It also opened my mind to a variety of fields that, heretofore, I would not have considered relevant to my interests. And as a presenter, Gary is prolific. I drove away knowing that not only did the seminar give me my money’s worth but I was introduced to some very valuable contacts.

The bottom line is your seminar was both eye opening and entertaining. I came, I saw, I learned, and I even ate healthy. Thanks for everything. John

The son of a father son team sent this note:  Hi Merri!  I just attended your writers camp with my dad this past weekend.  I didn’t get to express how much I appreciated all that you and Gary did for us this weekend because we were in a hurry to get to the airport. Letting us stay in your cottage and having us for your writers camp was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! Gary and Merri’s stories of adventure, success, your lessons, and advice are truly priceless!!

This camp has inspired me. Writing has always come naturally for me but I never was able to view it as a business opportunity.

This camp has shown me not only that writing can be profitable, but HOW to make it profitable! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with me. In my lifetime, I could only hope to see the success that you and Gary have achieved.

I not have only signed up for your newsletter, but I can’t stop spreading the word to my friends about my experience. Thanks again for your amazing hospitality,  Mitchell

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We share a David Cross video at the camp.

david-cross-image tags:"2012-4-21"

David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He’s guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline.   He started working with the internet from the getgo and we have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s.  He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD.  David worked closely with Agora’s publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora’s online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.

More who have written about the Writer’s Camp.

From Sandra, a restaurant owner:  “Dear Gary and Merri, Yes I did it! Without you and your wonderful writing class I would not have been able to see my potential!! I THANK YOU BOTH! You told me to write about what I know and I did. Thank you for all the encouragement. Starting today, we are taking orders and I wanted you to be the first to know! So here goes…..I have some exciting news to share! I have just written my first book and very much appreciate your help. This book would make a great gift for any bride-to-be or even the parents of the bride (especially if they’re paying the bill)! Please check it out. I genuinely appreciate you helping me spread the word! Thank you!! Sandra”

From Jerusha, an anthropologist:  “Hello Gary and Merri. I am the first in the class to publish! I published a calendar on www.lulu.com!

From Todd, a wedding photographer:  “Thanks, Gary and Merri name recognition is beginning. Here is my new photoletter that your program helped me develop. I’m getting more clear about my own marketing now, so I may be able to better advantage of it. I am planning now to send out an email once a week showcasing new photos and creating awareness for my products and services. By mid July, I will place my first greeting card order (with a printing company Merri recommended in Cotacachi). So, I will soon have an inexpensive product to offer along with the more expensive prints that I sell. So far, I’ve got 60 opt-on subscribers to my email list, and I am telling everyone I know about it, so it’s starting to grow nicely. My first goal is to have 1000 readers. I’ll see how quickly I can accomplish it. Take care, Todd”

From Micky, a real estate broker:  “I want to say thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that I received through your publishing program. I recently published a 28 page booklet” Naples is Priceless “. This FREE booklet is being distributed through the Chamber of Commerce, banks, hotels, etc. With over 25 years as a Realtor I can now let potential real estate buyers gain knowledge and inside tidbits about this beautiful area. Again, thank you for helping me develop my potential. Micky”

Meet other successful writers.

Mike Herron who atteded our camp and is now on his second book just wrote:   Hello Gary, I wanted to thank you and Merri for once again providing a wonderful and motivating experience at the Writer’s Camp last month.  As with your other workshops I’ve attended, it inspired me to return home and finish my second book and get it published.

I’m pleased to announce that Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read.  It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.

appalachian gold

Unlike my first novel, Black Diamonds, the first book in the Colors of Alaska trilogy which takes place in Homer, Alaska, Appalachian Gold is set in the North Georgia Mountains.  As is my style, I interweave local legends with love and bring them to contemporary life.

Susan and I both hope to attend more of your workshops at your North Carolina camps, perhaps we can manage to get up to one this summer.  Maybe we can even work in a book signing at a nearby winery to help spread the word about Appalachian Gold.

Now I will turn my attention to completing the second book in my Alaskan trilogy. It will be called Blue Ice.  Susan and I will be visiting Alaska in May and June doing research for the book, enjoying the majestic scenery, and visiting our son.

If any of your readers are aspiring authors who have yet to be published I would strongly encourage them to sign up for one of your writing camps at the first opportunity.  I know the experience will provide them with the skills, knowledge and perhaps more importantly, the motivation, to return home and turn their dream into reality.

Best wishes always and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Mike

Our online course “Self Fulfilled -  How to be a Self Publisher” is normally $299.  See more here.

Save the $299 and receive this online course FREE now.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

New York Times article Making a Move Abroad, and Working There, Too

 

Free Better Retirement Reports


Many want a better retirement.   Some want to retire early.  Others are at retirement age… but need more income.  Others want to feel better and many ask, “What can I do that is important?”

I urge you to consider a better retirement with a purpose.  Make this your pinnacle career.  Every person is born with a destiny.  Technology, modern medicine and broadband communication make it possible to fulfill your purpose better, for longer and in the process also earn more.

Here in this message is a reminder about the four reports that I am offering you free.  Please help yourself to any or all of these.

logging road

Photo from Mastermarf.com

A better retirement with purpose can be a long, beautiful road.

This is why, for one more week, we are offering the following better retirement reports on affordable natural health, bank safety, retirement tax and better retirement thinking, FREE.

Better Retirement Report #1: How to Gain Everlasting Health & Wealth

Merri and I want to help you have a better retirement, with natural health, an everlasting income and extraordinary lifestyle at any age.  To do this the first FREE report is entitled “How to Gain Everlasting Health & Wealth”.

One of the things that this report explains is why after listening to specific types of music from Baroque composers,  you can unlock untapped intelligence that perhaps you have been missing.

You can hear some of this music also.

This report is about how to absorb, recall and retain information and can help you in learning and business, but can also be important if you have any health concerns.  The report tells how music has helped with memory problems and tells of a medical miracle when one article says:

The man had not spoken in three or four years. An older man in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, he could no longer care for himself and required a high level of assistance in his daily activities of living.

But on one particular day, Concetta Tomaino, DA, a certified music therapist, offered a different kind of dementia therapy-she sang an old Yiddish song to him and some of her other patients. “You could tell by his face that he was watching,” recalls Tomaino. From a man in his condition, attention was a lot to ask for.

“Whenever I got a chance I played this song to him and sang to him. Within a month of doing this, he was making an attempt to speak, and he eventually started singing the song himself. He also started talking again. He continued talking and lived for many years after that.”

 “How to Use Super Thinking to Gain Everlasting Health & Wealth” free in this very limited time offer.

You can have “How to Use Super Thinking to Gain Everlasting Health & Wealth” FREE by clicking here.

Better Retirement Report #2: Andean Longevity Purification Health Secrets.

We are exposed to many uncommon toxicities in the most common ways.  Numerous poisons are hidden in plain sight and are really hard to avoid.

Fortunately there are simple steps we can help us regain our health and rid ourselves of toxins in our system.

This is why I hope that you will enjoy the free report, ”Andean Longevity Purification Health Secrets”.

There are two even more insidious ways that you are polluted with BPA, often daily.  Get the free report “Andean Longevity Purification Secrets”.   See where you routinely are exposed to BPA every day.  Then see simple ways to eliminate these toxins that surround us.

la morage spa

For example one shamanic purification solution uses cinnamon as a regular, inexpensive, enjoyable and tasty cleanser.  Photo from “Andean Longevity Purification Secrets” report.

Learn these simple but effective shamanic secrets.   Get this free report now.  Click here.

Better Retirement Report #3:  Reduce Bank Risk.

Many 0verseas banks are in a position of conflict.  The local banking and investing laws sometimes conflict with those in the US.

The first hint of this came in the late 70s. I banked with Credit Suisse in Zurich. They simply sold (without asking) all the mutual funds I had there. New SEC regulations prohibited non SEC registered banks from selling many types of mutual funds to Americans. The Credit Suisse response was to simply sell all mutual funds held by their US clients and not let them buy any more.

Then, in the early 80s, though I lived in London for years, it became harder for me to even bank there!

Later the Austrian bank I used stopped accepting American clients. Many other overseas banks raised minimum accounts to a million or more.

Complying with US regulations just was not worth it for the banks and as mentioned at times created conflicts. To follow US law, they broke laws in the country of the bank.

Deterioration of banking services for Americans abroad followed…slowly but regularly there were fewer services and fewer banks for Americans.

This report entitled “Retirement Economic Bank Risk” looks at bank risks created by aging demographics, modern bank management and the nature of democracy.

* See a demographic problem that is now affecting the safety of banking… everywhere.

* Learn why modern bank management systems at America’s largest banks threaten bank stability.

* Review how a truth in one of Aesop’s fables complicates any easy resolution to global bank risk.

* See how pinnacle wealth systems that reduces bank risk.

Order the FREE Retirement Economics Bank Risk report by clicking here

Better Retirement Report #4: Filling the Void – Retirement Businesses that Reduces Tax.

“Filling the Tax Void” starts with this thought:  “The tax pinnacle we can all reach is when everything we want to do is tax deductible.”

This report includes details on:

* Why Pinnacle Careers are more fun and create more spending power.

*  How Pinnacle Careers reduce tax.

* Two ways to legally organize Pinnacle Careers.

* How an LLC used in a Pinnacle Career Can Cut Tax Audits in Half.

* 10 Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost Business Owners Thousands.

* Contacts on Attorneys who specialize in setting up your business.

* Contacts on Tax Preparers who specialize in overseas reporting and pinnacle careers.

We are working with both Ecuadorian and US attorneys and tax preparers to help our readers who live or plan to live abroad.

This report is entitled “Filling the Tax Void” and explains how positive lifestyle shifts not only create greater worth and value in your life, but also reduce tax as your business efforts become more meaningful to the world.In the meantime, I have written a report on the importance of bank safety when considering the retirement economics.

To access this report “Fulfilling Careers that fill the Tax Void” FREE , click here

Better Retirement Report #5:  The Power in the Key Muscles

Smooth or Ring muscles include the muscles around the eyes, the nostrils, anus, urethra, genitals and the mouth. In a healthy body, all sphincters work together, contracting and relaxing simultaneously. They also activate the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, the musculoskeletal system and the urogenital system. Ring muscles are ultimately responsible for putting all the other muscles and all the organs of the body to work.

Chewing correctly stimulates the ring muscles and consequently helps exercise all our muscles.

Learn how to easily exercise the smooth muscles in our FREE report “The Power in the Key Muscles” 

This reports are available free through this Sunday May  26, 2013

There has never been an era when so many of us have an opportunity to make a real difference in the world.   Accepting this responsibility can create a better more fulfilling retirement.  Merri and I hope they help bring purpose and clarify your destiny to you.

Gary

Learn how to have a better retirement with writing to sell.

Learn about our online writing and self publishing course here.

Writer’s Camps

Attend our summer Writer’s Camp in Blue Ridge Mountains.   Start immediately with our online course Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher FREE right away. ($299 value).

writers camp

Delegates  talking over books at last year’s summer Writer’s Camp.

Our Writer’s Camps help learn writing to sell… the business of writing and how to publish.

Our summer and autumn writer’s camps in North Carolina fill up quickly. Our winter writer’s camp was totally filled.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please indicate which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

My wife, Merri, and I have possibly the smallest… yet one of the highest earning… self publishing company in the world.

Our high earnings come from writing, self publishing secrets we learned and refined over the past 45 years of writing to sell.  These secrets have worked so well they have earned extra millions for Merri and me and we share them at our writer’s camps..

Our goal at the camps are to help you “Get Started”… but to “Start Small” and maybe like us stay that way… small… tightly focus but highly profitable.

There I said it flying in the face of society hammering us to “Think Big”. This is the era where small is beautiful in a very big way.

At the camps we dive into this idea of smallness for profit.

I am stuck with this horrible fear of being broke. You know unfilled promises… tight finances… money worries…even costly groceries and bill collector stuff. I had all that decades ago and even though 40 years have passed it’s not forgotten.

I hate this for anybody. No money. No future prospects. Worry about the kids. Not knowing how to retire… or where to turn.

45 years ago I started writing because I was broke.  These problems over 40 years ago affected me for life.  In fact I am so hung up on this that that Merri and I (we are so thankful that we can) give away money to help create jobs… we have now donated close to a million dollars in our quest to reduce joblessness.

Merri and I are writers and self publishers. We have earned as much as $20,000 for a single day’s work… and have earned consistently year in and year out… while we do what we love… because of a few secrets.

We want to share these secrets with you so you can make six and even seven figure income each year in a matter that suits you.

There is more good news than the money.  The secrets we share make working fun. You are your own boss. You gain respect so your ideas are listened to.

Most important you can be self fulfilled as you make the world a better place by writing.

Merri and I invite you to share a writer’s camp we’ll conduct in 2013?   This will be a retreat high in the Blue Ridge for a select few that can help you create you own publications for profit.

Believe me… we will be relentless about three facts… serve well… be gratified… make good profits.

The retreat will be conducted in the seclusion of a forest.  We’ll meet in June  or August… but we want the work on your publication to begin right away…. tomorrow even.  I’ll explain how you can begin right away in a moment.

At the camp we teach super thinking as well as how to write and publish.  This secret “little system” creates a crack in the creative process… so you’ll not have just one idea for a business but many.  You may be flooded with ideas!  In fact a big part of the workshop narrows you down to deciding what to write first.

Merri and I are living proof.  We can’t open the darn paper without getting a new idea.

First, let me repeat…Start Small!

The camp by the way is called “Self Fulfilled – How to Write and Self Publishing”.   I am thinking of renaming it “Start Small but Earn Millions”.

Writers who earn the most are writers, like Merri and myself, who also publish.   We always make an annual six figure income but some years we net seven figures…over a million dollars. That’s because we figured out that the lion’s share of income earned from writing goes to the publisher. The publishing part of writing can be outrageously profitable.

One case study we’ll look at in the course reviews the book. “Who Moved My Cheese.” It’s so small! I love it!  The publisher had to push just to make it look like a book, yet 17 million copies in the first two years of release. No one is laughing. If the normal price is $19.95 a book, that’s $339,155 million in sales. If the author received a normal 12% royalty (on the wholesale price) he made a cool $20,346,500 (and much more as the book has continued to sell for years).

Pretty good, huh?

The $20 million plus will pay for quite a few groceries. Almost anyone would love to have this much income until they realize that this leaves the publisher with the other $300 million to spread around.

The neat thing about being a small, self publisher is that virtually all this money (the other 88%) is yours! (Sometimes the 12% too.) In other words, it could be all yours.

Merri and I began publishing with no money and little background. We started small! As already mentioned, I was bust and had no background in writing. I did not finish college.

Before we share the exact schedule of this exciting camp, let me outline a few of the benefits that self publishing has brought to Merri and me.

If you accept our invitation, we will hammer, even bombard you with the absolute, vital importance of starting small. We live in the era of epublishing that makes small “big”.   This plays perfectly into the hands of small businesses and copywriters as we just happened to have a perfect advantage right now in the marketplace.

Let’s begin to understand this with that old rule… follow the money. Our self publishing business has brought us millions. We own four houses, a farmhouse, six cabins and over 1,000 acres of land. Plus more money than we can spend, in the bank… safe, secure bonds and shares… no mortgages… no credit card bills and zero debt!

Now let’s get to the important stuff.  Our life is less stressed (not stress free – every business has stress) but Self Publishing can be a low stress business… no commuting… choose your own hours… immersed in your own passions with like minded souls. Work at home. How refreshing!

gary-scott-image

Here I am at our Florida home… at work?

You can have fun every day doing what you love as you accomplish goals that are important… to you… and are a service to your community.

Merri and I, for example, love helping people get jobs.  So we used self publishing to create a foundation (Land of the Sun Foundation) to help the indigenous learn how to get work. The foundation has donated nearly a million dollars in Ecuador to create jobs.

What do you love? Why not make the kinds of money I’ve just mentioned publishing your passion and do something good for the world at the same time?

Your passion and self publishing create…magic, wealth, happiness.

Three other things you gain.

#1: Respect. If you are not a recluse like Merri and me, you’ll find yourself the center of attention at social events and with your friends and in business because publishing is highly respected.

#2: Power. Everyone wants publishers to distribute good information about them. And everyone fears publishers a bit. The pen IS mightier than the sword!

#3: Protection. Writers are protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You do not need a license to publish. There is no government watchdog nor do you have bureaucratic red tape involved in publishing. Publishers enjoy almost more freedom than any other occupation because of the Freedom of the Press. This is so powerful because the first amendment is actually a part of the Bill of Rights. Just in case you missed this in school (as most students did including me) here are the exact words of this amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You become the press and you are set free. You cannot get more protection than that.

Shall we get back to the money and lifestyle? What can self publishing do financially for you?

Merri and I love nature so our home in Florida is set amidst and orange grove… just far enough from busy parts of the state that we enjoy wonderful peace and quiet. This makes a perfect place to study.  This is a winter shot from the front yard of our Florida home looking over our orange grove and lake…  that we bought with cash from our self published writing.

gary-scott-home

This is only where we live in the winter.

The Blue Ridge is our summer home.  That name is a slight misnomer for a large part of the year.  Correctly named in the winter, these mountains would be called “White Ridge”. The white comes from snow which begins with S as does South which is where we head around November…to Florida or Ecuador .

While it’s freezing in the North Carolina mountains, we worry about sunburn sometimes.

The Ecuador hotel, by the way, is one of the most satisfying parts of our self publishing business. We bought it from bankruptcy because a dozen wonderful people (with babies and kids and worries about education, medical bills and yes groceries) were about to lose their jobs.

Mostly right now… due to a elderly mom and many wonderful new grand kids we spend winters at our in Florida and visit family in Oregon and England.  So for your convenience (and ours) the next two writers camp will be conducted near our Ashe County North Carolina farm.

Why attend this camp?  Self publishing can easily fulfill all of your material needs.  More importantly it throws you together with fantastically interesting people from all walks of life.   You all share a common goal… to write… to sell… to earn.  This create magic for all.

You can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle.  Married, single, rich, poor, in good and bad health, educated and not, travelers and those who want to just stay at home. This is who self publishing works for… those who want a gradual part time improvement in life and those who want to make big enhancements now.

This workshop appeals to anyone who would like to write or publish or both.  We will look at how published products can include compilations, catalogues, CDS, interviews. Plus we’ll look at how to develop treks, tours, visits, products and services.

For example, you’ll see below how one delegate who attended the workshop used her publication to sell real estate.

This course is for individuals and couples. We include those who want their own publishing system together as a family business.

Self employed, retired, professionals and those who are employed who want to add extra income or who want to change their life entirely will benefit. Previous course delegates have included investors, chiropractors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, other professionals and those who already own their own business and of course retirees.

This workshop is not theory. Merri and I share our real time experiences. We start at the beginning over 40 years ago but mainly look at how we earn hundreds of thousands and even millions a year in our exciting lifestyle…right now.

Let’s get our noses to the grindstone. The workshop provides a Path called the seven Ps. They provide a simple, small and easy path for starting your own publishing business.

The workshop has one focused, refined and relentless goal. To prepare you to start your first publication the day after the workshop ends!

May I add that this workshop has done a pretty good job already?  Here are a few examples of small self publishing businesses that started after attending this workshop.

Barry Weinhold who attended our Writers Camp wrote:   My first book sold over 200,000 copies in print. After attending your course I have published another book at Amazon.com.
Thanks for helping get the word out.   The First free download of Book One had about 900 downloads and we have sold about 90 books since then. I did get some great reviews on Book One. Now book two is ready.

weinhold book

You can order Barry’s second book ($2.99) on Amazon.com by clicking here. “Breaking Family Patterns: How To Change Your Family Patterns!

Nicki Goff  who attended our writer’s camp wrote shortly after that she completed her first book “Easy Quinoa Recipes” with 13 quinoa recipes.

She had 10,000 downloads of the book in five days and obtained dozens of good reviews!

She wrote:  Hi, Gary,  Book sales are actually going well, and I’m having a lot of fun with this. I’m so grateful to you and Merri  for pushing me to get some action going!

The free promos really get things going, and seem to reignite sales.

Two more in the works – both on gardening topics.  Best wishes for 2013 to you and Merri.   Love, Nicki

What a joy seeing how helping and connecting people helps all create their own special success.  How beautiful to see friends turn their passions into profit!

You can get 13 more great quinoa recipes in Nicki Goff’s book at the links below.

quinoa-book

You can order Nicki’s first book at Amazon.com.

Nicki learned at the camp that getting these downloads is step three in a seven step process. We (and others) have been helping Nicki and our delegates walk through these steps so they can earn income through writing and publishing again and again.

Nicki is now well on her way to wonderful self publishing success.   She just completed her fourth book, “Under Cover Gardening”

The Writer’s Camp helps people of all ages from their teens to their 80s!

The father of the family of four wrote:  Hi Gary and Merri:  Just thought y’all would like to know that today Doss published his first book.  It is called College Confidential and it is currently listed at number 42 on amazon. com.  He would not have done it but for our experience this summer at your Writer’s Camp.

So, here is thanking you both very much.

Bill Winter

This book is written by a student, for students, College Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Success written by Doss Winter is filled with practical tips and insider information addressing everything from Academics to getting your Zzzzs.

doss winter

Order College Confidential at Amazon.com here.

The writer’s camp refines both Merri’s and my 40 years of experience into its most essential points. All of us will have to work intensely to cram everything into three days.

This workshop is being conducted by Merri and me. We will be hosting the event near our North Carolina farm.   These camps are intimate which allows us to personally work with each delegate to assure that all who attend can create their own publication.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyascott/8029808357/

Day one, at 9 a.m. sharp, we get to work.

What will you write?  Some of you know what you want to do…that’s great.  We’ll work on that.  Some of you just feel that you can succeed in this field…we’ll hone that and work on that.  We’ll create our own niches.

Your product? Your goals?  This is why we are inviting you to enroll in the camp now. This is a long term program and we’ll help you create your own product now that we can work on at the camp.

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into the 7 Ps of self publishing. Passion, Problem, Person, profitably priced Product, pathways to Prospects, Promise and Presentation.

Then we get down to brass tacks by placing the ideas you have fractured under the first magnifying glasses of Passion, Problem and Person. This is the beginning of your first perfect product so you can become your own perfect client.

I’ll talk about how your passions, your current knowledge bring you to your own niche create the stories.  We’ll look at the all powerful “Golden Rule of Simplicity…Your Passions Represent Markets”.

Merri and I will both show you how to follow your passion to the market and use your passion to find “Prospecting Pathways” and “Presentation Templates” that are the drivers of your business.

Merri’s publishing skills and history, by the way, far exceed mine. She began her own import business selling products form Italy , Germany and Mexico through her own advertisements she wrote in the New Yorker, Sunday NY Times, Smithsonian, House & Garden, House Beautiful, and other magazines. Then with her ad agency edited and published hundreds of books, brought a bankrupt magazine to award winning status as executive editor to Gulf Shore Life (which later sold to the Robb Reports for $22+ million dollars), has edited over 1400 writers and was even offered the top editor (the only female) at the National Enquirer working directly with Generoso Pope (which she politely turned down).  She lectured at Magazine Conferences throughout the South to help others bring their own publishing ventures to awarding winning and financial success.

We’ll then return to and chip away at your fractured writing and publishing ideas to refine the most valuable asset you have in your business armory… your imagination.

Finally around 5 pm, we’ll stop working as one large group. However, that is not the end of the educational, evolutionary process that will by now be whirling away. You’ll have enough momentum and information to refine your publication.  That’s what you’ll be assigned to do.

We won’t want you to work too late though.  We still have a lot to do in the next two days.

Day two, I already know what will happen. You’ll all be sitting around with others buzzing over your ideas. I’ll have to force you back to group work at 9 a.m. because you’ll have such a head of steam you won’t want to stop talking. However, I hope that you have followed Merri’s and my example and had a good night’s sleep. Experience suggests that some of you in your excitement, will have worked through the night. You might not get to sleep now because today we’re going to accomplish three days work in a day!

We’ll start with a review of your assignments. No red marks or stars by the way… just feedback and a gentle coaxing toward the ways to create winning writing and self publishing ventures.

Then we’ll get into how to turn your thoughts/desires/energies into reality with:

#1: Stories with authenticity, meaning and roots.

#2: Stories true to the heart.

#3: Stories with conflict.

#4: Stories with passion.

The “why” of these four qualities is fascinating and so impossibly important, yet simple, that knowing it is worth the entire investment you make in the workshop. Here it is quick, down and dirty… knowledge worth millions.

There are three main demographic subgroups in the Western World. One is dying out. One controls everything but the third is rapidly rising… growing so fast that it can take down even a big organization like Starbucks (which it did in England) if ignored. Yet this third group (whom you will write and publish for) is at least partially ignored by every large corporation in the world. They all make the same cheesy error and this huge mistake creates fracturing opportunities for you… which will be the tiny, but immensely profitable small publisher.

We go on to our next Story Review about small niches that Merri and I have fractured. How we beat a publisher that’s 1,500 times larger in this niche.

We’ll break for lunch. Then at 2 pm it’s back to work:

In the afternoon, Merri and I look at how to match your passion to the National Psyche by studying the NY Times & USA Today best seller lists. We’ll see how new indie epublishers are creating top selling books and provide magical clues that lead to successful products, stories and marketing.

We’ll work on epublishing…how it is virtually free of expense to start/continue/succeed.  Only things necessary:  inspiration, desire, hard work and follow through…actual cost?  Zero.

Then we’ll review how to use Twitter to develop viral marketing and… what’s next!

Getting your reports, books or simply ideas on the epublishing parade…that’s through Kindle, Book Nook, Apple, etc.

The excitement that builds by this time of the camp often interferes with the dream process.  Ideas for reports, publishing ideas, businesses, stories, new lifestyles and bigger profits come rushing forth even though you are trying for sheep.

Regardless, on Day 3, – as before, we’ll start at 9 a.m. sharp and remain intensely focused until mid afternoon.

Before Merri and I wrap up the entire process, we’ll outline our how we’ll continue to assist you for the rest of the year.

Let’s end this with a summary:  Merri and I will begin to help you develop your publishing, writing idea the minute you enroll.  Our goal is to help you create your own product so you can fine tune it in July.  The workshop will help you come up with new ideas… but we want you to start one now. Merri and I will be glad to help you with it.

Okay, how about your cash investment? The cost of the workshop.

As I said earlier, Merri and I have been self publishing for 40 years. This invitation provides access to information we share with only a very limited group.

The cost of the camp is  $799 or $999 for a couple. Travel, your accommodations and other meals are your responsibility.

Registration is severely limited due to the personal attention we provide.   We expect to be full.

Here is how to register immediately.

Click below:

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We’ll send you an email giving you details and your preparatory assignments for the camp, travel, etc.

We’ll set up our line of communications as well as deliver our online Self Publishing course.

We’ll send you what you need to get started. We’re going to be learning from the first minute, and we want you to be ready.

Get started and work with us and the online course until the camp begins.

Best regards,

Gary

P.S. This is a chance to experience the dream life of a writer and self publisher.

We are going to work hard the entire time from now until the camp but the effects of this retreat won’t end on day 3. They’ll just begin.

One of the finest benefits you gain will be new like-minded friends. Our previous workshop delegates have stuck together…formed support groups and helped each other develop, grow and profit. This is called an “old boys network” in some places. Every major university and educational system has one…this invisible power because “who you know”, not just “what you know” works. We’ll encourage this so your alumni group can enhance your efforts whenever required.

May I share three final examples of how big, your little self publishing business can become from our workshop?

A long time friend, who had just retired from a 30 year career in the oil industry joined our program. His passion was to learn more about health and looking at the deep, more spiritual aspects of life since he had ended a financially successful career. He has gone on to publishing the leading healthy living magazine where he lives.

Not only does he publish 20,000 copies of a 48-64 page magazine on healthy living every month, he has been able to meet and work with leading health and spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dwyer and even the Dali Llama. What a thrill.

Michelle Toole, an at home mother, made a fateful decision… to attend our self publishing course.

Michelle was disabled when she took the “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher” camp.

She took what she learned from our publishing courses and created her own successful global micro website.

Michelle wrote:  “I have some great news, my web site  http://healthy-holistic-living.com is now getting on average 2,000 visitors a day! Yup my little one man show web site now gets close to 60,000 visitors each month!  The power of the internet is amazing as well as the opportunities.  We have said it before but it deserves saying again the internet is truly the great equalizer.

“My web site is at a point now that it is growing without much effort and produces a nice passive income allowing me to continue working on my second site http://home-remedies-and-natural-cures.com and to get my third site up and running.  I am also working on various joint ventures with other web sites focusing on helping others start their own web business. I am doing monthly webinars helping disabled individuals start their own business on the Internet and will be starting a coaching club in the new year.  The opportunities are only limited by one’s imagination.

“Again I can not thank you and Merri enough, I look forward to many great adventures and new experiences in the coming years!”

Another successful self publisher who attended our workshop wrote :

“MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING from all of the valuable input I received. Out in the boonies, 2 + hours from the airport in Charlotte , North Carolina it was not your typical setting for a business seminar.

“It was presented by a fascinating guy with an interesting career history. Gary Scott and his wife, Merri, split their time between their idyllic farm in North Carolina and their property in the mountains of Ecuador . I first heard about Gary through my interest in Ecuador .

“By his own admission, Gary is often ‘a bit ahead of the curve’ which is part of what makes his material interesting. You sense the authenticity of what he is saying but it has not caught on in the mainstream media or pop-culture.

“The input is that is already affecting my life was not just from the instructor, but from other participants. The small group, less than twenty, seemed to be intimately bonded as soon as the seminar started. People from all walks of life and all parts of the country gained insights from the information that was geared to create a ‘life of your choosing more so than just a successful business. A very simple but powerful concept. Why do we want the money in the first place?

“The lifestyle aspect of the course was taught by example. We, as a group, were temporarily inserted directly into the lifestyle led by Gary and Merri. No better way to learn than by doing.

“The course content suited my needs very nicely. It addressed issues pertinent to FilmTrips and my marketing company, MJ Media. New life has been injected into several FilmTrips projects that had been languishing on a back burner for quite some time. Gary talks about being open to ‘connect the dots’ and take advantage of distortions or discrepancies between economies and countries. I am in a very good position to do that. Telephone and Internet technology has certainly arrived to help make it happen. I will keep you posted!”

In the workshop we learn how to use the “Business Evolutionary Process.” Start with a small idea. Let the idea build enthusiasm. Let the enthusiasm lead you to an education. Let the education create action. The action will bring, deeper ideas…so you can start small and grow.

This is what so many others who have accepted Merri’s and my invitation have done and are doing now….as are we. A never ending process for all.

We hope you will join this growth process with us. If you do, this letter…the invitation and the workshop will be fateful and fun.  Register today!

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

Delegates from our last camp wrote:  My daughter and I had a fantastic time at the Writer’s Camp this past weekend.  We both felt we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on “how to make money with our writing skills”!  Thank you.
 
Yours and Merri’s expertise on transmitting knowledge to others is phenomenal.  The warm, personal feel of being with you both along with the great people in the class was great!
 
Thank you again for all the added information gained in all areas of life and what I consider gourmet meals served to us all.
 
Donna/Jeanna

Another wrote: Have just returned from the writing seminar conducted at your farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, I thought I’d give you my take on what I experienced. To suggest that the location, hosts, seminar content, and accommodations were adequate would be an understatement.

This was my introductory visit to the northwestern corner of North Carolina and it appears, from looking at the map, that this area could be considered the “foothills” of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Remote? You bet! But a beautiful place for retreating when life or weather calls for relocation.

Corresponding as we have for the past two years was simply a forerunner to our one on two meeting and I am so pleased that we found this opportunity.  You are both most personable with dynamic and pleasing personalities. I was extremely comfortable the entire weekend and thank you for making that possible.

The seminar itself opened a whole new world that I hope to explore in the coming months. I drove away from your farm with a well inflated right rear tire and a wealth of information that could catapult me into a whole new profession should I opt to go that route. I still have a number of professional business ideas that I intend to pursue, however, the concepts and ideas conveyed in your seminar will serve to enhance whatever I undertake going forward.

But if there was one underlying common denominator that I recognized, it was the fact that you are both so well qualified to present in this field of communication. Probably my most prolific observation was how well read and knowledgeable you are. The breadth and depth of knowledge on so many diverse yet associated subjects kept my unswerving attention. It also opened my mind to a variety of fields that, heretofore, I would not have considered relevant to my interests. And as a presenter, Gary is prolific. I drove away knowing that not only did the seminar give me my money’s worth but I was introduced to some very valuable contacts.

The bottom line is your seminar was both eye opening and entertaining. I came, I saw, I learned, and I even ate healthy. Thanks for everything. John

The son of a father son team sent this note:  Hi Merri!  I just attended your writers camp with my dad this past weekend.  I didn’t get to express how much I appreciated all that you and Gary did for us this weekend because we were in a hurry to get to the airport. Letting us stay in your cottage and having us for your writers camp was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! Gary and Merri’s stories of adventure, success, your lessons, and advice are truly priceless!!

This camp has inspired me. Writing has always come naturally for me but I never was able to view it as a business opportunity.

This camp has shown me not only that writing can be profitable, but HOW to make it profitable! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with me. In my lifetime, I could only hope to see the success that you and Gary have achieved.

I not have only signed up for your newsletter, but I can’t stop spreading the word to my friends about my experience. Thanks again for your amazing hospitality,  Mitchell

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We share a David Cross video at the camp.

david-cross-image tags:"2012-4-21"

David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He’s guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline.   He started working with the internet from the getgo and we have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s.  He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD.  David worked closely with Agora’s publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora’s online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.

More who have written about the Writer’s Camp.

From Sandra, a restaurant owner:  “Dear Gary and Merri, Yes I did it! Without you and your wonderful writing class I would not have been able to see my potential!! I THANK YOU BOTH! You told me to write about what I know and I did. Thank you for all the encouragement. Starting today, we are taking orders and I wanted you to be the first to know! So here goes…..I have some exciting news to share! I have just written my first book and very much appreciate your help. This book would make a great gift for any bride-to-be or even the parents of the bride (especially if they’re paying the bill)! Please check it out. I genuinely appreciate you helping me spread the word! Thank you!! Sandra”

From Jerusha, an anthropologist:  “Hello Gary and Merri. I am the first in the class to publish! I published a calendar on www.lulu.com!

From Todd, a wedding photographer:  “Thanks, Gary and Merri name recognition is beginning. Here is my new photoletter that your program helped me develop. I’m getting more clear about my own marketing now, so I may be able to better advantage of it. I am planning now to send out an email once a week showcasing new photos and creating awareness for my products and services. By mid July, I will place my first greeting card order (with a printing company Merri recommended in Cotacachi). So, I will soon have an inexpensive product to offer along with the more expensive prints that I sell. So far, I’ve got 60 opt-on subscribers to my email list, and I am telling everyone I know about it, so it’s starting to grow nicely. My first goal is to have 1000 readers. I’ll see how quickly I can accomplish it. Take care, Todd”

From Micky, a real estate broker:  “I want to say thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that I received through your publishing program. I recently published a 28 page booklet” Naples is Priceless “. This FREE booklet is being distributed through the Chamber of Commerce, banks, hotels, etc. With over 25 years as a Realtor I can now let potential real estate buyers gain knowledge and inside tidbits about this beautiful area. Again, thank you for helping me develop my potential. Micky”

Meet other successful writers.

Mike Herron who atteded our camp and is now on his second book just wrote:   Hello Gary, I wanted to thank you and Merri for once again providing a wonderful and motivating experience at the Writer’s Camp last month.  As with your other workshops I’ve attended, it inspired me to return home and finish my second book and get it published.

I’m pleased to announce that Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read.  It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.

appalachian gold

Unlike my first novel, Black Diamonds, the first book in the Colors of Alaska trilogy which takes place in Homer, Alaska, Appalachian Gold is set in the North Georgia Mountains.  As is my style, I interweave local legends with love and bring them to contemporary life.

Susan and I both hope to attend more of your workshops at your North Carolina camps, perhaps we can manage to get up to one this summer.  Maybe we can even work in a book signing at a nearby winery to help spread the word about Appalachian Gold.

Now I will turn my attention to completing the second book in my Alaskan trilogy. It will be called Blue Ice.  Susan and I will be visiting Alaska in May and June doing research for the book, enjoying the majestic scenery, and visiting our son.

If any of your readers are aspiring authors who have yet to be published I would strongly encourage them to sign up for one of your writing camps at the first opportunity.  I know the experience will provide them with the skills, knowledge and perhaps more importantly, the motivation, to return home and turn their dream into reality.

Best wishes always and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Mike

Our online course “Self Fulfilled -  How to be a Self Publisher” is normally $299.  See more here.

Save the $299 and receive this online course FREE now.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Retirement Economics: Rewards & Adventure


Here is an idea that can help your retirement economics.  This shows a way to earn extra if you are retired or a way to develop an enjoyable income that allows you to retire early and easier.

Some of the great advancements of mankind have come from exporters.  Exporting can create income… but does ever so much more…. bringing adventure and sometimes weaving an entirely new fabric in society.

marco polo biography.com

Photo from biography.com (see link below)

Marco Polo for example was a Venetian merchant and adventurer and traveled from Europe to Asia from 1271 to 1295.

His quest to find new goods for Europe certainly led him on some adventures and the goods, products and his books changed the world.

His exports were so influential that two centuries after Marco’s passing, another traveler looking for ways to create import export potential, Christopher Columbus, set off across the Atlantic in hopes of finding a new route to the Orient. With him was a copy of Marco Polo’s book!

Below is a note about retirement economics and exports sent by Roberto Ribadeniera head of the Ateam Ecuador in Quito.

Extra Income From Ecuador

Now that you are retired or are planning on doing so, it would be great to have extra income, right?

That is exactly the point. Once you have some steady income in a less expensive place like Ecuador, you can afford to take a little risk to bring in some extra income.

Ecuador offers that advantage since you can live with less money than in the USA and it also has some other benefits to improve your health, lowering the need for medical treatments.

That brings us to the topic on getting extra income.

The thing is that you don’t have to worry that the money that you are receiving each month won’t last. With a little over $1000 a month in rural areas you can manage a nice living, eating well, renting a nice place, having internet, cellphone, clothing, etc.

But you probably want some extra money to do other things. And that is where investing needs more analysis.

There are a number of ways to have extra income. Teaching English to Ecuadorians is one way. There is a need for locals to learn English and expand their horizons. We are putting a program just like the Spanish courses, but for an English course.

You can also apply what you did in your previous job to the Ecuadorian reality. There are a lot of companies that will pay for consultant services.

There must be a lot of things that you miss from the USA and if you do, so will many others. So there is the chance that you can offer food, clothes, appliances, etc… to your friends.

ecuador-retirement

Selling Ecuadorian products from Ecuador is another good way of getting some extra cash. We have been pretty successful at helping people export various items from Ecuador. Like ponchos, sweaters, leather bags, tagua, honey, etc. The rose business has also been good. You may have lots of contacts back home that will be happy to distribute your products, all you have to do is sell since we can ship them for you.

ecuador-retirement

There are many other ideas: a friend of mine from Ohio opened a bike shop in Quito, he built choppers in the USA and when he came to Ecuador he thought that was one thing missing here. So he decided to go for custom made choppers, made for Americans mostly.

There are restaurants and cafes which focus on Americans, with what you want and there could be many more businesses that could work for you also.

Agricultural is also big, mainly with so many products that you can produce and export. Ecuador is known for growing lots of products with extraordinary quality. Our local market is also growing more conscious when it comes to organic food, which is another way where you can expand. There is an agricultural tour where you can learn more about this.

What is more important is that many ideas that I am not mentioning right now are coming to your head as you are reading this. That is the most important thing, ideas that other people are not doing!

Having extra income is always good, not only do you get some extra money for a rainy day, but you also get to do something that you like and you also get to meet new people. Retiring these days is a challenge, not only from a financial issue, but because you will have lots of extra time, that if put to good use will bring lots of really interesting things to your life.

No better place than Ecuador to try new things, since lots of those things were probably already tried in your own country, but not yet here! Roberto

Export businesses have been one of the great evolutionary businesses since man began crossing borders.

ecuador-retirement

Importing and exporting can create adventure… a mobile lifestyle and an income for retirement… plus they can do a lot of good by bringing producers and consumers together from around the world.

Learn how Roberto can help you create an Ecuador export business.

Gary

Learn to sell exports by writing to sell.

Writer’s Camps

Attend our summer Writer’s Camp in Blue Ridge Mountains.   Start immediately with our online course Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher FREE right away. ($299 value).

writers camp

Delegates  talking over books at last year’s summer Writer’s Camp.

Our Writer’s Camps help learn writing to sell… the business of writing and how to publish.

Our summer and autumn writer’s camps in North Carolina fill up quickly. Our winter writer’s camp was totally filled.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please indicate which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

My wife, Merri, and I have possibly the smallest… yet one of the highest earning… self publishing company in the world.

Our high earnings come from writing, self publishing secrets we learned and refined over the past 45 years of writing to sell.  These secrets have worked so well they have earned extra millions for Merri and me and we share them at our writer’s camps..

Our goal at the camps are to help you “Get Started”… but to “Start Small” and maybe like us stay that way… small… tightly focus but highly profitable.

There I said it flying in the face of society hammering us to “Think Big”. This is the era where small is beautiful in a very big way.

At the camps we dive into this idea of smallness for profit.

I am stuck with this horrible fear of being broke. You know unfilled promises… tight finances… money worries…even costly groceries and bill collector stuff. I had all that decades ago and even though 40 years have passed it’s not forgotten.

I hate this for anybody. No money. No future prospects. Worry about the kids. Not knowing how to retire… or where to turn.

45 years ago I started writing because I was broke.  These problems over 40 years ago affected me for life.  In fact I am so hung up on this that that Merri and I (we are so thankful that we can) give away money to help create jobs… we have now donated close to a million dollars in our quest to reduce joblessness.

Merri and I are writers and self publishers. We have earned as much as $20,000 for a single day’s work… and have earned consistently year in and year out… while we do what we love… because of a few secrets.

We want to share these secrets with you so you can make six and even seven figure income each year in a matter that suits you.

There is more good news than the money.  The secrets we share make working fun. You are your own boss. You gain respect so your ideas are listened to.

Most important you can be self fulfilled as you make the world a better place by writing.

Merri and I invite you to share a writer’s camp we’ll conduct in 2013?   This will be a retreat high in the Blue Ridge for a select few that can help you create you own publications for profit.

Believe me… we will be relentless about three facts… serve well… be gratified… make good profits.

The retreat will be conducted in the seclusion of a forest.  We’ll meet in June  or August… but we want the work on your publication to begin right away…. tomorrow even.  I’ll explain how you can begin right away in a moment.

At the camp we teach super thinking as well as how to write and publish.  This secret “little system” creates a crack in the creative process… so you’ll not have just one idea for a business but many.  You may be flooded with ideas!  In fact a big part of the workshop narrows you down to deciding what to write first.

Merri and I are living proof.  We can’t open the darn paper without getting a new idea.

First, let me repeat…Start Small!

The camp by the way is called “Self Fulfilled – How to Write and Self Publishing”.   I am thinking of renaming it “Start Small but Earn Millions”.

Writers who earn the most are writers, like Merri and myself, who also publish.   We always make an annual six figure income but some years we net seven figures…over a million dollars. That’s because we figured out that the lion’s share of income earned from writing goes to the publisher. The publishing part of writing can be outrageously profitable.

One case study we’ll look at in the course reviews the book. “Who Moved My Cheese.” It’s so small! I love it!  The publisher had to push just to make it look like a book, yet 17 million copies in the first two years of release. No one is laughing. If the normal price is $19.95 a book, that’s $339,155 million in sales. If the author received a normal 12% royalty (on the wholesale price) he made a cool $20,346,500 (and much more as the book has continued to sell for years).

Pretty good, huh?

The $20 million plus will pay for quite a few groceries. Almost anyone would love to have this much income until they realize that this leaves the publisher with the other $300 million to spread around.

The neat thing about being a small, self publisher is that virtually all this money (the other 88%) is yours! (Sometimes the 12% too.) In other words, it could be all yours.

Merri and I began publishing with no money and little background. We started small! As already mentioned, I was bust and had no background in writing. I did not finish college.

Before we share the exact schedule of this exciting camp, let me outline a few of the benefits that self publishing has brought to Merri and me.

If you accept our invitation, we will hammer, even bombard you with the absolute, vital importance of starting small. We live in the era of epublishing that makes small “big”.   This plays perfectly into the hands of small businesses and copywriters as we just happened to have a perfect advantage right now in the marketplace.

Let’s begin to understand this with that old rule… follow the money. Our self publishing business has brought us millions. We own four houses, a farmhouse, six cabins and over 1,000 acres of land. Plus more money than we can spend, in the bank… safe, secure bonds and shares… no mortgages… no credit card bills and zero debt!

Now let’s get to the important stuff.  Our life is less stressed (not stress free – every business has stress) but Self Publishing can be a low stress business… no commuting… choose your own hours… immersed in your own passions with like minded souls. Work at home. How refreshing!

gary-scott-image

Here I am at our Florida home… at work?

You can have fun every day doing what you love as you accomplish goals that are important… to you… and are a service to your community.

Merri and I, for example, love helping people get jobs.  So we used self publishing to create a foundation (Land of the Sun Foundation) to help the indigenous learn how to get work. The foundation has donated nearly a million dollars in Ecuador to create jobs.

What do you love? Why not make the kinds of money I’ve just mentioned publishing your passion and do something good for the world at the same time?

Your passion and self publishing create…magic, wealth, happiness.

Three other things you gain.

#1: Respect. If you are not a recluse like Merri and me, you’ll find yourself the center of attention at social events and with your friends and in business because publishing is highly respected.

#2: Power. Everyone wants publishers to distribute good information about them. And everyone fears publishers a bit. The pen IS mightier than the sword!

#3: Protection. Writers are protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You do not need a license to publish. There is no government watchdog nor do you have bureaucratic red tape involved in publishing. Publishers enjoy almost more freedom than any other occupation because of the Freedom of the Press. This is so powerful because the first amendment is actually a part of the Bill of Rights. Just in case you missed this in school (as most students did including me) here are the exact words of this amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You become the press and you are set free. You cannot get more protection than that.

Shall we get back to the money and lifestyle? What can self publishing do financially for you?

Merri and I love nature so our home in Florida is set amidst and orange grove… just far enough from busy parts of the state that we enjoy wonderful peace and quiet. This makes a perfect place to study.  This is a winter shot from the front yard of our Florida home looking over our orange grove and lake…  that we bought with cash from our self published writing.

gary-scott-home

This is only where we live in the winter.

The Blue Ridge is our summer home.  That name is a slight misnomer for a large part of the year.  Correctly named in the winter, these mountains would be called “White Ridge”. The white comes from snow which begins with S as does South which is where we head around November…to Florida or Ecuador .

While it’s freezing in the North Carolina mountains, we worry about sunburn sometimes.

The Ecuador hotel, by the way, is one of the most satisfying parts of our self publishing business. We bought it from bankruptcy because a dozen wonderful people (with babies and kids and worries about education, medical bills and yes groceries) were about to lose their jobs.

Mostly right now… due to a elderly mom and many wonderful new grand kids we spend winters at our in Florida and visit family in Oregon and England.  So for your convenience (and ours) the next two writers camp will be conducted near our Ashe County North Carolina farm.

Why attend this camp?  Self publishing can easily fulfill all of your material needs.  More importantly it throws you together with fantastically interesting people from all walks of life.   You all share a common goal… to write… to sell… to earn.  This create magic for all.

You can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle.  Married, single, rich, poor, in good and bad health, educated and not, travelers and those who want to just stay at home. This is who self publishing works for… those who want a gradual part time improvement in life and those who want to make big enhancements now.

This workshop appeals to anyone who would like to write or publish or both.  We will look at how published products can include compilations, catalogues, CDS, interviews. Plus we’ll look at how to develop treks, tours, visits, products and services.

For example, you’ll see below how one delegate who attended the workshop used her publication to sell real estate.

This course is for individuals and couples. We include those who want their own publishing system together as a family business.

Self employed, retired, professionals and those who are employed who want to add extra income or who want to change their life entirely will benefit. Previous course delegates have included investors, chiropractors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, other professionals and those who already own their own business and of course retirees.

This workshop is not theory. Merri and I share our real time experiences. We start at the beginning over 40 years ago but mainly look at how we earn hundreds of thousands and even millions a year in our exciting lifestyle…right now.

Let’s get our noses to the grindstone. The workshop provides a Path called the seven Ps. They provide a simple, small and easy path for starting your own publishing business.

The workshop has one focused, refined and relentless goal. To prepare you to start your first publication the day after the workshop ends!

May I add that this workshop has done a pretty good job already?  Here are a few examples of small self publishing businesses that started after attending this workshop.

Barry Weinhold who attended our Writers Camp wrote:   My first book sold over 200,000 copies in print. After attending your course I have published another book at Amazon.com.
Thanks for helping get the word out.   The First free download of Book One had about 900 downloads and we have sold about 90 books since then. I did get some great reviews on Book One. Now book two is ready.

weinhold book

You can order Barry’s second book ($2.99) on Amazon.com by clicking here. “Breaking Family Patterns: How To Change Your Family Patterns!

Nicki Goff  who attended our writer’s camp wrote shortly after that she completed her first book “Easy Quinoa Recipes” with 13 quinoa recipes.

She had 10,000 downloads of the book in five days and obtained dozens of good reviews!

She wrote:  Hi, Gary,  Book sales are actually going well, and I’m having a lot of fun with this. I’m so grateful to you and Merri  for pushing me to get some action going!

The free promos really get things going, and seem to reignite sales.

Two more in the works – both on gardening topics.  Best wishes for 2013 to you and Merri.   Love, Nicki

What a joy seeing how helping and connecting people helps all create their own special success.  How beautiful to see friends turn their passions into profit!

You can get 13 more great quinoa recipes in Nicki Goff’s book at the links below.

quinoa-book

You can order Nicki’s first book at Amazon.com.

Nicki learned at the camp that getting these downloads is step three in a seven step process. We (and others) have been helping Nicki and our delegates walk through these steps so they can earn income through writing and publishing again and again.

Nicki is now well on her way to wonderful self publishing success.   She just completed her fourth book, “Under Cover Gardening”

The Writer’s Camp helps people of all ages from their teens to their 80s!

The father of the family of four wrote:  Hi Gary and Merri:  Just thought y’all would like to know that today Doss published his first book.  It is called College Confidential and it is currently listed at number 42 on amazon. com.  He would not have done it but for our experience this summer at your Writer’s Camp.

So, here is thanking you both very much.

Bill Winter

This book is written by a student, for students, College Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Success written by Doss Winter is filled with practical tips and insider information addressing everything from Academics to getting your Zzzzs.

doss winter

Order College Confidential at Amazon.com here.

The writer’s camp refines both Merri’s and my 40 years of experience into its most essential points. All of us will have to work intensely to cram everything into three days.

This workshop is being conducted by Merri and me. We will be hosting the event near our North Carolina farm.   These camps are intimate which allows us to personally work with each delegate to assure that all who attend can create their own publication.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyascott/8029808357/

Day one, at 9 a.m. sharp, we get to work.

What will you write?  Some of you know what you want to do…that’s great.  We’ll work on that.  Some of you just feel that you can succeed in this field…we’ll hone that and work on that.  We’ll create our own niches.

Your product? Your goals?  This is why we are inviting you to enroll in the camp now. This is a long term program and we’ll help you create your own product now that we can work on at the camp.

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into the 7 Ps of self publishing. Passion, Problem, Person, profitably priced Product, pathways to Prospects, Promise and Presentation.

Then we get down to brass tacks by placing the ideas you have fractured under the first magnifying glasses of Passion, Problem and Person. This is the beginning of your first perfect product so you can become your own perfect client.

I’ll talk about how your passions, your current knowledge bring you to your own niche create the stories.  We’ll look at the all powerful “Golden Rule of Simplicity…Your Passions Represent Markets”.

Merri and I will both show you how to follow your passion to the market and use your passion to find “Prospecting Pathways” and “Presentation Templates” that are the drivers of your business.

Merri’s publishing skills and history, by the way, far exceed mine. She began her own import business selling products form Italy , Germany and Mexico through her own advertisements she wrote in the New Yorker, Sunday NY Times, Smithsonian, House & Garden, House Beautiful, and other magazines. Then with her ad agency edited and published hundreds of books, brought a bankrupt magazine to award winning status as executive editor to Gulf Shore Life (which later sold to the Robb Reports for $22+ million dollars), has edited over 1400 writers and was even offered the top editor (the only female) at the National Enquirer working directly with Generoso Pope (which she politely turned down).  She lectured at Magazine Conferences throughout the South to help others bring their own publishing ventures to awarding winning and financial success.

We’ll then return to and chip away at your fractured writing and publishing ideas to refine the most valuable asset you have in your business armory… your imagination.

Finally around 5 pm, we’ll stop working as one large group. However, that is not the end of the educational, evolutionary process that will by now be whirling away. You’ll have enough momentum and information to refine your publication.  That’s what you’ll be assigned to do.

We won’t want you to work too late though.  We still have a lot to do in the next two days.

Day two, I already know what will happen. You’ll all be sitting around with others buzzing over your ideas. I’ll have to force you back to group work at 9 a.m. because you’ll have such a head of steam you won’t want to stop talking. However, I hope that you have followed Merri’s and my example and had a good night’s sleep. Experience suggests that some of you in your excitement, will have worked through the night. You might not get to sleep now because today we’re going to accomplish three days work in a day!

We’ll start with a review of your assignments. No red marks or stars by the way… just feedback and a gentle coaxing toward the ways to create winning writing and self publishing ventures.

Then we’ll get into how to turn your thoughts/desires/energies into reality with:

#1: Stories with authenticity, meaning and roots.

#2: Stories true to the heart.

#3: Stories with conflict.

#4: Stories with passion.

The “why” of these four qualities is fascinating and so impossibly important, yet simple, that knowing it is worth the entire investment you make in the workshop. Here it is quick, down and dirty… knowledge worth millions.

There are three main demographic subgroups in the Western World. One is dying out. One controls everything but the third is rapidly rising… growing so fast that it can take down even a big organization like Starbucks (which it did in England) if ignored. Yet this third group (whom you will write and publish for) is at least partially ignored by every large corporation in the world. They all make the same cheesy error and this huge mistake creates fracturing opportunities for you… which will be the tiny, but immensely profitable small publisher.

We go on to our next Story Review about small niches that Merri and I have fractured. How we beat a publisher that’s 1,500 times larger in this niche.

We’ll break for lunch. Then at 2 pm it’s back to work:

In the afternoon, Merri and I look at how to match your passion to the National Psyche by studying the NY Times & USA Today best seller lists. We’ll see how new indie epublishers are creating top selling books and provide magical clues that lead to successful products, stories and marketing.

We’ll work on epublishing…how it is virtually free of expense to start/continue/succeed.  Only things necessary:  inspiration, desire, hard work and follow through…actual cost?  Zero.

Then we’ll review how to use Twitter to develop viral marketing and… what’s next!

Getting your reports, books or simply ideas on the epublishing parade…that’s through Kindle, Book Nook, Apple, etc.

The excitement that builds by this time of the camp often interferes with the dream process.  Ideas for reports, publishing ideas, businesses, stories, new lifestyles and bigger profits come rushing forth even though you are trying for sheep.

Regardless, on Day 3, – as before, we’ll start at 9 a.m. sharp and remain intensely focused until mid afternoon.

Before Merri and I wrap up the entire process, we’ll outline our how we’ll continue to assist you for the rest of the year.

Let’s end this with a summary:  Merri and I will begin to help you develop your publishing, writing idea the minute you enroll.  Our goal is to help you create your own product so you can fine tune it in July.  The workshop will help you come up with new ideas… but we want you to start one now. Merri and I will be glad to help you with it.

Okay, how about your cash investment? The cost of the workshop.

As I said earlier, Merri and I have been self publishing for 40 years. This invitation provides access to information we share with only a very limited group.

The cost of the camp is  $799 or $999 for a couple. Travel, your accommodations and other meals are your responsibility.

Registration is severely limited due to the personal attention we provide.   We expect to be full.

Here is how to register immediately.

Click below:

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We’ll send you an email giving you details and your preparatory assignments for the camp, travel, etc.

We’ll set up our line of communications as well as deliver our online Self Publishing course.

We’ll send you what you need to get started. We’re going to be learning from the first minute, and we want you to be ready.

Get started and work with us and the online course until the camp begins.

Best regards,

Gary

P.S. This is a chance to experience the dream life of a writer and self publisher.

We are going to work hard the entire time from now until the camp but the effects of this retreat won’t end on day 3. They’ll just begin.

One of the finest benefits you gain will be new like-minded friends. Our previous workshop delegates have stuck together…formed support groups and helped each other develop, grow and profit. This is called an “old boys network” in some places. Every major university and educational system has one…this invisible power because “who you know”, not just “what you know” works. We’ll encourage this so your alumni group can enhance your efforts whenever required.

May I share three final examples of how big, your little self publishing business can become from our workshop?

A long time friend, who had just retired from a 30 year career in the oil industry joined our program. His passion was to learn more about health and looking at the deep, more spiritual aspects of life since he had ended a financially successful career. He has gone on to publishing the leading healthy living magazine where he lives.

Not only does he publish 20,000 copies of a 48-64 page magazine on healthy living every month, he has been able to meet and work with leading health and spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dwyer and even the Dali Llama. What a thrill.

Michelle Toole, an at home mother, made a fateful decision… to attend our self publishing course.

Michelle was disabled when she took the “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher” camp.

She took what she learned from our publishing courses and created her own successful global micro website.

Michelle wrote:  “I have some great news, my web site  http://healthy-holistic-living.com is now getting on average 2,000 visitors a day! Yup my little one man show web site now gets close to 60,000 visitors each month!  The power of the internet is amazing as well as the opportunities.  We have said it before but it deserves saying again the internet is truly the great equalizer.

“My web site is at a point now that it is growing without much effort and produces a nice passive income allowing me to continue working on my second site http://home-remedies-and-natural-cures.com and to get my third site up and running.  I am also working on various joint ventures with other web sites focusing on helping others start their own web business. I am doing monthly webinars helping disabled individuals start their own business on the Internet and will be starting a coaching club in the new year.  The opportunities are only limited by one’s imagination.

“Again I can not thank you and Merri enough, I look forward to many great adventures and new experiences in the coming years!”

Another successful self publisher who attended our workshop wrote :

“MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING from all of the valuable input I received. Out in the boonies, 2 + hours from the airport in Charlotte , North Carolina it was not your typical setting for a business seminar.

“It was presented by a fascinating guy with an interesting career history. Gary Scott and his wife, Merri, split their time between their idyllic farm in North Carolina and their property in the mountains of Ecuador . I first heard about Gary through my interest in Ecuador .

“By his own admission, Gary is often ‘a bit ahead of the curve’ which is part of what makes his material interesting. You sense the authenticity of what he is saying but it has not caught on in the mainstream media or pop-culture.

“The input is that is already affecting my life was not just from the instructor, but from other participants. The small group, less than twenty, seemed to be intimately bonded as soon as the seminar started. People from all walks of life and all parts of the country gained insights from the information that was geared to create a ‘life of your choosing more so than just a successful business. A very simple but powerful concept. Why do we want the money in the first place?

“The lifestyle aspect of the course was taught by example. We, as a group, were temporarily inserted directly into the lifestyle led by Gary and Merri. No better way to learn than by doing.

“The course content suited my needs very nicely. It addressed issues pertinent to FilmTrips and my marketing company, MJ Media. New life has been injected into several FilmTrips projects that had been languishing on a back burner for quite some time. Gary talks about being open to ‘connect the dots’ and take advantage of distortions or discrepancies between economies and countries. I am in a very good position to do that. Telephone and Internet technology has certainly arrived to help make it happen. I will keep you posted!”

In the workshop we learn how to use the “Business Evolutionary Process.” Start with a small idea. Let the idea build enthusiasm. Let the enthusiasm lead you to an education. Let the education create action. The action will bring, deeper ideas…so you can start small and grow.

This is what so many others who have accepted Merri’s and my invitation have done and are doing now….as are we. A never ending process for all.

We hope you will join this growth process with us. If you do, this letter…the invitation and the workshop will be fateful and fun.  Register today!

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

Delegates from our last camp wrote:  My daughter and I had a fantastic time at the Writer’s Camp this past weekend.  We both felt we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on “how to make money with our writing skills”!  Thank you.
 
Yours and Merri’s expertise on transmitting knowledge to others is phenomenal.  The warm, personal feel of being with you both along with the great people in the class was great!
 
Thank you again for all the added information gained in all areas of life and what I consider gourmet meals served to us all.
 
Donna/Jeanna

Another wrote: Have just returned from the writing seminar conducted at your farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, I thought I’d give you my take on what I experienced. To suggest that the location, hosts, seminar content, and accommodations were adequate would be an understatement.

This was my introductory visit to the northwestern corner of North Carolina and it appears, from looking at the map, that this area could be considered the “foothills” of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Remote? You bet! But a beautiful place for retreating when life or weather calls for relocation.

Corresponding as we have for the past two years was simply a forerunner to our one on two meeting and I am so pleased that we found this opportunity.  You are both most personable with dynamic and pleasing personalities. I was extremely comfortable the entire weekend and thank you for making that possible.

The seminar itself opened a whole new world that I hope to explore in the coming months. I drove away from your farm with a well inflated right rear tire and a wealth of information that could catapult me into a whole new profession should I opt to go that route. I still have a number of professional business ideas that I intend to pursue, however, the concepts and ideas conveyed in your seminar will serve to enhance whatever I undertake going forward.

But if there was one underlying common denominator that I recognized, it was the fact that you are both so well qualified to present in this field of communication. Probably my most prolific observation was how well read and knowledgeable you are. The breadth and depth of knowledge on so many diverse yet associated subjects kept my unswerving attention. It also opened my mind to a variety of fields that, heretofore, I would not have considered relevant to my interests. And as a presenter, Gary is prolific. I drove away knowing that not only did the seminar give me my money’s worth but I was introduced to some very valuable contacts.

The bottom line is your seminar was both eye opening and entertaining. I came, I saw, I learned, and I even ate healthy. Thanks for everything. John

The son of a father son team sent this note:  Hi Merri!  I just attended your writers camp with my dad this past weekend.  I didn’t get to express how much I appreciated all that you and Gary did for us this weekend because we were in a hurry to get to the airport. Letting us stay in your cottage and having us for your writers camp was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! Gary and Merri’s stories of adventure, success, your lessons, and advice are truly priceless!!

This camp has inspired me. Writing has always come naturally for me but I never was able to view it as a business opportunity.

This camp has shown me not only that writing can be profitable, but HOW to make it profitable! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with me. In my lifetime, I could only hope to see the success that you and Gary have achieved.

I not have only signed up for your newsletter, but I can’t stop spreading the word to my friends about my experience. Thanks again for your amazing hospitality,  Mitchell

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We share a David Cross video at the camp.

david-cross-image tags:"2012-4-21"

David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He’s guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline.   He started working with the internet from the getgo and we have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s.  He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD.  David worked closely with Agora’s publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora’s online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.

More who have written about the Writer’s Camp.

From Sandra, a restaurant owner:  “Dear Gary and Merri, Yes I did it! Without you and your wonderful writing class I would not have been able to see my potential!! I THANK YOU BOTH! You told me to write about what I know and I did. Thank you for all the encouragement. Starting today, we are taking orders and I wanted you to be the first to know! So here goes…..I have some exciting news to share! I have just written my first book and very much appreciate your help. This book would make a great gift for any bride-to-be or even the parents of the bride (especially if they’re paying the bill)! Please check it out. I genuinely appreciate you helping me spread the word! Thank you!! Sandra”

From Jerusha, an anthropologist:  “Hello Gary and Merri. I am the first in the class to publish! I published a calendar on www.lulu.com!

From Todd, a wedding photographer:  “Thanks, Gary and Merri name recognition is beginning. Here is my new photoletter that your program helped me develop. I’m getting more clear about my own marketing now, so I may be able to better advantage of it. I am planning now to send out an email once a week showcasing new photos and creating awareness for my products and services. By mid July, I will place my first greeting card order (with a printing company Merri recommended in Cotacachi). So, I will soon have an inexpensive product to offer along with the more expensive prints that I sell. So far, I’ve got 60 opt-on subscribers to my email list, and I am telling everyone I know about it, so it’s starting to grow nicely. My first goal is to have 1000 readers. I’ll see how quickly I can accomplish it. Take care, Todd”

From Micky, a real estate broker:  “I want to say thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that I received through your publishing program. I recently published a 28 page booklet” Naples is Priceless “. This FREE booklet is being distributed through the Chamber of Commerce, banks, hotels, etc. With over 25 years as a Realtor I can now let potential real estate buyers gain knowledge and inside tidbits about this beautiful area. Again, thank you for helping me develop my potential. Micky”

Meet other successful writers.

Mike Herron who atteded our camp and is now on his second book just wrote:   Hello Gary, I wanted to thank you and Merri for once again providing a wonderful and motivating experience at the Writer’s Camp last month.  As with your other workshops I’ve attended, it inspired me to return home and finish my second book and get it published.

I’m pleased to announce that Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read.  It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.

appalachian gold

Unlike my first novel, Black Diamonds, the first book in the Colors of Alaska trilogy which takes place in Homer, Alaska, Appalachian Gold is set in the North Georgia Mountains.  As is my style, I interweave local legends with love and bring them to contemporary life.

Susan and I both hope to attend more of your workshops at your North Carolina camps, perhaps we can manage to get up to one this summer.  Maybe we can even work in a book signing at a nearby winery to help spread the word about Appalachian Gold.

Now I will turn my attention to completing the second book in my Alaskan trilogy. It will be called Blue Ice.  Susan and I will be visiting Alaska in May and June doing research for the book, enjoying the majestic scenery, and visiting our son.

If any of your readers are aspiring authors who have yet to be published I would strongly encourage them to sign up for one of your writing camps at the first opportunity.  I know the experience will provide them with the skills, knowledge and perhaps more importantly, the motivation, to return home and turn their dream into reality.

Best wishes always and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Mike

Our online course “Self Fulfilled -  How to be a Self Publisher” is normally $299.  See more here.

Save the $299 and receive this online course FREE now.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Read More about Marco Polo at Biography.com

Demographic Profit Pyramid


Here is a demographic profit pyramid from the US Census Bureau.

The keys to economics can be spelled our as PROFIT:  People… Resources… Output… Free Trade… Innovation and Time

The study of demographics is the People in the Profit and can give us many clues.

Take for example the population pyramid of Ecuador.   This shows a young growing population… a good place to be.

ecaudor population pyramid

I included this pyramid here just to show an example of a good base though Ecuador does not have a stock market due to lack of Free Trade and Innovation.

The chart below, from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the U.S. population pyramid as of 2010 (the date the bureau works from at this time) and a prediction of the pyramid in 2020.

Us population pyramid

This pyramid shows a growing problem.

Since this chart if three years old we can throw some time into our calculations.  The group aged 60 to 64 (red) and older are now aged 63 to 67 at and are retiring or retired and already represent a sizable population.

There is still a fair base of the population at work who can support these retirees.

A much larger wave now aged 58 to 62 (yellow 55 to 59 in the chart) hit retirement age in five years.  This is when the problem really begins.

Then when those aged 53 to 57 (green) begin to retire in ten years, the problem REALLY starts to become severe and just gets worse and worse after that.

Too many retirees… not enough workers.

Problems are Opportunities

We would see similar patterns in Japan and Europe so a huge chunk of the industrialized world faces a serious demographic crunch.

There is one more bitter demographic onion hiccup in this economic stew.  A growing global population but with finite resources.  More People… less Resources.

How will humanity deal with this.   Humanity will deal with it and those who figure out how now can profit on the leading edge.  

Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 7.12.38 AM

Sharpest knife in the world.

The leading edge can be sharp but we do not have to have the sharpest knife to slice through the demographic data to see what is happening.

#1: Many retirees are working longer.

#2: Everyone is becoming more productive.

#3: Many retirees are moving either to lower cost countries or to smaller towns.

Studies suggested that as many as 10% of retirees will move abroad. Another 10% are thinking of a part time international shift.

Many are moving to Ecuador now. In a few decades, as this pyramid projection shows… the social system in Ecuador will be more strained.

ecaudor population pyramid

Wealth flowing in from retirees will help.

80% to 90% of retirees will stay at home but also move.

An article based on boomer quiz by the Retirement Ranger entitled “Surprising New Survey Finds Many Retirees Plan on Moving in Retirement” gives us a clue.

Here are excerpts (see a link to the entire article below):

5000 people took a Retirement Ranger Quiz and show that the vast majority of Ranger plan on moving in retirement.  Taxes, cost of living, and region are all important considerations for just about everybody taking the quiz.

Q: Will you move in retirement, and how far?

39% said they plan on moving out of state or out of the country. The most startling difference from other surveys is how few people taking the Retirement Ranger plan on staying where they are now – just 2%. The biggest category of responses on this category is the 46% who plan on moving out of their “current metro” – presumably not too far from where they live now, but a move from their current home at least. Presumably that means they intend to downsize and/or find a home in a more retirement friendly location or development – but not move too far away from where they live now.

Q: Cost of living preference?

These results surprised us. Against a steady drumbeat of interest in low-cost of living responses, the fact is that the majority of people (62%) taking the Retirement Ranger are looking for an average cost of living. There were 30% who are looking for a lower cost of living (a much smaller number than we would have thought), compared to a paltry 6% who for some reason want a higher cost of living.

Q:  What environment are you looking for?

The results to this question are refreshing – Topretirements visitors are looking for all kinds of experiences – from coastal to lakes to college towns to suburbia. Aside from a clear preference for a coastal environment, most other environments were fairly close together. College towns, small towns, and suburbia were slightly preferred over the mountains or an urban experience. Deserts and a rural environment brought up the rear in retirement interest.

Q: Size of town?

This question gave some dimension to the previous question about the kind of town these prospective retirees want to live in. By far, most people are open minded on this question too – they do not have a strong preference on the size of town they want to retire to. Of those who do care, in general it seems the smaller the better – 0-25,000 population got the most interest, followed by towns 25,001-100,000, and bringing up the rear – cities of more than 100,000.

Q: Would you like to find a retirement destination with a lower than average tax burden?

The short answer is yes, but not nearly as emphatically as we might have thought. This was a yes or no question: 58% apparently could be induced to move by a low tax burden, while the remaining 42% have no strong preference.

Demographic evidence evidence such as this is one reason we have started a magazine business focused on communities of 30,000.

Learn more about this micro publishing opportunity, Order the FREE report here.  How to Earn With Positive Community News 

Think about who will profit from growing demographics shifts of this nature as these will be good places to invest.

Gary

Learn about places to invest based around demographics at our next Super  Thinking + Investing and Business seminar.

Super Thinking + International Investing & Business Seminar

Super Thinking + International Investing & Business Seminar, February 1-2-3, 2103 in Eustis Florida.

This is the premier seminar we have been conducting every February for over 30 years.  This February is special because the best opportunities come at the darkest hour and that time is here.  Learn how to…

* Turn $499 into $142,020… per year.

* Buy a beach view Ecuador home for $16,000.

* Borrow yen at 2.5% and gain a 5% profit in three weeks.

In addition its winter!   Lake County Florida, with over 1,000 named lakes and the charm of Eustis, is a special place especially at the this time of year.

Lake county

(Click on photo to enlarge).

These are balmy winter days I shot of the Florida winter from…

Lake county

my canoe.

Lake county

Forces have come together for the biggest economic expansion in history.   Huge profits are waiting in business and investing… whether you are just starting… in the middle… are ready to retire or start a new career.

One reason for this timing is cyclical.  Equity markets are selling at some of their best valuations in years.

This optimistic outlook is based on the development of earnings, cash flows, dividends and book values.

When you look at the big picture… from the turn of the century until now the entire global economic history has been a series of slow downs and catch ups,  but over the long run  values in the stock market have risen about 9.1 percent, respectively, compounded annually.

There are always emotional reasons for slow downs…  as we have seen in the past five years…  the worries of double dip recessions… high unemployment… concerns about fiscal cliffs. Such fears hold investors back.  Yet  global population growth and advances in production and prosperity are relentless.   Values increase as prices stagnate. Then markets break free and rocket upwards creating wealth, prosperity and growth.

Economic breakouts create fortunes.  This February I get to share with you three… enormous profit possibilities…. one in business…. one in investing and one in Ecuador.

All the facts have come together.   The next boom is about to begin.

We can see the power of breakouts from the last BIG ONE in 1979.   Warren Buffet saw it coming. He mentioned it in a famous 1979 Forbes article “You Pay a Very High Price in the Stock Market for a Cheery Consensus”.

Everything looked bleak.

The 1980s recession, the worst since the Great Depression, was about to begin.   Yet in 1979 Buffet said…. BUY NOW.   On August 13, 1982 the biggest global bull stock market in history began.

The Dow’s 1982 to 1999, relentless 17 year climb is just one breakout we can see.

dow-stock-chart

Click to enlarge.

1979 was the darkest hour.  The herd was thinking negatively.   The reality?  A boom was on!   Then in 1999 another economic contraction began and has been with us till now… 14 years.   The cycle is repeating.  This is the beginning of an even bigger boom.

“Its not what’s happening that counts. It’s what you do with it.”

Make no mistake… Merri and I have been able to help readers have better lives, less stress and to make fortunes during these last 17 economically depressed years.  Yet the simple fact is that the really big profits come at the start of a boom.  This is why I want to kick off 2013 with you and share more than my usual confidence and enthusiasm.

The seminar is divided into three main sessions.

Each session helps you learn how to gain freedom, remove stress, earn more and do more good in and for the world.

Session One :  International Micro Business – “How to Have a Positive Global Income”.   You can turn $499 in $142,020 a year, even in small towns.

Session Two : Ecuador Living and Real Estate.

Sessions Three:  International & Value Investing Outside the Box.

Here is a partial syllabus of the seminar:

SESSION ONE:  How to Turn Your Passion into a Profitable Microbusiness.   A micro business is the best investment you can make. Start small and magnify your investment with your effort, enthusiasm and energy.

* Turn $499 into $142,020 through writing and publishing… without risk.  In just one year.  Cash in on the blowback from the global community.  The global economy is good but big business… big government…. big medicine and global everything is also impersonal, often harsh and inhumane.  This expansionary process leaves us believing in nothing.  We are cynical of the global banks… the aggressive police… the intrusive government… the big church… the monetized medicine… the negative media… the unfair laws…. the failing currencies… all the broken promises.

Yet as humans, we have to believe in something and our last bastion… the one we can see, hear, taste, smell and feel is our local community… either as a  place or as a collection of like minded souls.

This is also where we can actually accomplish something and actually have an impact at doing some good.

On January 1st, 2013, Merri and I launched a new business “Positive Community Magazines” (PCM) with David Cross our webmaster and Dave & Sherry Johnson. This opportunity is for anyone young or old.  PCM offers excellent income… less stress, fulfillment and positive service to the community.  This business helps publish positive community magazines in small towns or to small communities of highly focused, like minded souls.

Warren Buffet believes so much in this potential that he is buying newspapers in small towns all over America.

In 2012 Berkshire Hathaway purchased 63 small and mid-sized daily and weekly newspapers throughout the United States.

He plans to buy more and says: “I like buying individual papers at the right prices.” 

Buffet stated that Berkshire is not buying big newspapers or more newspaper shares because he believes in the value of local communities.

You’ll meet Dave & Sherry Johnson who had a good life until times turned sour during the 2007 recession.  They lost everything so they moved to Asheboro, North Carolina which Forbes magazine highlighted as “One of America’s Ten Fastest-Dying Towns in the USA”.  They started a community magazine and from the ashes it has risen from success to success.   They now earn over $17,000 a month.   They came to our Writer’s Camp.  We saw their amazing business model and let no moss grow under our feet before asking them if they would help us spread this incredible concept around the world.

We know trends when we see them and this is even more exciting than the trend we saw in Ecuador’s expansion 17 years ago.

As an Independent Community Publisher of Positive Community Magazines, you will publish positive, upbeat community publications dedicated to representing, encouraging and celebrating the community you serve by focusing on the lifestyles, talents, gifts and contributions of the people who live and work there.  Plus you’ll earn as much as $17,635 a month.

Learn how to gain a proven business model with training – archive of articles – design templates – access to low-cost printing – marketing materials – and a very, very low investment (as little as $499) to start.

The Money – Here is the Proforma Income for a 64-page Magazine

In the model magazines the ad revenues run around $13,000 (40% ads/$500 per ad page) and editorial revenues of $4,635 or a gross income of  $17,635 a month.

Printing  and operational expenses are in the $5,800 range leaving  profits of $11,835.  You increase the bottom line if you do more of the design and distribution work yourself.

Other advantages of magazine publishing include the freedom to set your own schedule,  PRESS credentials, prestige, service to the community, philanthropy, being in the know and having a well respected profession.

Saves Lives.  Here is just one example of the good you can do. Sherry Johnson shared this story.

She wrote: Gary,  we even save lives.  In one issue of their magazine they told the story of a little boy who was struggling with a rare disease that caused life-threatening seizures.  One day, while his mom was out shopping, the little boy had a seizure so she rushed him to the hospital.

She called ahead and the nurse met her at the emergency room.  As it happens, the nurse had read the article in the magazine (which someone had brought to the nurse’s lounge) and she recognized the little boy from the article.  Since she knew immediately what was wrong with him, no time was wasted and he was treated quickly.  They were told that this particular seizure was especially bad and that the article probably saved his life.  This doesn’t happen every day but once in a lifetime is good enough!

eustis

Historic Downtown Eustis

Another session in the seminar shows “How to have an international micro business.”  These sessions are highly practical and usable. They focus on how to use modern technology to start global micro businesses based around a website, with minimal investments of time and capital.

By starting small and building with stepping stones and a harmonious focus, Merri and I have learned how to own profit generating phrases at Google.  We, along with our webmaster David Cross share the secrets of how you can use words to create your own global income.

The seminar shares how we us “Seven Ps”  (Person, Problem and Promise, Product) to zero in on key word phrases.  The Fifth P (Promise) develops new customers. The Sixth P is the Prospecting Path and Seventh P is the Presentation that creates income.

Learn about other microbusiness possibilities…

In the global micro business sessions we’ll see ideas on how to:

* Create Export Businesses

* Earn from Self Publishing and Writing

* Develop Internet Sales

* Cash in on Ecuador Business Ideas

* Find Organic Agricultural Business Ideas

* Profit With Health Business Ideas

* Turn Ideas for Tours and Seminar Businesses into Profitable Lifestyles

* Create a Multi Dimension extra income lifestyle.

Multi dimensional living can create a lifestyle that brings better health and lasting “real” wealth.  Many readers  are choosing a multi dimensional lifestyle, living on a farm and earning in other ways such as writing.

gary scott farm

Activity on the farm in North Carolina. It’s tax deductible and profitable but…

gary scott farm

I cannot call it work.

Merri and I have been fortunate. The self publishing business has treated us well.  However a great deal of our financial stability also comes from being multi dimensional.  We have lived on our own farm and seminar camp and orange grove and in our own Ecuador hotel and hacienda.  We are always fixing things up…. buying broken places or taking broken ideas and making them whole.

For decades we have been buying houses and fixing them… painting, restructuring and such.  This is our hobby… that happens to be profitable… or maybe that’s our business and writing is the hobby that also happens to be profitable?

The point is what we do is not work.   We just regularly do what we love and figure out how to earn income in the process.  The adage framed on my desk given to me by a beloved Indian Pundit is “Action is Thy Duty… Reward Not Thy Concern“. With this motto and a bit of common sense living joyfully and earning merge.

Our daughter, Cinda, and David Cross, our son-in-law webmaster and granddaughters, Sequoia and Teeka, have taken this lifestyle route as well.   Cinda loves animals so is a veterinarian and specializes in animal acupuncture which she can do at their farm.

David has his website and voice-over business he can run from their farm and the girls love working in the gardens.

webmaster's garden

webmaster's garden

David and Cinda’s multi dimensional farm. They now produce 60% of their food and earn extra income selling their excess organic crops.

gary-scott-farming

Using the Bio Degradable “Bio Wash” to gain added value we have been able to double our production and quadruple the profits in our orange grove.

In the multi dimension segment of the seminar we review how to spot “live on agri and B&B opportunity” in small towns and Ecuador.  We’ll also look at Bio Wash, that we have supported now for nearly 20 years. We’ll show the environmental as well as health and business benefits it brings.

Join Merri and me at our Super Thinking + Investing and Business Seminar – February 1-2-3 , 2013, Eustis, Florida.

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999

See  How to Attend this Seminar for $177 instead

SESSION TWO: Ecuador Living.  Talk about catching an early wave… Merri and I caught the Ecuador expat trend right at its beginning 17 years ago.   We brought readers who joined us in Ecuador then… some amazing opportunities.  This cycle has matured but there are still great bargains if you know what to do.  No one has as much experience and as many contacts in this field. This experience is also dependable.  We do not sell Ecuador real estate so you won’t be hearing any hidden agendas.

A beach house for $16,000?  Is that bargain enough?  You cannot beat experience when it comes to learning all the ins and outs and buying real estate in a country like Ecuador.

For example after more than a dozen years of traveling… working… buying and selling real estate and running businesses in Ecuador… we led Jean Marie Butterlin to the coast and he began scouring the beaches from Manta, north to Pedernales… finding the bargains…. meeting the landowners…  understanding the rules, regulations and customs.

That experience made him the expert of Ecuador beach real estate so that bargains could be found and so his clients could overcome the biggest problems and intelligently buy real estate on the coast.

We’ll share how to  buy beach property intelligently.

Here is Jean Marie’s second beach home…. secluded overlooking this…

ecuador-beach-images

isolated beach home for just…

ecuador-beach-images

$16,000.

You’ll learn how to overcome one of the biggest mistakes most real estate buyers make on the beach.

Dr. Andres Cordova will speak and join me in updating Ecuador real estate and residency rules.

Dr. Andres Cordova speaking at our seminars.

Andres is our friend and Ecuador attorney. He is the grandson of one of Ecuador’s more famous presidents and was a senior partner in a law firm that represents Ecuador’s treasury.

We’ll also review how to create an Ecuador export business as Merri and I have for many years.

ecuador-exports

Roberto Ribadeneira speaking at our seminar about how he can shop, ship and charge for Ecuador export businesses.

We’ll review The Ecuadorshop Logistics service that provides all these services for exporters in importers into the USA.

We’ll share how Roberto provides an exclusive service that helps readers who export from Ecuador monitor production and quality and assure timely delivery.

This is a great service that provides every detail for importing products into the USA.   We have used this logistics service ourselves for years and became the largest shipper of Ecuador roses last Christmas.  One big benefit is that the service can send each product direct to the buyer in the USA.  The Ecuadorshop Logistics service makes small and medium scale Ecuador exporting possible.

Join Merri and me at our Super Thinking + Investing and Business Seminar – February 1-2-3 , 2013, Eustis, Florida.

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999

See  How to Attend this Seminar for $177 instead

Session THREE  – International & Value Investing Outside the Box.  This session shows how to protect your investments and savings, plus what to do with extra profits you’ll earn.

* Borrow Low Deposit High & Multi currency investing.  Few decisions will be as important to your wealth as WHICH CURRENCIES to held your wealth.  This has been our area of expertise since the 1970s… plus we have worked with Jyske Bank…. one of the largest currency traders in the world  for decades.

Learn how to gain currency diversification and how to leverage high returns with low cost multi currency loans.  

We are currently leveraging via the overvalued Japanese yen.   Jysek recommends a split dollar/euro leverage.  We’ll share both strategies and how and why this investing tactic has remained a wonderful overall long term strategy we have tracked and recommended from time to time for more than 20 years.

We gave a borrow yen signal on December 12, 2012.

Since then the US dollar has risen 6.26% against the Japanese yen.  Readers picked up 5% profit in the less than three weeks.

financeyahoo dollar yen chart

Dollar yen chart at www.finance.yahoo.com January 4, 2013.

Click on photo to enlarge.

On December 12, 2012 one USA dollar would buy 82.44 yen.  January 4, 2013 that same dollar would buy 88.23 yen.

Yet this is not a fast trading for forex profits strategy.

The Multi Currency Sandwich is based on long term, extra earnings from positive carry.Let’s review a simple Multi Currency Sandwich example.

Here are the current invest loan interest rates from Jyske Bank.

JGAM Loan Rates

In this example we invest $350,000 (we’ll see how to invest smaller amounts in a moment).   We borrow $520,000 in US dollars at 2.62% and $130,000 in euro at 2.5%.  This is the loan ratio used by JGAM at this time and gives us $1 million to invest.

We invest in two bonds. $200,000 is in a bond issued by Santos denominated in euro with a coupon of 8.25%.   The bond comes due 22-09-2070. This is a medium risk bond and yields of about 6.9%.

The second investment is $800,000 in the US dollar denominated bond offered by Danske Bank with a 7.125% coupon due 21-09-2037. This is a medium risk bond yielding about 5.9%.

The return on the Santos bond is appx: $13,800

The return on the Danske bond is appx: $47,200

The total return is  $61,000.

The loan cost in euro is $3,250 (2.5% on $130,000).

The loan cost  in dollars is $13,780 (2.6% on $520,000).

The total loan cost of $17,030 leaves a positive carry (extra profit).  The total return after the loan cost $43,970 or about 12.5% return on the $350,000 invested.   That return is diminished by one time, upfront loan costs on the first year of $1,300.  Then there are no added loan costs for the five year term of the loan.

The figures above are used for illustration purposes only. These are not recommendations as a portfolio would be far more diversified.

The risk in in the bonds… not currency parities.  Euros and dollars were borrowed. Equal amounts of Euros and dollars were invested.

Now let’s look at the same example but with borrowed yen.  The yen loan creates potential forex profit… or loss.

In this example one dollar equals about 82 yen.

Assume the same multi currency sandwich was created… but with $650,000 worth of borrowed yen instead of loans in dollars and euro.

The interest rate for yen is lower… only 2.5% versus 3.125% for the US dollar.   This bumps the return up to almost 12.8%.

However the forex potential is what becomes interesting. At 82 yen per dollar this requires a 53.3 million yen.

Assume that the yen returns to the purchasing power trend of 117 as shown in the chart below.

yen chart

Chart from Bloomberg.com shows the yen at 117

(Click on chart to enlarge)

A shift from 82 yen per dollar to 117 yen per dollar is a 35% drop.   If those dollars and euros bought back yen at the 117 parity it requires only $455,555 to repay that had been worth $650,000.  The forex profit is $194,445 or an extra 29% beyond the positive carry.  If that drop took three years to happen and one held the bonds (and their value did not change)…. the total return over three years would be 67.4%.

That is the upside.  For a loss of the same magnitude the yen would have to rise from 82 yen per dollar to 53 yen per dollar… a highly unlikely event.

Thomas Fischer Sr. VP and forex advisor for Jyske Global Asset Management  will update leverage strategies.  Two other  investment advisers and brokers will review how to diversify in bonds and shares and review the forex risks to make sure that such a speculation can work for you.

Thomas Fischer will review the portfolios they manage.  This year they easily beat their benchmarks. We have no exposure to the euro and in our leveraged portfolios we use a 100% euro funding. As you can see this has also led to a return of 18.4% in a speculative performance (medium risk with 2X).

Here is JGAM’s record.

jyske-multi-currency-investments

Click on this photo to enlarge.

Betting Against the Yen for Even Smaller Amounts.Lou Shinamin at Ruggie Wealth will outline opportunities using ETFs.

Lou recently wrote:  I am watching a very nice cup and handle pattern forming on the Japanese Yen.  Aside from Forex, the easiest way to take advantage of the dollar strengthening against the Yen would be to look at  the ETF :  YCS .  Ultra short Japanese yen.

Lou will update the market and positions that make current sense in February.

Multi currency investing offers five enhanced benefits… asset protection…. greater privacy… broader diversification… forex potential and positive carry potential.   The seminars teaches how to gain these benefits.*  Stocks that rise from the cycle of war, productivity and demographics.  Cycles create recurring profits.  Economies and stock markets cycle up and down around every 15 years as shown in this graph.

Dow Charts

These stock market bull and bear cycles are based on cycles of human interaction, war, technology and productivity.

Economic downturns create war.  Military struggle (like the Civil War, WWI, WWII and the Cold War (WWIII), super charge inventiveness that creates new forms of productivity…the steam engine, the internal combustion engine,  production line processes, jet engines, TV, farming techniques, plastics, telephone, computer and lastly during the Cold War, the internet.  The military technology shifts to domestic use.  A boom is created that leads to excess.   Excess leads to correction.  Correction creates an economic downturn and again to war.

Investments in the winner of WWIV.   The war quietly took place… and the US won.  This has created special opportunity for many shares.

Here are just three specific examples we’ll review:

United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X).  The American steel industry recently received the economic equivalent of a gift from the heavens: natural gas. Industrial firms in Pittsburgh are sitting on top of an oil-rich formation that stretches from New York to Ohio… with modest estimates suggest of at least 100 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The switch from coal to cheaper natural gas will save U.S. Steel hundreds of millions of dollars a year.  Foreign competitors in Europe and Asia will need to pay much more.  Many economists say that this new gas reserve will fundamentally shift global economic logic to uniquely benefit the United States. Yet prices of US Steel shares have remained stagnant.

Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK).  The Department of Homeland Security is planning to buy a further 750 million rounds of ammo in addition to the 450 million rounds purchased earlier this year.

ATK Delivers 2 Billion 7.62mm Rounds to the U.S. Army from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) and 350 Million 5.56mm Enhanced Performance Rounds Using Modernized Production Line Equipment
 in a $131 Million in Small-Caliber Ammunition Order.Since assumption of LCAAP manufacturing operations in 2000, ATK has increased the production rate for 7.62mm ammunition five-fold in direct support of U.S. Army requirements.  Alliant Techsystems manufactures everything from rockets for NASA to big weapons,  space rockets, launch vehicles, missiles, missile-defense interceptors, satellites and bullets. In fact it is the world’s largest manufacturer of bullets.   Over the past 10 years, the company produced an average return on equity of 31.51% but the share price is in the dumps.  Defense sector shares have been selling at historically cheap valuations and   ATK shares have been selling at ratios even below the industry average.  The 10 year average P/E ratio for its shares has been 18% but is currently below 10%  about half  the ten year average.

Aegion/Insituform (NASDAQ: AEGN).  Aegion is a water investment that makes sense because “Where there is muck, there is brass”.   The world’s water supply has too much muck!   Investing in water simply makes sense in every way.  IN the last equity boom, $1,000 invested in water utility stocks at the end of 1981 grew $39,980 at the end of 2001, more than double the growth of S&P 500. The fundamentals for the future are even better.

Decentralized, or distributed, water treatment will make up a huge part of the future water business.  If you can use water over and over again at its point of use, that’s beats any other technology because you don’t have to transport the water.    Aegion is a leader in trench less water line replacement.  Their process is the most widely used trench less method for restoring structural integrity to and removing infiltration from sewers so worn out water treatment systems can continue to be used rather than replaced.

* More Water.  Other water investment we review include Water Asset Management, Allianz RCM Global Water Fund, PFW Water Fund, Kinetics Water Infrastructure Fund, the Geneva-based Pictet Global Water Fund, SAM Sustainable Water Fund based in Zurich the Irish Calvert Global Water Fund.

* My Portfolio Review. I am always looking for value so my portfolio changes as events unfold.

Here is a typical portfolio I hold at JYSKE and update the changes I have made and why.

    Type          Int.    Rate    % of portfolio

Savings US  $  0.125%    5%    Currency
Savings EUR    0.125%    1%     Euro
Savings Pounds          2%     GBP

Equities

Jyske Invest Turkey     2%     Lira
JI European Equity    5%     Euro
Suntec Reit           2%     SGD
Hyflux Water            2%     SGD
Jyske Bank shares       4%     DKK
KGHM Polska Miedz (Copper Silver) 5%   PLN
Brookfield Renewable Power  5% CAD
Unicredit Itakian Bank  3%     Euro
Axel Springer AG German Publisher  Euro 2%
Sky Deutschland AG German TV   Euro 2%
Silver Wheaton Corporation Silver  5% US$

Bonds
Ishares Maci Latin Amer 5%     Mixed Latin
JI Emerging Local Bonds 4%     Mixed
JI Emergin Market Bonds    3%     Mixed
Mexican Bonos    MxnGvt  2%     MXN    Rate 8.000%   Mature 19.12.2013
Bond    Bombardier Inc.    2%     Can$        7.250%      15.11.2016
Bond    Rabobank, Nederland 4% NOK         4.000%      29.05.2013
Bond European Investment 5%    AUD         6.000%          14.08.2013
Bond Kreditanstalt Für     5%    CAD         4.950%      14.10.2014
Bond European Ivtment BK 5%    NZD         6.500%          10.09.2014
Euro Invment BK Turkey   3%    TRY        10.000%      28.01.2011
Euro Investment BK Brazil3%    BRL        11.125%          14.02.2013
Bond Brazil GVT            3%    BRL        12.500%      05.01.2016
Bond Brazil GVT            3%    BRL        12.500%      05.01.2016
Bond Euro Invment BK    3%    AUD         6.000%      14.08.2013
Bond Kreditanstalt Für   2%    NZD         6.250%      15.04.2013
Bond Euro Invment BK    3%    PLN         6.500%      12.08.2014
Bond Mexican Fixed Rate    3%    MXN         8.000%      17.12.2015

Loan                    -3%    USD     Interest rate 2.5%

You’ll gain details on how to actually buy such shares and bonds from Mike McDonald at Aegis Capital Corporation.

* Lake County Real Estate. Shirley Peacock our broker in Lake County will share why the value is special here and our search for good value real estate in this area.

Eustis

Sunset on Lake Eustis.

* British Skipton Building Society 10% Variable Bond due 12/12/18  paying 10.1%.  See why Britain put an American in charge of the Pound and how this makes England an even more attractive currency to hold now.

Established in 1853, Skipton was among the first building societies and is Britain’s fourth largest building society with £13.9bn of assets and over 100 branches across the UK.  They just reported a £22.3m pre-tax profit for the six months ending June 30, 2012, an increase of 253 per cent on the £6.3m profit it made in the first six months of last year.

* Position Update on British Bond ETFs.  For investors who want broader diversification into higher yield British bonds the “iShares Markit iBoxx GBP Corporate Bond 1-5 ETF” is open to almost all investors.

* Three high yielding shares to consider: HSBC (symbol HBC) (Finance, 6.36% Depositary Shares, Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B) -Royal Bank of Scotland (Symbol RBS) 7.25% Noncumulative Dollar Preference Shares Series H ADR and the ETF  “iShares S&P U.S Preferred Stock Index Fund” (Symbol PFF).   This etf has over 200 holdings and almost one fourth are in the financial sector.  All ten of the largest positions as shown below are in the financial sector.

* What’s Up With Gold and Silver.  One session looks at my current position on gold and silver and asset protection specialist Rich Checkan will review the state of the precious metal markets and potential problems ahead for US dollars.   He’ll outline how interest rates at zero eliminate  opportunity costs of diversification in precious metals and foreign currencies.  He’ll review the firm commitment by the US government to winning the battle of the printing presses and what impact this could have in U.S. dollars.

Another reason to join us in February is the pension protection session.

The power of pensions invested globally to preserve wealth can be seen by Mitt Romney’s individual retirement account.   The news reported during this run for President that Romney’s IRA holds more than $20.7 million.

Pension and IRA expert Larry Grossman will review how to maximize IRA investment gains so they can accumulate tax-free in an IRA with overseas investments.  The method used by tax lawyers is to have the IRA invest through an offshore affiliate of the private-equity firm, known as an offshore blocker corporation.   Any special tax is avoided because the IRA is investing in the offshore corporation, not in a private-equity partnership.

Finally and perhaps most important… you learn how to use Super Thinking.

The BIG ONE is coming but its not what’s happening that counts. It’s what you do with it.

This is why the seminar overlays all the other data with Super Thinking Through Frequency Modulation - Tapping our inner resources for outer expansion.  As change comes faster we must become smarter… more flexible and enhance our ability to embrace and profits from the never ending shifts we face.

The educational program Merri and I have developed uses a different form of frequency modulation that opens enormous opportunity for expansion, understanding, peacefulness as well as greater wealth.

FM teaching uses frequency (in music and with each sense… sight…. smell, tactile and even smell) to integrate brain waves so the process of absorbing, processing and recalling information is vastly accelerated.  This brings forth the three C’s:  Calm, Clarity and Coherence.

FM creates relaxed concentration… a key to happiness, health and success.

You learn whole brain thinking that can help improve your freedom, satisfaction and income through business.

This part of the seminar helps us integrate their brain waves so they are more intelligent, intuitive and relaxed.

The Super Thinking sessions show three ways (baroque music, relaxation and nutrition) to get into and stay in a state of relaxed concentration… a mental state shown to enhance almost every human capability… especially writing.

Merri and I are explorers so we have used this techniques for decades. We  are always looking for what’s next… trying to stay on or ahead of the leading edge and need ways to think outside he box.

The Super Thinking sessions share how we do this to live better…. using frequency modulation to be smarter… stronger…. more energetic… more aware, friendlier, compassionate, happier and healthier.

We are in our 45th year of business and we share what we have learned and where this is leading our activities in our upcoming seminar. Join us.

Spotting new trends and applying them to our micro business has brought us a strong and continual flow of income through good times and bad.  More importantly the process has been fulfilling…. beneficial to society and healthy.    Now you can benefit from the latest… and perhaps strongest… of all the trends we have stumbled upon.

Applying the concepts of super thinking to spotting trends over the past 45 years has helped thousands of our readers make and save millions.   The success of our readers has been a driving force in our lives yet we have always wanted to do more so continued looking deeper at ways we can share how to have income, stability, good health and contentment.

Join us to learn our most recent experiences and most advanced concepts and ideas.

Join Merri and me at our Super Thinking + Investing and Business Seminar – February 1-2-3 , 2013, Eustis, Florida.

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999

See  How to Attend this Seminar for $177 instead

Seminar Expands to Historic Eustis

The February seminar has grown to large for the meeting accommodations in Mt. Dora so has expanded a short distance down the road from Mt. Dora to Lake Eustis.

Downtown Eustis is experiencing a rebirth as the Lake Eustis Foundation has been established to revitalize the historic district.

The vision the foundation has for the area is retail, restaurant and office space on a lower level with luxury residential living space above and the seminar will be conducted in the Lake Eustis Foundation meeting hall in the historic district.

Here are photos of the area you can see from the meeting hall.

Eustis

Boardwalk on Lake Eustis

Eustis

Downtown Eustis.

Eustis

Old Eustis at Night

Join Merri and me at our Super Thinking + Investing and Business Seminar – February 1-2-3 , 2013, Eustis, Florida.

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999

Other speakers at the February seminar.

Thomas Fischer

othmas Fischer

Thomas speaking at our seminars.

Thomas, a Senior VP at Jyske Global Asset Management began banking in 1978 in the trading room of a Danish as a Foreign Exchange dealer and spent 22 years trading currencies in London and Germany where he was head of the international currency section of a major German broker company. During his time in Germany he successfully completed an MBA focusing on the external environment and corporate finance.  We began working with Thomas 13 years ago when he joined Jyske Bank Private Banking and was promoted to Manager of International Client Relations.  He is a member of JGAM’s Investment Committee focusing on the Foreign Exchange strategy and travels the world giving presentations about the markets and the investment opportunities at JGAM.

Dr. Andres Cordova

Dr. Andres Cordova. Andres is our friend and attorney. He is the grandson of one of Ecuador’s more famous presidents. He is a senior partner in a law firm that represents Ecuador’s treasury and has been developing real estate in Ecuador for 20 years.

Dave & Sherry Johnson

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Dave and Sherry are venture partners with Merri and me and David Cross in the Positive Community Magazines. Dave and Sherry moved to Asheboro, North Carolina, a town voted by Forbes magazine as one of the worst ten small towns economically in the USA.  After being clobbered in the last economic downturn they rose like Phoenix rising from the ashes and created Small Community Magazines that bring good news to the community and earn the publishers excellent profits.  They are helping to expand this community concept globally.

David Cross

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David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He’s guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline.   He started working with the internet from the getgo and I have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s.
He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD.  David worked closely with Agora’s publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora’s online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.

Bob Gandt

Bob Gandt

Our friend, Bob Gandt, published his first story at age sixteen – the same year he first soloed an airplane. Since then he has logged something over 25,000 hours, written and published thirteen books and countless articles.

Gandt’s flying career has been as eclectic as the subjects of his books. He has been a Navy fighter/attack pilot, weapons test pilot, flight instructor, air show performer, and airline captain.

At age 20 he was at the time the youngest aviator in the U.S. Navy. As a carrier-based attack pilot, he logged over 300 carrier landings and nearly 2,000 hours in the A-4 Skyhawk. In his 1997 deja vu work, Bogeys and Bandits (Viking Penguin), he joins a Navy F/A-18 training squadron at the same base where he had trained years before.

In 1965 he began his career as a pilot for Pan American World Airways. For the next 26 years he flew around the globe, domiciled in places like New York, San Francisco, Berlin, and Hong Kong. His 1995 book, “Skygods” (Wm. Morrow & Co.), recounts the meteoric descent and crash of the once-great Pan Am.

In 1998 Bob made his screenwriting debut on the CBS series  ”Pensacola: Wings Of Gold”. Drawing on the material from his book “Bogeys and Bandits”, he worked as writer and technical consultant for the twenty-two-episodes, which starred James Brolin as the commander of a Marine F/A-18 training squadron.

Bob’s sixth non-fiction work, “Intrepid”, co-authored by Bill White, with a foreword by former naval aviator and presidential candidate John McCain, was published in the autumn of 2008. In November, 2010 – “The Twilight Warriors: The Deadliest Naval Battle of WWII and the Men Who Fought It”, from Broadway Books.

In 2011 The New York Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States announced that Bob was winner of the 2011 Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature.

Dr. Jim Vigue

Jim has a master’s degree in leadership, an MBA in marketing and a Ph.D. in holistic health. He is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging
Medicine and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and is board certified in alternative medicine.

Jim is also a former USA Baseball/Major League Player’s Association Coach of the Year as well as an award winning author on such diverse subjects as baseball, finance and menopause.  He works with many professional athletes and his baseball book spoke out against steroids long before the condemnation  was popular.

Jim’s most successful book has been my menopause (and other mid life issues women and their partners face). His son Kris  also wrote a book while a college student that was subsequently used by the University of Dallas in their sports management program entitled “How to Achieve Your Million Dollar Dreams at Any Age”. The book  isn’t about making a million dollars but more about making all your big
dreams come true, a great subject for high school and college

Kris had his dream of playing major league baseball ended by a career ending injury his freshman year at Stetson. Kris was named one of the top high school players in the country by Collegiate Baseball Magazine. His book is about having to give up on one dream and transition into others.

Larry Grossman

Larry Grossman began speaking at our seminars about 30 years ago after graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Eckerd College. He is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), awarded by the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA) in conjunction with the Wharton School of Business.

With decades of experience in international financial planning, he became one of the first financial advisors to develop a compliant method for IRAs and pension plans offshore for asset protection and greater investment diversification. Larry’s method has been reviewed and approved by some of the top ERISA attorneys in the country.

Rich Checkan

Michael and Rich Checkan run Asset Strategies.  They are specialists in asset protection, precious metal, and foreign currency and I have worked with them for over 30 years.

Michael McDonald

Mike McDonald is a Broker-Dealer Agen at Aegis Capital Corp. in Orlando, Florida.  Individual securities are his specialty whether it be stocks, bonds, or other instruments whoever they are around the world. We have yet to find something that he did not  have access to for our readers.

Lou Shinaman

Registered Investment Wealth Advisor with Ruggie Wealth with over 16 years of financial services experience and where he is senior member of our investment committee.

For part of the eight years prior to joining RWM, Louis traveled the world extensively, holding educational seminars in the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Ann Tidwell

Ann and Ted Tidwell are the manufactures of Purely Green and Bio Wash, two bio degradable chemical products.  Many highly trained agronomists are puzzled by the “out-of-the-box” yet obvious effectiveness of these products.  The basis appears to be the incredibly small size of the sub-atomic particles that are able to penetrate and deliver nutrients to the plant.  It is not a fertilizer but apparently increases  the cation exchange capacity, electro-magnetic action of the roots and photosynthesis in the leaves.

This can improve the yield and increase the BRIX plus as a huge bonus is a  natural insect deterrent because it is an exceptionally gentle yet powerful degreaser,  it dissolves the lipid cellular membrane of small, soft bodied funguses and insects.

Bio Wash has secured Florida state permission to label our “Purely Green (PG) Oil Clean” as a soil amendment and Cation Exchange Stimulant.  To the manufacturer’s knowledge, the Cation Exchange Stimulant label is the first ever approved.

Join Merri and me at our Super Thinking + Investing and Business Seminar – February 1-2-3 , 2013, Eustis, Florida.

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999

See  How to Attend this Seminar for $177 instead

Surprising New Survey Finds Many Retirees Plan on Moving in Retirement

The Great Pension Robbery


There is a great pension robbery in progress.

There are three ways that the purchasing power of pensions can be robbed.

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Delegates at our seminar center… like minded souls sharing ideas about earning beyond pensions during a coffee break.

The First Pension Theft.  The first way pensions can be robbed is through underfunding due to insufficient contributions.  A pension is a promise. The promise should be backed up by assets that can generate a return. If a business (or government) making the promise does not earn enough money to make adequate contributions then the pension fund simply will not have enough money to meet its promises.

Excerpts from a recent Reuters article “Feds fret over underfunded corporate pensions” by Josh Boak shows that this is a serious problem when it says:  For many Americans with pensions, employers have not set aside enough money.  Corporate pensions increasingly look like an economic time bomb for the government.

Federal officials have assumed responsibility for hundreds of troubled pension plans in recent years. Those takeovers could accelerate as baby boomers start to retire, with taxpayers potentially needing to pay tens of billions of dollars to keep the private plans alive.

“This is going to have massive implications for the country but particularly following on the heels of the latest economic downturn,” said Richard Shea, a lawyer specializing in employee benefits at Covington & Burling. “Pension benefits are being frozen and closed down at an alarming rate.”

For many of the 44 million Americans with pensions, employers have not set aside enough money to provide them a stable income through retirement. Publicly traded companies face a combined pension shortfall of $458 billion, according to a recent report by the bank Credit Suisse.

The cost of rescuing these plans has saddled the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. with a $26 billion deficit, the highest in its 37-year history. The situation will likely worsen as more companies decide they can no longer afford their pension commitments and stick the government with the bill.

“This is a death spiral,” said a representative of the pension industry. “It may not happen over the course of the decade, but we end up in a situation where we need a taxpayer bailout.”

The problem has become severe enough that the director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. has publicly campaigned against American Airlines — which filed for bankruptcy last year — for trying to end its retirement plan and dump its obligations on the government.

The article went on to add that American Airlines alone was trying to shed pension liability on 130,000 employees.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is funded by insurance premiums from businesses and assets of pension plans that it absorbs.  This agency is deeply underwater with a record deficit in 2011 of $26 billion.  The current estimated liabilities are $107 billion but assets are only $81 billion.

The American Airlines pension shortage is over $10 billion, so just this one bankruptcy increases the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation shortfall by 40%.

Pension Protection

We’ll look at the other two forms of pension theft… lowered return on assets and destruction of the pension currency in upcoming messages.

These three forms of pension theft mean that many pensioners will be lucky if they get the full benefits they’ve earned over their careers.  Almost no pensioner can depend on getting the full purchasing power of their pension.

An solution to this problem is a way of doing something you love that earns beyond retirement through a service or a real asset.

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Delegates at our Writer’s Camp enjoy talking with each other.  They can come hash around ideas about their  passions as well as writing.

Even obscure passions and pleasures can create income.

Take these fabric designs as an example.

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This excerpt comes from the Country Living article entitled “Making a Country Living  – How a mom of six crafted a fabric and accessory business from home.”

Anna Maria Horner has been fabric obsessed most of her life. At age 5 she was already into her mom’s scraps to fashion Barbie dresses. Now a mother herself (of six)the 37 year old designs textiles – as well as everything from pillows to purses – from her Nashville home.

After running a clothing and home goods store for three years she closed shop to focus on creating her own designs. Though it took seven years to land a manufacturing deal for her  fabrics, Horner stayed afloat by selling handmade totes and dresses to local boutiques.

She says: “if you have fun, it shows in your work.”

Her company grossed $250,0000 last year.

The photo above comes from the website of Anna Maria Horner which is linked below.

A quarter of a million a year from home is pretty good… but more important is the fact that Horner IS fulfilling her passion.

Those who have a passion similar to Horner’s but want to live in Ecuador can write about Ecuadorian fabrics, designs and art.

For example we helped one reader learn how to earn in art by creating artistic business cards and professional printing.

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These efforts were especially enjoyable for us as they helped the artist, Montero, (below) and several other starving artists in Otavalo, Ecuador.

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Montero lives in Otavalo.

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Nature Art by…

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Montero.

I once did a study of successful people and this search clarified the fact that most millionaires make their money in business doing something they love. This discovery led to a study of rich businesses, ones that generated everlasting wealth. Here are five of seven secrets I learned about these businesses:

Secret #1: They must enjoy the multiple effect. A product once created must produce profits again and again, almost on a never-ending basis. Each investment made needs to make huge returns.

Secret #2: They need to be greater than their owner’s time. They must produce income even when the owner doesn’t put in day-to-day effort. You may already be wealthy or earning a high income. You may not even need another business or extra income, but some day you might. One surgeon explained it this way. “I am making a fortune because peoples’ lives are in my hands. Once my hands are no longer steady, my income stops. My entire financial well being will then be in someone else’s hands!”

Secret #3: These money making systems should be enjoyable and fun! Sadly most people make money for the sake of making money. Many spend their lives working, just to have a few precious hours having fun. The most important fact I learned about making and keeping wealth was that those who were richest absolutely loved what they were doing! Money was of secondary importance to their effort. And as things are, this means they actually ended up making more money!

Secret #4: These money making systems need to be flexible. No matter what the economy brings, your ability to make money should work regardless of inflation, recession or even depression.

Secret #5: These businesses usually start small, but grow quite large. I learned that good money systems work for large or for small amounts and can be operated on either a full or part time basis. Most businesses start with a learning curve. During that time it is essential they are small. Once the lessons have been learned and the system is operating properly, then it needs to grow for larger and larger returns.

These secrets all show why writing is such a good way to create extra income.

Before discovering these secrets I had my own micro business but to be honest I could never get ahead. I was almost penniless, in debt and living from month to month, check to check. Then I discovered these secrets… and used writing to apply them around the world.

Since then our international micro businesses have brought in millions. We gained all the physical possessions we desired, plus more than enough money in the bank.

We do not have one penny of debt and we have leisure time… though when you love your business… why not work?

Most importantly, we have fun and feel that we have accomplished something beyond just making money every day!  Merri and I do what we love and have learned that through our writing we can accomplish far more important goals, gain self fulfillment and be of service to our community. In short we can help make ourselves and the world a better place.   So we do not worry so much about our pension.

Among our greatest thrills is being able to help others through foundations we have started that help the environment and the poor.

More importantly we have the freedom to do all this from our many locations (some are remote-you might have seen the pictures) that we really enjoy.

You too can have the freedom to do what you love from any place you like, even operating (actually preferably) from your bedroom if you wish.

What do you love? Rare cars? You can make a fortune creating a business around them. Do you prefer fine art? Or do you love beautiful jewelry, coins, gems, real estate, furs, model railways, dolls, scientific equipment, war memorabilia, old and rare books, or whatever? Do you prefer social subjects rather than objects?

Are you concerned with the environment or humanitarian problems, with crimes, war or poverty?  Would you like to help wipe these social problems out in the course of your business?

Are you a golfer? Do you love to travel? Why not make all kinds of money in a global business writing about golf?

Would you like to help the world be a more spiritual place, help people get along better together? You can do something good for the world, increase your income and live wherever you please in the process!

Whatever your interest you can learn how to earn extra by writing (and/or publishing the writing of others) about that passion.

Also, imagine what an international business means to your world travel. Every trip you take can be tax deductible! You can honestly write off every trip that is related to your business. Every journey can become a research oriented adventure and a TAX DEDUCTIBLE EVENT.

As a writer, you’ll have one of the most respected and tax protected businesses in the country. Other benefits come in the form of legal protection.  The First Amendment to the US Constitution provides for freedom of the press… the right to circulate opinions in print without censorship by the government…  the right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other printed matter without governmental restriction and subject only to certain laws such as those relating to libel, obscenity, and sedition.

There is such an abundance of opportunity that Merri and I have created an entire system to help you write and publish.

We began our writing at home. Today, though we have tens of thousands of buyers and have made millions, we still work at home on our remote farms in Florida, North Carolina and Ecuador and have people to help.  Our partners live where they love and work with us through the internet.

You can do the same with a system contained in an online correspondence course called “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Writer and Publisher”.   See details here.

The pension robbery is real and the thieves not likely to be caught because no one person or group is to blame

The world faces a faltering job market and shaky economy with a crumbling infrastructure at a time the world is shifting from a global economy dominated by the USA… to one where business… and affluence are more spread around the world.  This affects kids coming out of school… bread winners with growing families and those of us who are at an age where we can (or expect to) retire. Everyone is involved.

This economic shift, an aging global society and massive debt in most of the Western world almost guarantees that the purchasing power of currencies will fall… in most of the industrialized, debt ridden nations.

The more these problems create change… they also create opportunity especially for writers who can help readers learn how to adapt to the evolving economy and world.

Gary

See below how to get our online writers and publishers course free when you attend a Writer’s Camp at our farm.

Writer’s Camps

Start a one year writing project.  Be cool. Attend our summer Writer’s Camp in Blue Ridge Mountains.   Start with our online course Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher FREE right away. ($299 value).

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Delegates at previous summer writer’s camp in the Blue Ridge.

Our Writer’s Camps help learn writing to sell… the business of writing and how to publish.

Our summer and autumn writer’s camps in North Carolina fill up quickly. Our winter writer’s camp was totally filled.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Our summer and autumn camps last year sold out almost immediately and due to the small numbers we accept we must accept enrollments on a first come – first served basis.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please indicate which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

My wife, Merri, and I have possibly the smallest… yet one of the highest earning… self publishing company in the world.

Our high earnings come from writing, self publishing secrets we learned and refined over the past 45 years of writing to sell.  These secrets have worked so well they have earned extra millions for Merri and me and we share them at our writer’s camps..

Our goal at the camps are to help you “Get Started”… but to “Start Small” and maybe like us stay that way… small… tightly focus but highly profitable.

There I said it flying in the face of society hammering us to “Think Big”. This is the era where small is beautiful in a very big way.

At the camps we dive into this idea of smallness for profit.

I am stuck with this horrible fear of being broke. You know unfilled promises… tight finances… money worries…even costly groceries and bill collector stuff. I had all that decades ago and even though 40 years have passed it’s not forgotten.

I hate this for anybody. No money. No future prospects. Worry about the kids. Not knowing how to retire… or where to turn.

45 years ago I started writing because I was broke.  These problems over 40 years ago affected me for life.  In fact I am so hung up on this that that Merri and I (we are so thankful that we can) give away money to help create jobs… we have now donated close to a million dollars in our quest to reduce joblessness.

Merri and I are writers and self publishers. We have earned as much as $20,000 for a single day’s work… and have earned consistently year in and year out… while we do what we love… because of a few secrets.

We want to share these secrets with you so you can make six and even seven figure income each year in a matter that suits you.

There is more good news than the money.  The secrets we share make working fun. You are your own boss. You gain respect so your ideas are listened to.

Most important you can be self fulfilled as you make the world a better place by writing.

Merri and I invite you to share a writer’s camp we’ll conduct in 2013?   This will be a retreat high in the Blue Ridge for a select few that can help you create you own publications for profit.

Believe me… we will be relentless about three facts… serve well… be gratified… make good profits.

The retreat will be conducted in the seclusion of a forest.  We’ll meet in June  or August… but we want the work on your publication to begin right away…. tomorrow even.  I’ll explain how you can begin right away in a moment.

At the camp we teach super thinking as well as how to write and publish.  This secret “little system” creates a crack in the creative process… so you’ll not have just one idea for a business but many.  You may be flooded with ideas!  In fact a big part of the workshop narrows you down to deciding what to write first.

Merri and I are living proof.  We can’t open the darn paper without getting a new idea.

First, let me repeat…Start Small!

The camp by the way is called “Self Fulfilled – How to Write and Self Publishing”.   I am thinking of renaming it “Start Small but Earn Millions”.

Writers who earn the most are writers, like Merri and myself, who also publish.   We always make an annual six figure income but some years we net seven figures…over a million dollars. That’s because we figured out that the lion’s share of income earned from writing goes to the publisher. The publishing part of writing can be outrageously profitable.

One case study we’ll look at in the course reviews the book. “Who Moved My Cheese.” It’s so small! I love it!  The publisher had to push just to make it look like a book, yet 17 million copies in the first two years of release. No one is laughing. If the normal price is $19.95 a book, that’s $339,155 million in sales. If the author received a normal 12% royalty (on the wholesale price) he made a cool $20,346,500 (and much more as the book has continued to sell for years).

Pretty good, huh?

The $20 million plus will pay for quite a few groceries. Almost anyone would love to have this much income until they realize that this leaves the publisher with the other $300 million to spread around.

The neat thing about being a small, self publisher is that virtually all this money (the other 88%) is yours! (Sometimes the 12% too.) In other words, it could be all yours.

Merri and I began publishing with no money and little background. We started small! As already mentioned, I was bust and had no background in writing. I did not finish college.

Before we share the exact schedule of this exciting camp, let me outline a few of the benefits that self publishing has brought to Merri and me.

If you accept our invitation, we will hammer, even bombard you with the absolute, vital importance of starting small. We live in the era of epublishing that makes small “big”.   This plays perfectly into the hands of small businesses and copywriters as we just happened to have a perfect advantage right now in the marketplace.

Let’s begin to understand this with that old rule… follow the money. Our self publishing business has brought us millions. We own four houses, a farmhouse, six cabins and over 1,000 acres of land. Plus more money than we can spend, in the bank… safe, secure bonds and shares… no mortgages… no credit card bills and zero debt!

Now let’s get to the important stuff.  Our life is less stressed (not stress free – every business has stress) but Self Publishing can be a low stress business… no commuting… choose your own hours… immersed in your own passions with like minded souls. Work at home. How refreshing!

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Here I am at our Florida home… at work?

You can have fun every day doing what you love as you accomplish goals that are important… to you… and are a service to your community.

Merri and I, for example, love helping people get jobs.  So we used self publishing to create a foundation (Land of the Sun Foundation) to help the indigenous learn how to get work. The foundation has donated nearly a million dollars in Ecuador to create jobs.

What do you love? Why not make the kinds of money I’ve just mentioned publishing your passion and do something good for the world at the same time?

Your passion and self publishing create…magic, wealth, happiness.

Three other things you gain.

#1: Respect. If you are not a recluse like Merri and me, you’ll find yourself the center of attention at social events and with your friends and in business because publishing is highly respected.

#2: Power. Everyone wants publishers to distribute good information about them. And everyone fears publishers a bit. The pen IS mightier than the sword!

#3: Protection. Writers are protected by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You do not need a license to publish. There is no government watchdog nor do you have bureaucratic red tape involved in publishing. Publishers enjoy almost more freedom than any other occupation because of the Freedom of the Press. This is so powerful because the first amendment is actually a part of the Bill of Rights. Just in case you missed this in school (as most students did including me) here are the exact words of this amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You become the press and you are set free. You cannot get more protection than that.

Shall we get back to the money and lifestyle? What can self publishing do financially for you?

Merri and I love nature so our home in Florida is set amidst and orange grove… just far enough from busy parts of the state that we enjoy wonderful peace and quiet. This makes a perfect place to study.  This is a winter shot from the front yard of our Florida home looking over our orange grove and lake…  that we bought with cash from our self published writing.

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This is only where we live in the winter.

The Blue Ridge is our summer home.  That name is a slight misnomer for a large part of the year.  Correctly named in the winter, these mountains would be called “White Ridge”. The white comes from snow which begins with S as does South which is where we head around November…to Florida or Ecuador .

While it’s freezing in the North Carolina mountains, we worry about sunburn sometimes.

The Ecuador hotel, by the way, is one of the most satisfying parts of our self publishing business. We bought it from bankruptcy because a dozen wonderful people (with babies and kids and worries about education, medical bills and yes groceries) were about to lose their jobs.

Mostly right now… due to a elderly mom and many wonderful new grand kids we spend winters at our in Florida and visit family in Oregon and England.  So for your convenience (and ours) the next two writers camp will be conducted near our Ashe County North Carolina farm.

Why attend this camp?  Self publishing can easily fulfill all of your material needs.  More importantly it throws you together with fantastically interesting people from all walks of life.   You all share a common goal… to write… to sell… to earn.  This create magic for all.
You can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle.  Married, single, rich, poor, in good and bad health, educated and not, travelers and those who want to just stay at home. This is who self publishing works for… those who want a gradual part time improvement in life and those who want to make big enhancements now.

This workshop appeals to anyone who would like to write or publish or both.  We will look at how published products can include compilations, catalogues, CDS, interviews. Plus we’ll look at how to develop treks, tours, visits, products and services.

For example, you’ll see below how one delegate who attended the workshop used her publication to sell real estate.

This course is for individuals and couples. We include those who want their own publishing system together as a family business.

Self employed, retired, professionals and those who are employed who want to add extra income or who want to change their life entirely will benefit. Previous course delegates have included investors, chiropractors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, architects, other professionals and those who already own their own business and of course retirees.

This workshop is not theory. Merri and I share our real time experiences. We start at the beginning over 40 years ago but mainly look at how we earn hundreds of thousands and even millions a year in our exciting lifestyle…right now.

Let’s get our noses to the grindstone. The workshop provides a Path called the seven Ps. They provide a simple, small and easy path for starting your own publishing business.

The workshop has one focused, refined and relentless goal. To prepare you to start your first publication the day after the workshop ends!

May I add that this workshop has done a pretty good job already?  Here are a few examples of small self publishing businesses that started after attending this workshop.

Barry Weinhold who attended our Writers Camp wrote:   My first book sold over 200,000 copies in print. After attending your course I have published another book at Amazon.com.
Thanks for helping get the word out.   The First free download of Book One had about 900 downloads and we have sold about 90 books since then. I did get some great reviews on Book One. Now book two is ready.

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You can order Barry’s second book ($2.99) on Amazon.com by clicking here. “Breaking Family Patterns: How To Change Your Family Patterns!

Nicki Goff  who attended our writer’s camp wrote shortly after that she completed her first book “Easy Quinoa Recipes” with 13 quinoa recipes.

She had 10,000 downloads of the book in five days and obtained dozens of good reviews!

She wrote:  Hi, Gary,  Book sales are actually going well, and I’m having a lot of fun with this. I’m so grateful to you and Merri  for pushing me to get some action going!

The free promos really get things going, and seem to reignite sales.

Two more in the works – both on gardening topics.  Best wishes for 2013 to you and Merri.   Love, Nicki

What a joy seeing how helping and connecting people helps all create their own special success.  How beautiful to see friends turn their passions into profit!

You can get 13 more great quinoa recipes in Nicki Goff’s book at the links below.

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You can order Nicki’s first book at Amazon.com.

Nicki learned at the camp that getting these downloads is step three in a seven step process. We (and others) have been helping Nicki and our delegates walk through these steps so they can earn income through writing and publishing again and again.

Nicki is now well on her way to wonderful self publishing success.   She just completed her fourth book, “Under Cover Gardening”

The Writer’s Camp helps people of all ages from their teens to their 80s!

The father of the family of four wrote:  Hi Gary and Merri:  Just thought y’all would like to know that today Doss published his first book.  It is called College Confidential and it is currently listed at number 42 on amazon. com.  He would not have done it but for our experience this summer at your Writer’s Camp.

So, here is thanking you both very much.

Bill Winter

This book is written by a student, for students, College Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Success written by Doss Winter is filled with practical tips and insider information addressing everything from Academics to getting your Zzzzs.
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Order College Confidential at Amazon.com here.

The writer’s camp refines both Merri’s and my 40 years of experience into its most essential points. All of us will have to work intensely to cram everything into three days.

This workshop is being conducted by Merri and me. We will be hosting the event near our North Carolina farm.   These camps are intimate which allows us to personally work with each delegate to assure that all who attend can create their own publication.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyascott/8029808357/

On Friday, at 9 a.m. sharp, we get to work.

What will you write?  Some of you know what you want to do…that’s great.  We’ll work on that.  Some of you just feel that you can succeed in this field…we’ll hone that and work on that.  We’ll create our own niches.

Your product? Your goals?  This is why we are inviting you to enroll in the camp now. This is a long term program and we’ll help you create your own product now that we can work on at the camp.

Here is where product development gets interesting. Your product will be safe.

Our camp uses three highly successful strategies… #1: personal attention from Merri and me… #2: peer review and #3: anonymity.  Reasons for the personal attention is obvious. The peer review is a proven way to get extra insights into your publication. Look at the acknowledgements of any successful writer. They thank many people who helped make their book correct.   The anonymity is our unique touch… so no one needs to be worried.  I could say more but just believe me this makes all the difference.   This is a unique part of our system that has evolved from decades of helping others write and publish products!

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into the 7 Ps of self publishing. Passion, Problem, Person, profitably priced Product, pathways to Prospects, Promise and Presentation.

Then we get down to brass tacks by placing the ideas you have fractured under the first magnifying glasses of Passion, Problem and Person. This is the beginning of your first perfect product so you can become your own perfect client.

I’ll talk about how your passions, your current knowledge bring you to your own niche create the stories.  We’ll look at the all powerful “Golden Rule of Simplicity…Your Passions Represent Markets”.

Merri and I will both show you how to follow your passion to the market and use your passion to find “Prospecting Pathways” and “Presentation Templates” that are the drivers of your business.

Merri’s publishing skills and history, by the way, far exceed mine. She began her own import business selling products form Italy , Germany and Mexico through her own advertisements she wrote in the New Yorker, Sunday NY Times, Smithsonian, House & Garden, House Beautiful, and other magazines. Then with her ad agency edited and published hundreds of books, brought a bankrupt magazine to award winning status as executive editor to Gulf Shore Life (which later sold to the Robb Reports for $22+ million dollars), has edited over 1400 writers and was even offered the top editor (the only female) at the National Enquirer working directly with Generoso Pope (which she politely turned down).  She lectured at Magazine Conferences throughout the South to help others bring their own publishing ventures to awarding winning and financial success.

We’ll then return to and chip away at your fractured writing and publishing ideas to refine the most valuable asset you have in your business armory… your imagination.

Finally around 5 pm, we’ll stop working as one large group. However, that is not the end of the educational, evolutionary process that will by now be whirling away. You’ll have enough momentum and information to refine your publication.  That’s what you’ll be assigned to do.

We won’t want you to work too late though.  We still have a lot to do on Sunday and Monday.

Saturday, I already know what will happen. You’ll all be sitting around with others buzzing over your ideas. I’ll have to force you back to group work at 9 a.m. because you’ll have such a head of steam you won’t want to stop talking. However, I hope that you have followed Merri’s and my example and had a good night’s sleep. Experience suggests that some of you in your excitement, will have worked through the night. You might not get to sleep now because today we’re going to accomplish three days work in a day!

We’ll start with a review of your assignments. No red marks or stars by the way… just feedback and a gentle coaxing toward the ways to create winning writing and self publishing ventures.

Then we’ll get into how to turn your thoughts/desires/energies into reality with:

#1: Stories with authenticity, meaning and roots.

#2: Stories true to the heart.

#3: Stories with conflict.

#4: Stories with passion.

The “why” of these four qualities is fascinating and so impossibly important, yet simple, that knowing it is worth the entire investment you make in the workshop. Here it is quick, down and dirty… knowledge worth millions.

There are three main demographic subgroups in the Western World. One is dying out. One controls everything but the third is rapidly rising… growing so fast that it can take down even a big organization like Starbucks (which it did in England) if ignored. Yet this third group (whom you will write and publish for) is at least partially ignored by every large corporation in the world. They all make the same cheesy error and this huge mistake creates fracturing opportunities for you… which will be the tiny, but immensely profitable small publisher.

We go on to our next Story Review about small niches that Merri and I have fractured. How we beat a publisher that’s 1,500 times larger in this niche.

We’ll break for lunch. Then at 2 pm it’s back to work:

In the afternoon, Merri and I look at how to match your passion to the National Psyche by studying the NY Times & USA Today best seller lists. We’ll see how new indie epublishers are creating top selling books and provide magical clues that lead to successful products, stories and marketing.

We’ll work on epublishing…how it is virtually free of expense to start/continue/succeed.  Only things necessary:  inspiration, desire, hard work and follow through…actual cost?  Zero.

Then we’ll review how to use Twitter to develop viral marketing and… what’s next!

Getting your reports, books or simply ideas on the epublishing parade…that’s through Kindle, Book Nook, etc.

The excitement that builds by this time of the camp often interferes with the dream process.  Ideas for reports, publishing ideas, businesses, stories, new lifestyles and bigger profits come rushing forth even though you are trying for sheep.

Regardless, on Sunday, – as before, we’ll start at 9 a.m. sharp and remain intensely focused until mid afternoon.

Before Merri and I wrap up the entire process, we’ll outline our how we’ll continue to assist you for the rest of the year.

Let’s end this with a summary:  Merri and I will begin to help you develop your publishing, writing idea the minute you enroll.  Our goal is to help you create your own product so you can fine tune it in July.  The workshop will help you come up with new ideas… but we want you to start one now. Merri and I will be glad to help you with it.

Okay, how about your cash investment? The cost of the workshop.

As I said earlier, Merri and I have been self publishing for 40 years. This invitation provides access to information we share with only a very limited group.

The cost of the camp is  $799 or $999 for a couple. Travel, your accommodations and other meals are your responsibility.

Registration is severely limited due to the personal attention we provide.   We expect to be full.

Here is how to register immediately.

Click below:

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We’ll send you an email giving you details and your preparatory assignments for the camp, travel, etc.

We’ll set up our line of communications as well as deliver our online Self Publishing course.

We’ll send you what you need to get started. We’re going to be learning from the first minute, and we want you to be ready.

Get started and work with us and the online course until the camp begins.

Best regards,

Gary

P.S. This is a chance to experience the dream life of a writer and self publisher.

We are going to work hard the entire time from now until the camp but the effects of this retreat won’t end on that Sunday. They’ll just begin.

One of the finest benefits you gain will be new like-minded friends. Our previous workshop delegates have stuck together…formed support groups and helped each other develop, grow and profit. This is called an “old boys network” in some places. Every major university and educational system has one…this invisible power because “who you know”, not just “what you know” works. We’ll encourage this so your alumni group can enhance your efforts whenever required.

May I share three final examples of how big, your little self publishing business can become from our workshop?

A long time friend, who had just retired from a 30 year career in the oil industry joined our program. His passion was to learn more about health and looking at the deep, more spiritual aspects of life since he had ended a financially successful career. He has gone on to publishing the leading healthy living magazine where he lives.

Not only does he publish 20,000 copies of a 48-64 page magazine on healthy living every month, he has been able to meet and work with leading health and spiritual leaders like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dwyer and even the Dali Llama. What a thrill.

Michelle Toole, an at home mother, made a fateful decision… to attend our self publishing course.

Michelle was disabled when she took the “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher” camp.

She took what she learned from our publishing courses and created her own successful global micro website.

Michelle wrote:  “I have some great news, my web site  http://healthy-holistic-living.com is now getting on average 2,000 visitors a day! Yup my little one man show web site now gets close to 60,000 visitors each month!  The power of the internet is amazing as well as the opportunities.  We have said it before but it deserves saying again the internet is truly the great equalizer.

“My web site is at a point now that it is growing without much effort and produces a nice passive income allowing me to continue working on my second site http://home-remedies-and-natural-cures.com and to get my third site up and running.  I am also working on various joint ventures with other web sites focusing on helping others start their own web business. I am doing monthly webinars helping disabled individuals start their own business on the Internet and will be starting a coaching club in the new year.  The opportunities are only limited by one’s imagination.

“Again I can not thank you and Merri enough, I look forward to many great adventures and new experiences in the coming years!”

Another successful self publisher who attended our workshop wrote :

“MY HEAD IS STILL SPINNING from all of the valuable input I received. Out in the boonies, 2 + hours from the airport in Charlotte , North Carolina it was not your typical setting for a business seminar.

“It was presented by a fascinating guy with an interesting career history. Gary Scott and his wife, Merri, split their time between their idyllic farm in North Carolina and their property in the mountains of Ecuador . I first heard about Gary through my interest in Ecuador .

“By his own admission, Gary is often ‘a bit ahead of the curve’ which is part of what makes his material interesting. You sense the authenticity of what he is saying but it has not caught on in the mainstream media or pop-culture.

“The input is that is already affecting my life was not just from the instructor, but from other participants. The small group, less than twenty, seemed to be intimately bonded as soon as the seminar started. People from all walks of life and all parts of the country gained insights from the information that was geared to create a ‘life of your choosing more so than just a successful business. A very simple but powerful concept. Why do we want the money in the first place?

“The lifestyle aspect of the course was taught by example. We, as a group, were temporarily inserted directly into the lifestyle led by Gary and Merri. No better way to learn than by doing.

“The course content suited my needs very nicely. It addressed issues pertinent to FilmTrips and my marketing company, MJ Media. New life has been injected into several FilmTrips projects that had been languishing on a back burner for quite some time. Gary talks about being open to ‘connect the dots’ and take advantage of distortions or discrepancies between economies and countries. I am in a very good position to do that. Telephone and Internet technology has certainly arrived to help make it happen. I will keep you posted!”

In the workshop we learn how to use the “Business Evolutionary Process.” Start with a small idea. Let the idea build enthusiasm. Let the enthusiasm lead you to an education. Let the education create action. The action will bring, deeper ideas…so you can start small and grow.

This is what so many others who have accepted Merri’s and my invitation have done and are doing now….as are we. A never ending process for all.

We hope you will join this growth process with us. If you do, this letter…the invitation and the workshop will be fateful and fun.  Register today!

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

Delegates from our last camp wrote:  My daughter and I had a fantastic time at the Writer’s Camp this past weekend.  We both felt we gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on “how to make money with our writing skills”!  Thank you.
 
Yours and Merri’s expertise on transmitting knowledge to others is phenomenal.  The warm, personal feel of being with you both along with the great people in the class was great!
 
Thank you again for all the added information gained in all areas of life and what I consider gourmet meals served to us all.
 
Donna/Jeanna

Another wrote: Have just returned from the writing seminar conducted at your farm in Ashe County, North Carolina, I thought I’d give you my take on what I experienced. To suggest that the location, hosts, seminar content, and accommodations were adequate would be an understatement.

This was my introductory visit to the northwestern corner of North Carolina and it appears, from looking at the map, that this area could be considered the “foothills” of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Remote? You bet! But a beautiful place for retreating when life or weather calls for relocation.

Corresponding as we have for the past two years was simply a forerunner to our one on two meeting and I am so pleased that we found this opportunity.  You are both most personable with dynamic and pleasing personalities. I was extremely comfortable the entire weekend and thank you for making that possible.

The seminar itself opened a whole new world that I hope to explore in the coming months. I drove away from your farm with a well inflated right rear tire and a wealth of information that could catapult me into a whole new profession should I opt to go that route. I still have a number of professional business ideas that I intend to pursue, however, the concepts and ideas conveyed in your seminar will serve to enhance whatever I undertake going forward.

But if there was one underlying common denominator that I recognized, it was the fact that you are both so well qualified to present in this field of communication. Probably my most prolific observation was how well read and knowledgeable you are. The breadth and depth of knowledge on so many diverse yet associated subjects kept my unswerving attention. It also opened my mind to a variety of fields that, heretofore, I would not have considered relevant to my interests. And as a presenter, Gary is prolific. I drove away knowing that not only did the seminar give me my money’s worth but I was introduced to some very valuable contacts.

The bottom line is your seminar was both eye opening and entertaining. I came, I saw, I learned, and I even ate healthy. Thanks for everything. John

The son of a father son team sent this note:  Hi Merri!  I just attended your writers camp with my dad this past weekend.  I didn’t get to express how much I appreciated all that you and Gary did for us this weekend because we were in a hurry to get to the airport. Letting us stay in your cottage and having us for your writers camp was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life! Gary and Merri’s stories of adventure, success, your lessons, and advice are truly priceless!!

This camp has inspired me. Writing has always come naturally for me but I never was able to view it as a business opportunity.

This camp has shown me not only that writing can be profitable, but HOW to make it profitable! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with me. In my lifetime, I could only hope to see the success that you and Gary have achieved.

I not have only signed up for your newsletter, but I can’t stop spreading the word to my friends about my experience. Thanks again for your amazing hospitality,  Mitchell

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Please note which camp you’ll attend in the comments section.

We share a David Cross video at the camp.

david-cross-image tags:"2012-4-21"

David has an unparalleled, hands-on marketing experience spanning 25 years in 22 countries for companies and charities large and small. He’s guided many companies and individuals to success in business and helped them achieve their marketing goals, both online and offline.   He started working with the internet from the getgo and we have been lucky that he helped us start our website in the 1990s.  He was also Senior Internet Consultant to Agora Inc. in Baltimore, MD.  David worked closely with Agora’s publishers and marketers and over an 8-year period helped to propel Agora’s online revenues to over $300 Million in 2009 until he came to work with Merri and me full time.

More who have written about the Writer’s Camp.

From Sandra, a restaurant owner:  “Dear Gary and Merri, Yes I did it! Without you and your wonderful writing class I would not have been able to see my potential!! I THANK YOU BOTH! You told me to write about what I know and I did. Thank you for all the encouragement. Starting today, we are taking orders and I wanted you to be the first to know! So here goes…..I have some exciting news to share! I have just written my first book and very much appreciate your help. This book would make a great gift for any bride-to-be or even the parents of the bride (especially if they’re paying the bill)! Please check it out. I genuinely appreciate you helping me spread the word! Thank you!! Sandra”

From Jerusha, an anthropologist:  “Hello Gary and Merri. I am the first in the class to publish! I published a calendar on www.lulu.com!

From Todd, a wedding photographer:  “Thanks, Gary and Merri name recognition is beginning. Here is my new photoletter that your program helped me develop. I’m getting more clear about my own marketing now, so I may be able to better advantage of it. I am planning now to send out an email once a week showcasing new photos and creating awareness for my products and services. By mid July, I will place my first greeting card order (with a printing company Merri recommended in Cotacachi). So, I will soon have an inexpensive product to offer along with the more expensive prints that I sell. So far, I’ve got 60 opt-on subscribers to my email list, and I am telling everyone I know about it, so it’s starting to grow nicely. My first goal is to have 1000 readers. I’ll see how quickly I can accomplish it. Take care, Todd”

From Micky, a real estate broker:  “I want to say thank you for the inspiration and encouragement that I received through your publishing program. I recently published a 28 page booklet” Naples is Priceless “. This FREE booklet is being distributed through the Chamber of Commerce, banks, hotels, etc. With over 25 years as a Realtor I can now let potential real estate buyers gain knowledge and inside tidbits about this beautiful area. Again, thank you for helping me develop my potential. Micky”

Meet other successful writers.

Mike Herron who atteded our camp and is now on his second book just wrote:   Hello Gary, I wanted to thank you and Merri for once again providing a wonderful and motivating experience at the Writer’s Camp last month.  As with your other workshops I’ve attended, it inspired me to return home and finish my second book and get it published.

I’m pleased to announce that Appalachian Gold is now completed and available for people to purchase and read.  It is available on Amazon in either e-book format or as a print-on-demand hard copy.

appalachian gold

Unlike my first novel, Black Diamonds, the first book in the Colors of Alaska trilogy which takes place in Homer, Alaska, Appalachian Gold is set in the North Georgia Mountains.  As is my style, I interweave local legends with love and bring them to contemporary life.

Susan and I both hope to attend more of your workshops at your North Carolina camps, perhaps we can manage to get up to one this summer.  Maybe we can even work in a book signing at a nearby winery to help spread the word about Appalachian Gold.

Now I will turn my attention to completing the second book in my Alaskan trilogy. It will be called Blue Ice.  Susan and I will be visiting Alaska in May and June doing research for the book, enjoying the majestic scenery, and visiting our son.

If any of your readers are aspiring authors who have yet to be published I would strongly encourage them to sign up for one of your writing camps at the first opportunity.  I know the experience will provide them with the skills, knowledge and perhaps more importantly, the motivation, to return home and turn their dream into reality.

Best wishes always and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Mike

Our online course “Self Fulfilled -  How to be a Self Publisher” is normally $299.  See more here.

Save the $299 and receive this online course FREE now.

Join us Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 14, 15, 16 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Join us Saturday, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Ashe County, NC.

Single $799

Couple $999

Read  Feds fret over underfunded corporate pensions

Anna Marie Horner site

We Wait for Pain


We do not have to wait for pain as we age.  I’ll explain why in a moment.

First, let me point out that the sentence “We Wait for Pain” shows why learning Spanish may be easier than you think.

costa-rica-spanish-course

Super Thinking + Spanish teacher John Sloan teaching his first course in Costa Rica.

This sentence “We wait for pain” shows one reason Spanish is so easy to learn.  In Spanish there are hardly ever confusing words that sound one way but are spelled another.  Even better there are no words that sound the same but are spelled in a totally different way and have a completely different meanings.   “We wait for pain” could be “Wee Weight Four Pane”.

Spanish is a phonetic language.  There ya go.  Another example.  Even the word phonetic makes no sense phonetically.  This word should be spelled “Fonetic”.  In fact in Spanish it is… “Fonético”.

The phonetic aspect of Spanish is one reason why you can learn Spanish in three days.  See other reasons at Learn Spanish in Three Days.

However there are more important reasons “Beyond Simple” to know Super Thinking + Spanish and why a micro business teaching Spanish offers incredible opportunity “Beyond Money”.

The excerpt below from the New York Times article “Exercising an Aging Brain” by By Denise Grady shows that teaching is an exceptional career “beyond the money” because it slows mental aging!

Here is an excerpt from the article (bolds are mine):  MORE and more retired people are heading back to the nearest classroom — as students and, in some cases, teachers — and they are finding out that school can be lovelier the second time around. Some may be thinking of second careers, but most just want to keep their minds stimulated, learn something new or catch up with a subject they were always curious about but never had time for.

For many, at least part of the motivation is based on widespread reports that exercising the brain may preserve it, forestalling mental decline and maybe even Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

“When you and I are having this conversation, you’re taking notes, thinking, remembering pieces of it, trying to relate it to other things,” said Arthur Toga, a professor of neurology and director of the laboratory of neuroimaging at the University of California, Los Angeles. “You’re changing the circuitry in your brain. That is because you have changed something in your brain to retain that memory.”

Dr. Toga elaborated: “The conversation requires nerve cells in the brain to fire, and when they fire they are using energy. More oxygen and sugar must be delivered, by increased blood flow to those regions.

“Why would that be good? If you are vasodilating, delivering more blood to certain regions of the brain, that is important. It increases the longevity and the health of those circuits. In adults, if I ask you to perform tasks you’ve never done before, the amount of brain it takes for you to try and do it is far greater than the amount of brain it takes for you to do something you’re already good at. So yes, exercising the brain is good.” Playing video games probably qualifies as a type of brain exercise, he said, though older people might not sharpen their skills as fast as younger ones do.

But research continues. Dr. William Jagust, a professor of public health and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, said there were two main theories that tried to explain why exercising the brain might make it more resistant to disease.

One is the “cognitive reserve” theory, which says that if the brain is in the best possible shape with extensive neuronal connections from being used a lot, it may be able to withstand the onset of Alzheimer’s disease for a while and symptoms may take longer to develop.

A hallmark of Alzheimer’s is deposits in the brain of an abnormal form of a protein called amyloid.

“A paper we published showed that people who were more cognitively active over their whole life span had less amyloid,” Dr. Jagust said.

“A variety of things is important,” Dr. Toga said. “We try to encourage people to do certain things because it couldn’t hurt and may be good. Retaining lots of social interaction is really important. It involves so much of the brain. You have to interpret facial expressions and understand new concepts. If you want to learn to ride a monocycle or do acrobatics at 75, it’s probably not a good idea. But exercising more geography in the brain, I think that’s important.”

 Few activities are as socially interactive as teaching!  This does not mean we should wait until we are old to teach. 

The same article also said:   “My interpretation is that people who are more cognitively active have more efficient brains,” Dr. Jagust said. “What seems to happen in aging is that older people seem to have less efficient brains.” A scan of brain activity on a 20-year-old being asked to remember something will show less activity needed than in an 80-year-old asked to perform the same task.

“Older people seem to activate or bring on line brain areas that young people don’t use,” Dr. Jagust said. “They have to work their brains harder. So people who stay cognitively active may use their brains more efficiently.”

That way, they may generate fewer amyloid deposits. But he emphasized that being mentally active throughout life — not just in old age — was what mattered.
“It has to do with lifelong patterns of behavior,” Dr. Jagust said. “We tend to focus on what people do at 75 in terms of dementia. But there is more evidence that what you do in your life, at 40 or 50, is probably more important.”

This era of rapid change makes it harder to earn a good living and enjoy life.  Standardization… globalization and growing population puts stress on so many. We call it the rat race… a never ending struggle where the treadmill continually accelerates.

This stress and the unraveling of the social pact… mean that money… savings… investments… pensions and  Social Security are becoming less and less dependable.   The only real assets are a keen mind, dependable body and an ability to serve.

This is why teaching is such a great way to serve.  In this information era… few things are as valuable as knowledge.  Plus the process provides freedom and helps us remain mentally active.

Whether you learn to teach Super Thinking or not… learn to teach something.   This is a good way to return some of the blessings we have all received and  we gain more than money.   We may gain mental clarity and much more.  One Super Thinking + Spanish teacher who just completed his first course (which allowed him to spend the winter in South America and earn while there) summed up the greatest benefit perfectly when he wrote.

“Although drained and tired yesterday from three days of being “on”, today I feel very buoyant and charged up from the joy and positive feedback I got from the delegates.  Along with their progress from no Spanish to speaking before my very eyes, I can report to you in all honesty the feeling I have being part of their progress is simply intoxicating.  I understand now why you and Merri do what you do very well indeed.” 

New Teacher Aid Program.   There is a new way to learn how to speak Spanish in three days FREE as a Teacher’s Aid.  See details here.

Change.  We fear it. We resist it and we can let us ruin our lives. Yet without it… our existence would still be in caves.   As change speeds up we can embrace change and retire from the rat race.  For mental stability… the sooner… may be the better so we do not have to “wait for pain as we age”.  Hoo kneads the weight of waiting inn are thyme???

Gary

“Exercising an Aging Brain”

Retirement Assets Going to the Dogs


The global economy may be going to the dogs but you can see here how a lesson from dogs can help you retire.

Laughter is a valuable asset for retirement at any age… good for your brain and body.

On the subject of dogs meet Angel.

gary-scott-dog

We’ll see more on the “Trash Can Hound” in a moment.

Dogs believe it or not can give us a clue on how to retire at any age.

First  let’s review some of yesterday’s news about the predatory nature of the world we face when we thinking about retiring from the rat race.

A New York Times article “Public Rebuke of Culture at Goldman Opens Debate” tells how Greg Smith a midlevel executive at Goldman Sachs resigned and published an Op-Ed article detailing his criticisms  about how it made him ill how callously people at Goldman talk about ripping off clients.

The article also mentioned accusations brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2010 that the firm intentionally duped certain clients by selling a mortgage-security product that was designed by another Goldman client betting that the housing market would crash. More recently, a Delaware judge criticized Goldman over the multiple, and potentially conflicting, roles it played in brokering an energy deal.

This is the firm that after we the taxpayers gave $10 billion in bailout money fired 1,000 workers in the United States and elsewhere and shifting their jobs to the cheaper Singaporean labor market in 2011 at a time of record profits for the company, which raked in $2.7 billion in profits in the first three months of 2011 alone.

US Taxpayers who invest are slammed three ways… paying for the bailout…. dealing with higher unemployment and protecting against chicanery in investing markets.

One way Merri and I have for overcome this over the decades is to fix up worn out old properties and make them valuable again.  We have done this in London.  We done this in Florida. We have done this in the Dominican Republic.  We have done this in North Carolina.  We have done this in Ecuador.

This has always been gratifying because we feel one purpose in our lives is helping the environment.  What better way than to save ruined houses… make them beautiful and useful.  It is good to think of some resources that have been saved.

The process has also been financially rewarding.  I have never checked the actual figures but certainly we earned enough to be financially independent.  Having some money is required to retire from the rat race.

We have also tried to help worn down people reclaim their natural beauty… energy and worth.

More than the money though… the most important part is joy in the process.   Seeing the tarnish of anything or anyone removed and watching the inner beauty once again revealed is a delight.

Fixing up worn out places… worn out houses and worn out people is fun!

There is one more favorite pet project we love.

Meet Angel again.

hound

We love helping worn down dogs because the return goes way beyond money.

Readers who have shared this site for long will have known Ma our pumpkin patch hound (Ma was found abandoned with broken ribs/legs in a our North Carolina pumpkin path).  Merri, Ma and I were inseparable. She traveled with us continually to Oregon, Florida, North Carolina and Ecuador with us.  When she passed at age 15 there was real mourning here and we have felt a great void in our lives.

Ma was special and we trained her to pass her AKC Canine Good Citizens Award a rare event for a hound because they have it in their nature to run free.

If you believe in reincarnation Ma has returned in the form of Angel…  a Red and White Coonhound mix.   If you do not believe in reincarnation,  we have found a new hound brought to us by a great dog rescue organization called RUFF (Rescuers Uniting Forever Friends).

Angel is our trash can hound… as she came to us after being found abandoned in a trash can.

We are delighted for several reasons but this means we are back to square one… in terms of dog training.

This is where Merri and I (and our retirement planning) gain so much because training dogs stresses the natural importance of FUN!

My most potent weapon in training is play.  When Angel does what she should do, her reward is play.

Fun and play can help us retire from the rat race… at any age and in any place as well.

Our Super Thinking courses help delegates learn how to use frequency modulation to integrate brain waves so they attain and stay in a state of relaxed concentration because concentration… focus… patience are keys to success.

All too often concentration creates stress and reduces the effectiveness of the focus.  We lose the ability to see the forest with too much concentration on the trees.

Super Thinking delegates learn numerous techniques to attain this state of relaxed concentration, but nothing helps create relaxation and concentration faster than fun.  You cannot be tense when you are happy and laughing!

Laughter is good for the brain because it integrates the brain waves.

An article Helpguide.com shows several ways to improve your memory and one  is laughter.

An excerpt from this article says (bolds are mine):   You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and that holds true for the brain as well as the body. Unlike emotional responses, which are limited to specific areas of the brain, laughter involves multiple regions across the whole brain.

Furthermore, listening to jokes and working out punch lines activates areas of the brain vital to learning and creativity.  As psychologist Daniel Goleman notes in his book Emotional Intelligence, “Chunking breaks a long list of numberslaughter…seems to help people think more broadly and associate more freely.”

Looking for ways to bring more laughter in your life?  Start with these basics:

•    Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take ourselves less seriously is talk about times when we took ourselves too seriously.

•    When you hear laughter, move toward it.  Most of the time, people are very happy to share something funny because it gives them an opportunity to laugh again and feed off the humor you find in it. When you hear laughter, seek it out and ask, “What’s funny?”

•    Spend time with fun, playful people. These are people who laugh easily–both at themselves and at life’s absurdities–and who routinely find the humor in everyday events. Their playful point of view and laughter are contagious.

•    Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun.

•    Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing.

The first slide we show in our Super Thinking + Spanish course is below.

slide

Fun is a main pillar in this educational experience because we know the learning power of fun.

See how to learn Spanish in just three days.

Dogs are wonderful providers of fun and exercise.  They love to play… how many humans show up with a toy in their mouth?  They force us to get out and take that walk we might otherwise put off.  They absorb a lot of negativity.

Laughter is a powerful super thinking tool that helps create relaxed concentration and this EZ focus is one of the best assets for gaining early retirement from the predatory world.

Gary

2013-2014 Super Thinking + Spanish – Writing to Sell Business Course Schedule

Schedule 2013-2014  Super Thinking + Spanish  – Writing to Sell Business Courses.

Join us.  Learn how to have better retirements with international investing and pinnacle careers.

We meet in Smalltown USA.

Here are photos I took of Mt. Dora…

mt-dora-images tags:
 
and Jefferson Landing where we conduct seminars in West Jefferson NC
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24087290@N07/5009622985/in/photolist-8CFCo6-8CJH1A

2013
 
June 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)
 
July 12-13-14  Super Thinking + Spanish  Kelowna, BC, Canada  Single $699 / Couple $899 (Teachers Shawn & Suzanne Bandick)

August 16-17-18  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)

August 31-September 1-2  Super Thinking Writer’s Camp  West Jefferson, NC  (Gary & Merri Scott)

September 27-28-29  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)

October 3-4-5  Super Thinking + Spanish Atlantic City NJ  Single $699 / Couple $899  (Teacher Rick Brown)

October 4-5-6  International Investing & Business  Seminar West Jefferson, NC  Enroll here $799.   Couple $999 (Gary & Merri Scott)

November 15-16-17   Super Thinking Writer’s Camp Mt. Dora, Florida  (Gary & Merri Scott)

November 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (Teachers Suzanne & Shawn Bandick)   Single $699/Couple $899

2014

January 10-11-12   Super Thinking + Spanish  Mt. Dora, Florida  (Gary & Merri Scott)

February 14-15-16   Super Thinking Writer’s Camp  Mt. Dora, Florida   (Gary & Merri Scott)

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999 

Attend all seminars and courses and more FREE or at a discount as an International club member.  See details here.

 

Read”How to Improve Your Memory

ARCA Foundation  website

Using Frequency Modulation to Survive in a Predatory World


Ancient wisdom can help us see beyond logic for retirement in a predatory world.

ecuador-symbols

Ecuadorian wise men of the past had a deep understanding of nature… astronomy and sense of place as this positional structure at the entrance of Cotacachi shows.  That wisdom can help us think beyond logic when it comes to retiring from the rat race at any age… 30, 40, 50, 60 or later despite living in a predatory world.

Ecuador is a great place to retire at any age… right now.

A March 7, 2102  Yahoo.finance.com article entitled “Ecuador Seen as New Retirement Hot Spot” by Alina Dikik says:  The warm weather, cheap housing, and inexpensive healthcare are a draw, especially for baby boomers with eroded nest eggs and a sense of adventure.

For retirees, leaving the United States often means a more affordable way of life, including low-cost healthcare, real estate and even gasoline prices. Cherry-picking a warm weather spot can offer another perk. Some expatriate retirees also point to the social benefits that accrue when they become part of a tight knit community.

Logistics like health insurance and banking have been surprisingly easy, says Connie Pombo. The Pombos pay $85 per month for comprehensive health insurance with Nova Ecuador, a national insurer.

Pombo says most retirees prefer to simply pay out of pocket for doctor visits, which are less than $20 per appointment.

How Long Will Ecuador be a Good Place for Retirement? 

Not everything is perfect.

The article goes on to say:  Ecuador is still in the infancy stage in terms of attracting … the infrastructure is still not as strong as other places like Costa Rica.  Many Americans are not prepared for the language and the culture.

Real estate scams are common and can include hidden fees. It’s unregulated and nobody is enforcing the laws.

Ecuador has recently seen an increase in long-term home rentals, which can be a good alternative to buying, she adds. Negotiating a two or three-year lease can halve monthly payments. For example, a three-bedroom, waterfront condo can rent for $700 with a multiyear lease.

Unexpected living expenses also add up… the cost of furniture, appliances and electronics, can sell for up to three times. Western-sized clothing can be especially difficult to find… Americans tend to be a lot bigger.

The article also points out that retired expats are required by the U.S. government to pay taxes, even if residing abroad plus it says:   Crowder also cautions Americans thinking of retiring abroad to not be overly trusting. White-collar crime is becoming a concern for some retirees in Ecuador. “Gated communities have these big austere looking fronts, but a lot of crime is committed by insider jobs,” says Crowder who owns a home in Ecuador. He warns against an increasing number of expat criminals who establish trust with retirees by speaking fluent English. Expect to be bombarded with ways to part with your money from locals too.

A local attorney can help start the year-long residency process and specify which notarized documents are necessary before leaving the United States. Brushing up on Spanish and learning about the Ecuadorian language and culture is a must.

Our Ecuador Ateam services help solve three of the problems above:

#1: Provide contacts with attorneys, brokers and agents with good long term records.

#2: Provides real estate tours so you can assess property markets (now in their tenth year) on an objective basis.

#3: Help you learn Spanish with Frequency Modulation.

However Frequency Modulation is more important than helping in Ecuador and Spanish now.  FM can help in all the future…. anywhere… with any learning and thinking.

Recent messages have reviewed thoughts on the problems retirement may face in the future.  A growing and aging population is breaking down the social economic contract we call money.  Saving to retire may not be enough because the purchasing power of money in core industrial nations may fail.

Deciding where to retire is difficult because of the chaotic state in the world.

A previous message at this site said:  The mindset of the Western world is  indoctrinated on these 3 Ps…position, possession and popularity.  These concepts form the foundation of many lives and they are the precursors for stress, tension and poor health as well as financial doom.   These structural flaws in our social economic morality create a template for self slavery and potential failure.  We voluntarily become chained to our desk or jobs and are willing to even cheat (ranging from small fibs on loan applications to doctoring books to billion dollar Ponzi schemes) to gain the 3Ps.   The weakness in this framework of thought also leaves us open to fraud.

The framework of this materialistic mindset goes way beyond the creations of our personal risks as well.  The framework reaches to the very core of world’s  geo-political tensions and chaos.

This creates a predatory world and super thinking can help us survive in a predatory world.

This is not likely to change quickly.  Can we rid ourselves of poverty in our lifetimes… if ever?    Deuteronomy 15:11 suggests not when it says: There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

In our lifetimes we”ll probably not see a perfect world… we’ll not find perfect places without poor.. without fear… without crime… without tension… and these forces create predators.

What can we do to live and retire amidst all this stress without letting it get us down?

First,  living in a calm life in a world of stress we can develop a historical perspective on the world’s problems creating by this eternal jockeying for the three Ps… possessions… position and power.

To get one perspective, let’s follow a vine of social discontent back about a hundred years to WWI as it impacts our forward thinking on where to invest… where to do business…. where to live and retire now.

This vine leads us to WWI and the Balkans.

According to Wikepedia: The causes of the military conflict, which began in central Europe in August 1914, included many intertwined factors, such as the conflicts and antagonisms of the four decades leading up to the war. Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism played major roles in the conflict as well. However, the immediate origins of the war lay in the decisions taken by statesmen and generals during the July Crisis of 1914, the spark (or casus belli) for which was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip, an irredentist Serb.[1] However, the crisis did not exist in a void; it came after a long series of diplomatic clashes between the Great Powers over European and colonial issues in the decade prior to 1914 which had left tensions high. In turn these diplomatic clashes can be traced to changes in the balance of power in Europe since 1870.[2].  Fundamentally the war was sparked by tensions over territory in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary competed with Serbia and Russia for territory and influence in the region and they pulled the rest of the great powers into the conflict through their various alliances and treaties. The topic of the causes of, or guilt for, the First World War is one of the most studied in all of world history. Scholars have differed significantly in their interpretations of the event.

If so, tensions in the Balkans were a driving force in social military tensions at the turn of the last century.

The Balkans include:

*  Albania
*  Bosnia and Herzegovina
*  Bulgaria
*  Croatia
*  Greece
*  Kosovo
*  Macedonia
*  Montenegro
*  Serbia

Other countries sometimes included are:

*  Moldova
*  Romania
*  Slovenia
*  Turkey

The problems remain with us today, plus according to many  WWI was the root of WWII. Winston Churchill described the treaty of Versailles, “monstrous” and “malignant.”

WWII created such tension that Harry Truman and many others were so paranoid about Communism that the Truman Doctorine evolved which led to the Korean and the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War kick started America’s drug problem which has created such wealth that Mexican and Colombia drug lords can undermine federal authority and even create risk in places where Americans typically retire… Southern California… Arizona… South Florida.

The LA Times has a huge section in its paper entitled “The drug war at our doorstep”.

An NPR.com article entitled “Mexican Drug War Brings Violence To Arizona” says: Home invasion and kidnappings are on the rise in Arizona. State authorities pin the blame on Mexican organized crime. Host Cheryl Corley speaks with Ariz. Attorney General Terry Goddard about how he hopes to address the problem.

This problem hit South Florida first. When enforcement efforts intensified in South Florida and the Caribbean, the Colombian organizations formed partnerships with the Mexico-based traffickers to transport cocaine through Mexico into the United States and spread the drug wars across the American south.

This is one vine of history in a thick foliage of reality that is so dense it creates a dark jungle that no amount of logic can penetrate.

On the subject of military political history  am reading one really fascinating book now… “Twilight Warriors”.

The Twilight Warriors, is the winner of the 2011 Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature and looks at the final—and most brutal—battle of the Pacific war: Okinawa.

This is especially interesting to me (and many boomers) because my father was a Seabee attached to the Marines. Wounded in the invasion of Iwo Jima, he was hospitalized in Hawaii and scheduled to return to battle probably in the invasion of Japan… which would have been perilous.

During his hospitalization the Battle of Okinawa became the most expensive naval battle in American history, with almost 10,000 American casualties. Thirty ships were lost, and over 350 more were damaged, many beyond repair.   Okinawa taught President Truman a grim lesson: “any weapon,” even an atomic bomb, “was preferable to an invasion” and this perhaps was a fulcrum point in the fabric  of reality determining “to be or not to be”.   Had dad gone onto another invasion I might not have been.

Random House also reported that “Twilight Warriors”  was a History Book Club Main Selection and a Featured Alternate of the Book of the Month Club and the Military Book Club.

gandt-books

Read more about The Twilight Warriors

gandt-books

Read more about Bob Gant’s books here.

Where is it safe to go in a predatory world ? Where  will we be able to afford to live?  Where will we find peace?

The answer is not a nation or state… but is in a state of being… being more intelligent… more flexible… more intuitive wherever you go… or are led.

How can we figure out these answers?

We cannot.  Logic is a deficient tool in our universe where chaos rules along with order.  This graph from Jame’s Gleick’s book “Chaos, Making a new Science” shows how everything in our universe moves from states of order to disorder.

ecuador-fractals

Mark Twain expressed this reality nicely when he said: He is now rising from affluence to poverty.

The logic of logic shows why it will not work in our quantum world.  Logic in the form of deductive reasoning concerns what follows necessarily from given premises (if a, then b).  Logic requires seeing a reliable given premise a to understand “b”. Quantum mechanics suggests that reality is too complex for our minds to see enough facts.  There is too much information to process to come up with accurate premises.

If we cannot think our way to a happy lifestyle… what can we do?

First, we can accept that everything is in perfect order and remember the importance of attitude.  Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese poet, stresses attitude’s value nicely:  Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

Second, we can add frequency modulation into our armory of thought processes to expand our vision when outside events are so unpredictable we cannot depend on logic.

When we think as the shamans of the Andes, we see events…fate…and our free will as being connected. The shamans call this “following the forces of nature”.

The circular thought of the shamans is sometimes difficult to grasp.  Some shamans will say something that seems it has no logic…until one day an event…act or an aha starts to make sense.

For example, their concept of fractals is that everything is part of a sacred geometry that leads us to where we should be.  They observe what they see and look for hints or clues as to where they should go from what they see.

Here is an example that has been meaningful to me.

The shamans say that any mountain near us when we grow up is our mother (Pacha Mama).  They believe that she guides us on our life’s way.

This never made much sense to me until one day when we were visiting our daughter, son in law, grandkids and my mom in Portland, Oregon, where I was born and raised.

Each day I walked out my mom’s front door (she has lived in the same house for 50 years) and enjoyed the view where I grew up.

Mt-cotacachi

Mt. Hood… my Pancha Mama. Something was gnawing at me…where had Mt. Hood led me? I missed that connection until…

Mt-cotacachi

I returned to Cotacachi and noticed the equivalent geometry. This is Mt. Cotacachi that one can see each day from Cotacachi.

This did not hit me fully until we took my mom to a favorite beach of ours that is our historical escape on Oregon’s coast.  I took this photo  as I looked down the beach.

This made me think even more about where I had been led.

Mt. Hood and this coastal view were a big part of my youthful formation… pictures I saw as I grew.

Mt-cotacachi

Then I realized how similar this geometry is to our beach escape in San Clemente, Ecuador.

Cotacachi fractals

Our life in Ecuador in the US and I suspect anywhere we would find ourselves is filled with abundance.  Did the sacred geometry beginning with a bullet shot by Gavrilo Princip in Serajevo  lead me to Cotacachi and San Clemente?   Did these same patterns return us to the USA and bring our involvement in agriculture?

Did we make our decisions to live in these wonderful places because of some impression beyond logic…some deeper message given long ago?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, but do know that the biggest joys in our lives have all come from using frequency modulation to make decisions that are beyond logic.

Gary

2013-2014 Super Thinking + Spanish – Writing to Sell Business Course Schedule

Schedule 2013-2014  Super Thinking + Spanish  – Writing to Sell Business Courses.

Join us.  Learn how to have better retirements with international investing and pinnacle careers.

We meet in Smalltown USA.

Here are photos I took of Mt. Dora…

mt-dora-images tags:
 
and Jefferson Landing where we conduct seminars in West Jefferson NC
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24087290@N07/5009622985/in/photolist-8CFCo6-8CJH1A

2013
 
June 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)
 
July 12-13-14  Super Thinking + Spanish  Kelowna, BC, Canada  Single $699 / Couple $899 (Teachers Shawn & Suzanne Bandick)

August 16-17-18  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)

August 31-September 1-2  Super Thinking Writer’s Camp  West Jefferson, NC  (Gary & Merri Scott)

September 27-28-29  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  Single $699  /  Couple $899 (Teacher Mark Frakes)

October 3-4-5  Super Thinking + Spanish Atlantic City NJ  Single $699 / Couple $899  (Teacher Rick Brown)

October 4-5-6  International Investing & Business  Seminar West Jefferson, NC  Enroll here $799.   Couple $999 (Gary & Merri Scott)

November 15-16-17   Super Thinking Writer’s Camp Mt. Dora, Florida  (Gary & Merri Scott)

November 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (Teachers Suzanne & Shawn Bandick)   Single $699/Couple $899

2014

January 10-11-12   Super Thinking + Spanish  Mt. Dora, Florida  (Gary & Merri Scott)

February 14-15-16   Super Thinking Writer’s Camp  Mt. Dora, Florida   (Gary & Merri Scott)

Enroll here $799.   Couple $999 

Attend all seminars and courses and more FREE or at a discount as an International club member.  See details here.

 

Retire on Ecuador’s Beach at 40


Retirement on Ecuador’s beach at Bahia at age 40?

See how to get a FREE report on Bahia below.

Cabuyal-beach-ecuador

Ecuador’s area of maximum growth north of Bahia de Caraquez.

Years ago, we showed readers how one could live in Ecuador for $700 a month… if you owned your home.

Today this is still possible, but we would prefer to say that one can live very well for $1,500 a month… even if you rent.

However inflation is with us so the ability to have some extra earnings is a valuable asset.  This is why we have  been sending out our Extra Export Earnings reports.

Jean Marie Butterlin just sent this note about a reader who has retired in Ecuador at age 40 that helps understand life in Ecuador better..

The story of Anna and Henry on how to retire at 40 and enjoy life in paradise.

Jean Marie Butterlin

Anna, Henry and their daughter Won moved to Bahia a year ago and are living life in paradise.  This is the view from the terrasse of their 2 bedroom apartment (the rent is $400/month).

bahia-ecuador

Henry has been a Desert Storm soldier and also a firefighter in his home town in Southern California ; he has taken early retirement (after 15 years of service) and has made some wise investment.

They like to live on the beach and after carefull and thorough review of what was available in South America, they have chosen Bahia as their retirement home.

But Henry does not stay inactive…he is a very busy man :

-       he volunteers with the local firefighters

-       he teaches aerobic and fitness classes every morning to the local firefighters, life guards and everyone who likes to work out early in the morning on the beach at 7 :30 a.m.

bahia-ecuador

-       he even feeds them when they are on duty with some American dishes that he loves to prepare on his terrace.

To retire at 40, you obviously need to have a plan !

Not everyone wants to stop working at age 40 and just enjoy the life on the beach; a lot of our delegates have asked me the same question over and over :

« How can I make an income in Ecuador ? » or

« If I could just make a couple of thousand dollars a month, I would just stay here and not return… »

After roaming the country extensively for the last 3 years, I kept seeing business opportunities everywhere but could not understand why nobody was actually doing anything…It took me a while to understand that we as westerners (north American or European) really have a different mindset than people in Ecuador.  Their education and upbringing and history does not make them instant entrepreneurs and there are not many business management schools here either. Parents teach their kids to do well in school, learn English and find a job in the tourism industry or with big local companies that export stuff.

For those who are looking to make extra income, invest for their retirement, or just want to invest in « REAL » stuff like land for example to fight inflation for example, we are offering the first of several business expeditions: the Manabi Agri-Business Expedition.

This 5 day (total of 7 days needed) expedition in the province of Manabi (where Manta, and Bahia are located) will offer :

-       Visits of different kinds of available land for agriculture use

-       The help of a local agriculture engineer who will at the end of each day analyze with the group what kind of crop, all costs involved, risks, investment needed and where and how to market the production. We will emphasize new and innovative ways to use the land like :

-       bio-fuel crops (there is a company that buys and processes all the crops that have high oil content that are available and that company is located in the province) ;

-       exotic hardwoods

We will be able to visit with the clients.

We will provide the consultants for helping you in all aspects of business from incorporation to hiring employees and doing administration work and accounting for ex.

Hope you will join us on this first Agri Business Expedition in the delightful province of Manabi.

Jean Marie

My hat goes off to Henry especially the way he is giving back to society with his volunteer work there!

This must be satisfying for him and is certainly is an excellent way to improve one’s lifestyle in Ecuador.

It has always puzzled me why people would leave one culture and then try and recreate what they just left.

I first noticed this 40 years ago when living in Hong Kong.  So many expats barricaded themselves into closed expat communities and spent a lot of extra time and money, forcing many restrictions on themselves trying to live just as they had back home.

Merri and I have noticed this in Ecuador and often ask, why have a huge fridge when there is a market with fresh food just down the street?  Why pay extra for a washing machine when a maid will do it with love and care… become a member of your family and help and care for you in so many ways?  Why move to a country where the constitution treats all equally and then ask to be treated specially?  Why move to a country for the low taxes and then complain because there are no social services?

I have seen some expats burn bridges with influential locals, who could have helped them a lot, just by behaving like gringos and treating their new neighbors badly and arrogantly.

We must never forget who are the hosts and the guests in a country and behave accordingly.  Ecuador has welcomed us with open arms and we should appreciate life here.

Henry’s volunteer works shows a good example.  The local chief of the firefighters invited him to a charitable event in Guayaquil to raise funds for the firefighters along the coast.  Henry does not belong officially to the squad but he was one of three people invited from the fire department to go to this prestigous event. He has given a lot to them and is now considered part of the group. Everyone knows now that he is part of the family.

Jean Marie’s wife, Pascale, is another good example. She gives free aerobic lessons at the tennis club for women. This is a way to integrate into the local society. This is especially important in a small city because when everyone knows you, everyone looks out for his neighbor.

Security is a growing issue all over the world now.  The fast pace of change is creating a growing divide between the rich and the poor. This disparity will cause crime to expand.  Good people must help one another everywhere.  When someone divides people into classes… locals versus expats, it is counter productive and this also causes one to miss the richness and expanded horizons one gains by integrating multi cultures.

One of the best things about Ecuador is that its constitution recognizes that everyone is equal under the law… even plants and Mother Nature were added in the revised constitution. This is a wonderful social contract and when embraced can make you Ecuador Living… or wherever living better and more enjoyed.

We are excited about Jean Marie’s Agri Expedition and know that becoming involved in these ways gives back also.

Gary

Mid Coast tour June 16-17-18 or August 21-22-23.

Cuenca Real Estate tour July 4-5-6 or September 16-17-18.

Round up your trip with a personalized real estate tour.

Get Your FREE Bahia Report here.

Learn about Ecuador in North Carolina.

 

The Strategic Reserve


The Strategic Reserve has stopped many a military storm though the annals of time. Global economic reserves should stop financial storms as well.  What happens though when the reserves have not been set aside or have all been used?

Thanksgiving

Most of us… around the world have good reason to honor the fallen.  Bullet extracted from my father at Iwo Jima.

Memorial Day week seemed like a good time to reread Winston Churchill’s “Their Finest Hour”.

We have enjoyed such an incredible era of material richness over the last 60 years and should remember and honor what so many from so many countries have sacrificed and are sacrificing to create this prosperous era we enjoy.

Churchill said it succinctly: “Never in the history of mankind have so many owed so much to so few“.

One reason for reading this history of WWII is to gain clues and insights by seeing errors Western governments made after WWI in their quest to avoid WWII.  War was so unpopular that leaders became followers and kept using ineffective shortstops to mask long term problems.  Since WWII economic setbacks have been so unpopular that similar ineffective strategies have led the global economy to another precipice.

We can see the problem reflected by reading what Churchill wrote in “Their Finest Hour” about how he felt after receiving a call from the French generals that they had been defeated.  He flew to Paris.  He writes:  The Commander-in Chief briefly explained what had happened. North and south of Sedan on a front of fifty or sixty miles, the Germans had broken through. The French army in front of them was destroyed and scattered. A heavy onrush of armoured vehicles was advancing with unheard-of speed.  The General talked perhaps five minutes without anyone saying a word. When he stopped there was a considerable silence. I then asked: “Where is the strategic reserve?” General Gamelin turned to me and with a shake of his head and a shrug said: “Aucine.”

Churchill continued, “I was dumbfounded. It had never occurred to me that any commander having to defend five hundred miles of engaged front would have left themselves unprovided with a mass of manouver.”

gary-scott-resolution

My Grandfather (middle Front)

gary-scott-resolution

One of five ships he was on that was torpedoed by German and Japanese submarines.

Have modern leaders left the current economy unprovided with a mass of economic maneuver?

One must take extra financial caution at this time because in this latest recession, governments everywhere may have pulled out their last plugs… and depleted the reserves.

This could lead to a sudden and dramatic economic fall.

We have been warned… and some honest leaders are warning us now. A May 20, 2011 BBC article “Hard to explain how bad the economic crisis is, says Cable shows how this trend is building. Here is an excerpt.   Business Secretary Vince Cable says it has been a challenge for the government to explain to the public how bad a state the economy is in.

He told the Guardian the country was poorer because of the banking collapse and recession – and from a “squeeze” from the changing world economy. “We have had a very, very profound crisis which is going to take a long time to dig out of,” he warned.

“We are actually a poorer country, mainly because of the banking crash, the recession that followed it and partly due to the squeeze we are now under from the changing balance of the world economy.”

He added: “Britain is no longer one of the world’s price setters. We take our prices from international commodity markets driven by China and India.

“That is something we have got to live with and adjust to. It is painful. It is a challenge to us in government to explain it. The political class as a whole is not preparing the public for how massive the problem is.”

“We had the complete collapse of a model based on consumer spending, a housing bubble, an overweight banking system – three banks, each of them with a balance sheet larger than the British economy.”

“It was a disaster waiting to happen and it did happen. It has done profound damage and it is damage that is going to last a long time.”

There are other troubling signs elsewhere.

Late last week Moody’s downgraded six Danish banks saying that the Danish banking sector is not backed by the government to the same extent as other European banks.  Yet is this not the problem… everyone wanting the government to guarantee all things economic… just like the public wanted governments to guarantee all things related to peace after WWI?

We cannot yet begin to imagine the impact of recent natural disasters. Japan announced their first monthly trade deficit in 31 years.   This deficit of $5.7 billion was created by a large drop in exports in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and a surge in commodity prices pushing up the import costs.

Even the boomers… those who may have benefited most from this time of great material wealth are concerned.

Excerpts from a  May 24, 2011 USA Today article by by Christine Dugas entitled  “Baby Boomers fear outliving retirement savings” says: Baby Boomers face so much uncertainty that nearly half of them fear that their retirement will result in poverty, according to a new study by California-based investment advisers Financial Engines.

Because of the stock market crash, real estate downturn and recession, many Boomers are now terrified that they will outlive their retirement savings. One woman, age 60, who was interviewed by Financial Engines said that she “might be forced to become a bag lady.”

Among Boomers, 45% are at risk of running short in retirement, according to the 2010 Retirement Readiness Ratings by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

And one in four older workers have exhausted all savings during the recession, according to a new survey by AARP Public Policy Institute.

A growing number of older Americans are piling on debt and filing for bankruptcy.

While working longer may be the best way to boost savings, health issues and job loss can interfere.

Will our government find a solution?

No one… no economist… no banker or investment manager…  no bureaucrat or politician can guarantee the future.  We should not rely on the government to look after us.

However we should not despair.  We can (and should) look after ourselves and each other through service. Economic history since before WWI suggests that we’ll see a crash in 2011 and perhaps 2012, but then will come the light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a really important historical fact to consider.  Our challenge at this time is not to rearrange our lives for doom and gloom but to preserve our reserves so that we are ready to launch into the next even brighter future.

New ideas… new technology and a new social pact will create yet another boom we can enjoy.

What will the technology be? What countries will lead the way? I do not know… not does anyone else.

That is why since the release of my first book “Passport to International Profit” in the 1970s I have preached and practiced being a One Man Multinational.

The core message in “Passport to International Profit” was to become a one man multinational with a six point command posture which is to:

Live in one country
Bank in a second country
Invest in many countries
Earn in two or more countries
Use a company incorporated in a fifth country
Take a second residence

Let’s take this one step further. To have a fulfilling six point lifestyle posture:

Live in one country you love.
Bank in a second country that is safe and that you really enjoy.
Invest in many countries you would like to explore or feel good about.
Earn in two or more countries you would like to explore or feel good about.
Use a company incorporated in a fifth country that best fits your circumstances.
Take a second residence in a place where you love and want to be at times.

More than 40 years after we left the USA,  Merri and I still believe that being global is vital from an investing and business point of view and enlivening for one’s lifestyle.

Enjoy today’s holiday.  We are living in the most prosperous time known to mankind through the valiant efforts of those who have sacrificed so much.  It is with great gratitude that we look forward to sharing the future with you.

Gary

Belong to the International Club

Join Merri and me.  Spread an epidemic of success… in health… wealth…. service to the community and personal fulfillment.   Be infected with positive purpose…. enthusiasm… fulfillment… extra income, profits and fun.

I invite you to join the International Club for 2013-2014.

As a club member you save on seminars, courses, online courses plus Spanish lessons and Ecuador tour discounts.

Join Merri and me for all the courses and seminars that we’ll conduct in 2013 and 2014 FREE.  Gain positive solutions to economic, financial and lifestyle developments.

Here are the courses you can attend at no cost.

August 31- Sept 1-2 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp West Jefferson, NC.

October 4-5-6 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, West Jefferson, NC.

November 15-16-17 Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Mt. Dora, Fl.

January 10-11-12, 2014 Super Thinking + Spanish, Mt. Dora, Fl.

February 14-15-16, 2014  Super Thinking Writer’s Camp, Mt. Dora Fl.

In addition members receive discounts on Ecuador farm tours and Spanish courses conducted by our Ateam Ecuador and Super Spanish teachers.  For example Super Spanish courses that are normally $699 are $175.  Ecuador real estate tours are reduced 20%.

Here is the Super Spanish teacher schedule:

June 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  (Teacher Mark Frakes)

July 12-13-14  Super Thinking + Spanish  Kelowna, BC, Canada  (Teachers Shawn & Suzanne Bandick)

August 16-17-18  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO   (Teacher Mark Frakes)

September 27-28-29  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, (Teacher Mark Frakes)

October 3-5  Super Thinking + Spanish Atlantic City NJ  (Teacher Rick Brown)

November 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  Puerto Aventuras, Mexico  (Teachers Suzanne & Shawn Bandick)

 

We conduct our courses in the peace and quiet of  Smalltown USA.

Part of the courses we conduct are held at Jefferson Landing where we conduct seminars in West Jefferson NC

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Jefferson Landing

50 delegates joined us.

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The seminar in action.

Here are photos I took of Mt. Dora…

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This is home of our winter courses.

After the seminar, International Club members join us at our home to talk with the speakers.

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International Club members meeting in our home after a North Carolina seminar.

There are many benefits of membership.

Most members join us for at least three courses… one investing and business, one writers camp and one Spanish course.  That alone creates a $1,198 savings. Some members attend every course plus more.

You (and a guest of your choice) can attend all of the seminars we have already set for 2013 and 2014 plus any others we decide to conduct in the year ahead FREE.

As a club member you also receive seven online reports, courses and workshops worth $1,246 FREE.

The first of these seven online courses is “Tangled Web – How to Have an Internet Business,” normally sold at $299.

The second is our online course “Self Fulfilled – How to be a Self Publisher”, which has a $299 value. I am sending you this extra course free as I think it will help you have greater success. This is an extra $299 savings.

The third is our online course “International Business Made EZ” sold at $299.

You also receive fourth the 50 minute video by our webmaster David Cross on “How to Get Your Web Business Started”.

Your fifth course is the 50+ lesson course “How to Create your Own Website Using Sitesell” by Michelle Toole. (We are proud that this course was written by a student of our courses showing how well the 43 years of knowledge that Merri and I have accumulated and put into these programs can help you start your own global micro business.)

Sixth, you become a beta member in our newest online course “Event – Full Business – How to have a Seminar and Tour Business” currently offered at $349.

When you enroll, we’ll send you a password that makes the online courses easy to access at the Club website.  You can reserve as many seminars as you desire.

Five Positive Steps

Join Merri and me as we look at positive ways to prosper during 2013 and 2014.  Here are five ways to gain from the forces of change.

#1: Having your own micro business for extra earnings, freedom, fulfillment and fun.

#2: Living and prospering in lower cost countries or small towns.

#3: Multi currency investing through US brokers and bankers abroad.

#4: Commodities that rise with inflation.

#5: Good value real estate…. especially multi dimensional and agricultural property.

We have specialized for over four decades in helping our readers excel in these five inflation beating opportunities.

The big benefits of belonging to the International Club are the power of repetition, updates and international friendships.  As a club member, you become friends with other members as you meet again and again.

Your first saving is on waived seminar fees for the seminars over the next year.

As you will see above and below you can attend Florida & North Carolina seminars.  If you attend just two of these seminars, the $1,799 membership fee will have already created a savings for you.

Yet there is more.  Much more.

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International Club members meeting in West Jefferson for a reception after the North Carolina seminar.

Enough…. Enough with the Bad News.

Our mantra is BE POSITIVE in this negative world.  There is nothing as valuable as rarity but we need to remember that bad news sells. This means the mainstream media has slipped into offering information with an adrenaline rush.  Mayhem, murder and natural disasters.   These negative events will happen…. globally. We cannot do much about this.  Dwelling on insolvable negativity is not good for our health or wealth.

A recent quote from the Abraham Hicks website explains why nicely.

Continuing to tell stories of shortage only continues to contradict your desire for abundance, and you cannot have it both ways: You cannot focus upon unwanted and receive wanted. You cannot focus upon stories about money that make you feel uncomfortable and allow into your experience what makes you feel comfortable. A different story will bring different results: My thoughts are the basis for the attraction of all things that I consider to be good, which includes enough money, and health, for my comfort and joy.

Make the Years Ahead Your Best Years Ever

What we can do is make ourselves Friendlier, More Compassionate, Happier, Stronger, More Energetic with greater intellect.  The way to start is to surround ourselves with successful, friendly, compassionate, happy, stronger, smarter, positive people who think as you do.

The International Club brings together experienced, like minded souls, who take a positive view and think outside the box… in constructive, thoughtful, doable ways.

Being in the club surrounds you with successful… positive… like minded souls.  This benefit alone is truly powerful stuff!

The courses you can attend free integrate Super Thinking with business and investing ideas and experience that enhance your health and wealth.

Focus on Ecuador & Smalltown USA & Canada

Learn how to create a BIG INCOME by thinking SMALL.   At the seminars you meet speakers who are attorneys and real estate experts for both Ecuador and small town USA.   You’ll rub shoulders with experts on global investing and pensions who can help you increase and protect your savings and pensions also how to increase the income you earn in positive ways you enjoy as you help your community.

(See a list of speakers you’ll meet at the club meetings along with other club members below).

Absorb  through  Osmosis

Merri and I are in our 45th year of organizing courses, seminars and newsletters about international and Super Thinking  lifestyles. The importance of this sharing… by like minded souls… was reinforced when a delegate from a course sent an email that said:

My Dearest Merri and Gary, Thank you for your most gracious hospitality last weekend. I am just thrilled at being a part of your group. You and Gary were exactly as I imagined you to be, warm friendly, kind, considerate, genuine, helpful, fun, sincere, what else can I say……I felt so comfortable in your presence and learned so much in your course. I was sad to leave the farm that Sunday afternoon. You made us all feel so welcome and cared about. You were so kind to make arrangements for a ride with the other delegates from the Charlotte Airport. They were so nice to me and so helpful, by the time the weekend was over I felt like they were my long lost brothers. Monday morning we all had breakfast at the airport together and I was so sad to see them go, I was sad the weekend was over, perhaps sad is not the right word for how I was feeling perhaps Gratitude is a better way to describe it. Grateful for having the opportunity to share the weekend with such wonderful, like minded Human Beings, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Thank you Merri and Gary.  Thanks to you I now have new hope and a new direction to move forward in my life.  I know by attending your classes and conferences that through education and due diligence I will make the right choices.

This delegate’s comments about “belonging and feeling like a brother” to the other delegates is a wonderful refrain we have heard from our readers, year after year.

24 years ago Merri and I created a way that readers can join us to be immersed in a year-long learning program through our International Club.

The ideas behind this program began all those years ago in Vienna, Austria while we were conducting a course there.  One of our older delegates, had some sort of attack. The first fear was heart trouble. Several delegates took him to the hospital.  Others stayed with him there. I don’t think that delegate was alone for a minute!

What impressed Merri and me was that no one asked the delegates to help this man.

The friendships of delegates sharing many courses had just grown so strong that it was a natural reaction, just as if a family member was ill. Fortunately, it was only travel fatigue and the delegate didn’t miss a session of the course!

When you join our International Club 2013 you become part of a special family. The very first member to join the club all those years ago wrote, Thank you for the enjoyable and informative courses. I am pleased to be part of your international family and look forward to continuing my education at the next course.

His feeling struck a familiar chord. It has always been one of my greatest satisfactions to see how much fun delegates have getting together, sharing information and making friendships as we learn how to improve our health and increase our wealth.

The courses draw like-minded souls.  For this reason some delegates come back again and again. They come to learn, but also to be with their many friends made at the courses. When like-minded souls get together again and again to discuss a common purpose, magic happens! I can’t explain it in any other way-but it is true.

In a way our meetings are almost like family reunions. Perhaps it is getting together and reflecting on what has been said and what has been happening.

Learning with those who are also interested in the world creates thoughts that multiply the value of what we gain.  This is hard to describe but results are most powerful and wonderful!  This is to me is as important as the great financial benefit of attending many of our courses.

See the 2013 seminars in detail  below.

We started and have continued the International Club for 24 years because there are wonderful benefits from having repeat delegates at courses. Having repeat delegates makes the whole course somehow more exciting for all. Being a repeat delegate makes it easier to make and keep wealth and to lock in the knowledge you gain. It’s an exciting lifestyle. We have fun, gain adventure, discovery and friendships and share ways to improve our health and wealth!

You can see from the schedule above a very busy schedule for 2013. Very few club members actually attend every seminar.  Many  attend almost all of them!  Of course we hope you be with us for all of them, but even if you attend just two of the seminars, you gain considerable savings.

Another savings: Lifestyle for Two.

We want couples! As a member of the program, you are entitled to bring another person to every single course or tour. The cost for that extra person will be ZERO! You can bring whomever you wish. Bring your spouse, a friend, son or daughter, partner, accountant, adviser. You can bring the same person each time or a different person, whomever you choose to accompany you. (Accommodations and air fares relating to the courses are not included for members, delegates or their guests.)

The International Club fee of $1,799 is less than the price of two seminars.

I invite you to be a member of the International Club which allows you and your guest of your choice to attend all of these courses and tours.

Let’s prosper in these times of change. Won’t you join us in this exciting club and share Merri’s and my lifestyle for the next year? Join us at our farms and visit Ecuador. We look forward to seeing you at as many courses as possible and sharing this wonderful world of abundance and well being with you!

Gary

You can attend all of our seminar , courses online courses and more plus $1,246 of online value.  Club membership is $1,799. 

Become an International Club  Member $1,799.

Attend as many of the courses below as you desire.

August 31- September 1-2 Super Thinking & Writers Camp at Merrily Farms, NC.

October 4-5-6 Super Thinking & Writer’s Camp West Jefferson, NC

November 15-16-17  Super Thinking & Writer’s Camp Mt. Dora, Florida

January 10-11-12, 2014 Super Thinking + Spanish  Mt. Dora, Florida

February 14-15-16, 2014  Super Thinking & Writer’s Camp  Mt. Dora, Florida

In additional Super Spanish courses will be scheduled in Canada, Mexico. and the US throughout the year.

(Dates subject to change).

Join us in 2013 – 2014 and learn how to take advantage of the fact that the Sun Always Shines Somewhere

Here is the Super Spanish teacher schedule:

June 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO  (Teacher Mark Frakes)

July 12-13-14  Super Thinking + Spanish  Kelowna, BC, Canada  (Teachers Shawn & Suzanne Bandick)

August 16-17-18  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, MO   (Teacher Mark Frakes)

September 27-28-29  Super Thinking + Spanish  St. Charles, (Teacher Mark Frakes)

October 3-5  Super Thinking + Spanish Atlantic City NJ  (Teacher Rick Brown)

November 21-22-23  Super Thinking + Spanish  Puerto Aventuras, Mexico (Teachers Suzanne & Shawn Bandick)

 

Yes, I want to become an International Club Member. 

Annual membership $1,799. Click  here.